Duke Golden Emblem

Advancing to become a Soul Saint Wizard, entering the High Council, being invested as a duke, and receiving a territory—these steps came one after another.

Rayne had already completed the first two. Unless he declared that he was voluntarily giving up his ducal title and territory, he could apply to the High Council at any time within a year to carve out a territory within the Empire.

A duchy could not be designated arbitrarily. There were several restrictions.

First, its area could not exceed half a province. It could include several cities, but important imperial cities such as Northril and Deep Harbor City could not be chosen.

Second, the territory had to be unclaimed and could not conflict with existing nobles.

Finally, when a duchy was designated, its total population could not exceed ten million.

These three conditions meant that a duchy could not be chosen in the Empire's most prosperous regions. It had to be either a frontier territory or a city with a relatively backward economy and population. The duke would have to govern it carefully, develop his territory, and use it to benefit the Empire.

In addition, there was another law: a duchy could not be inherited.

When the Soul Saint Wizard himself died, the territory would return to the Empire. In the Empire's history, three Soul Saint Wizards had died or disappeared, and their ducal titles and territories had been revoked.

Rayne did not need to go through a vote in the High Council to obtain a territory.

However, the Soul Saint Wizards would have to discuss the territory's location and area, then report it to the Goddess of Magic. Once She approved, a grand investiture ceremony would be held.

Marius handed Rayne a map showing the distribution of mines on the plateau, then left.

Rayne