Chapter 284

Volume 2 Ch 27: The Merit System

Nobles ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍who held actual fiefs were known as landed nobles. Within their territories, they enjoyed a high degree of autonomy, including the right to levy taxes, administer justice, and maintain private troops of a certain size, making their lands almost like states within a state.

At ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the same time, however, they were required to swear loyalty to the Emperor, fulfill obligations such as military service and taxation, and submit to the Empire’s formal supervision and inspections.

In ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍theory, the Emperor, or inspectors appointed by him, had the authority to inspect noble territories at regular or irregular intervals and examine the quality of governance. If a noble was found to be “debauched and lawless, cruel in the extreme toward the people, or incompetent in governance to the point that the populace could not live in peace or imperial stability was threatened,” the Emperor had the right to censure them, reduce their lands, or even strip them of their title.

Yet ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍throughout the long course of history, how strictly such inspections were actually carried out—and how effective they proved—often depended on the strength of imperial authority, the will of the Emperor himself, and the tangled roots of noble power.

Under ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a ruler like the current Emperor, Augustus III, who was regarded as both wise and strong-handed, most capable nobles at least made every effort on the surface to keep their domains in excellent order, preserving appearances, avoiding risk, and maximizing their own interests.

As ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍for the far-flung borderlands, where the Emperor’s reach was weak, or the territories of ancient noble houses whose influence ran deep, the true state of affairs was rarely something that could be summed up in a few words.

Still, the Empire as a whole remained relatively stable, and large-scale uprisings among the populace were comparatively rare. This too was seen as proof that imperial authority still carried real weight.

As for how one obtained noble status, in the earliest years of the Empire, the primary method had been large-scale enfeoffment based on founding merit, which laid the foundation for the original noble class.

In the centuries that followed, aside from the extremely rare cases of someone being elevated by exceptional merit—such as saving the nation in a moment of great peril—the main path for commoners or low-ranking knights to rise into the nobility was military merit.

By earning sufficiently distinguished achievements on the battlefield, and having those deeds recognized by the Emperor or the Imperial Council, one could be granted a title and receive the corresponding land or stipend, thereby leaping into a higher social class.

This was both a reward for martial valor and one of the Empire’s most important means of absorbing fresh blood while preserving its martial spirit and national vitality.

Another situation, however, concerned the internal affairs of noble families themselves.

Many ancient houses had numerous children, and not all of them were qualified to inherit the principal title or the greater portion of the family estate.

In order to appease and encourage those talented children who were not the primary heirs, and also to prevent internal strife within great houses, Augustus II had promulgated a famous law: children of noble birth could, by virtue of their own outstanding contributions to the Empire, be granted honorary titles.

Such honorary titles were usually lower than the title they might otherwise have inherited, but they still came with the corresponding social rank and certain privileges, such as the right to attend certain noble assemblies or enter particular places. At times, they even came with a small fief or a generous stipend, ensuring that even those who could not inherit the main line would still possess independent means and standing.

On the surface, this policy seemed to dilute the purity of noble titles, but in practice it effectively eased tensions within great houses, encouraged noble scions to serve the Empire, and to some degree enabled the Empire to discover and retain more talent. It was widely regarded as one of Augustus II’s most important measures for consolidating his rule and restoring the nation’s strength.

Someone like Rex, who came from a common background and gained the title of Baron through major service, was a classic example of ennoblement through military merit. Meanwhile, the titles and high-ranking medals granted to Lillian, Vera, Ilyss, and Ryan, though not in themselves direct promotions in rank, still carried great value within the noble order. They symbolized status, merit, and the degree to which they were favored. For young people like them, who already came from distinguished backgrounds or possessed unusual circumstances, they represented an addition both to personal capital and family glory.

The Emperor’s proclamation and rewards were like sparks cast into boiling oil, instantly pushing the atmosphere in the square to its highest peak.

The cheers and applause of the people rolled like endless waves, one surge higher than the last, as if they might overturn the reviewing platform itself.

The Royal Orchestra once again struck up the majestic Imperial Triumph March at precisely the right moment, and its soaring melody intertwined with the thunder of the ceremonial cannon, together weaving a grand movement of Imperial glory.

Ryan, Lillian, Rex, Vera, and Ilyss were once more motioned forward by the Emperor to stand shoulder to shoulder at the foremost edge of the Royal Reviewing Platform, there to receive the roaring adoration and congratulations of the multitude below.

In accordance with etiquette, they inclined their heads in acknowledgment to the people on all sides.

Ryan’s face remained calm. Vera and Ilyss smiled with measured grace. Lillian maintained an elegant reserve. Rex did his best to imitate the posture of those beside him, though his body was still visibly stiff.

Soon after, the herald stepped forward again and began reading from another, much longer list.

It named those who had participated in the Starfall Ruins expedition in the outer zones, assisted in its efforts, or contributed during its earlier stages, and who had ultimately survived.

Naturally, the rewards they received could not compare with those bestowed on Ryan and the others. Most were granted only gold, lower-ranking medals, or minor promotions in military rank or office. Even so, they too received the applause and cheers of the people.

The Emperor also took the occasion to declare that “the Empire shall not forget any who have offered their service.”

The reading of this list was more of a necessary political ritual than anything else, meant to display the vastness of imperial grace, comfort hearts, and at the same time soften the shadow cast by the heavy losses suffered in the ruins.

At last, the long and heated ceremony was drawing to its close.

After offering one final salute to the Emperor and the people, Ryan and the others withdrew slowly from that suffocating and dazzling high platform under the guidance of court attendants, walking along the designated passage toward the rear resting area.

The moment they left the center of universal attention and stepped into the relatively quiet corridor beyond, the tightness in all their backs eased at the same time.

“Haaah—!”

Rex nearly stumbled against a cold stone pillar. He yanked open the tightly fastened collar at his throat and drew huge breaths of air, sweat beading all over his forehead, his face pale.

“G-Good heavens... I nearly suffocated up there! With so many people staring, and His Majesty right in front of me... m-my legs were shaking...”

He muttered the words with lingering dread, his blunt and honest reaction so unlike the rigid, forced dignity he had held together on the platform that the contrast was almost comical.

Lillian had already begun to harden her expression, fully prepared to scold him for the disgrace he had nearly caused up there—walking with his arms and legs on the same side together had practically shamed House Rosedale before the whole Empire.

But the moment she turned and saw him drenched in sweat, face pale, looking as though he had just fought ten brutal battles in a row, the rebuke that had risen to her lips was swallowed back down.

She gave a soft sigh, took a silk handkerchief embroidered with her family crest from her handbag, and tossed it at him with poorly disguised irritation.

“Wipe your sweat! Honestly, look at you... and fasten your collar properly!”

Rex fumbled clumsily as he caught the handkerchief, still faintly fragrant. He froze for a second, then a suspicious flush crept over his face. Awkwardly, he wiped his forehead and neck before fumbling to fasten his collar again, his movements still a little stiff.

“Th-thank you, my lady...”

Lillian turned her head away, the tips of her ears seeming a little pink as well. She refused to look at him again and only muttered under her breath,

“...I’ll settle accounts with you when we get back.”

RelatedRelatedRelated