The First Vampire

Winterfell City, the city gates tightly shut.

The Golden Lion Legion is arrayed outside the city, orderly and neat.

Standing in front of the formation, Colin listens to the envoy’s report, his expression fluctuating between light and dark.

“My Lord Viscount, Miss Vera, the message from inside the city states that due to the current unstable situation, with rebels arising, to ensure the safety of Winterfell City, they cannot open the city gate to allow the Golden Lion Legion to enter temporarily.

However, Young Master Joyce says that you and your wife can enter the city, but the guards accompanying you should not exceed a hundred individuals.”

“Hahaha, What a big joke! Since when has the Golden Lion Legion been unable to enter Winterfell City!”

Listening to Colin’s mockery, the envoy bows his head, stuttering without a response.

Colin doesn’t blame him for it, the poor man is just a messenger, the situation inside the city is clearly under Count Uman’s control now.

All the way here, they noticed traces of a large army’s march, Colin had suspected that it was Count Uman’s army, he just hadn’t expected them to take control of Winterfell City so easily.

There must be someone within the city cooperating with him!

“Who is the commander of the Winterfell City Defense Force?” Colin turns to the scholar Doan at his side and asks.

“It’s Knight Thomas St. Hilde.” Scholar Doan seems to understand Colin’s thoughts and quickly shakes his head after stating a name, “Knight Thomas should have no bias, Count Uman being able to take control of Winterfell City so quickly must be because someone else is helping him.”

“Who else can help him?”

Scholar Doan ponders for a moment, then says, “It should be the butler of the St. Hilde family- Derrington.”

“The butler?” Colin frowns, recalling the stern and austere old butler he had once met at Vera’s coming-of-age ceremony, “Why would he favor Joyce? Did Duke St. Hilde give him some instructions before leaving?”

Scholar Doan shakes his head, “Whether the Duke left him any instructions, I’m not sure. However, I’m guessing it’s him who helped Count Uman because I know he’s a fervent believer.”

“A believer?” Colin reacts instantly.

Though Vera had gone through the coming-of-age ceremony in the church, she had not been baptized, and she had never publicly acknowledged her faith in the Lord of Glory.

So, in the eyes of the butler Derrington, she was still a blasphemous mage, a heretic!

At this moment, Colin realizes that he has never considered the church’s attitude.

However, it couldn’t be blamed on him not thinking thoroughly nor was it Scholar Doan deliberately withholding, the church simply didn’t have a say in the appointment of the Northern Duke.

The emperor needs the pope’s coronation, but the Duke doesn’t.

The Royal Family would never allow the church to sway their decisions on the appointment and dismissal of their vassals.

But certainly, the church wouldn’t just stand by, especially when a mage is about to inherit such an important title as the Northern Duke.

“What good ideas do you have now?” Colin asks Scholar Doan.

He finds the current situation very tricky, a formidable city like Winterfell City can’t be attacked within a short period. By now, the Menam family is probably already rendezvousing with the Dawson Family, and the Dwarf Union Army will soon arrive.

If they don’t quickly deal with the Uman Clan inside Winterfell City, the Golden Lion Legion will be in danger of being attacked from both sides.

Scholar Doan hesitates a little, but still stares earnestly into Colin’s eyes and says solemnly, “Miss Vera cannot enter the city!”

Colin is taken aback, feeling that Scholar Doan has just stated the obvious.

With Count Uman in control of Winterfell City now, it would be a death wish for Vera to enter.

But he quickly understands, the envoy across from him invited himself and Vera, but Scholar Doan only said that Vera alone cannot enter the city.

So…

“Are you suggesting that I enter the city?”

“Yes.” Scholar Doan nods and adds, “If you permit, I will accompany you into the city.”

Expressing his stance with the last sentence, he wants to tell Colin that his suggestion does not have ulterior motives.

Colin wasn’t actually worried that Scholar Doan would deliberately plot against him; at this point, even if Scholar Doan betrayed him, he couldn’t possibly win Joyce’s genuine trust– power had probably already been divided over there.

Moreover, with Vera and the Golden Lion Legion outside the city, as long as Joyce has any sense left, he won’t harm Colin.

“And after entering the city?” Colin asks.

Scholar Doan immediately responds, “Form an alliance!”

“An alliance?”

“Yes. If Joyce wants to ascend to the throne of the Northern Duke, his main enemy is actually the St. Sean family. Given the current situation, we can join him to first deal with the approaching Dwarf Legion and then make other plans.”

Colin strokes his chin, pondering for quite a while, before finally nodding, “Alright, I’ll go into the city with you!”

After finishing his words, he turns around and walks towards a horse-drawn carriage behind him.

Before entering the city, he needs to appease Vera first.

Stepping into the horse-drawn carriage, Colin recounts his and Scholar Doan’s plans to Vera.

