Damien nodded, thinking of village heads, town mayors, and city mayors.
"Next up is the count," Theo continued. "When you think of nobility, this is the rank you usually associate with it. It's from the count rank that one can request an audience with His Majesty directly. Counts typically achieve their title after barons and viscounts have made further accomplishments, leading to the grant of multiple settlements, including cities. In most cases, counts have a vast influence, overseeing lower-ranking nobles in their territories."
Counts were what Damien often thought of when he pictured nobility in fiction.
"Then there's the marquis, which is where my family stands. There are a total of six... no, seven families, and their origins vary greatly. Like counts, marquises govern multiple settlements, including cities, and have a significant influence, comparable to a small country. Most of them were originally independent states."
