Chapter 19 : The Duke’s Dinner Party

*Web Novel chapter below*

How to Invest in Index Funds: A Beginner’s Guide to Effortless Wealth-Building

Investing can feel like a maze of confusing options and risky bets—especially if you’re just starting out. But there’s one strategy that cuts through the noise with its simplicity, low cost, and proven results: index fund investing. If you’re searching for a beginner-friendly way to grow your wealth over time, index funds are your golden ticket. In this guide, we’ll explain what index funds are, why they’re perfect for beginners, and how to get started today—complete with trusted platforms where you can sign up. By the end, you’ll have a clear, actionable path to launch your investment journey.

What Are Index Funds?

Imagine owning a small piece of the entire stock market without having to pick individual stocks. That’s the magic of an index fund. It’s a type of mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF) that mirrors a specific market index, like the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Instead of betting on one company, you’re investing in hundreds—like Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon—all at once. It’s less about chasing winners and more about riding the market’s natural growth.

Why Index Funds Are Perfect for Beginners

Index funds are the go-to choice for new investors, and here’s why:

  • Instant Diversification: One fund spreads your money across hundreds of companies, so a single stock’s stumble won’t derail your progress.
  • Low Fees: No need for expensive stock-picking experts—index funds keep costs down.
  • Set It and Forget It: No market expertise needed. Just invest and let time do the heavy lifting.
  • Proven Track Record: Studies show index funds often outperform actively managed funds, making them a reliable path to long-term wealth.

How to Start Investing in Index Funds: A 3-Step Guide

Ready to take control of your financial future? Follow these simple steps to begin your index fund journey.

Step 1: Choose a Brokerage Account

A brokerage account is your gateway to buying index funds. Think of it as your investment dashboard. Here are three top platforms perfect for beginners:

Pro Tip: Look for platforms with low fees, a variety of funds, and an easy-to-use interface. Most let you start with as little as $1!

Step 2: Pick the Right Index Fund

Once your account is set up, choose a fund that matches your goals:

  • S&P 500 Index Funds: Tracks the 500 largest U.S. companies (e.g., Vanguard’s VOO). Perfect for broad market exposure.
  • Total Stock Market Index Funds: Includes small, mid, and large-cap stocks (e.g., Schwab’s SWTSX). Maximum diversification.
  • International Index Funds: Invests globally (e.g., Fidelity’s FZILX). Adds worldwide balance.

Newbie Hack: Start with an S&P 500 or total market fund for simplicity and growth potential.

Step 3: Make Your First Investment

Now, it’s time to put your money to work:

  • Fund Your Account: Transfer as little as $1–$100 to get started.
  • Buy Your Fund: Search for your chosen fund (e.g., VOO at Vanguard) and hit “buy.”
  • Automate It: Set up automatic investments—like $50 a month—to grow your wealth effortlessly.

Quick Links:

Why Index Funds Are a Smart Choice

  • Lower Risk: Diversification cushions you from single-stock disasters.
  • Tax-Friendly: Fewer trades mean fewer taxable events.
  • Long-Term Gains: With the market’s historical 7–10% annual return, index funds are a retirement-building powerhouse.

Risks to Keep in Mind

No investment is bulletproof. Here’s what to watch:

  • Market Swings: When the market dips, so does your fund. But history shows it bounces back.
  • No Big Wins: You won’t beat the market—but for most, matching it is a win.

Tips for Index Fund Success

  • Invest Regularly: Use dollar-cost averaging to smooth out market highs and lows.
  • Diversify Further: Add international or bond funds as your portfolio grows.
  • Stay the Course: Don’t panic-sell during downturns. Long-term investors win by holding steady.

Real-Life Success Story: Sarah’s $240,000 Nest Egg

Meet Sarah, a 30-year-old teacher who invested $200 a month in an S&P 500 index fund. After 30 years, her $72,000 in contributions ballooned to over $240,000—thanks to the market’s average 7% return. No stock-picking, no stress—just consistent investing through platforms like Fidelity or Vanguard.

Start Your Investment Journey Today

Index funds are your beginner-friendly path to low-cost, reliable wealth-building. Sign up with a trusted brokerage like Vanguard, Fidelity, or Charles Schwab, pick a fund, and start with as little as $50 a month. The sooner you begin, the more time your money has to grow. Take that first step now—your future self will thank you!



The Bride-Hunting Tale: I’ve Failed 20 Marriage Proposals Already. I Don’t Need Titles Like Dragon Slayer or Hero Who Saved the Nation—All I Want Is a Cute Wife!

