The emergence of the new Ten Noble Families was bound to create a significant ripple across Middleton.
In the past, the Frost family and the Sterling family had pledged allegiance to the Noire family, elevating the Noire family to the pinnacle of the Ten Noble Families. But now, with the Frost family and Sterling family expelled from Middleton and the Noire family suffering repeated setbacks, their dominant position was precarious.
This situation presented Chris with a glimmer of opportunity.
Currently, the Shelby family and the Nance family were ranked among Middleton’s three major elite families. If either could ascend further, they might claim a spot among the Ten Noble Families.
The Shelby family was Chris’s own bloodline. While he had yet to fully return to the family after the fallout from the previous incident, he understood his father, Todd Shelby, had been forced to drive him and his mother out of the family home years ago.
As for the Nance family, it was now led by Candace as its head.
If both the Shelby and Nance families could secure positions among the new Ten Noble Families, it would give Chris a strategic advantage in controlling the power dynamics of Middleton.
Although the title of a “Noble Family” was symbolic, it carried immense weight in terms of resources and influence. To join the Ten Noble Families meant access to privileges and opportunities unavailable to others.
This upcoming vote to determine the new Ten Noble Families had drawn the attention of countless families in Middleton. Everyone aspired to claim a seat at the table.
The Noire family hosted this crucial voting assembly on one of its private estates.
Apart from the current Ten Noble Families, representatives from various prominent Middleton families were also present.
The estate was expansive, rumored to have been the residence of a prince in a bygone dynasty, later purchased by the Noire family.
Chris and Candace arrived at the estate by car.
In the estate’s outer courtyard, the younger generation of Middleton’s elite families gathered. These youths had accompanied their elders primarily to observe and learn.
James approached them, greeting Chris and Candace. “Chris, cousin, you’re here.”
As the young master of the Vance family, James had joined the assembly alongside Caspian, his elder.
Chris nodded silently and entered the main hall of the estate.
Entry to the hall required an invitation. Without one, no one was allowed in. Each invitation permitted only two additional guests; no exceptions were made. Those without access remained in the outer courtyard.
The hall was vast, capable of accommodating thousands. By the time Chris and Candace entered, the space was already crowded with representatives from over a thousand families.
The sheer number of attendees astonished Chris.
“I didn’t realize Middleton had this many families,” he remarked in surprise.
Candace smiled. “Chris, these are just the first-tier families. Many second-tier, third-tier, and unranked families aren’t even eligible to attend.”
Hearing this, Chris couldn’t help but marvel. Restricted to first-tier families alone, the turnout was still this overwhelming. Just how many families existed in Middleton?
Chris, though born into the elite Shelby family, had little understanding of Middleton’s overall family structure due to being cast out at a young age.
Among those present were the true power players of Middleton and even the broader Amerosia region, controlling economic and cultural lifelines.
However, with only two families able to join the Ten Noble Families, most attendees were merely here to spectate.
Chris and Candace found a random spot to sit and waited for the proceedings to begin.
At the head of the hall, the elders of the Noire family and other current noble families sat together at a single table.
Once all the families had arrived, the patriarch of the Noire family, Honor Noire, stood up.
Instantly, the lively hall fell silent.
All eyes turned to Honor Noire.
Scanning the assembly, Honor Noire spoke with authority. “With the Frost family and Sterling family expelled from Middleton, we will vote today to select two new families to join the ranks of the Ten Noble Families. Each of you will have the opportunity to cast a vote for the families you believe deserve this honor.”
The voting process was straightforward. Every family elder present had the right to vote. The two families with the most votes would be inducted as the new noble families.
While the process appeared fair, the tangled web of alliances and rivalries among the families made the outcome far from simple.
In the days leading up to the vote, Middleton had been rife with secret negotiations and lobbying. Many families with a shot at joining the Ten Noble Families had been working tirelessly behind the scenes to secure support.
Chris thought back to his recent interaction with Yannick Gallatin, the head of the Gallatin family. Yannick had invited Chris to dinner in hopes of securing his support for the Gallatin family’s bid to join the noble ranks.
The voting began shortly after.
To ensure fairness, the process was conducted anonymously.
Chris turned to Candace. “Candace, which family are you planning to vote for?”
Candace shook her head. “I’m not sure.”
“Why not vote for the Nance family?” Chris suggested.
“What?” Candace looked at him in shock.
Though the Nance family was one of Middleton’s elite families, it was far from qualifying as a noble family.
“Chris, you can’t be serious. The Nance family isn’t remotely qualified to join the noble ranks,” Candace said.
Chris’s expression remained serious. “I’m not joking. I plan to have both the Nance family and the Shelby family become the new noble families. Once you join the Ten Noble Families, you’ll be able to counterbalance the Noire family.”
Candace studied Chris’s face and realized he wasn’t kidding.
“How do you plan to achieve that?” she asked, her curiosity piqued. “The competition is intense, and the Noire family already seems to have decided on supporting the Gallatin family. I’ve heard they’ve struck a deal to secure the Gallatin family’s place among the Ten Noble Families.”
Chris smiled faintly. “Don’t worry. I have my ways. Just wait and see.”
Half an hour later, the voting concluded.
The results were announced: the Gallatin family and the Bissbort family were declared the new members of the Ten Noble Families.
The Gallatin and Bissbort families beamed with joy, as though they had anticipated this outcome all along.
Indeed, their success was due to the Noire family’s support behind the scenes.
Chris observed the results with a cold smile.
Having just removed the Frost and Sterling families from Middleton, he wasn’t about to let the Gallatin and Bissbort families take their place so easily.