Chapter 181: All of Toussaint Calls Your Name
Duchess Anna Henrietta, surrounded by a retinue of ladies-in-waiting, slowly descended from the noble viewing platform. The onlookers in the stands immediately fell silent.
Fringilla, walking behind the Duchess, gave Lynn a look that signaled him to "play along." The witcher then knelt on one knee, plunging his sword into the ground with his right hand as a sign of respect.
Duchess Anna Henrietta took the wreath from Fringilla's hand and placed it on Lynn's head. She then loudly declared:
"I am honored to present this award to our courageous and glorious champion."
"He swore an oath in the name of the Lady of the Lake, and there is no doubt that this vow brought him this glorious victory."
"He has displayed unparalleled courage and strength, maintaining a high sense of honor and chivalry. He is truly deserving of this year's Knights' Tourney champion title."
"Therefore, in the presence of the Lady of the Lake and numerous nobles, knights, and citizens, I, the ruler of Toussaint, Duchess of Beauclair Palace, Anna Henrietta, hereby bestow upon you the title of Baron of the Duchy of Toussaint."
"And grant you Corvo Bianco vineyard, along with its surrounding five thousand acres of land."
The entire arena fell silent for a moment, then erupted in a massive cheer. While there had been precedents of commoners being knighted at the Knights' Tourney for outstanding performance, since Duke Ludovic 'the Lancemaster' established the Duchy of Toussaint, no commoner had ever skipped the rank of knight and directly become a baron.
Although a baron was the lowest rank of nobility, it was still nobility. Once one became a noble, it was a world of difference from being a commoner, a completely new world. Toussaint was unlike Nilfgaard.
Although Nilfgaard constantly expanded its territory, engaging in endless wars that drained its resources and people, it did genuinely create many opportunities for commoners. Non-noble sergeants, officers, and military commanders could rise in rank and receive land based on their military achievements in war.
But Toussaint was different. It was a land of peace, without even a standing army, and no external expansion. The benefit, of course, was that the common people could live in peace and prosperity, free from the worries of war.
The nation also flourished due to its peace. However, the downside was also evident: a lack of upward mobility. Even if one could gain patronage from nobles or even be knighted as a knight-errant through outstanding performance in the Knights' Tourney... such cases were ultimately rare.
Moreover, the ability to provide one's own weapons, armor, and horse to participate in the Knights' Tourney already surpassed 90% of Toussaint's common folk.
Initially, the common people had been somewhat skeptical when they heard that this year's champion's prize was a vineyard and land. Now, finding it to be true, they naturally rejoiced.
The nobles and knight-errants smiled, congratulating Lynn, their newest member. The bards invited to attend firmly imprinted this scene in their minds.
A commoner being elevated to a baron... this was a legend no less significant than a hero slaying a dragon, perhaps even more appealing to the masses. After all, compared to slaying a dragon, the common people of this era preferred to dream of "leaping from the exploited to the exploiter."
A week later.
A group of people gathered at the gate of Corvo Bianco vineyard. The steward, Sebastian Michaelis, repeatedly wiped the continuous sweat from his brow with a handkerchief.
The Knights' Tourney had just ended when a dust-covered messenger arrived with instructions from the Beauclair palace. He told Sebastian that the new lord would arrive at Corvo Bianco vineyard exactly one week later.
Sebastian had put considerable effort into making a good impression on the new lord. He had even hastily produced the new lord's banner. It featured a roaring Ice Wolf.
It was said that this was the new lord's self-designed family crest. Sebastian was a southerner through and through, who had never been to the North in his life and had never seen an Ice Wolf. But putting aside the flattery, he admitted that the new lord's family crest design was indeed excellent.
Just then, the person Sebastian had specifically sent to the watchtower to keep lookout suddenly let out a shout. "Someone! Someone's coming!"
Sebastian and the others perked up. They saw a party of people slowly approaching in the distance. At the front was a young man riding a black steed.
The youth was handsome, with black hair and blue eyes, exuding an air of nobility. He wore a set of pitch-black plate armor that looked quite valuable.
A longsword was sheathed at his hip. Following the youth were two other men: one a milk-haired witcher with two swords on his back, and the other a middle-aged man emanating a strong herbal scent, dressed like a barber-surgeon.
When the party of three arrived at the vineyard gate, Sebastian and the people behind him quickly bowed.
"Welcome home, esteemed Baron Brandon! I am Sebastian Michaelis. I serve as your steward at Corvo Bianco vineyard, by order of Her Grace the Duchess."
Lynn nodded slightly and dismounted along with Geralt and Regis. He gestured towards them with his gaze and said, "These two are my friends. Whether I am at the vineyard or not, when they visit, you are to treat them as honored guests."
Sebastian bowed again. "Yes, I understand."
Lynn nodded, then told Geralt and Regis, "You two go rest for now. We'll talk later."
After the two were led away by servants, Lynn turned his attention back to Sebastian. "Now, show me my territory."
"Yes, Baron. Please follow me." Sebastian dismissed the servants who had been waiting with him at the gate, and he himself led the way for Lynn.
"Corvo Bianco vineyard is quite large, with its own mill, winery, herb garden, granary, blacksmith, stables, and cellar."
"Thanks to Her Grace the Duchess's permission, our vineyard is fully staffed and can operate at one hundred percent capacity."
"Outside the vineyard is where we cultivate our grapes. The Merlot grapes we grow here are one of the world's oldest varieties."
"After aging in oak barrels, they produce unique cedar and vanilla flavors."
"If Est Est is the king of Toussaint wines, then our vineyard's Rose Red Wine is the people's favorite."
Lynn interrupted Sebastian. "Wait a moment, I have a question. Why is this wine called Rose Red Wine? It sounds like it has nothing to do with roses."
Sebastian had clearly done his homework; he calmly explained with a smile. "It is said that the former owner of this vineyard, an ancestor of the Maclinno family, when naming the wine, added the word 'rose' to the name because his lady particularly loved roses."
Lynn suddenly understood. He gestured for the steward to continue.
"Besides the vineyard itself, the five thousand acres of land outside the vineyard are also your territory."
"Approximately three hundred free peasants live on your land; they are your subjects."
"In peacetime, they will pay you taxes, and in wartime, they are obligated to fight for you."
"However, the combat prowess of these peasant levies... I advise you not to have too high expectations."
Five thousand acres of territory was relatively small. In the North, with a comparable land size, a lord wouldn't collect much tax, and the subjects would be impoverished. But this was Toussaint.
The weather was consistently good, leading to bountiful harvests every year. Coupled with the income from selling wine, this was far more prosperous than a baron with a similar land size in the North.
It was also ten thousand times better than a witcher who often didn't get paid, or had his pay withheld, and was met with disdain and spit wherever he went.
Next, Lynn and Sebastian rode horses to inspect the villages on the territory before returning to the vineyard. Along the way, Lynn asked many questions, and Sebastian was mostly able to answer them accurately.
Thus, Lynn confidently left Sebastian in charge of managing the territory. This was how nobles operated in this era; matters were largely handled by the steward. There was no need to worry about being overthrown or sidelined.
In this era, without noble blood, one could not rebel even if their cause was just; otherwise, they would be branded a traitor and could never clear their name.
Such "irrational" situations had parallels in his homeland; aside from the land where he was born and grew up, even that island nation across the water placed extreme importance on bloodlines in ancient times, where "righteousness" would always side with blood and prestigious families.
What do you think of Lynn's choice of a family crest? How do you think his new status as a Baron will impact his future endeavors?
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