The Eclipsed Order

Chapter 76: Chapter 76: The Marquis of D’Averon

Several weeks had passed since the war against Count Velmorne and Viscount Randale.

The battlefield had long since been cleared, the wounded had been treated, the surrendered soldiers had been reorganized under D’Averon command, and the territory had finally begun returning to its usual rhythm.

But the consequences of that war had reached far beyond the borders of Count D’Averon’s territory.

The kingdom had taken notice.

Not only had D’Averon successfully defended his lands against a force considerably larger than his own, but he had also managed to bring the rebellion to an end without allowing the conflict to spread into neighboring territories, while preserving a significant portion of his military strength and restoring stability to the region within a remarkably short period.

For a noble family, that was already an impressive achievement.

For the kingdom, however, there was another matter that made his victory even more valuable.

Count D’Averon’s territory was strategically important.

Its roads connected several regions, its trade routes carried goods throughout the kingdom, and its continued stability prevented the conflict from affecting several neighboring territories.

Allowing such a man to remain merely a count no longer seemed appropriate.

And so, one morning, an official royal messenger arrived at the D’Averon estate.

The message was brief.

Count D’Averon was summoned to the royal capital.

He was to appear before His Majesty.

The royal palace stood at the heart of the capital, its enormous white walls rising above the surrounding buildings while the kingdom’s banners fluttered from the towers.

Inside, everything was quiet.

The polished marble floors reflected the light pouring through the tall windows, while rows of royal knights stood along both sides of the grand hall, their armor immaculate and their weapons resting at their sides.

At the far end of the hall stood the throne.

Upon it sat the King.

Several important nobles had already gathered in the chamber, including members of the royal court, ministers, generals, and representatives of several of the kingdom’s most influential noble families.

Among them stood Count D’Averon.

He had been summoned alone.

At least, that was what he had initially assumed.

As he looked around the enormous hall, however, he couldn’t help but feel that something about the situation was unusual.

Why summon me before this many people?

He had expected a simple royal audience.

Perhaps the King wanted to discuss the war, the confiscated territories, or the soldiers who had been transferred under his command.

But this...

This felt different.

A royal herald stepped forward.

"Count D’Averon."

Count D’Averon immediately straightened.

"Your Majesty."

The King looked down from the throne.

"Come forward."

Count D’Averon walked toward the center of the hall.

Every step echoed across the marble floor.

When he finally stopped, he lowered himself to one knee.

"I stand before Your Majesty."

The King remained silent for a moment.

Then he spoke.

"Count D’Averon."

His voice carried throughout the entire hall.

"The kingdom has received the complete reports concerning the recent conflict in your territory."

Count D’Averon remained silent.

"The forces that invaded your lands greatly outnumbered your own."

Several nobles quietly exchanged glances.

"Yet you successfully defended your territory, defeated the invading forces, prevented the conflict from spreading, and restored order without requiring direct intervention from the royal army."

The King paused.

"You have also taken responsibility for the soldiers who surrendered during the conflict, preventing unnecessary bloodshed while strengthening the kingdom’s forces in the process."

Count D’Averon lowered his head slightly.

"I merely fulfilled my duty as a noble of this kingdom."

A few nobles exchanged amused looks.

The King, however, smiled faintly.

"Modest words."

He leaned back against the throne.

"But your achievements speak louder than your words."

Count D’Averon looked up.

The King slowly stood.

"Your family has served this kingdom for generations."

His voice became more solemn.

"Your territory has protected an important region of the kingdom, and your actions during the recent war have demonstrated that you possess the strength, judgment, and loyalty required to shoulder greater responsibility."

The entire hall became silent.

Count D’Averon’s expression changed slightly.

Greater responsibility?

The King raised one hand.

"Therefore, by the authority vested in me as King..."

The royal herald stepped forward carrying a ceremonial sword.

"...I hereby elevate Count D’Averon to the rank of Marquis."

The words echoed through the hall.

For a moment, Count D’Averon didn’t move.

Even he hadn’t expected it to happen so suddenly.

A murmur immediately spread among the nobles.

Some looked impressed.

Others looked surprised.

A few expressions were considerably less pleasant.

The King continued.

"From this day forward, the D’Averon family shall be recognized as a Marquis House of the Kingdom."

Count D’Averon lowered his head.

"I am deeply honored, Your Majesty."

He placed one hand against his chest.

"I swear that I will continue to serve the kingdom and fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to me."

The King descended from the throne.

The royal herald presented the ceremonial sword.

The King took it into his hand and placed it against Count D’Averon’s shoulder.

"Rise, Marquis D’Averon."

Count D’Averon stood.

The title he had carried for decades had changed in a single moment.

Count D’Averon no longer existed.

From this day forward, he was Marquis D’Averon.

The nobles in the hall began offering their congratulations.

"Congratulations, Marquis D’Averon."

"Your achievement was truly remarkable."

"You have earned this honor."

Yet among those voices, Count D’Averon noticed several nobles who remained completely silent.

He understood why.

A Marquis was not merely a higher title.

It meant greater territory, greater influence, greater military authority, and a considerably stronger position within the kingdom’s political structure.

The D’Averon family had just taken a significant step upward.

And naturally, not everyone would welcome it.

The King returned to his throne.

"There is one final matter."

The hall quieted again.

Count D’Averon looked toward him.

"The kingdom has also decided to formally recognize the stability of the territories affected by the recent conflict."

A minister stepped forward.

"The former territories controlled by Count Velmorne and Viscount Randale have been placed under royal supervision pending their final redistribution."

Count D’Averon nodded.

The King continued.

"However, considering your role in restoring order to the region, a portion of the administration and responsibility for those territories shall be entrusted to House D’Averon."

Several nobles immediately reacted.

This time, the murmurs were considerably louder.

Count D’Averon’s eyes widened slightly.

So that’s what this was really about.

The promotion wasn’t merely a reward.

The King was giving him responsibility over an even larger portion of the kingdom.

That meant more land.

More soldiers.

More influence.

And, inevitably, more enemies.

The King looked directly at him.

"Can you shoulder this responsibility, Marquis D’Averon?"

Count D’Averon remained silent for several seconds.

Then a faint smile appeared on his face.

"I can."

He bowed.

"And I will."

The King nodded.

"Good."

The ceremony continued for several minutes, but Count D’Averon’s mind had already begun racing.

Things are going to become considerably more troublesome from now on.

He had wanted to protect his family.

He had wanted to protect his territory.

Now he had been handed even more territory to protect.

And with greater authority came greater attention.

Still, there was something else occupying his mind.

The mysterious organization that had appeared during the war.

The people who had saved his family.

The ones who had changed the outcome of a battle that should have been heavily against him.

The Eclipse Order.

He still didn’t know why they had helped him.

And now that he had become a Marquis, he couldn’t help but wonder whether their appearance had been a coincidence.

Who exactly are you people?

Count D’Averon looked toward the enormous windows of the royal palace.

Beyond them, the capital stretched endlessly beneath the afternoon sky.

Somewhere in that vast kingdom, the people who had changed his fate were still moving through the shadows.

And he had a feeling that their story had only just begun.

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