just to point out that in this novel there are two separate noble ranks, you have the feudal landholding ranks where Leon is still a Baron at this point in the manga and then you have the royal court rank which is more of a political ranking unrelated to landholdings but involved with government work and how "close" you are with the royal family. historically there has been bureaucrat nobility without lands that served in administration while receiving a "stipend" related to their court rank
The smaller the rank the more important you are.
"Eighth and ninth ranks are for those who have been knights their whole life. One can enter the seventh rank from heritage, but ascending one rank above that would require many years of loyalty and some large achievements." And by many years they mean like 3 generations. It's pretty much unheard of for Leon to get this promotion.
Its based on the Japanese/Chinese system of nobility, where there is a "peerage" and a "court rank".
Classically, Court rank usually goes from one to nine, with each rank split in two (for a total of 18 ranks), with the senior first rank being the highest, and the junior ninth rank being the lowest...
