"The first to receive the title of knight is Sir Bertrand from the Forest of Châlons!" Ryan announced grandly. "Green Arrow Bertrand was formerly the leader of the Berjelac Bandit Group in the Forest of Châlons. After I issued the *Decree of Virtue*, he abandoned his dark past, formed an infantry battalion, and led the Châlons Forest Patrol to consecutive victories. His achievements are exceptional, having made significant contributions in battle. During the Second Battle of the La-Maisonelle Monastery, he dealt a critical blow to the undead grand wizard Heinrich Kemmler with a miraculous arrow, and later founded the Old Guard. Bertrand was also instrumental in killing the heretic Say in the Battle of Nuln. As the foremost contributor to the Old Guard, I hereby grant Bertrand the title of Kingdom Knight and bestow upon him the fief of Gran Village!"
"Yes!" Bertrand could barely contain his excitement. The middle-aged Green Arrow, in his early forties, felt his legs almost give out beneath him. He quickly stepped onto the raised platform, opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.
From today onwards, he was a Kingdom Knight with his own fief! He was a true noble!
The crowd erupted as if a pot of boiling oil had been suddenly doused with water. The serfs cheered, shouted, and were overcome with uncontrollable excitement.
The Old Guard can receive knighthood!
We finally have hope of becoming true nobles!
But the titles were not the end. Ryan clapped his hands, and a Holy Grail Knight opened a beautifully crafted iron chest, revealing a neatly arranged set of knight's attire and the symbol of status—the Bretonnian knight's emblem.
Thousands of eyes were fixated on the knight's attire and emblem.
"Bertrand, congratulations." Sulia smiled as she held a tray with both hands and stepped forward. She had Bertrand take the tray, then personally pinned the Kingdom Knight's emblem onto him. "May you not disappoint our expectations."
"I, Bertrand, swear upon my life and soul, in the presence of the Lady of the Lake and King Tal, that I will devote myself to serving Duke Ryan and Lady Sulia until death!" Bertrand knelt heavily, his eyes brimming with tears of excitement.
This was not a solitary ceremony. After a brief word of encouragement, Sulia signaled Bertrand to step down. The Old Guard commander puffed out his chest and proudly marched off the platform.
All eyes turned to Ryan, the fervor and anticipation in their gazes spreading throughout the venue.
"The second to receive the title of knight is Amédée from the town of Genet!" Ryan loudly announced the next name. "Amédée was among the first to volunteer when I arrived in Genet. He fought valiantly in several battles during the Chivalry War in the Forest of Arden, slaying multiple Great Horned Beasts and earning numerous honors. Over the following decade, he has participated in many major battles, always making his presence felt and enhancing our army's reputation. For his outstanding contributions, I hereby grant him the title of Ranger Knight as a reward!"
"Yes!" A battle-hardened Old Guard's eyes welled up with tears. Having joined Ryan's forces during the first battle in Bretonnia nearly fifteen years ago, he had grown from a young teenager into a man in his thirties. Reflecting on the past, Amédée felt a mix of emotions as he quickly ascended the platform. He accepted the knight's attire from Sulia's hands, and Ryan's maid, Sylvia, pinned the Ranger Knight's emblem on him.
"The third to receive the title of knight is Denis from the Duchy of Bastogne!" Ryan awarded the third knighthood to Denis, a distinguished Old Guard. "Denis was originally a hunter in Bastogne. During the Chivalry War in the Forest of Arden, he provided crucial information at a critical moment, saving the entire campaign. Since then, whether as a sergeant, a company leader of the Longbowmen, or later as an Old Guard member, Denis has consistently performed excellently in battle. He is a worthy recipient of the title of Ranger Knight, which I hereby grant him as a reward!"
"Yes!" The once young hunter who had provided crucial weather information in the Forest of Arden was now a seasoned thirty-year-old soldier. He took a deep breath and quickly climbed the tower, kneeling before Ryan and Sulia. "My Duke, Lady Sulia, Denis will repay your trust with his life!"
"I'm looking forward to it," Sulia replied with a smile.
Another member of the Old Guard had become a knight.
One by one, the Old Guard members ascended the platform to receive their knight's attire and emblem. Ryan loudly recited their military achievements and glorious deeds. The winter sun illuminated the shining knight emblems emblazoned with the Bretonnian lion and the golden fleur-de-lis, casting a dazzling display of colors. The newly knighted Old Guards couldn't help but touch their emblems, and as the sunlight reflected off them, a bright beam of light made it difficult for anyone to keep their eyes open.
The spectators' eyes were fixed on the platform. They admired, praised, envied, and even felt jealous. Complex emotions churned within both the honorees and onlookers. Many found themselves swallowing hard, and numerous freemen were consumed with envy and regret, lamenting why they had not joined the army and missed such a precious opportunity!
In the history of Bretonnia, before the *Knight Promotion Order* and the Old Guard's ennoblement, only five individuals of serf origin had ever been knighted!
The murmurs, chatter, and actions of the crowd rolled like tidal waves, surging and roaring before the ducal castle. The overwhelming emotions engulfed their hearts. At that moment, the gold coins in merchants' pockets, the grain in wealthy farmers' granaries, the meat, eggs, and milk, and the exquisite dwarf tools in craftsmen's hands all seemed to lose their luster before the knight's emblem.
Duke Berrymond of Bastogne sat at one side of the platform. Seeing the grand and solemn ceremony, he felt a mixture of envy and displeasure. "Well, well, Ryan, you actually knighted so many peasants at once."
