Theo examined the polished, grey circular badge, its edges etched with intricate designs. At its center was a single marking of ’5’.

When Merek saw it, his eyes widened in shock. He turned to look at the emperor as if something really astonishing had just occurred.

Lucien, on the other hand, was just shocked. He simply stared at Theo’s badge, which had the same ’5’ written on it, and then at his.

Theo frowned, totally confused. A quick glance around told him he wasn’t the only one.

Looking up, he caught the faint smirk on the emperor’s face and couldn’t help but feel like he had done something that was entertaining for the man.

Reaching forward, Theo picked up the badge from the cushion, prompting the robed attendant to step back.

One by one, the others followed, each one taking their badges and holding them in their hands.

"Theo Merrick, are you familiar with what this is?" the emperor asked, making Theo meet his gaze.

"My apologies, Your Majesty the Emperor, but I am not," he replied, drawing quiet murmurs from the others.

The emperor didn’t say anything about that but started speaking again. "What you hold in your hand is the Royal Contribution Score."

Upon hearing that name, it didn’t ring any bells to Theo, but he could make a few educated assumptions in his mind about it. He gave a small nod. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The emperor chuckled softly before continuing. "With it, you have the authority to either help your own family raise their standing in the Royal Contribution Score so that they can ascend in nobility. Or..." His smile deepened. "You can use it to forge your own path. Establish a new family name and a new house."

At that moment every single individual, except for Merek and Lucien, stared at the badges in their hands with even more shock. Garrick looked like he was on the verge of fainting at any moment, while Kaelor’s hands shivered.

Theo’s gaze never left the emperor as he tried to hide his surprise, keeping himself steady, but inside, his thoughts were in turmoil.

’So these are the points that help in nobility ascension...’ Theo thought.

Seemingly satisfied that Theo was able to understand it now, the emperor continued, "With the combined scores of you and your brother, your family can rise to a Viscounty right at this very moment, Theo Merrick."

Lucien shot Theo a sharp look, while Theo himself only looked at the emperor, who had that same smile on his face.

’I see what he is doing...’ Theo thought.

A faint urge to smile tugged at him, but he had to keep his poker face on right now.

Before Lucien could say anything or was even thinking about saying anything, Theo opened his mouth, drawing the emperor’s full attention as he anticipated his next move.

"Our father, Aldric Merrick, would not approve of us helping the Merrick Barony rise to the Viscounty level, Your Majesty the Emperor," Theo said.

The emperor simply looked at him, that faint, knowing smile still lingering on his face.

"...That is true," the emperor replied after a few seconds, and the whispers immediately began to ripple through the hall. Theo strained to listen, catching his name repeated again and again, but nothing more than that.

"So, I would like to politely decline using these points for now," Theo continued.

Beside him, Lucien’s eyes twitch.

"Your Majesty, if I may," a man in white robes who was near one of the walls spoke, his deep voice carrying effortlessly across the hall.

The emperor didn’t even have to look at the man before nodding his head.

Theo’s gaze shifted to the man, and his eyes lingered on him for a moment.

He didn’t know why that man was dressed in a robe; it didn’t suit him at all.

His body was well built and powerful, and Theo could even see the curves of muscles beneath the fabric as he focused. It seemed like a warrior was forced to wear a scholar’s attire.

Yet, there he was.

"Ninth heir to the Merrick Barony, son of Aldric Merrick, Theo Merrick," the man announced, his deep voice echoing faintly.

All the whispers died instantly. Everyone’s attention turned to him.

"You are not allowed to decline the use of these contribution points. You must either assign them to your family or claim them for yourself, now," the man stated, calmly writing something down with a pen.

The pen looked ridiculously small compared to the man’s hands. It was like he was doing everything the opposite of what anyone would think he should be doing with that kind of body.

For a moment, Theo was reminded of his father; he used to look the same when he was writing something down with such hands.

"If you reject it one more time, we will have to confiscate the points from you," the man added.

Theo nodded, and the man fell silent once more.

Turning back to the emperor, Theo thought for only a moment.

"Then I would like to use it for myself rather than the Merrick Barony, Your Majesty."

At that moment, it felt like the whispers broke into actual reactions.

"What did he say?!"

"There is no way the Merrick heir said this!"

Those were the only voices he could hear clearly, and Theo looked at them to see that they were nothing more than old noble men.

The emperor’s grin widened while everyone in the court was still shocked for Theo to take such a decision.

"Very well. In the name of the kingdom, I bestow these 5 Royal Contribution Points in your name, Theo Merrick," the emperor declared, extending a hand before withdrawing it.

"Once you have accumulated 10 more points, you will be granted a new surname by the kingdom and established as the head of a new Baron family."

Theo lowered his gaze and gave a deep nod.

’This is what I get for not studying what actually mattered...’ Theo thought, resisting the urge to smack his own forehead.

At that moment, his thoughts drifted to only one place...

The academy.

He was supposed to learn all this there. But since he had never attended it, he remained ignorant of its rules.

Theo looked back at the emperor, his expression calm.

But inwardly, he couldn’t help thinking.

’He made me think about the academy again...’