521 Noble peerage and a new classmate appears

Later, Vincent tried to talk to Jun Ye Rim, yet she kept her distance as how she used to in the beginning. Even when Iris treated her arm, the situation was full of silence and awkwardness.

[I know! She must be on her period.] Suggested Kazumi after wondering if it would be different for a person like Jun Ye Rim.

Vincent decided to leave the woman’s problems to the others. He asked Lilith to help Jun Ye Rim if she needed to and to leave her alone for a while. She did want to be alone.

Lilith understood as she recently regained what she lost ten years ago.

“Leave it to me, Vincent. ” Lilith said with confidence. She was ready to be patient in making Jun Ye Rim know she could confide in them.

Later that day, Vincent went to receive mail with Lilith. In front of him were two letters from the Lionheart family in general, one for Vincent from Aceon and the other for Lilith from her parents, as usual.

The most important parts of the first two letters were how Bessy returned home and how a royal soldier visited the mansion to inform Maid Xu and Aceon about the situation.

Based on the good report Maid Xu wrote, the situation was taken care of. However, regrettably, the assassins in captivity didn’t speak until they were found dead in the morning and the injured fainted assassins as well.

This caused a high alarm among the soldiers, yet the higher-ups knew it must have been a sponsored solder working for the employer of the assassins. As such, the situation needs more time because of its delicate nature.

.....

Maid Xu was told how both the Lionheart families are now on the protection list after the assassins’ murders in military confinement.

The act of silencing the assassins caused the Lionheart families to receive more protection than Karta offered without showing too much preference now.

Vincent and Lilith smiled at such wonderful news. It meant they were going to be safer, and there was no need to seek soldiers to sponsor them with medical care.

The letter Aceon sent was filled with the basics of the noble peerage of this world.

There are nine ranks in this world. The highest number is the lowest rank, while the lowest number is the highest rank.

Another important note Aceon wrote at the top was how only the main family of each noble family can manage or own land given by the king’s graces.

The ninth rank are the slaves. They are the lowest ranking in human society because they can’t own property or clothes. They can only survive by following the orders of their owners.

The eighth rank are the commoners. Citizens can live in only one village or city. Only with an adventurer’s identification or relative merchant documents can villagers sell in different places.

Furthermore, commoners are also eligible to join the army at the age of sixteen and become emergency soldiers only in time of need until they grow older and more experienced.

The seventh rank are the lower nobles. This is Vincent’s current rank.

Vincent had the ability to sponsor the soldiers for small non-illegal favors. He also has the ability to live in the noble district, learn in the academy, and the apparent special treatment from the soldiers.

The sixth rank are the Barons. The most notable difference is that they are of age, almost always have finished the noble academy, and the royal family has recognized them to own more than one mansion-scale property in a city.

The fifth rank are the Viscounts. They have the ability to do business with the royal place and also hire a maximum of thirty private guards.

Aceon wrote how ten are allowed for lower noble ranks, but this system made to prevent raising a private army can be overcome by employing strong people as servants.

Vincent didn’t have a problem since he technically had Lenn, Renn, Eliara, and Fliara working as private guards.

The fourth rank are the Counts. They had the ability to participate in the royal council while having the most negligible impact on their votes. Additionally, they could manage a small village if they were from a wealthy and prominent family.

The third rank are a Marquis. They had the ability to participate in the royal council, and their votes had a lot more value.

Similar to the Counts, they could manage one land given to them by the king. Additionally, they can legally offer a form of compensation to receive land from a Count or higher noble families.

However, a Marquis main family can only have up to two lands, which will remain owned by the king. This was what happened with the land passed down through the previous Lionheart Count generations.

The second rank are the Dukes. They were able to marry royalty, yet Aceon noted how there aren’t too many duke families. Furthermore, the king does not agree to marry his daughter at the moment for a reason Aceon does not know.

The dukes have the highest voting power in the noble council, and they can manage one land and own one land as their territory.