Duke François of Winfort, seated beside Berrymond, chuckled upon hearing the complaint from the most legitimate heir of the first Knight King Arthur. "Times have changed, and rules must change as well. A thousand years since our kingdom's founding, many of these rules have become corrupt and rigid. Ryan has injected new blood not just for himself, but for us and the entire kingdom. The serfs work hard in the fields and fight to the death in battle. We must give them some hope of advancement."
"Otherwise, one day, if we don't change, they will," François added meaningfully. "So instead of waiting for them to realize this, it's better for us to make concessions first. In this way, the serfs will only feel grateful."
"You always have these grand theories, François," Berrymond sighed. "Maybe you're right. I'm just not used to it yet. By the way, did you model your Unicorn Guard after Ryan's Old Guard?"
"That's right." François grinned as he watched the grand ceremony, with one Old Guard after another stepping forward to receive their knight's emblem. "In a couple of years, I'll do something similar following Ryan's method."
"You're always like this. All you need to do is keep an eye on your son-in-law, follow his lead, and just imitate what he does," Berrymond complained. "Such an easy and convenient way. Why don't I have such a good son-in-law?"
"You can imitate it too," François advised. "Don't you have an elite force under your command, the Beast Butchers of Bastogne? You can form your own elite infantry regiment with them as the core. It's just a few knight titles. You should be generous. If the serfs have hope for advancement, won't they fight to the death?"
"Hmm, hmm~" Berrymond's eyes lit up at the suggestion. He nodded repeatedly and leaned in close, whispering, "So, what exactly should I do, François? You have to guide me."
"No problem."
The ceremony didn't last long. Thirty knight titles may sound like a lot, but after reading out the names one by one, only the last knight title remained.
"The thirtieth knight to receive the title is Raymond from Lyonnais!" Ryan's voice still carried authority.
But the Old Guard Raymond, standing below the platform, was stunned. He was in a daze. "Huh?"
"It's you, Raymond!"
"Congratulations!"
"Hmph, you lucky brat, grabbing the last spot!"
"Oh my, it's him!"
A chorus of disappointed sighs and congratulatory cheers erupted from the ranks of the Old Guard.
"Raymond, from Lyonnais, protected his mother and brother during a famine and made it here. His first military experience was during the invasion of Egil Red-Eye, where he stood as a regular pikeman against the Chaos warriors' assault in the Battle of the Lyonnais Plain. In the Battle of Blackstone Keep, Raymond single-handedly impaled a Bloodthirster. During the Second Battle of La-Maisonelle Monastery, Raymond was the first to spot Kemmler attempting to retreat, assisting Bertrand in shooting the undead grand wizard. He also performed outstandingly in the reconquest of Mousilon and the Battle of Nuln. For these reasons, I grant him the title of Ranger Knight as a reward!"
"Yes!!!" Raymond still couldn't believe it. He pinched his cheek, feeling like he was in a dream. But
years of military experience had ingrained a reflex in him. Hearing Ryan's call, he quickly ran onto the stage and saluted Ryan. "My Duke?"
"Mr. Raymond, in this situation, you should kneel," maid Sylvia sternly reminded him. "This is a knighting ceremony, not a military report!"
"Ah~ ah, yes!" Raymond's mind was in complete disarray. He first knelt on one knee, then realized it wasn't right and quickly switched to both knees, looking rather awkward.
Sulia couldn't help but stifle a laugh. She reassured Raymond not to be nervous, then took the tray from the Holy Grail Knight and handed it to him. Maid Sylvia then fastened the knight's emblem for him.
I'm a knight now. I'm a knight now. I'm also a noble!
Raymond's mind was still in chaos. Ryan chuckled helplessly and signaled for him to step down. From being an escaped slave to a knight, this was indeed a remarkable story.
As the final knight title was awarded and the ceremony seemed to be coming to a close, the atmosphere in the venue was tinged with dissatisfaction and disappointment. The Old Guards who received knight titles were naturally overjoyed and proud, but those who didn't were somewhat resentful. Some even clenched their fists in frustration.
"My soldiers! My warriors!" At this moment, Ryan's voice rang out again. "I have more good news for you."
"Today, in addition to these thirty knight titles, I have also prepared three more Ranger Knight titles!"
"Any Old Guard who has not been knighted, if you believe in yourself and feel that my decision was unfair, you can come forward and report your military achievements! I, Ryan Malcador, Duke of Mousilon, Heir of Landuin's Will, and the Lady of the Lake's Champion, will grant knighthood based on the merits you report!"
"Wow~" The entire Old Guard formation erupted like boiling oil doused with cold water. Some laughed loudly, others were anxious, some urged others on, while some were sweating profusely, and others remained silent, their faces pale.
Every member of the Old Guard had been forged through years, even decades, of blood and fire. Who among them didn't have notable military achievements? But compared to the thirty who had been knighted, some knew they didn't measure up.
Others were eager to try, but no one dared to step onto the stage.
"Who dares to report their military achievements?" Seeing no one stepping forward, Ryan smiled. "This is a rare opportunity, and there might not be another."
"If no one steps forward, I'll reserve these titles for someone else."
Finally, after Ryan's words, an Old Guard soldier's face turned deep purple with determination. He took a deep breath, made up his mind, and strode forward from the ranks.
"My Duke, I am not satisfied with being excluded from the knighting list!"
_________________________
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!]
[w w w . p a t r e o n .com / INNIT]
[+50 PowerStones = +1 Chapter] [+5 Reviews = +1 Chapter]