The Month of Wind

In the Empire, the year is divided into twelve seasons, which serve as the calendar.

The day when the length of day and night are exactly equal is called the “Month of Life,” Day One. The months follow in this order: “Flower,” “Water,” “Wind,” “Sun,” “Radiance,” “Grain,” “Harvest,” “Frost,” “Snow,” “Darkness,” and finally “Light.” Each month lasts for thirty days, matching the cycle of the moon Alma’s waxing and waning, before transitioning to the next season. However, the number of days in the final “Month of Light” varies depending on the year.

The fourth month in this cycle is the “Month of Wind.”

After this month comes the “Month of Sun” and the “Month of Radiance,” during which the southern regions of the Empire are struck by intense heatwaves. Even the Imperial Capital becomes unbearably hot, and many shops, workshops, and even government offices close during the peak hours of the day.

The Imperial Academy also grants a two-month vacation during this time, allowing students who are required to stay in dormitories to return home. Of course, I’m planning to return to the Margrave of Restal  territory as well.

Though, considering the distance from the Imperial Capital, I won’t be able to stay there for more than half a month.

By the way, there is also a concept of weeks within each month—but that’s something I’ll explain another time if given the chance.

Anyway…

Today is the day of the dinner party I was invited to by Lis Raltos, the daughter of Duke Fols  .

Let me make one thing clear—I didn’t beg her to invite me just because unmarried noblewomen might attend. No, not at all! I’m only attending because Lis kindly extended the invitation.

…Well, I mean, I’m not saying I don’t have any expectations.

Actually, I’m extremely excited about it!

Lis’s family, the House of Fols  , is one of the few high-ranking noble families with whom the Margrave of Restal  can interact without issue.

They are strict yet noble—a prestigious house among prestigious houses since the founding of the Empire. Duke Fols   is renowned for his unparalleled loyalty to the Emperor and maintains a neutral stance, keeping a distance from any faction.

That’s precisely why even a family like the Margrave of Restal , which has a lot of unique circumstances, is allowed to associate with them to some extent. Interacting with other high-ranking nobles would only invite unnecessary suspicion from the royal family.

Still, even though they avoid factions, the Duke of Fols   is the most prestigious noble in the Empire. Many vassal nobles are under their wing, and they maintain relations with numerous noble families across factions. That said, they’re very selective about who they associate with and keep a firm distance from nobles with questionable motives.

So, this is a dinner party hosted by such a duke.

There should be plenty of young ladies attending who meet my criteria.

To prepare, I’ve been meticulously checking my attire and hairstyle since early morning.

I’ve been careful about what I eat for several days now, and I’ve brushed my teeth multiple times.

…Okay, maybe I overdid it a bit and scrubbed myself raw, but that’s a minor issue.

A little before the appointed time, I left the dormitory to wait for Lis to pick me up.

Fidgeting anxiously…

Hey, stop looking at me like I’m some weirdo.

Worried that I’d end up being avoided by the ladies again, I took a deep breath to calm myself.

“What are you doing?”

“Whoa!?”

Suddenly hearing a voice behind me nearly stopped my heart.

“L-Lis? You…you scared me! And where’s the carriage?”

“I didn’t want to cause trouble by turning the carriage around right in front of the dormitory, so I had it wait a little further away.”

“…What’s the real reason?”

“Well, I saw you doing some strange dance, so I thought it’d be funny to sneak up on you.”

This brat! She masked her presence and even used magic to silence her approach!

But I’m generous, so I’ll forgive her—just this once. It’s not like I need her to take me to the dinner party or anything. Nope.

“Haa~ Well, whatever. By the way, this is my first time attending a dinner party at a duke’s residence. Is this outfit okay?”

I’d already asked Lis before, but I wanted to double-check since standing out with my clothing would be embarrassing.

“It’s fine. You could’ve even worn your academy uniform.”

My outfit is a semi-formal noble’s attire meant for occasions like visiting the royal palace.

It’s not as rigid as full formal wear or knight armor, so it’s commonly worn by male nobles and heirs at dinner parties.

The carriage Lis arrived in was indeed waiting a short distance from the dormitory, as she’d said.

It was a sleek black carriage adorned with the crest of the Fols   family.

Just by looking at it, I could tell it was incredibly luxurious. Probably, the money spent on buying this carriage alone could sustain a commoner family comfortably for over a decade.

