"Arthur." Jerald spoke: "The great First Knight King, the true King of the Brittania people, the genuine Brittani, Arthur Le Brittani."

"Indeed." Francois looked at the mist-covered sky and the vast expanse of snowy forest, continuing: "Arthur's rise gave people hope, but Brittania was still fragmented at the time. Twenty-five years later, Brittania faced its greatest invasion in history. The Granboiler Duchy was leveled by the Greenskins' attack. Under Arthur's call, the Brittania people united for the first time. Sirulf from Leonais and Landuin from Musillon joined Arthur's 'Anti-Greenskin Alliance'. The slogan 'Fight for Brittania' echoed across the land for the first time... you all know what happened next."

Everyone nodded, acknowledging Arthur's fierce battles with the Greenskin tribes, his encounter with the Lake Fairy by Fairy Lake, and the twelve greatest epic battles that followed, leading to the establishment of the "Holy Grail Companion Brotherhood" and the birth of the Brittania Kingdom.

The twelve Holy Grail Knights were the dukes of twelve duchies. Their remarkable deeds would be remembered and celebrated until the world's end.

The young ones were all filled with admiration.

However, Laine felt that Francois had another implication. He tried to ask further: "So, we must unite and resist the invasion together, otherwise our fate will be like the Kuileu Duchy, turned into ruins and graves, only to be gazed upon by others?" 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"No, it can't be that simple. How could you not understand?" Francois chuckled, patting Laine's shoulder: "Think deeper! Laine."

"Um..." Laine could only continue pondering: "It's about reputation and strength. The immense fame Arthur accumulated through dragon-slaying and his demonstrated strength gave the entire Brittania people a reason and belief to unite."

"Still not quite right, Laine. You must have thought of this." Francois continued smiling, the elegant Duke only smiled at his son-in-law, gesturing to the somewhat anxious Surya to be calm: "Think about it, why were Sirulf and Landuin the first to join? Why wasn't it Agirgel from Paragon? Why not Balduin from Borelion? Why not Lombard from Kakasong? Why not the Duke of Winford at the time, Arthur's distant relative Lidmond?"

"Because Duke Sirulf of Leonais was Arthur's sister Rosalind's husband, making him Arthur's brother-in-law. Landuin was Arthur's battle companion in countless fights, familiar with Arthur..." Laine immediately grasped something.

He began to understand.

The Divine Chosen Champion of the Lake Fairy smiled, and Francois gave him another lesson: "No matter how great the strength, if no one knows, it's useless. Even with a common enemy, the bonds forged from childhood friendships and intermarriage played a decisive role in the early days of Arthur's alliance."

"Very good." Francois smiled, repeatedly stroking his beard. He was growing fonder of his son-in-law: "It's good that you understand."

Father-in-law's message to Laine summed up in two points.

First, from the founding of Arthur's kingdom to now, the unspoken standard in the nobility for promotion is still choosing talents from acquaintances or choosing acquaintances within the talents. Though this may not be fair, over a millennium of nation-building, this standard remains the most effective, even to Laine's view from his past life.

Second, for two unrelated individuals to trust each other, the simplest and most convenient method is to build camaraderie through fighting side by side in war or through family marriage.

Just like how Francois, after marrying off Surya to Laine, made Laine see Francois as family, and vice versa, Francois viewed Laine as a reliable elder and steadfast ally. Since the marriage of Laine and Surya, Count Glamorgan and the Duke of Winford's family shared both glory and loss.

This is the power of marriage; this is how nobility forms alliances through bloodlines.

More importantly, the mutual benefits and trust brought about by this marriage were needed by both parties.

Laine had significant personal strength, backed by the Lake Fairy, shrouded in a layer of mystery. Meanwhile, the Duke of Winford's Clan was a millennium-old noble family, needing to absorb Laine's fresh blood for growth and development. Recognizing the flaws of the serf system, Francois sought to learn from Laine's practice on how to make changes.

Laine was still newly rooted in the Kingdom. Though the Divine Chosen Champion of the Lake Fairy understood warfare and had outstanding martial valor, he wasn't very familiar with court and noble customs, needing the Duke of Winford's Clan's support.

Thus, the shrewd, visionary, and wise Francois had early on chosen the remarkably talented Laine as his son-in-law. Binding their interests closely, Laine also actively signaled in response. After Laine became a Count, despite the presence of other excellent young knights in the Kingdom's other great noble families, Francois was already set on Laine. The marriage between Laine and Surya benefitted both Laine and the Duke's family, and Surya also had a great fondness for Laine.