"Th-this..."
Azur's breathing grew heavy. He stared at Ryan in disbelief, almost thinking the other man was joking with him.
Nobles... If Aixnier had not been covered by the Fierce Winter, if its population had not plummeted, if they still had their lands, then even in the Otherworld, no one would be able to question their status.
But under the Fierce Winter, everything was gone. Their forefathers had earned noble titles through meritorious service, only for their line to decline in their generation. After arriving in the Frozen Earth Territory, several of these old friends had spent every day depressed. If there had been alcohol here, they would have long since drowned themselves in drink.
They had no face to meet their ancestors because they had lost their noble status. But now, there was actually hope of returning to the ranks of the nobility?
Wouldn't that mean they could stand shoulder to shoulder with their ancestors?
In that short minute, Ryan watched their expressions shift from fear and despair to suspicion, shock, and disbelief, until finally becoming fervent and blazing.
Their expressions changed far too quickly.
"Becoming a Baronet means entering the circle of nobility. Every Baronet can own an estate—an estate where they can build fences—as well as their own soldiers, retainers, and followers. These are the rights a noble should possess."
"A Baronet is a title granted for meritorious service. What counts as meritorious service? Opening up territory, or making contributions."
"Thus, every Baronet should be an authoritative and powerful noble within the territory, second only to the lord."
"A Baronet need only answer to the lord and obey the lord's orders. Beyond that, within his own territory and elsewhere, he is a noble in every sense of the word. Even when meeting other Barons, Viscounts, or