Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 361 - 361 174 Promotion and Nobility Advancement

361: Chapter 174: Promotion and Nobility Advancement 361: Chapter 174: Promotion and Nobility Advancement King Lydwen and the multitude of nobles had left one after another, while the flying dragons took to the sky, carrying away the endless army of the King’s Domain that had surrounded Archers City.

Before long, the festooned banquet hall, both inside and out, once again brimmed with a solemn atmosphere.

The person seated on the grand throne in the hall had changed from Lydwen III back to the current master of this Earldom.

Eriv, holding the Scepter and wearing the Power Ring, clad in a beast fur cloak, with the Lord Crown signifying his ascension as the Earl of Orland upon his head.

Indeed, thanks to the legacy of peace bequeathed by his predecessor, for the hundreds of thousands under the rule of the Farolis Family within the Earl’s Domain, Eriv’s power differed little from that of a “King.”

Trumpeters on both sides of the hall sounded their solemn music, as dozens of vassals who had earned their merits in expanding the territory knelt on one knee in unison, awaiting the reading of the lengthy enfeoffment documents by the family steward.

Clearly, it was impossible for Eriv to hold individual ennoblement ceremonies for so many people, which was one of the reasons he had gathered all his vassals to convene in Archers City.

The grand collective ennoblement ceremony officially commenced as the Thorny Flower Earl rose from his seat.

Many attendants who had followed Eriv into battle now received recognition, being bestowed with formal knightly titles.

As for the Thorny Flower Knights whose deeds had not met the standards for elevation in rank, they were either rewarded handsomely or granted lands several times larger than their former fiefs.

But the highlight of the ceremony was, of course, the creation of ten new barons within the family’s power map.

Unsurprisingly, Leon heard his own name among them.

During the entire ceremony, he was the last one Eriv personally knighted with a sword tap.

Leon Pendragon, by my authority, I enfeeble thee as “Baron Avalon” and grant unto thee the lands from the west starting at “Avalon Castle,” reaching to “River Bay Town” in the east, from “Borifor” in the north to “Mine Cliff Town” in the south, these two hundred fiefdoms of land encompassing eighteen territories…

Avalon Castle?!

The surrounding barons and knights, originally silent, couldn’t help but widen their eyes in surprise.

Having come all the way through Glade County, they had all seen the magnificence of that fortress.

Even Leon, prepared for generous appraisals due to Eriv’s repeated favor, felt his heartbeat quicken slightly at this unexpected gift.

Could it be that Eriv would so easily bestow upon him that strategically vital river valley stronghold, a fortress with immeasurable worth, positioned at a major crossroad?

After all, the area of just those two hundred Orland fiefdoms was not small.

Converted into the large area units commonly used in the Northern Kingdom, it was roughly the equivalent of over five hundred square kilometers on Earth from a previous era.

Just looking at the figures on the paper, Leon’s domain had increased by an astounding factor of five hundred.

Even if the actual area under his control turned out to be less than one-tenth of what was on paper, with more than half situated in the uninhabited Nightmare Forest, the official documents clarified that the various villages and towns of Orland and Kantadar beyond the forest’s edge were no illusion.

With such a vast territory and a population of subjects that was at least ten times larger than before, Leon felt thoroughly satisfied, even without the grant of Avalon Castle.

Nonetheless…

now that Eriv had spoken the words of enfeoffment, Leon saw no reason to refuse.

Who would complain about too much land?

The more, the better.

Yet to think that the ancient fortress, candidly handed over in weighing its pros and cons, had come full circle back into his own hands, it was impossible for him not to feel a thrill.

The castle…

still a large fortress with complete and advanced infrastructure.

Had he been left to build it on his own, it wasn’t just a matter of affordability.

Even if he could afford it with money raining from the sky, chances were slim he would live to see its completion, perhaps not even at an old age…

And what delighted him even more was that from now on, he would no longer need to sneak around to meet Lola, no longer needing to behave as if they were secret lovers.

