In Duke’s office

“THIS PAPERWORK IS GOING TO KILL ME YOUNG” I yelled out as I signed another report. Seeing the reports from my vassals is one of my duty. My vassals are obliged to send me a report of the territory under their control every month. They aren’t allowed to do anything without my permission and need a decent explanation for their required changes.

*Haah* I exhaled loudly, relaxing my strained features.

Too many nobles are a pain as well, I mentally added. There are three types of nobles in this world, one ‘Central nobles’, formerly known as ‘Imperial nobles’ but was changed to central nobles after my house public title became that of a Duke.’ Territory Nobles’ and ‘Honorary Nobles’ are the other two types.

Central nobles are nobles that don’t have a territory of their own. They will get monthly allowances from the crown and usually own many businesses in big cities. The amount of their allowance varies with their titles. Some of them may have high posts like ministers. Others are often tasked by the crown to act as ‘Crown Officials’ and will temporarily look after the city or fief assigned to them by the crown themselves.

Territorial nobles are those that receive their own fief from the Crown. They have more freedom than Central Nobles but are mostly bound to their fiefs. An official sent by the crown to look after it’s assigned territory would have to give more than half of what the assigned place produces back to the crown, while Territorial ones are only obliged to give only around 10%-20% as tax depending on the prosperity and size of the fief.

And the last, Honorary Nobles. Their titles aren’t hereditary and they won’t even receive the monthly allowance so in return they don’t have any duty which if a real noble would have ignored then he would have been punished. But they do enjoy the noble privileges the same as the rank of equal real nobles.

Nobility can be bought in some countries but Saluda is strict or to say ‘too strict’. For millions of people, there are only a few thousand real nobles and a few hundred honorary nobles. Getting a title here is hard and a fief even harder. This strict rule also has some good points i.e. even the honorary nobles of my dutchy are respected throughout the other countries because we don’t distribute noble titles loosely.

My eyes were drawn towards another pile or a paper mountain that piled up on the ground left from my table. They are the marriage proposals I received. The usual Local and Foreign nobles advertising their daughters. I have to reply to each one and decline them politely. The amount I would have to write is already giving me a headache.

*Knock Knock

“Come in”, I replied without looking up.

*Slam

The door was flung open and in came Alissa. The archer from my elite squad. Only she would be this rude to me.

“Oh my! Lyon, are you slacking off from work?” She questioned at my exhausted sleepy figure leaning head down on the table. I don’t have any energy to refute her.

“Even if I want you to sleep, I must stop you from doing so now. A messenger came in a few hours ago with the news that your girl has entered the outer Gate. It’s around time for her to reach the inner gate.” She said that while leaning on the door with hand folded, maybe trying to look cool.

Slamming both of my palms on the table and casting one last look on the seemingly endless report. I got up, stretched and began walking towards the entrance of my home to welcome her. As I passed through the door, Alissa closed it and followed behind me.

About the inner and outer gate, it is directly related to my property here in the city Alore. All citizens and nobles can only see the giant outer gate. The outer gate fortifies my property around the castle with a 15 feet high wall. The top of the wall has wide space enough to move, with signal towers at some distances. A mini-rectangular Great Wall of China was reincarnated Lyon’s first thought on it.

Passing through the big outer gate, a vast land can be seen. Totally opposite from the bustling busy city outside, giving a feeling of countryside to the visitor. After starting from there, they will see a forest, patrolling ‘Central knights’ and rarely magic beasts of low levels. Only harmless ones are allowed to prowl freely in this property. Dangerous ones are rare and are exterminated by the knights if they are found out.

Halfway into the land and the road will divide itself into two. One going for the castle and another to the Knights HQ. The people will be thoroughly investigated and questioned on the checkpoint situated here before they are given permission to carry-on to either destination.

Castle way, there will be another parting of the road. One leading to the castle and another to Village Jadebank, situated on the banks of Lake Jade.

This village is not for everyone. Only the retired servants and castle guards can live here with their family and only if they want. If they don’t want to stay, they are free to go. This village was created because Lyon’s ancestors thought it was a waste to not use this much land for farming but to be inside the wall, they needed some very trustful people.

The people farm, fish and hunt and leave a peaceful here. They sell the farmed products at a lower price to the Duke who then will sell it at a higher price in the city. As everything is provided to them, be it materials, equipment and shield and are living without taxes, the villagers don’t complain at all. And the other good thing is, they are only 1 day away from the city. A day for them because they are a lot further inside as compared to the Castle after the road divides.

And then, the visitor will reach the inner gate circling the Castle area. Unknown to many, the castle is defended by many complicated magic arrays against any intruder and magical attacks.

As I was making my way to the entrance, I saw another familiar face. With the usual smile on his handsome face, Ethen bowed until I nodded in approval. This is how the elite squad should be treating me even in a casual meeting. The rude girl grinning behind is just an exception.

“I was just going to inform you but I can see that Alissa was quicker,” Ethen said while giving Alissa a meaningful glance.

“I had to be. She is a girl Lyon just met and liked enough to want to marry her. I just thought he would be eager.” She replied little proudly.

“Getting eager over a beautiful girl is perfectly normal. Isn’t it, Lyon?” Ethen winked at me, he did inherit the womanizing quality of his dad.

“But he never acts eager for me……” I heard Alissa murmur behind and just shook my head. It’s always fun chatting with them but this is not the time. Ordering them to follow behind we reached the entrance.

A Red Carpet was spread from the entrance to the gate. This carpet was flanked by Maids on one side and Manservants on another. They all bowed in waves as we passed them. Before reaching the gate, I could hear the sound of horseshoes for a while during a slow trot and it neighing signaling a stop at the other side of the wall. I could also see a front roof of a carriage and the part of the symbol, an ice crystal.

After some time, the one who entered was a central knight and another knight in an expensive full plate armor followed by his followers.

“Knight Kitt is at your service, your grace.” The Central Knight went down on one knee and greeted me.

“Viscount Belfrost Family, Knight Commander Powel greets his grace, the Duke.” The extravagant knight bowed along with his followers. Why he didn’t go down to one knee is because it is Viscount Belfrost that he swore fealty to. He is indirectly under me while Central Knights are directly under me.

“You escorted them well. You are dismissed.” I ordered Kitt which he bowed, got up, asked himself to be excused, bowed and left.

I wasn’t looking at him, my eyes were fixed on the cute little lady trying to walk as elegantly as she could towards me. Her two maids following closely behind.

Seeing him preoccupied like that everyone else remained silent and were looking forward to their meeting silently.

“Your Grace, I, Lia Belfrost has arrived for her f-first visit.” This lovely nervous voice that tickled my ears brought me back to my senses.