The term “vassal” is invoked in literature to denote a range of relationships marked by loyalty, duty, and often subservience to a higher authority. In medieval epics and ancient tales, characters proudly declare their status as vassals to illustrate feudal bonds and honor, as seen when a warrior identifies himself as Higelac’s vassal in one classic narrative [1, 2, 3] or when loyalty is extolled in the poetic exchange of greetings between lord and retainer [4, 5]. Historical accounts and legal treatises also deploy the term to discuss the intricate obligations between lords and their dependents, emphasizing rights over land and the inalienable ties of fealty [6, 7, 8, 9]. Moreover, playwrights and poets, such as Shakespeare, use “vassal” figuratively to express both literal servitude and more abstract bonds of emotional or moral obligation [10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16]. This diverse usage across genres highlights how the term embodies the complex interplay of power, honor, and subordination in both literal feudal systems and their metaphorical extensions in literature.