The First Vampire

Ice Rock City.

After dusk, the banquet hall of the red castle gradually came to life.

The newlyweds, both viscounts, would all entertain their guests who came to witness their vows here.

The luxurious hall of over 600 square meters was laid with red paulownia wood flooring. Two oak long tables were placed on both sides of the hall, laden with a variety of fine wines and delicacies.

Dressed in meticulous attire, attendants stood by the table like sculptures, ready to serve the guests at any time. However, very few people came to eat. Even those who did took only small bites, as overeating in such a setting is considered impolite.

The guests in the hall were divided into two groups. Exquisite noble ladies gathered in the rest area on the left, their laughter ringing like silver bells from time to time.

A girl, who looked no older than fifteen, had become the object of the ladies’ merriment, as she was the one who caught the bouquet Vera tossed during the day.

This indicated that she had received the bride’s blessings and was set to be the next lucky girl to be married.

The girl’s face blushed like a ripe apple. It was hard to tell whether she was shy or excited.

The well-dressed gentlemen gathered on the right side of the hall. They gathered in twos and threes, holding glasses of champagne and engaging in friendly conversations. Just how many agreements and understanding they reached, as well as how many conspiracies they weaved throughout the evening, was anybody’s guess.

Among these noble men was a clear central figure – Duke St. Hilde.

He merely stood still, sipping the champagne in his hand. Although he said little, the nobles around him took turns paying their respects. Their faces turned rosy with excitement at the slightest praise from the Duke, as if they were drunk.

However, Duke St. Hilde was of noble status, and the nobles did not dare to bother him too much. After exchanging a few words, they would take their leave. Hence, Scholar Doan became the object of everyone’s attention and conversation.

Discussions naturally revolved around the current chaos in the North Territory. Those who could attend this wedding were surely faithful to Duke St. Hilde. Now, they could not help but strongly criticize the St. Sean Clan, the Uman Clan, and the Dawson Clan, as if they couldn’t wait to go to the battlefield to slay these traitors of the North Territory.

Scholar Doan handled these lords with a laugh, feeling somewhat scornful inside.

After last year’s purge, the powerful group among the lords of the North Territory were basically eliminated. The nobles present now were basically new lords who had been recently named, and the armies under them were weak. Not even Scholar Doan, let alone Duke St. Hilde, could look up to them.

The ones who Duke truly valued were the Angler family’s army, and only this young man, who had inherited Marquis Garcia’s mantle, could make Duke St. Hilde come to Ice Rock City in person during such an urgent time and give his beloved daughter to him in marriage.

Of course, while Scholar Doan inwardly scorned the nobles who gathered around him, he made sure to maintain a cordial attitude on the surface.

While dealing with these noble lords, he was also covertly observing Duke St. Hilde.

Then, Scholar Doan keenly noticed that the Duke seemed rather distracted tonight.

Just as the banquet was heating up, Colin and Vera, who had changed their clothes, finally appeared.

Colin was dressed in a ceremonial viscount dress with alternating red and black colors, and a vibrant rose was pinned to his chest – he looked elegant and extraordinarily handsome.

Vera had also changed out of her inconvenient wedding dress and put on a fitted white low-cut backless dress. Her golden hair was pinned up into a noble lady’s bun. Her eyes, as clear as blue crystals, glittered; the swaying of her dress revealed her graceful figure. With modest yet charming demeanor, a unique charm derived from the combination of purity and allure, youth and maturity, was embodied within her.

Applause rang out, welcoming the newlyweds into the hall.

Kathy pushed out a giant wedding cake. Butler Emon presented a silver dinner knife to Colin, signaling him and Vera to cut the cake for the guests to share.

Colin handed the knife to Vera with a smile, then held her hand and cut off a small piece of the huge eight-layer cake.

Bang!

A bottle of champagne was opened, and the foam sprayed abruptly onto the newlyweds’ heads.

Colin quickly pulled Vera into his arms to prevent her from being splashed with sparkling wine.

After a moment of playful jesting, Colin handed the cut piece of cake to Duke St. Hilde, then passed the knife to Vera, signaling her to continue serving the guests with the cake.

He himself then moved with Duke St. Hilde through the crowd to a secluded corner.

“I’m afraid there’s no time for your honeymoon,” Duke St. Hilde said bluntly.

Colin nodded, having anticipated this.

The Duke himself came to Ice Rock City, even marrying Vera off to him, it would be odd if he had no ulterior motives.

“I need you to mobilize your army as quickly as possible, march on Ironforge City. If you can capture this town within a month, I will immediately appoint you as Count!”

Colin blinked, carefully phrasing his response, “Your Grace, I am certainly willing to fight bravely for you, but I think it would be better to attack Fallen Eagle City first.”

“Oh? Why?” Duke St. Hilde tasted a slice of the wedding cake, his face showing no pleasure or displeasure.

“First off, Fallen Eagle City is closer to Ice Rock City, and Count Uman is weaker than Marquis Dawson, so we have a better chance of attacking Fallen Eagle City.

Moreover, the relationship between the St. Sean Family and the Uman Clan is clearly much closer. Taking out Count Uman’s stronghold can greatly weaken the power of the St. Sean Family.”

Colin stated his reasons, but did not mention the most important one.

His secret card was having Walra, an insider in Fallen Eagle City, something he couldn’t tell Duke St. Hilde casually.

“You think the Uman Clan is the most relied upon by the St. Sean Family?” A mocking smile surfaced on Duke St. Hilde’s face.

“Isn’t it?”

Duke St. Hilde did not answer directly but said mysteriously, “Don’t worry about the Uman Clan, they’re nothing but fence-sitters trying to please both sides. Besides, I have a way to stir up their relations with the St. Sean Family.”

Colin’s eyes shifted, as if understanding something.

“Moreover, dwarves are our real heart-stopping menace.” Duke St. Hilde finished his cake, wiped his mouth with a napkin, then commanded in a voice brooking no argument, “Three days from now, I want to see your army leaving Ice Rock City, marching on Ironforge City.”

After saying that, he patted Colin’s shoulder and left without waiting for Colin’s response.

The Duke’s domineering manner made Colin very uncomfortable, but there was nothing he could do; he dared not openly resist him just yet.

Stroking his chin, Colin suddenly thought that if he couldn’t resist openly, could he get Walra to stir up some trouble in Fallen Eagle City to make the Duke change his mind?

While thinking, Colin decisively switched to the perspective of a blood slave who had been set up in Fallen Eagle City, wanting to see the current situation there.

But then, he was taken aback by the sight before him.

What’s going on?

Is there a fire?

Colin instructed his blood slave to climb up on a nearby roof and saw flames everywhere he looked. The rampaging fire dragons made Fallen Eagle City look like a purgatory of flames.

He was dumbfounded.

Only a few days had passed, how did Fallen Eagle City end up like this?

Of course, the blood slave couldn’t provide any useful information. To find out what happened, he would have to ask the bloodline Walra.

However, bloodlines have their own consciousness and can’t be manipulated casually by Colin like blood slaves.

He must find Walra.

But where would Walra be under these circumstances?

Looking around, Colin noticed that the center of Fallen Eagle City was without fire, and a blue beam of light descended from the sky, covering the Uman Clan’s castle.

“Colin, would you like some cake?” Vera silently appeared at Colin’s side and asked with a smile.

“Sure.” Colin quickly regained his senses and accepted the plate from Vera with a smile.

Meanwhile, he commanded the blood slave in Fallen Eagle City to head for the Uman Clan’s castle, he wanted to find out what exactly had happened there.