“Please, get in.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Gracefully, a man who appeared to be both the driver and a guard opened the door for me. I quietly climbed inside.

The interior was just as extravagant as expected.

“Come to think of it, this is your first time riding in our carriage, isn’t it, Ford?”

“Yeah, I’ve never had the chance before.”

As I looked around curiously after getting in, Lis asked this somewhat belated question.

We’ve been friends since entering the academy, but I’ve never visited Lis’s family estate or their mansion in the capital.

We’ve wandered around the capital together before, but we always walked then.

Still, thanks to that, I’ve managed to avoid thinking of Lis as a duchess’s daughter too often.

The carriage moved slowly and steadily toward the ducal mansion, but the ride was eerily smooth and silent.

It was nothing like the noisy, bumpy rides in my family’s carriage, where sitting for half an hour would leave your butt sore. Comparing our shoddy excuse for a carriage—basically a wooden platform with walls and a roof tacked on—to this one feels wrong.

However, sitting across from Lis like this made me feel oddly uneasy.

Lis wasn’t in her uniform today either, instead wearing casual yet elegant attire suitable for a dinner party. Though her outfit still featured pants, making her gender ambiguous at a glance, it was adorned with intricate decorations.

Since I was in semi-formal wear, I hesitated to engage in our usual banter.

Seeing me unusually restless, Lis burst into laughter, but I ignored her.

If I reacted awkwardly and let her know how nervous I was, she’d undoubtedly tease me mercilessly.

As we chatted—or rather, as Lis teased me—the carriage entered the district lined with noble mansions.

The noble district is allocated based on proximity to the royal palace, with higher-ranked nobles closer to it and lower-ranked ones further away.

Since the academy is located on the outskirts of the noble district, the ducal mansion near the palace is only a few ryods (1 ryod = 0.8 km) away, making it a quick ride by carriage.

“Wow, impressive. This is the mansion of the Empire’s leading noble family, after all.”

Though it was still bright outside, the grand gate and the massive mansion beyond were clearly visible.

Armored guards stood on either side of the gate. Upon recognizing the carriage’s crest and seeing Lis peeking out the window, they immediately opened the gates. Truly befitting a lady of the house.

By the way, nobles obligated to attend the imperial council are assigned plots of land in the capital corresponding to their rank.

Legally, these lands are leased from the Emperor, but since they’re tied to their titles, changes in rank—whether promotion or demotion—result in relocation. However, unless something drastic happens, the property is inherited by the next generation, and the buildings are privately maintained.

Even though the Margrave of Restal  family isn’t required to attend the council, we were granted a plot equivalent to that of a marquis. But since we completely neglected building a mansion—or even maintaining the land—it was eventually reclaimed.

And here we are at the mansion of the illustrious House of Fols  , one of the Empire’s most prestigious noble families.

The estate is vast, so large that the entire properties of lesser noble families like viscounts could fit within it.

…Do they really need this many rooms?

The meticulous care of the gardens is evident at a glance, with every corner perfectly tended.

We passed through the stunning garden in the carriage and arrived at the entrance of the mansion, where dozens of maids and butlers lined up to greet us.

Oh no. I’m starting to feel really nervous.

“Alright, let’s get out.”

“O-Okay.”

Without waiting for my hesitation, Lis quickly stepped out of the carriage.

Damn it, I can’t back down now after coming this far!

“Welcome back, Lady Lisrante . Welcome, Lord Fordealt.”

“Yes, I’m home.”

“Y-Yes, p-please take care of me…”

Hey, Lis, stop laughing and help me out here!

“Hehe, I wonder how Garland would react if he saw you like this.”

“He’d probably mock me relentlessly, damn him.”

The image of that snide heir’s face popped into my mind, which somehow calmed me down.

After having a good laugh, Lis patted my shoulder and started walking toward the mansion’s entrance.

I hurried to follow her.

A butler-like man opened the large doors.

Standing there was a burly man with sharp eyes and a stern demeanor.

“You’ve arrived.”

“Father, I’ve returned.”

As Lis greeted him, I thought I saw the faintest hint of a smile cross his face.

But it quickly disappeared, and his piercing gaze turned to me.

“It’s been a while, Your Excellency the Chancellor.”

Lis’s father, the head of the House of Fols   and the Empire’s current chancellor, stood before me.

Oswald Miele Fols  , the unexpected meeting with the Empire’s foremost statesman.

…Wait, I was planning to greet him at the start of the dinner party, but he’s already here?!

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