Originally, he had thought that Vera definitely would object, he even prepared some reasons beforehand, but surprisingly, Vera who looked worried and reluctant, didn’t refuse Colin’s proposition.

“Alright, then go ahead. If there happens any incident within the city, even if it destroys Winterfell or causes the St. Hilde family to lose control of the North Territory, I will take revenge on your behalf!”

After going through so much, the naive girl has slowly matured.

Colin smiled lightly, “Don’t worry. As long as St. Sean, our major enemy is still out there, the people in the city, unless they are fools, won’t provoke us outright at this time.”

Vera nodded gently, helped Colin tidy up his collar, and said tenderly, “Colin, for your great contribution to the North Territory, how should I thank you?”

Your becoming the Northern Duke is the best thank you!

Of course, Colin would not say such thoughts directly, as it would be too much of a spoiled sport.

Gazing at Vera’s watery eyes, Colin chuckled lightly, hugged her into his arms, and whispered, “Your agreement to marry me is the best thank you!”

Correct answer!

Vera smiled charmingly, stood on her tiptoes, and presented a sweet kiss to the man she loved.

After a moment of affection, Colin left the carriage.

After that, he summoned Knight Kambening and instructed him:

“Stay outside the city, monitor the movement of the Dwarf Legion, if the enemy approaches, just maintain your position, do not engage in battle rashly.

In addition, after I enter the city, I will send messengers out daily. If you do not receive a message, that means something has gone wrong with us inside. In that case, take orders from Vera.”

“Yes, my lord Viscount!”

After instructing Knight Kambening, Colin then asked Mr. Cusius, the Mage who was standing dazedly to the side:

“Mr. Cusius, have you ever been to Winterfell before?”

“Yes.” Cusius nodded and then shook his head, “But I’ve never been to Lion Roar Castle.”

Colin laughed heartily, inviting him, “Now is a good opportunity, would you like to accompany me?”

Cusius, the Mage, hesitated visibly, but eventually nodded and said, “It’s my honor!”

Colin did not want to leave this unpredictable Mage outside the city, in case he played some tricks around Vera. So it was better to bring him into the city.

Finally, Colin gave a few instructions to Knight Logh, then led a hundred of his guards, and headed towards Winterfell.

Amid the dull rumbling sound, the huge iron city gate slowly opened a small gap just big enough for one person to pass through.

Colin chuckled and shook his head. The other party was really cautious.

Gathering his composure, he strode forward immediately and was the first to walk into the city.

After entering the city, the first thing Colin saw was Count Uman standing in front of him.

It had been a year since their last encounter, and Count Uman seemed to have aged considerably. However, his back was still straight and his eyes were still sharp, like a fighter who would never capitulate.

“Welcome to Winterfell, Viscount Angler!”

“Long time no see, Count Uman!” Colin smiled and moved forward to shake the Count’s hand cordially, as if they were old friends reunited after many years.

“By the way, where is Miss Vera?” Count Uman looked past Colin, pretending to ask casually.

“She’s not feeling well and couldn’t come. Sorry.” Colin made up an excuse, then swiftly changed the topic, “Lord, I have a welcome gift for you.”

“Oh?” Count Uman’s eyes flickered, “You’re too kind.”

Colin signaled to one of the guards behind him, who stepped forward and removed his helmet.

Once Count Uman saw the guard’s face, he was greatly shocked and started to tremble, “Wa…Walra?”

“Father.” Walra lifted his head, revealing his half-burned face in the sunlight.

Looking at this distorted face, Count Uman couldn’t help trembling all over, and a frozen gaze of hatred was projected from his eyes, seemingly dropping the surrounding temperature by several degrees.

He approached slowly and hugged his “illegitimate son” tightly, saying solemnly, “Don’t worry, I will avenge your grievances, the Uman Clan’s grievances, and the grievances of the 300,000 citizens of Fallen Eagle City.”

Colin enjoyed the touching reunion scene in front of him, and teased, “Count Uman, are you pleased with my welcome gift?”

Count Uman finally released Walra, turned to look at Colin, and said solemnly, “Viscount Angler, I will certainly repay your kindness in the future!”

Colin chuckled and waved his hand, “I was just joking with you. Knight Walra is my brother-in-law after all. Saving him is my unquestionable responsibility.

However, as for the tragedy that occurred in Fallen Eagle City, I deeply regret it. The acts of the St. Sean family are truly detestable and deserve catastrophic punishment!

For such an inhumane demon, we should unite and jointly expel him from the North Territory!”

Count Uman nodded as if he agreed quite a bit with Colin’s opinion, but there was no verbal expression of this agreement. Instead, he made an inviting gesture:

“Viscount Angler, please, Young Master Joyce has been waiting for a long time.”

“Great.”

Colin strode forward. The iron city gate behind him slowly closed, separating the inside and outside of the city into two worlds.