The First Vampire

“Viscount Auston, why have you only just arrived? I thought the nobles of the east no longer wished to ransom Marquis Vincent,”

Colin lazily leaned back in his chair, squinting at Viscount Auston who stood before him.

Little White curled up in his lap, resembling a blue sea cucumber, sleeping soundly.

“I apologise, my Lord. I  was delayed by some matters,”

Viscount Auston looked somewhat embarrassed, but he did not find it appropriate to explain the reasons for his delay.

The reason he only arrived at Ice Rock City now was because he had misjudged the chaotic situation in the North Territory, and overestimated the combat power of his own guards.

Originally, he had set off for Ice Rock City on the orders of the Duke of the East before the Winter Festival but once he entered the North Territory, he realised that he hadn’t brought enough guards

Pressing on for a few days with gritted teeth, Viscount Auston’s convoy of over one hundred guards suffered heavy losses as the famished slave mob attacked them with reckless abandon.

In addition to being unfamiliar with the area, Viscount Auston had not even seen a glimpse of Ice Rock city when his guard force was on the verge of collapsing under the relentless onslaught of the endless rebel forces.

In desperation, he had no choice but to order a retreat.

Upon his return, he was roundly scolded by the Duke of the East, even suffering a broken rib from a kick.

After a period of rest, Viscount Auston amassed more guards and embarked on the journey to Ice Rock City once again.

This time, he finally arrived successfully.

Of course, the journey was laden with difficulties, but Auston was certain he would not share this information with Colin. After all, it would be disgracing to the noble image of the East .

“So, what does Duke St. Prowse think about my proposal?”

“The Duke Agrees to your proposal, he wishes to exchange Marquis Garcia for Marquis Vincent.”

“What about the time and place?”

“If you have no objections, we can exchange the prisoners of war on the banks of Angry River in a month,”

Viscount Auston presented a marked map to Colin.

“I have no objections to the place,” after taking a glance at the marked map, Colin added, “However, concerning the time let’s change it to three months later.”

“Alright, with the current unrest in the North Territory, let’s settle for three months later. I’ll notify the Duke, once he approves, we will confirm the arrangement,”

“Hmm,”

Throughout the negotiations, neither of them mentioned prisoners other than the two Marquises, because they both knew that there were no other prisoners.

In the battle at Shadow Gorge, apart from the eight thousand remaining troops who successfully escaped under the command of the Knight Logh and the captured Marquis Garcia, the rest of the Dark Cavalry had all perished, not a single soul survived.

Similarly, after Colin’s battle at Silver Moon City, he responded in kind, executing all of the Pegasus Army’s prisoners.

The first confrontation between the North and the East territories after hundreds of years can be described as a Pyrrhic victory for both sides.

Perhaps, this was the result that the St. Sean family, manipulating the situation from the shadows, had been hoping for.

Not long after Viscount Auston left, the butler Emon came to report, “My Lord, the reinforcements from the Half-Elf Kingdom are almost here.”

Colin sprung up from his seat with elation, “Oh? Let’s go greet them!”

To prepare for the incoming storm in the North Territory, Colin had sent a letter last month to Queen Isa requesting for the Silver Moon Guards to be dispatched to Ice Rock City for support.

Of course, Queen Isa would not refuse Colin’s request and had issued the order to dispatch troops on the same day she received the letter.

When Colin, accompanied by Knight Lyle and others, arrived at the city wall, they could already see a silvery-grey line on the horizon to the east of Ice Rock City.

As time passed, the silvery-grey line gradually spread out and finally blanketed the wasteland to the east of Ice Rock City.

The bright red thorny banner fluttered in the cold wind, it was the emblem of the Miller family, and the new symbol of the Half-Elf royal family.

Colin slightly furrowed his brows, wondering   could it be that Queen Isa herself came?

Even though Queen Isa’s presence would certainly be a great help to Colin, he preferred her to stay safe in Silver Moon City during her pregnancy.

Under Colin’s gaze, a small troop of cavalry broke out of the Silver Moon Guards formation and quickly rushed towards Ice Rock City.

When they arrived at Ice Rock City, the city gate just opened, and a troop of Dark Cavalry greeted them.

The leading half-elf general immediately dismounted, knelt on one knee, and loudly said:

“Honorable Viscount Angler, by Her Majesty the Queen’s command, thirty thousand warriors of the Silver Moon Guards have assembled here at your disposal!”

“Duke Modewen, welcome to Ice Rock City!”

When Colin first saw William Modewen, he was a bit surprised, but he soon understood Queen Isa’s arrangement.

Having the former half-elf prince lead the Silver Moon Guards was indeed a good idea.

The current middle-level officers of the Silver Moon Guards were basically members of the Miller family. In the situation where Queen Isa could not come due to her pregnancy, if another member of the Miller family was appointed as the commander, he might not fully obey Colin’s orders.

Especially when Colin needed the Silver Moon Guards to make certain sacrifices.

But Duke Modewen was different.

He was honest and easy to manipulate.

Moreover, with the middle-level officers of Silver Moon Guards being members of the Miller family, if Duke Modewen didn’t want to be marginalized, he would need Colin’s support.

In this way, this Silver Moon Guards would be more conveniently controlled by Colin.

Duke Modewen accompanied Colin into the city, marching towards Red Castle while reporting the situation of the reinforcements: “Viscount, this time I brought thirty thousand Silver Moon Guards, including ten thousand bowmen, seven thousand long spear soldiers, eight thousand sword and shield soldiers, two thousand shield soldiers, and three thousand light cavalry.

Moreover, there are also thirty-eight knights and fifteen rangers who have come with the army.”

“Hmm, very good.” Colin nodded in satisfaction, with the aid of the Silver Moon Guards, he felt more confident now.

“The 3,000 light cavalry will be incorporated into the Dark Cavalry, under the unified command of Knight Logh.”

“Yes, my lord!” In the face of Colin’s first order, Duke Modewen agreed without hesitation.

Even though this command was clearly an attempt to annex the Silver Moon Guards’ cavalry unit.

“How are Her Majesty the Queen and Miss Vera?”

“Her Majesty is in good health and as for Miss Vera ” Duke Modewen suddenly turned to look at an attendant behind him.

Colin also turned his head in confusion, but saw the attendant slowly remove her helmet to reveal a stunning smile

It was Vera!

“Vera, how did you ”

Before Colin finished his sentence, Vera lunged into his arms like a swallow returning to its nest.

Feeling the soft touch and familiar fragrance, Colin smiled and said, “You’re visiting Ice Rock City. Why didn’t you let me know in advance?”

Vera buried her head in Colin’s chest, murmuring, “Don’t you want me to come?”

“Of course not.” Colin laughed heartily, “The gates of Red Castle are always open for you!”

Seeing this, Duke Modewen and the others tactfully retreated a distance, allowing the long-separated lovers to catch up.