King's envoy, Armand de Aquitaine, holding the royal decree, stood at the center of the baron's castle hall.
The hall was crowded with all the knights and officials from Ryan's domain, as Ryan knelt silently before the king's envoy, saying nothing.
"Baron Jean Ryan Macado, since your ennoblement, you have displayed remarkable military achievements and administrative skills, proving your value to the Lady and the king with courage, honor, and faith. Hereby, on behalf of the Knight King of Brittany, Denoir Jean Richard de L'Angron, I elevate Jean Baron Ryan Macado to the Earl of Glamorgan, in hopes that you continue to prove your worth to the Lady and the king with your loyalty, life, and devotion," Armand, holding the royal decree, stated unhurriedly.
"I accept the command," Ryan responded succinctly, as there was no need for further words.
The clear signal was that the king did not wish to confer the title in person, opting to send an envoy instead, indicating reluctance and a desire not to see Ryan. Thus, the title was granted in his domain directly.
Ryan was not interested in pretense, a simple acknowledgment sufficed.
Armand nodded, "May the Lady's light illuminate your path."
Then, with a grand gesture, attendants approached with several garments, including an earl's attire with white fur trim on a deep red velvet coat, a cap adorned with three mink stripes indicating rank, and a coronet with a gilded silver band and eight silver balls.
Armand ceremoniously tapped Ryan's shoulders with a long sword, completing the investiture.
This ceremony deviated from tradition, usually performed by the king, but given the mutual reluctance between Ryan and King Richard, it was best avoided.
From that day, Ryan was both Baron Jean and Earl of Glamorgan. Despite his effort to maintain composure, his shoulders trembled slightly.
After twenty-five years in this world, he had finally become a hereditary noble!
Brittany's nobility is tiered: barons, earls, marquises, dukes, and the king. The marquis title, recently introduced, doesn't differ much from that of an earl, serving as special recognition.
Additionally, there are lords and knights, the latter awarded to anyone, including serfs in history.
However, the leap from baron to earl is significant, marking a fundamental shift. Ryan, through his efforts, officially entered the ranks of hereditary nobility.
Barons, initially "free nobles" or "servants of the king," were extensively ennobled during King Louis's reign, although few held actual lands. Over time, to control the proliferation of baronies, the title evolved, distinguishing from knights and becoming the lowest tier among the great nobility.
By law, baronies are not hereditary; a baron's son must earn recognition as a kingdom knight to inherit. In contrast, a duke's son needs no such validation.
Thus, a baron's succession prioritizes martial prowess, while ducal succession is purely hereditary, making barons unstable nobility, serving primarily for their military contributions.
The transition from baron to earl signifies a milestone. Now, as Earl of Glamorgan, Ryan possesses the authority to wage war, appoint officials, and manage his lands independently.
Handed the royal decree, the king's envoy Armand smiled, "Greetings, Earl of Glamorgan."
Glamorgan? The title evoked a peculiar feeling in Ryan, as if describing something foolish.
For now, Ryan simply smiled back, "Greetings, Mr. Armand."
"Congratulations, Lord Ryan, champion of the Lady," Armand smiled warmly. "May I have a drink to celebrate your promotion?"
Before Ryan could respond, Marchioness Sulia approached with a smile, "Of course, Mr. Armand, you're very welcome."
Meanwhile, Sulia subtly signaled Ryan to heed her words.
Ryan sensed the envoy's goodwill wasn't meant to trouble him, curious about Sulia's gesture but complied, inviting, "Please, this way to the drawing-room."
As they proceeded, Ryan lagged behind, "Sulia?"
The lady knight whispered, "Ryan, don't be rude to your future vassal."
"Future vassal?" Ryan was puzzled, but Sulia urged him forward. She then presented a bottle of Winfort's finest wine, "Lucius," and joined Ryan.
Sulia elegantly uncorked the wine, poured it into a crystal goblet, and offered it to Armand, "Greetings, Mr. Armand."
"Greetings, Sulia, congratulations, winner of the Knight Tournament," Armand nodded, his eyes catching Ryan and Sulia's clasped hands, understanding dawning on him.
Despite his youthful appearance, Armand's eyes betrayed his true age, his mundane looks contrasted by the determination in his blue eyes.
"Let me introduce, Holy Grail Knight Armand de Aquitaine, winner of the Knight Tournament twenty-one years ago, one of the original Holy Grail Knights, the last of the Aquitaine ducal line, and the king's standard-bearer," Sulia introduced.
"Then you are..." Ryan was astonished, facing the last of the Aquitaine line, a tournament victor, a Holy Grail Knight.
"Apologies, I didn't recognize you at first!" Ryan quickly apologized.
Armand, touched by memories, barely smiled, recalling his vow for vengeance and his journey to becoming a Holy Grail Knight.
"I should thank you, Lord Ryan," Armand emerged from his reverie, eagerly anticipating, "About the Red Duke..."
"I killed him," Ryan confirmed, "completely ended him, I'm sure."
"I don't doubt you, Lord Ryan, but... the Red Duke was notoriously elusive, fleeing battles at the first sign of defeat. Could you share how you seized the opportunity?" Armand pressed, his eagerness uncharacteristic of a Holy Grail Knight.
"His master was Eb Waldstein, known for speed, but I kept up," Ryan quipped, "I learned from a lady named Zhang that speed outpaces time."
Confused, Armand and Sulia sought clarification, but Ryan gestured to stop, presenting a sword, "Then, I'll return this sword to its rightful owner."
"The Sword of Aquitaine!" Armand immediately took the sword.
Engraved with irises and mystical runes, the Sword of Aquitaine, passed down among the dukes, had stayed with the Red Duke for five centuries.
Armand, accepting the sword without hesitation, caressed it, moved, "It's finally back."
"I tried to purify it," Ryan began, explaining the sword's diminished power.
Ignoring Ryan, Armand cut his hand, letting his sacred blood drip onto the sword, causing it to sizzle.
Miraculously, the sword, corrupted by the Red Duke, was purified by the blood of Aquitaine, regaining its former glory and radiating a celestial aura.
Then, Armand kneeled before Ryan.
"I, Holy Grail
Knight Armand de Aquitaine, swear by the Lady to pledge loyalty to Ryan Macado, the Lady's champion."
Surprised and initially skeptical, Ryan realized Holy Grail Knights don't jest about the Lady, accepting Armand's oath and appointing him as his knight and standard-bearer.
The ceremony mirrored their earlier roles, with Armand pledging loyalty to Ryan just moments after officiating his own promotion.
Sometimes, life's magic surpasses fiction, with reality being far more extraordinary.
And yet, there was more to come.
Armand unveiled a majestic banner, imbued with divine power, woven from high elf silk, adorned with the Lady's likeness holding the Holy Grail and golden irises.
"This is?!?!" Ryan gasped, momentarily losing composure.
"The king forbade me from taking this flag, claiming it belonged to the royal treasury," Armand smiled, "But the Lady visited me in a dream, saying the banner never belonged to the king, only to the Lady."
"And according to the Lady's oracle, it now belongs to you."
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