With plans to move promptly, he didn’t dare neglect the investiture ceremony.

He immediately spoke out and swore allegiance to Eriv and Farolis once more.

Eriv nodded his head with satisfaction, pleased with the undeniable joy in the young man’s eyes.

This was also the outcome he had hoped to see.

As for granting Avalon to the other party…

today’s decision was not made on a whim.

Back when he had the other party name the place after the family legend, he had already contemplated this plan.

Sheathing the Dwarf Steel Sword, Eriv took from a nearby attendant the long sword that was nearly identical to “Thorny Blade” and handed it to Leon.

“This is a sword I once commissioned to serve as the substitute for ‘Thorny Blade.’

Because you returned my family heirloom, you have become intertwined with the Thorny Flower.

Today, as it has fulfilled its purpose, I present to you this blade that once never left my side.

From this moment on, you are not just my brave warrior but also the protector of thousands of people.

May you continue to wield justice as your banner and courage as your blade, defending this land that brings you honor…”

Holding the noble long sword that wasn’t made from Dwarf Steel but was still valuable, Leon rose and answered earnestly, “I will not fail the trust you’ve placed in me, as per your words.”

….

The next day, in the garden of Archers’ inner castle, lord and vassal made leisurely conversation during a stroll.

During the conversation, Eriv heard the doubts of Leon beside him and chuckled, “You wonder why I am so generous?”

Leon lowered his head, glancing at the “Pseudo-Thorny Sword” now hanging at his side, replacing the original spare sword, then lifted his gaze and sincerely complimented, “I am ever grateful for your magnanimity, yet Avalon Fortress is now a critical passageway for the kingdom’s southern expeditions.

Furthermore, it is your ‘ancestral land.’ Why would you entrust it confidently into the hands of a greenhorn like me?”

“How many fortunate and valiant young lads like you can be found on the continent?” Eriv laughed heartily, patting Leon.

“Without you, how could I have the chance to expand territories by a thousand miles like today?

If I can’t trust you, then there’s no one in the Thorny Flower Family I can trust.

As for the ancestral land, remember what I once said?

Let the past return to the dust of time…

Having decided to let go of the past, how could I cling to things that have bound the descendants of Farolis for generations?

As valuable as that fortress is, it’s no different to me than any other town in Farolis.”

Eriv dropped his hand, then suddenly asked Leon about something else, “Is that Wolf Family boy still on your territory?”

“He is in Selva, keeping an eye on my estate for me,” Leon said calmly, even though Canis was actually in his pocket.

The Earl of Thorny Flower nodded, then revealed more practical considerations, “Avalon is currently the most important passageway on the south-north roads, but its position is right south of the Wolf Territory, and a fortress of such size can’t be hidden…

I’ve always been concerned about the Wolf Family eyeing it someday.

Handing it over to you is not just because of your outstanding defense of Longka but also because you don’t have deep enmities with the Wolf Family.

Moreover, since you can win over and form ties with the Young Master of Gunnar, with this relationship, I think no one is more suitable than you to guard the Thorny Flower’s western borders against the covetous Wolf Family.”

Leon’s expression revealed a hint of sudden understanding.

However, Eriv added, “Though that’s said, it’s true that your foundation is still shallow.

I won’t immediately withdraw the garrison from the fortress until your army is established and the defense of Avalon is secured.

But don’t worry about anything, they won’t interfere in the administration of your territory.”

Leon nodded, “With Your Majesty’s soldiers already here to defend my territory, what concerns could I possibly have?”

Eriv raised an eyebrow, “Ah!

Don’t get too excited, lad.

Although you’re not responsible for the troops’ pay, once you take over the territory, you’ll still need to provide them with provisions.

Don’t starve my fine warriors.”

Leon shrugged off his Sealing Lord’s jest, “You joke, my lord.

This is my duty, after all…”