Chapter 111

Chapter 111

Investiture Day (2)

I was guided to the waiting room as soon as arriving at Buckingham Palace.

Felt even during the last visit, Buckingham Palace unlike calm Windsor Castle was extremely splendid from the corridor to the waiting room.

Magnificent ceiling and chandelier, silk wallpaper and gold leaf coated molding, furniture all made of mahogany, and piled a lot of Persian rugs on marble tiles.

There curtains woven with gold thread and ceramic flower vases seeming brought from Qing, Greek bronze statues, gold candlesticks and piled various bouquets on the table too.

Even the door handles were elaborately metal worked.

Even if tearing and selling just this one room London commoner families would eat and live for at least dozens of years!

Somehow a feeling of excessively excessive for showing off dignity?

A feeling of roughly knowing why the royal family doesn't reside in Buckingham Palace and mainly stays at Clarence House or Windsor Castle etc.

Like that while quietly watching the room, a familiar person appeared dragging several attendants.

He was the royal tailor who tailored my clothes at Clarence House last time, Master Tailor Sir Horace.

"Ah, Sir Horace."

"Long time no see, Sir Durand. Sincerely congratulate today's knighthood investiture. But even though waiting you still haven't visited 'Horace and Tucker'. Prepared a lot of new works suitable for you."

"Ha, haha... Forgot. Next, next I'll definitely go."

"You must visit. Really will wait."

I slightly shed cold sweat.

If buying even one set of clothes there my secret funds would clearly be thoroughly emptied!

With the peanut butter boom money was vigorously piling in my account to the point of thinking the restaurant's profit as trivial, but that was planned to invest as is in the Nutella business so I myself was still continuously living like a commoner.

Degree of leading Mr. Henry or Mr. Doyle and touring restaurants of various countries in the world in London, that well most of the wallets opening are that side.

Anyway Sir Horace appearing was, to deliver the ceremonial clothes to wear at the investiture to me.

The official procedure of the investiture the royal protocol officer guided was like this.

First, wear the ceremonial clothes and wait in the waiting room.

Second, if called move to the investiture place.

Third, enter the event hall and proceed with religious mass.

Fourth, oath and loyalty pledge in front of His Majesty the King.

Fifth, the dubbing ritual done at the simple investiture.

Sixth, congratulatory speech and celebration party.

In my case said there would be no third order. During Her Majesty Queen Victoria's time valued religion and proceeded with Anglican mass, but His Majesty Edward VII who dislikes bothersome things ordered simplification?

So now was the very first stage of the investiture with me as the protagonist.

Thinking so somehow gradually becoming real?

"Same as last time please calm the breath and raise the arms high. I'll measure the measurements again."

Sir Horace held the tape measure in his hand and touched various parts of my body and spat short sighs.

"Did you exercise in the meantime? The balance of the shoulders became better. Height also increased about 2 inches."

"Ah, is that so?"

Somehow lately felt the pants hem shortened. 1 inch is 2.54 cm so roughly the sound that I grew about 5 cm more in two months.

"Fortunately brought expecting various sizes. Will fit perfectly."

He gestured to the attendants who chased behind. What the attendants brought was a mobile clothes hanger with wheels, all in silk wrapped clothes covers so the contents weren't visible.

And Sir Horace chose one among them and peeled the cover.

A neat black tailcoat with not even one decoration.

In Britain at official events like knighthood investiture one had to unconditionally wear such court dress. Because specified in the law it was court dress.

I successively wore shiny black leather shoes, dark gray striped pants, white wing collar shirt and white bow tie, black waistcoat, and even white gloves.

There finally wearing the tailcoat and even wearing a black silk top hat completely no different from a movie actor.

Like this could immediately appear in a silent film?

"Good! Good! As expected my best masterpiece!"

I'm in a state of goosebumps rising and hands and feet curling from excessive matching fashion worn for the first time in life, but Sir Horace what so good clapping hands and satisfied!

