Duke Edmund's promotion of Vaerik wasn't just because he fought well—there were deeper considerations.
Too many pioneer nobles sent from the south had died in this campaign, causing southern aristocratic families' dissatisfaction.
Though everyone knew those wastrels came to the Northern Province just to fulfill obligations and grab fiefs.
But losing a pile at once was hard to explain, inevitably making people suspect Northern Province nobles deliberately "borrowing knives to kill."
Promoting Vaerik, a pioneer baron from the south, was the best response.
It wasn't Northern Province exclusivity—you were just too useless.
If you had half his ability, you'd have survived and earned merit long ago.
Vaerik actually benefited from this situation.
Thus Vaerik calmly walked down from the high platform.
His pace was unhurried, as if what he'd just received wasn't medals and glory coveted by nobles, but an insignificant daily ritual.
