Chapter 754: For Example
Every inch of the lavish, exquisitely decorated room reeked of wealth. Priceless art, gold, and gems were scattered throughout, creating an illusion—
That these items, so casually placed, were actually not worth much at all.
But that illusion only existed inside this room. Once one stepped out into the cold wind beyond those doors, it became clear—things were not as beautiful as they seemed.
Art was valuable. Gold and gems too. But a noble title was worth even more.
There were two types of noble titles in the Gephra Empire. The first was hereditary nobility—most of whom dated back to the warring lord era. Their families had been noble for generations, and they remained so to this day.
These titles could not be casually touched by the emperor. Only a full vote by the Privy Council could make the slightest adjustment, and even then, only a minor one. Hereditary nobility formed the foundation of the Privy Council, and its members knew it well. They would never allow the emperor to interfere freely with hereditary titles.
The second type emerged during the Post-Gephra period, after the royal family consolidated power and unified the empire.
At that point, the age of lords was nearing its end. When the emperor conferred noble titles, he no longer granted hereditary ones.
Hereditary titles, in truth, brought little benefit to the nation. They came with various privileges. Capitalists looking to grow and expand couldn’t do so without noble support.