Then, saying will make a bit more stylish turned me this way and that and stuck pins here and there on the clothes!

No, what am I a mannequin? Even sticking pins and exactly matching the size?!

I stood in front of the full-length mirror and turned the body.

"There, Sir Horace. Hmm, this is a bit uncomfortable to breathe?!"

"Please endure a bit. Now is the most stylish state. Soon you'll get used to it."

Immediately felt how much only comfortable clothes I wore in the meantime. Where and how Sir Horace tightened, the clothes fit so tightly on the upper and lower body a feeling of wearing some full body latex suit!

"Next see at the Throne Room. Since I also received invitation body intending to go in advance and wait. Sir Durand, the promise of definitely visiting Horace and Tucker, please don't forget. Then this much."

Like that Sir Horace left the last request and disappeared again smoothly.

Ugh, if breathing wrong even this won't burst with a bang? Then really royal disgrace?!

Moreover this clothes, how ironed no wrinkles at all so no guts to sit either.

The back itches but what to do with this? Filial son hand, is there something like filial son hand somewhere?!

In the end until the Lord Chamberlain Lord Frederick came to rescue I had no choice but to twist the body alone and wait in the waiting room.

* * *

Throne Room.

Literally the room with the throne.

A space numerous kings passed through for hundreds of years after Buckingham Palace was built.

A place the king directly stays and handles various state affairs so the interior seemed focused on calm and easy on the eyes rather than showing off.

Much more organized than the waiting room, calm yet comfortable atmosphere.

The protocol officer standing in front of that door shouted.

"Knight, Sir Jean-Paul Durand enters!"

As soon as entering the main gate numerous gazes headed toward me.

So I also momentarily almost chickened out, but decided to go shamelessly according to my personality.

That is today as much as an event with me as the protagonist. Might even take photos but if entering shriveled might kick the blanket all life until the day of death?

I calmly stepped on the red velvet laid straight from the main gate to in front of the throne one step one step and walked with the waist straight.

Next to the red velvet long chairs like church chapel were lined on both sides, the people sitting were mostly first seeing faces except some.

Still roughly guessed what rule sitting by.

The very back. A few reporters with heads deeply bowed were seen. Now many people don't believe I'm a newspaper seller origin, but originally I am a newspaper seller. So some among the reporters have acquaintance with me so recognizing wasn't difficult either.

Have to write articles of today's investiture content so reporters should be there. No one holding a camera. An era with limited press freedom and weak pen power so natural.

I turned the gaze. In front of that soldiers with medals hanging on military uniforms were sitting a lot. Looking at the medals on the chest seemed colonel or above, but Colonel Ludwig wasn't seen.

Didn't know whether current or not. Britain has the custom of wearing uniforms once passing military rank whether active or not.

And on the opposite right side seeing Sir Horace sitting, clearly the seat of knighthood holders like me.

From here somewhat familiar faces caught the eye. Sir Lister the dean of King's College Medical School and Sir Barlow the royal physician.

I sent eye greetings to them, and they also lightly nodded.

In front of that seeing the Earl of Derby and other dukes sitting that side noble seats?

Noble attendees weren't that many. At a glance around 20.

Then the left side would be the seat of high politicians.

Sir Campbell-Bannerman the Liberal Party leader met at the royal banquet, Sir Samuel and Chairman Balfour also were there.

Only the Marquess of Salisbury wasn't seen. Yesterday gulped beer excessively for the age, did even get a hangover?

Finally the end of the red carpet, the gold throne on the stairs piled about a few steps. The reason this room is called the Throne Room, right.

His Majesty Edward VII sitting at that place slowly stood up at the same time I approached.

White military uniform, a sash decorated with jewels tied to come down from the right shoulder to the left waist, and numerous medals and medals decorated on the chest.

Seemed a bit thinner, face also slightly red. Didn't sleep properly last night?

"Jean-Paul Durand, this way."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

To His Majesty's call quickened the steps a bit more, and knelt one knee under the feet and sat.

