The nobles looked down on Simon, who came from a background of freedmen, but Derick was a true blue-blooded noble of the Northern lands. There were certainly people envious of Derick, but he had earned his title through military accomplishments—the most respected and valuable path to nobility. As a result, there were more people who admired him. Some knights, especially those of noble origin, even saw Derick as a model for achieving great success against the odds.

Thanks to the land granted to him as the newly minted Baron of Augusta, the Derick family name would be able to continue for generations. This possibility had increased exponentially, especially after successfully repelling the first wave of attacks from the Holy Cross Kingdom. Even if the province of Saint Miller were to one day fall back into the hands of the Holy Cross Kingdom, the legacy of the Augusta name would not be easily erased. For most nobles in this world, securing their family’s legacy was the ultimate goal of their life's work.

Additionally, Derick now carried another prestigious title—son-in-law to the powerful Pereira family. If you also factored in the goodwill of the new Count Jeffries, Derick now had full access to the social circles of Northern nobility. Layer upon layer of prestige surrounded him, creating the image he presented to the world. The Northern nobles were willing to associate with him and show him respect. Caravans under Derick’s banner could travel freely between the Northern and Saint Miller provinces, even paying reduced tolls along the way. Businesses owned by Derick could openly operate in any city of either province without fear of suppression from local powers.

In these provinces, with a combined population of two million, Derick's name carried real weight. This was exactly what he sought—a fresh start, access to a bigger market, more resources, and the means to rapidly expand his influence. So, when Count Pereira saw Derick, he eagerly rose from his seat and warmly took Derick by the arm.

“Derick, come and show everyone the spirit of the new generation of Northern knights,” the old count said, and he meant it. As Derick's fame spread, the title of Northern Knight was becoming one of his trademarks.

This was a positive thing. While the North might be looked down upon by nobles from the central and southern regions, there was one undeniable fact: the Northern knights, known for their martial prowess, could be insulted or mocked, even ridiculed to their faces. But when it came time to divide the spoils of the kingdom, the Northern knights were always included.

Why?

Those so-called ancient nobles, with their high and mighty bloodlines, had been excluded from power circles before. But the Northern knights remained strong and ever-present. Why? Because they had strength, earned through their exploits in the Split War thirty years ago. Nobody dared to underestimate them. The benefits of carrying this title were plenty, and the only cost was a bit of pride. For Derick, pride was valuable most of the time, but occasionally, it wasn’t worth much.

So, he confidently accepted the title and, facing the crowd, declared firmly, “Count, the honor of the Northern knights will not fall in my generation.”

There was a reason for this statement. As southern nobility had risen in prominence over the years, some had begun spreading the idea that the Northern knights had lost their strength, aiming to undermine the Northern nobles’ influence and push them out of the core circles of power. These insinuations left the Northern nobility feeling aggrieved, but they couldn’t just challenge their opponents to a fight.

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Derick’s emergence clearly fulfilled a need among the Northern nobles. Thus, the old count was eager to put him on the stage, serving both his and the Northern nobility’s interests, as well as supporting one of his own. Derick accepted this readily. He wasn’t afraid of the challenges that came with this title—in fact, he welcomed them. Though he did think that the current generation of Northern knights had indeed declined.

If these new southern nobles dared to talk down to them, Derick thought he’d simply slap them into submission. Trying to uphold martial honor while engaging in diplomacy was a dream too good to be true. If he were to attend the royal court meetings, he imagined himself drawing his sword and cutting down a few doubters to ensure no one ever questioned the valor of the Northern knights again. Of course, he kept these thoughts to himself, knowing he still needed support from more Northern nobles.

However, he did believe there was hope for the younger generation. Derick privately considered that he now had the qualifications to rally the younger Northern nobles. It wasn’t just about fame; he also possessed significant political resources. Take, for example, his seemingly unremarkable title as the commander of the Saint Miller Legion. He held numerous positions of influence, and even the appointment of the province’s chief constable was something he could nominally influence.

In practice, being a local power with a legion stationed in a province gave him enormous sway. Some great nobles might scoff at this, but the majority of mid- to lower-ranking nobles, even direct heirs, envied him greatly. With these political resources, he could influence many things.

And so, as soon as Count Pereira had seated Derick beside him, several familiar nobles approached, discreetly hoping to place their second sons or other relatives under Derick’s command. In the Northern province, this type of privilege belonged to Count Pereira and Count Jeffries. Most noble youths received their knightly training under the auspices of these two houses, which later became part of their political capital.

This was why, when the Northern province faced a crisis, it was Count Pereira who had to take charge. The First Emergency Legion followed his orders because of his immense reputation. The majority of Northern knights were trained within the systems established by these two houses, and when a new commander was appointed, they had to gain the knights' respect.

The previous Count Jeffries had been unlucky, killed by barbarians, so the new legion commander lacked authority, and everything fell to the old count. Beneath the surface, there were deep mechanisms at work. The old count's influence had not been built on a few victories but on years of investment in people and reputation. These details embodied the strength of the Pereira family.

Leadership in the Northern province could only come from these two noble houses. Now that the Jeffries family had suffered a great setback, Count Pereira naturally took the lead. He was happy to see Derick expanding his influence and even offered him some advice, which Derick quickly understood, earning the old count’s approval.

Such a talented young man, the old count thought, might truly become the new master of the Saint Miller province. This would, in turn, safeguard the Pereira family’s interests there. In ten or twenty years, Derick would be in his prime, and the old count would either be dead or too feeble to walk.

Such was the way of nobility: the family’s honor was carried on through blood ties. Even when the Jeffries family lost a castle and a city after their count was beheaded, it was merely a setback. The upstart families that rose quickly often fell just as fast, while true nobility weathered the storms and persisted. The old count had seen it all and planned far ahead. Sacrificing some benefits now was all for the future.

One granddaughter was not enough to bind someone like Derick forever, but it was a sufficient link. When interests and emotional ties intertwined, the relationship would become unshakeable. Of course, if the Saint Miller province didn’t provide new opportunities and Derick tried to develop further in the Northern province, he would quickly find himself clashing with the old count. That, too, was the way of nobility. Blood ties could become weapons if necessary.