Alan was the only exception. Even his noble title existed because of his family's close ties to the royal bloodline. That was the only reason his house still held its rank. And for that reason, Alan understood better than anyone how nearly impossible it was to earn a title of nobility. You needed undeniable strength. You needed achievements worth remembering. Most of all, you needed the blessing of the royal family. Yet somehow, Nighthale had just been recommended. Out of nowhere. When Alan thought about it, the man seemed to check every box. He glanced at Sienna's perfect face, then looked toward Aiden. For the first time in a long while, curiosity flickered across his expression, mixed with a hint of amusement. He wondered what kind of connection this Lady Riley, the woman whose name carried through every corner of the Dominion, really had with Mr. Nighthale. For her to push so hard for him, there had to be something deeper between them. "Half the master of Westhand, was it?" That phrase Sienna once said flashed through his mind, sharp and clear. He glanced at them again, and jealousy burned through his chest. Even as a lord himself, he couldn't help but envy Nighthale. To win over a woman with her kind of influence was like skipping centuries of struggle and walking straight into power. And to top it off, she was stunning. "I have no objections," Alan said with a practiced smile. "In fact, I'm all for it." He knew better than anyone that if not for Nighthale, he would already be dead. That alone was reason enough to show support. "I agree. Mr. Nighthale completely deserves this honor." "Same here!" Voices echoed across the room as one after another joined in. No one there was a fool. Every single person owed Nighthale in one way or another. And even if they didn't, Sienna's presence was enough to silence any argument. Opposing this would've been career suicide. So instead, the hall filled with praise. "Mr. Nighthale is the finest man I've ever encountered. He's absolutely worthy of this title." "Exactly. If you need my help with the royal family, I'll step up without hesitation." "If even Nighthale doesn't qualify, then no one in the entire Dominion ever will. Not even McArthur." "Agreed!" More voices of agreement came piling in. "Excellent. It seems everyone here remembers how to be grateful." Sienna nodded, her smile calm but knowing as she turned toward Aiden. "So, Nighthale, do you have anything to add?" "No." Aiden shook his head. He had no reason to disagree. Still, his pulse was unsteady. The shock hadn't worn off yet. Even in his last life, he had never seen an NPC get knighted. A player receiving a title was unheard of. The sheer weight of what that meant left him reeling. "Thank you, Sienna." Aiden exhaled, his voice steady but low. In that moment, he finally understood what power truly looked like when it came dressed in wealth and grace. He didn't know if this would succeed, but even the chance felt unreal. "You've earned it," Sienna said gently. "Without you, Mr. Jones would have never reached Westhand. If that had happened, who knows what state Leafport and Westhand would be in now."Honestly, I should be the one thanking you on behalf of the Empire." With flawless posture, Sienna gave him a polished bow. Of course, she had her reasons for backing him, but it wasn't all personal. Nighthale's record spoke louder than words. He had conquered the Abyss Trials. He was a Beastmaster rumored to wield Ascendant Amplification. He was the man who pulled Leafport back from ruin. Each of those alone was enough to make the royal family pay attention. Only when all of that came together did Sienna dare to make her move. Even as a royal herself, she knew such a recommendation couldn't be thrown around carelessly. "It's fine," Aiden replied evenly. "It didn't take much from me. And to be honest, my reasons weren't as selfless as you think." He didn't hide behind false humility. His motives were simple.It had benefited him, nothing more. But in doing so, he'd ended up saving an entire city. "Intent doesn't matter," Sienna said with an easy smile. "Whatever drove you, it's like when you bought that estate. I still don't know what pushed you to do it, but because of it, Westhand was protected. "That's what counts. Nothing else." Aiden said nothing. He only looked at her, his gaze deep and unreadable. It became clear this woman wasn't just a pretty face. Her tone might have been light, but she'd seen right through him. She knew his property purchase hadn't been coincidence. She just chose to let it go.