And that moment, I could immediately know why His Majesty looked thinner!

Strong alcohol smell wafting from nearby!

This isn't even draft beer smell! Champagne? Whiskey?!

Somehow His Majesty as soon as seeing that mysterious refrigeration machine Jean-Paul Durand sent that arrived at Buckingham Palace couldn't endure and from morning until just now willingly did refrigeration tests with various alcohols for sure!

Is this okay?!

Clearly His Majesty also, would have had words to say but clearly forgot due to alcohol!

"Hmm, the loyalty of favored Sir Jean-Paul Durand I already confirmed to the point of boredom keeping by my side, various oaths will all omit with the king's authority. Hmm, ahead, hmm, do the same as now."

Doesn't look okay?! Just now a small sound of ugh also came?!

If usual Lord Frederick would have tackled from behind, but unfortunately today at this place the person permitted speaking rights was only His Majesty Edward VII.

And His Majesty roughly put the ceremonial sword on my shoulder or not. At the same time I also fully scared of being stabbed by the drunkard.

"Come, now Sir Jean-Paul Durand is officially my knight. The sirs sitting at this place also welcome with grand applause."

Clap clap clap clap.

I thought it was a very disciplined and dignified event like coming out in some novel, because everyone held weight from the start.

But now learned that everything depends on the progressor's tendency.

If the king finds bothersome even complex etiquette isn't necessarily kept! Indeed here isn't Joseon so no reason to keep such things one by one.

Various court etiquette the royal protocol officer made memorize without missing a particle, or example greetings all became useless!

"Next there should be a medal... Sir Jean-Paul Durand stand up and come up one step."

I stood up with a slightly reluctant expression.

And from His Majesty's right side, watched the appearance of one attendant presenting a velvet box to His Majesty.

His Majesty took out the gold medal placed on the cushion from the box.

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.

One of the most honorable medals all British subjects including nobles can receive in a lifetime.

His Majesty personally pinned that medal on my chest. As soon as pinning the clothes slightly pushed, seemed quite weight because metal sculpture.

But what to say... not much inspiration. Because received a lot of spoilers in advance from the newspaper.

Now the end. Since did up to dubbing and medal award ceremony remaining is only exit.

The social party after that... well somehow will be. Dance thoroughly learned from Mr. D'Annunzio all week.

His Majesty steadily looked at me pondering the remaining order with slightly loosened eyes.

"Insufficient."

"Yes...?"

I unconsciously made a low sound then hurriedly closed the mouth.

No, suddenly out of the blue what's insufficient?! Even this medal alone heavy to death? Meaning the medal is insufficient?

But this is Knight Grand Cross! From here higher stages, only Garter medal or Royal Victoria medal!

His Majesty turned the gaze over my shoulder.

"Marquess of Salisbury."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Huh?! Did His Excellency the Prime Minister also come? When did come? Didn't feel any presence at all?!

"Doesn't something look insufficient?"

"...Your Majesty, Knight Grand Cross. In British Empire history there was no such honor of a commoner omitting everything and immediately receiving Knight Grand Cross. Already exceeds the portion."

"Right. But there would be a custom following Knight Grand Cross, right?"

"Your Majesty, presumptuous but that custom ends at knighthood. A commoner receiving Order of the Bath above Knight Commander is appointed knight, up to here is the content written in court regulations."

"Isn't one more line written? Chairman Balfour, I permit you to speak instead of the prime minister."

"Yes, Your Majesty. A person already a knight receiving Knight Grand Cross raises the title one more step to baronet, this also written in court regulations."

"Right? But in my view Sir Jean-Paul Durand, seems already invested as knight 10 seconds before receiving the medal? Isn't it content everyone agreed with applause? Received Knight Grand Cross after that so ultimately the final title is baronet correct?"

The moment, the quiet Throne Room started slightly murmuring.

I almost lost the mental line together with the head becoming blank paper to this absurd stream of consciousness of the drunk His Majesty!