Chapter 498: Ennoblement as a Viscount!

"My noble lords and ladies, for years, due to my health, I have not personally presided over such banquets—these matters have all been handled by Crown Prince!"

"All these years, it has truly been hard on my eldest son!!"

Upon the high dais, the Griffin King sat down and began to speak.

As he spoke, his face radiated tender affection toward the Crown Prince.

"Father, as your eldest son, it is my duty to share your burdens—so you need not concern yourself with me!" the Crown Prince immediately replied with solemn respect.

The King nodded with a smile, deeply moved.

This scene of filial piety and paternal love moved many noble ladies and young ladies to nod in silent emotion.

At this, the King shifted his tone: "Of course, with my health improving, such circumstances are now behind us!"

"From now on, I shall resume my duties as King and make our Griffin Kingdom even greater!"

"And you, Crown Prince, may now take some time to rest! Enough said—let us now toast to the future of the Griffin Kingdom!"

"To the future!" At these words, the nobles raised their goblets and cheered as they drank heartily.

Only the Crown Prince and a few nobles flickered expressions of unusual intent.

Gervas was among them.

The King's words appeared to depict a scene of paternal love and filial duty.

But viewed from another angle, they signaled his return to power and the reclamation of authority.

Of course, Gervas cared nothing for any of this—he cared only when his title would be granted.

Fortunately, the King did not keep him waiting long.

After the toast and cheers, the banquet immediately moved to its main purpose.

"My noble lords and ladies, you all know the purpose of tonight's banquet at the Jasper Estate: to honor the heroes who bravely fought in the Northern Region and successfully repelled the beastmen invasion!"

"Now, let me, the Griffin King, personally reward these meritorious subjects!"

"Let us welcome our foremost hero of the Northern Campaign: my loyal subject of Griffin VII, the fearless knight of the Stormhold in the Southern Region, Viscount Gervas Gale!"

Instantly, many nobles turned their gazes toward Gervas.

Of course, these glances came mostly from nobles who had participated in the Northern Campaign—outside them, few in the capital even knew Gervas by name.

As these nobles stared, the curious lords, ladies, and young ladies of the capital, who had been scanning the hall, now fixed their eyes on Gervas.

"Oh! So young! Could he really be the top hero of the Northern Campaign? He doesn't look it at all!"

"Indeed! So young, so handsome—how extraordinary must he be to earn top honors fighting beastmen in the Northern Region!"

As the capital nobles fixed their gaze on Gervas, a low buzz of murmurs erupted through the hall.

Especially among the noble ladies and young ladies—Gervas's youth and handsomeness utterly defied their expectations.

True, there had been young heroes before.

But most were elderly, broad-shouldered, and rugged.

After all, only at such an age could one possess the wisdom and strength to achieve great deeds.

Young men like Gervas usually still lived under the protection of their fathers.

Still, though surprised, the noble ladies and young ladies quickly accepted Gervas as this handsome, youthful top hero.

In fact, many ladies and young ladies began subtly sending him flirtatious glances.

"Viscount Gervas, please follow me immediately to the dais to meet His Majesty the King!"

A servant swiftly appeared beside Gervas and led him through the crowd to the foot of the dais.

"Your servant, Gervas Gale, bows before His Majesty the King!"

Standing before the dais, Gervas struck his chest with his right fist and bowed deeply, performing the standard courtly bow.

Though this world did have a kneeling ritual,

it was mostly reserved for serfs and commoners.

Between monarch and vassal, kneeling was generally unnecessary.

Only during ennoblement was a single knee lowered as a sign of respect.

This was a dignity nobles of this knightly world had fought to secure for themselves.

Though distinctions still existed between great and lesser nobles,

all agreed that once admitted into the noble order, one must no longer endure the utter lack of dignity afforded to commoners and serfs.

Thus, it was an accepted rule: lesser nobles did not kneel to greater nobles, nor to their liege lords.

"Rise, Viscount Gervas!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Gervas rose with utmost reverence.

The King then studied Gervas closely and nodded: "When Lord Willoby first told me your age, I thought he had made a mistake!"

"But after repeated verification, I finally confirmed your age was correct. Gervas, to possess such ability and courage at your age is truly rare!"

"Now tell me: having earned top honors in the Northern Campaign, what reward do you desire?"

Hearing the King's question, Gervas's eyes lit up.

I know this one!

Without hesitation, Gervas replied firmly: "Your Majesty, as a subject, it is my duty to defend the Kingdom when invaded and to defeat all enemies who dare challenge Your Majesty's dignity!"

"Therefore, I seek no lavish reward—I only pray Your Majesty and the Griffin Kingdom may enjoy eternal peace and stability!"

Good heavens! The nobles exclaimed inwardly!

What a remarkable man!

Not only young and handsome, but his words were so perfectly pleasing!

"Hahahaha! Excellent! No lavish reward sought—only eternal peace and stability for the Kingdom!"

"Viscount Gervas, if every noble in the kingdom could possess your kind of resolve, then the great revival of our Griffin Kingdom would absolutely be no problem!"

"Of course, as monarch, since you have rendered great meritorious service, I cannot possibly withhold a reward—otherwise, who would still be willing to fight to the death for my kingdom in the future?"

"Therefore, I, Henrik Griffin, Lord of the Griffin Kingdom, hereby proclaim that, in recognition of Gervas Gale's outstanding feats in the Northern Campaign!"

"Today, I specially enfeoff Viscount Gervas Gale as Count-Lord, and bestow upon him lands befitting the rank!"

Waaaah!

"A Count's title—he's actually being granted a Count's title! And lands to match as well. Oh heavens, this Gervas has become a great noble!"

"Right! How old is he? Twenty? Twenty-three? Such a young Count-Lord—apart from the direct bloodlines of those Hou Jue and ducal families, I doubt the kingdom could produce another!"

"Of course it couldn't! And even the titles and fiefs obtained by the heirs of those Hou Jue and ducal houses cannot compare with this Count-Lord Gervas, personally enfeoffed by His Majesty the King!"

"Right! They definitely can't compare—even the size of the fief is beyond comparison. Oh right, I wonder if this Viscount Gervas… no, Count Gervas is engaged or not. If he isn't, I wouldn't mind marrying him…"

With the reward spoken by the king himself, the nobles in the hall instantly erupted in an uproar.

Although a small number had known in advance that Gervas would receive the reward of a Count's title.

The vast majority still did not know.

Moreover, advancing from Viscount to Count.

This was not as simple as advancing from Baron to Viscount.

Many Viscount families, even after striving for several generations, could never cross that threshold.

It was just like advancing from commoner to noble—a vast chasm lay between.

But once crossed, then one's status and standing would be a qualitative leap.