Reno's Conversation

"Welcome, Lord Ismir!" Luke Leopold placed a hand over his chest and gave a slight nod. He did not appear overly enthusiastic. After all, he was the commander-in-chief of the kingdom's Swift River Infantry. In terms of status and seniority, this newly risen lord could not compare to him. A lord? How many legions did he even command? Besides, just because he currently had no title did not mean king Roland would not grant titles to him and his brother. Luke Leopold considered it for a moment. At the very least, he and his younger brother should start as barons.

Even Lance, who worked himself like a beast of burden, was a baron. Since he had brought a legion back to rejoin the kingdom, surely he could not rank below Lance, could he?

Roland had not forgotten the two brothers or Lavien and the others. The kingdom simply did not need so many nobles right now. What was the point of cramming so many nobles into such a tiny patch of land, letting them scheme against one another all day? There was also something Roland was too embarrassed to say: he did not like creating Court Nobles... Don't ask why. It was simply too humiliating. He could not offer gold, silver, or jewels, nor could he offer manors or fiefs. He was a king with nothing to give. If Giant Port had not been a necessary measure to win people over this time, Roland would not even have planned to grant anyone a noble title. Who had ever heard of granting someone a lordship with only a thousand Gold Coins? Not even a manor came with it. Saying that aloud would insult the very title of nobility... That was also why Roland had agreed so readily to Ismir's pioneering venture.