However, dukes not from the main family will not be given lands. Their authority would also be similar to a Marquis main family.

The first rank are the royal family, as they are the land’s rulers and their subjects’ protectors.

Aceon wrote how there are other confusing internal rankings within the royal family, but the Lusterfall Kingdom only has a King and a Princess as royal family.

Vincent and Kazumi could now completely understand how the noble ranks of this world worked as a land of the continent couldn’t provide endless open lands to build dozens upon dozens of villages.

On the other hand, Lilith had a refresher course on nobility. A frown appeared on her face at the words, ‘Legally offer a form of compensation to receive land.’

“Looks like I will never become a Barron and you a Baroness. Lilith, I hope I have not disappointed you that I will not be making your family name regain its former glory.”

Lilith shook her head. “I only care about being with you. Nobility sucks because my family was almost destroyed by useless greed.”

Lilith leaned her head on Vincent’s shoulder and continued, “I want to be happy with love instead of unnecessary wealth.”

[I agree with Lilith.]

“I like your thinking, and Kazumi also agrees with you.”

Lilith smiled and sat on the chair normaly. She opened her letter and happily read what her mother was doing and what her father had gotten himself into because he couldn’t lie.

Vincent looked at the bottom of Maid Xu’s report letter and read how the Ponalis family was soon going back to their home because the butlers had woken up.

historical

The butlers weren’t the only ones who woke up. Zefine woke up and continued her duties normally, yet not simultaneously. Zefine is sitting more than usual, as if her legs are still exhausted from facing death a second time.

Fortunately, Russo has informed Maid Xu that he feels responsible for not escorting Zefine on their shopping trip and that he will watch over Zefine when he is off duty.

Vincent smiled and wrote a short reply. Later, they returned to the island and saw Plow waiting in front of the arrival point with a sad expression.

Vincent understood that Jun Ye Rim was still grumpy and wanted to be left alone for now. He lifted Plow and carried the sad little fox with him.

Plow ended up spending the evening with Vincent. Only after sleeping on his belly could Plow feel better.

*Day 156 – 11 November – Wednesday*

On the morning of the next day, the student card flashed the message of an announcement. However, the meeting was going to be at noon instead of the usual time.

After finishing the morning lesson, Vincent and Nick met with Lilith, Clair, and the grumpy Jun Ye Rim. The five of them went to the announcement area and waited.

The wait was making them feel strange because only Class A was present. Not a student from Class B was in sight.

Darwin, alongside Maria, later appeared.

“Good evening, students. Today I would like to introduce to you all a new classmate.” Darwin announced.

The students looked at each other and whispered if anyone knew what was happening. Having a transfer student was a rare event, it seemed.

*Sigh* “Quiet your quiet voices down. Stop moving those useless lips and look at the headmaster.” Maria ordered rudely.

A teen with pointy ears appeared from behind Darwin. She looked nervous, but when she saw Vincent and Lilith, she couldn’t help but wave at them.

“This new student is Tiffi Ponalis. She was to attend the academy because she awakened before the ademic year started, but Tiffi Ponlais became sick after her half-elven blood made her awaken to more mana than her body could hold.

“Now that she has recovered and a few students were expelled, Tiffi Ponalis can join the class without disrupting the balance that much.” Darwin stopped when he saw a student raise their hand. “Please ask.”

“What is Lady Tiffi’s Class?”

Darwin looked at Tiffi. “Do you want to tell them?” He asked in a low voice.

Tiffi nodded. She smiled and said, “I am a Sigil Mage.”

“Pfff. Hahahahaha”

Many of the students started laughing because Tiffi spoke proudly of the worse class in the eyes of everyone.

Vincent and Lilith frowned. ‘Is having a self-harming Class funny?’ Both angrily thought.

“Tiffi can join my disbanded team.” Said Melissa with her hand raised. Now all the attention was on her.

Melissa’s three teammates asked her to reconsider, but Melissa responded, “Vincent wins with only two combatants. Humph! I can easly win with four combatants.”