Interesting background for the Empress, she's got the setting for most of these stories as daughter of the Northern Duke, but it's not actually a ducal level title.
Her father is a Marquis, meaning about equal to a count in terms of "nobility", but because the land he controls is bordering another country and deemed very important to be defended he gets to be directly below a duke in terms of actual authority.
Basically, he's a count with an honorary title to show how much more important than other counts he is.
Her father is a Marquis, meaning about equal to a count in terms of "nobility", but because the land he controls is bordering another country and deemed very important to be defended he gets to be directly below a duke in terms of actual authority.
Basically, he's a count with an honorary title to show how much more important than other counts he is.