Viscount Soutte’s concerns naturally centered around the question of territory. How could the Hunter family lawfully seize control of Wilshire and maintain long-term rule over it? After all, Wilshire and Hunter were not two sovereign nations at war but rather two noble fiefdoms under the rule of the Golden Dragon Kingdom.

It wasn’t as though one could simply conquer another’s lands and expect to keep them; the previous head of the House of Wil had never intended to directly annex Hunter, only to make the Hunter family his vassal.

The Golden Dragon Kingdom was vast, with a territory in the northern reaches alone that spanned nearly five million square kilometers and housed a population of over ten million. Over a hundred noble families governed the region, ranging from small baronies to large marquisates.

The smallest nobles governed baronies with territories of only a few dozen square kilometers and populations numbering in the thousands.

The largest, such as the Marquis of the North, governed territories approaching one million square kilometers with a population of over two hundred thousand, and an army of ten thousand armored soldiers—veritable overlord of the northern lands.

The Golden Dragon Kingdom directly governed only the central Great Plains. Periphery territories were ruled by powerful nobles such as the Marquis of the North, who collected tribute annually and mobilized their forces when called upon to do so by the king.

As for conflicts between minor lords in out-of-the-way regions such as the Wil and Hunter territories, the kingdom usually ignored them. There were simply too many small lords in such territories, and new tensions arose between them every month; the kingdom had neither the resources nor the desire to intervene.

However, the kingdom made one exception: even if a lord successfully conquered another lord’s territory and killed that lord, the conquered territory would still be passed on to a blood relative of the defeated lord, typically a knight.

If the conqueror killed all possible claimants to the title, well, that made things easier for the kingdom, as it meant there was no one left to whom the kingdom could grant the conquered territory.

In short, though the Hunter family had thoroughly annihilated the House of Wil and taken possession of Wil territory, they held it only in name. Any system is bound to have loopholes, and most nobles found it unacceptable to lose a territory their family had held for generations simply because one generation failed to produce a knight.

Thus, many noble families sought out knights without titles or territories to marry into their families, allowing them to pass their territories and titles to their heirs. In this way, most families could at least ensure that their lands would not be seized outright by a new lord, thereby preserving their noble status and privileges for future generations.

“Good day, Viscount.”

“Sir, what is your command?” Unaware that he had already been cast in Richard’s plans as a tool, Ron was led to the garden of the Wooden Iron Castle.

Viscount Soutte wore a complicated expression, while Richard regarded Ron with a smiling gaze, which sent chills down Ron’s spine.

“Ron, you’ve performed a great service for the Hunter family these past months. We would not have achieved so much without you.”

“Your Excellency is too kind.” Ron felt a bit confused, unsure why he had been summoned just to hear this.

“I’ve discussed with my father, and we’ve decided that you will become a member of the Hunter family.”

“It is my duty to serve you, Your Excellency.”

“I mean, you’ll need to take on our surname, perhaps something like Ron Hunter.”

“Thank you for the honor, Your Excellency.”

Ron held no contempt for the Hunter name; in fact, being bestowed with a noble’s surname was an immense honor even in Elasia. Such an honor typically fell upon none but the most senior nobles.

“Ha ha, don’t thank me. You should thank my father. You’ll become my elder brother in the future.”

“I wouldn’t presume.”

“Of course, you mustn’t be afraid. From now on, you are the long-lost child fathered by my father, raised beyond the castle walls, secretly tutored by him.”

With Richard’s explanation, Ron understood what he was expected to do.

“I will not disappoint you, my lord.”

“Even though you are not truly a bastard, you can still live up to the title of elder brother.”

Richard never missed an opportunity to win someone’s heart; even with a Crusader produced by the System, he had become accustomed to acting the part of their benevolent ruler.

Ron hurriedly assured Richard that he wouldn’t dare accept such a title, but after repeated insistence from Richard, he accepted the appellation and began calling Viscount Soutte “father.”

“Uh,” Viscount Soutte nodded reluctantly, understanding Richard’s arrangement but still feeling somewhat awkward.

Ron, on the other hand, didn’t seem to mind. The viscount’s attitude wasn’t terribly important to him.

“Since Elder Brother has served the Hunter family so well, have you considered your own matters?”

At this point, Richard’s ulterior motive finally revealed itself.

Ron was more confused than ever.

“My lord, please elaborate.”

“I mean, um, do you want a wife?”

Ron stared at Richard in silence.

In the end, Ron agreed to marry an unloved girl from a collateral branch of the House of Wil. The girl was petite and her features were pleasant enough, though there was always a trace of melancholy between her brows, which elicited sympathy and stirred men’s protective instincts.

Ron made a few polite attempts to decline, but in those days, love matches were not common. Marriages approved by one’s parents dominated the era, and a marriage arranged by one’s lord held equal weight. Thus, Ron did not oppose this arrangement.

The young lady from the House of Wil had no room to refuse.

The wedding was hastily arranged, and the ceremony took place at Wooden Iron Castle the very next day.

It was a rather small affair, with only about a dozen attendees from the Hunter family. When Viscount Soutte declared Ron’s new status during the wedding, however, the modest event suddenly became the talk of the town.

Everyone had their suspicions, but since even the viscount’s wife said nothing, no one foolishly questioned the legitimacy of Ron’s status. In fact, after the initial shock, the surprise turned out to be quite pleasant.

Now that another knight had emerged from the Hunter family, the family’s influence and power in the region would surely grow, benefiting all those present.

Some individuals had already guessed that there was something strange about Ron’s origins, but Richard’s second and third uncles were as thick-skinned as ever and fully aligned themselves with Viscount Soutte’s faction.

They even began recalling which maidservants in their childhood home had been closest to Soutte, trying to deduce when exactly he might have impregnated Ron’s mother, without doubting him even slightly.

Richard’s third uncle even walked up to Ron with a glass of wine and offered him a toast, his expression sincere. “Child, you’ve suffered a great deal, and I, as your uncle, have failed in my duty. This glass is to make amends.”

Ron was stunned, as were Richard and Viscount Soutte.

The festivities lasted until late into the night before slowly coming to a close.

Ron carried his bride back to the room Viscount Soutte had arranged for him at the Wooden Iron Castle.

Richard, on the other hand, left along with the rest of the guests, having no intention of eavesdropping on private conversations.

As he lay in bed, slightly tipsy, Richard suddenly assumed an odd expression.

“Ron, the Crusader’s satisfaction points have reached the critical point; activating Hero Template.”

“Is that how it works?” Richard muttered to himself. “Who knew giving away free wives would be universally popular.”