People felt the strongest sense of happiness during the height of summer, especially those living in the Warm Enclave, who could smile every day.
During the height of summer, all things grew most vigorously, and the harvest was bountiful.
During the height of summer, the power of the snowfields continuously retreated, with no threat of Snow Demons or Snow Ghosts invading the realm.
News of Cigar Castle's first barbecue buffet dinner quickly spread across the entire Blackfire Land. Six Great Knights and twelve Armored Knights had been taken in as followers by the master of Blackfire Land, Baron Thunderflame Russell.
What people talked about most was Eric and Charles being granted titles.
Charles's ennoblement in particular.
Eric was a Phantom Beast Knight, Russell's riding instructor, and Russell's captain of guard knights. He had followed Russell through campaigns north and south, and had even participated in the second Battle of the Fall. His ennoblement had been expected and surprised no one.
Charles, on the other hand, came as a surprise.
There was no doubt that Charles was one of Russell's confidants. The entire reclamation effort in Blackfire Land had been overseen by Charles.
But Charles's fatal weakness was his poor Battle Aura cultivation, which prevented him from contracting a Phantom Beast.
Moreover, he had rarely set foot on the snowfields or participated in battle to earn merit. It could be said that he had virtually no chance of being ennobled.
After all, titles in the Shadowflame Grand Duchy had always depended solely on military merit and bloodline—second sons of High Nobles possessed noble blood and could be ennobled without military achievements; ordinary people who had not earned military merit could only pursue unconventional paths, such as becoming scholars.
Yet Charles had been granted a fief.
Naturally, some knights felt resentment, believing