After reading the decree for Selecting the Young Master issued by Redfort's new Elder Council, Russell was genuinely speechless. Wasn't this just the Dragon Sleep Continent's version of "prince-electors"?
Back on Earth, in the ancient Holy Roman Empire of Europe, seven prince-electors had once chosen the emperor.
Of course, the prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire were essentially the result of royal authority weakening while the feudal lords grew powerful.
It was somewhat like the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, except there had been no Qin Shi Huang to unite the realm, and religious factors further muddied the waters. In a word—chaos. That was why Voltaire had mocked the Holy Roman Empire as neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire.
Once the initial shock passed.
Russell quickly understood the difference between Selecting the Young Master and choosing prince-electors—the Shadowflame Dragonblood Family had merely lost its heirs, not its influence.
At its core, the Shadowflame Dragonblood Family was not a concept founded upon bloodline, but upon the Shadowflame Dragon. As long as the Shadowflame Dragon endured, the Shadowflame Dragonblood Family's power would not decline.
It was only because Grand Duke Kunsitan had been the sole direct descendant of the Shadowflame Dragonblood Family, and had died without an heir, that three candidates for Selecting the Young Master had been chosen.
"Kunsley Sunflower..." Russell narrowed his eyes as he recalled this candidate's background.
He was the eldest grandson of Swan Baron Kunbif Shadowflame, while Baron Kunbif was King Quintin III Shadowflame's cousin. Their bloodlines were connected, so he could be said to be the most suitable candidate among the collateral branches of the Shadowflame Dragonblood Family to inherit the Grand Duke's position.
But there was a simple reason Kunsley Sunflower had not simply been appointed to inherit the Grand Duke's position.