Victor told Alex about it at once. Alex was naturally delighted and fully supported Victor in seizing this chance to become a duke.
With two dukes among the Vela Nobles, they would have a stronger voice within the duchy and be better able to protect the interests of their small circle.
In the short term, this was certainly a good thing, especially for the Iron Birch Family, which was still relatively weak.
In the long term, once Alex and Victor grew old and the Iron Birch Family and Golden Sunflower Family expanded further, conflicts would be hard to avoid. But that was a problem for the future.
For now, the benefits to the Iron Birch Family of the Golden Sunflower Family becoming a ducal family far outweighed the drawbacks.
As for Duke Barick's proposed terms of exchange, Alex saw no problem with them. The technologies were important and valuable, but given what Victor stood to gain, a ducal title was far more tempting.
Dukes also held a distinctly different status from other nobles in the Raine Kingdom. Beyond better treatment and privileges, a duke commanded more votes in a province's noble council. By any measure, this was an excellent opportunity.
Still, Alex urged Victor to consider it carefully and find a way to secure enough benefits. If the technologies could be traded, then trade them. He trusted Victor to develop even better ones in the future.
Victor thought so too. In fact, the territory's research into electric motors and generators had already reached a promising level.
Within the next few years, the territory could begin building a power grid. Generating electricity from the Northern Frontier Region's abundant water resources would be cheap and could greatly reduce the Two Rivers Army's current reliance on steam engines for industrial power.
As industrial