Quoted By:
Frugality be damned, you've no wish in a centuries old stonehole any longer! That your own abode would stand as a relic from darker ages past while mere merchants lived in works of great art and beauty in Straccia is something you would not abide by! You'll hire architects from Nera, and they'll transform your castle into something befitting a man of the modern era! If it weighs heavily on your purse, then so be it! You've far more money than one of your station normally does.
As for the rest of the commemoration, it goes as you had duly expected - the Fasconos continued their acts for a few mour hours until finally, your party returned for dinner. It was far lesser in size than the lunch banquet, though still above what you considered a normal meal. The eating went by rather quickly, and soon, the final event came; the one you had at least somewhat looked forwards to. The exchanging of gifts! One by one, your guests would make their offerings to you, the host, and as the gracious host you would give a gift in return. Alas, <span class="mu-s">because you had chosen to store the clock watches for your brother's wedding, you had no truly distinguishable gift to give</span>, nothing that could remain in their minds!
And so, the exchange that followed was a regular one; cloaks and jewelries, gems and capes. After all was done, the giving of gifts had finished such that you felt as though you ended with the very same things you had given out, if only in different form...even the Duke of Esbaras, for all his stature, had given you but a velvet robe. You certainly did not wish to demean such gifts, but ultimately, none truly caught your eye; except, most surprisingly, by the one given by Don Fadrique! The man, who had spent the day eating and drinking twice as more as the next three guests put together, presented you with a flanged mace, covered in intricate golden trimmings and embellishments, and upon them was carved the name of 'Knightslayer'
"I reckon you'll make good use of it next time you decide to crack open the heads of some almond-eared merchants in plate, heh!" he says, quite jovially. You thank him, of course - though you've never used a mace, it is certainly an enticing sight.
Still so, the giving of gifts do end, and in good time, the commemoration is over - the nobles leave for their lodgings in the city, or the quarters they had been granted in your castle. In the morrow, they would be returning to their homes, by land or by sea, and perhaps hopefully carrying good word of your wealth, of your taste, and of your deeds. It would have been a great waste, to have set all this up, for no good to come of it in the end...
