>>5471101>>5471133>>5470506>>5470491Although your view and understanding is limited because of the difference in social systems from what you're used to, it seems that the nobility act as supports to a ruler. Both in terms of extension of their rule and also sheer power, because noble households have retainers themselves. When need be, a ruler can depend on the nobility to rally their supporters and the populace towards some cause, oftentimes war and mustering an army. Since noble households are economic forces as well, by serving their interests they also are a force in the community for creating jobs and commerce/trade opportunities. Lastly, the nobility acts as something of a useful hierarchy to stratify the populace. From your outsider perspective, commonfolk regard nobles almost like lesser gods and defer to them in most things, which is a useful method of control or social cohesion depending on how you look at it. Similar to priests either today or from your own time, except without the religious aspect. Even you can see the benefit in having prominent figures who can extend your will and assist in governance, carrying it down to the populace in a model way... although having people depend on nobility means that if they turn against you or leave, those people may do the same.
The problem and persistent challenge you face though, is what the nobles expect in return for all that they bring to the table. In your time the pharaoh was absolute and ruled completely, authority directly from the gods themselves and his will executed by the priesthood of the theocracy. Answerable to no one, although at the same time old Menaji society was a little different, putting it lightly... things like slavery. By contrast these "modern" humans base their rule upon something of a contract or agreement between the ruler and nobles, for the benefit they provide and their loyalty, in exchange for the ruler being answerable to them. Probably the better the ruler the less to be held accountable, but even as fantastic a ruler as you are proving to be, there are some limits anything short of a god-queen would face. Certainly you expect that the nobles of Bexley can permit you to get away with more than the rulers of other towns, but only so much.
Although this isn't to say you aren't still fed up with the nobility and would rather be rid of them. Just simply that, you can see some merits of what they bring to the table, as well as the upset and dangers that could happen if you try to get rid of them. Nothing is impossible to you however, and you very certainly can smash the nobility if you desire to, whether by personal might or by authority.
