The First Vampire

In May in the North Territory, it’s the season of ample rainfalls.

Though it was midday, the sky was shrouded with dark clouds, with no sunlight in sight. The surroundings were as dim as evening. Even the most inexperienced traveler would know that a storm was imminent.

Colin gazed up at the overhead clouds and ordered the Knight Logh beside him, “This rain should be heavy. Let the soldiers set up camp here. We’ll see how things go after lunch.”

“Yes, Viscount sir!”

Just as Knight Logh left following the orders, Colin felt a chill on his forehead.

The rain was here.

Colin dismounted and headed towards the carriage nearby.

As soon as he mounted the wooden stairs, the carriage door was opened. A charming face, half-angered and half-delighted, invited Colin into the carriage.

Just as the door closed, Vera extended her white and round arm, wrapped it around Colin’s neck, delivered a lingering kiss and then began to remove Colin’s cloak and armor, even squatting down to take off his boots.

Enjoying the tenderness of his newlywed wife, Colin said smilingly, “The storm is here. It seems that we might have to wait a bit before we can continue.”

“Hmm, alright”. Vera nodded obediently. For some unknown reason, her ears suddenly turned crimson.

While the storm raged outside the carriage, it was warm and peaceful inside. Vera was wearing a knee-length, sleeveless thin silk nightdress, her shiny thighs peeping out from the hem. She was barefoot, her pink tender feet stepping on the white lambswool rug.

Her golden hair lay casually on her shoulders, revealing her slim and white neck; her rounded hips protruding tantalizingly under the nightdress.

Seemingly aware of Colin’s scorching gaze, Vera looked up, her face flushed. Brushing her hair aside, she revealed her voluptuous chest.

Colin immediately took his charming wife’s slender waist into his arms, and carried her to the soft couch behind the carriage.

The wind was howling, making the carriage sway slightly.

The heavy raindrops pattered against the carriage windows, concealing the amorous sounds inside.

After a bout of ravaging storm, the sky started to clear up.

Colin opened the curtain slightly, observing the situation outside.

A fragrant body clung to him from behind. Vera rested her delicate chin on Colin’s shoulder and lazily asked,

“Colin, are we leaving now?”

“Yes, we need to reach the Golden Lion Legion as soon as possible. So, thank you for your patience this time.”

“As long as I am with you, it never feels strenuous.” Vera chuckled, delivering another sweet kiss.

After another round of intimacy, Colin finally stepped out of the carriage.

Knight Logh, guarding not far away, immediately came over and reported, “Viscount sir, an envoy from the Morrison Family has found us. Would you like to meet him?”

“The Morrison Family? Alright, bring him here.”

In this world, the Lord’s travel was bound by strict rules, serving as a display of status as well as to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.

If they had to pass through other lords’ territories, conventionally, they would need to send an envoy in advance to notify the local lord of their identity, the number of people, and destination. The local lord, after receiving such information, could prepare to welcome the guests, or, deny passage outright.

But obviously, Colin’s current trip wouldn’t follow this procedure because by the time he would leisurely reach the Ben Liu River, the Golden Lion Legion would probably have been caught in a pincer attack by the Dwarf Legion.

All things considered, the soldiers accompanying Colin this time clearly exceeded the standard for a lord’s travel; strictly speaking, it should be considered a campaign.

This kind of troop movement should, in theory, be approved by the lord of the North Territory before other lords on the way would allow passage.

However, in the current situation, the North Territory has turned into a chaotic mess, and the Northern Duke was already dead, so Colin simply ignored these rules and didn’t notify the local lords along the way.

Although their moves would be found by patrol watches, facing the dark knight banner, these guards dared not to stop them.

Obviously, the lords along the way, who had received the news, would certainly not invite an uninvited guest like Colin into their castles.

So, this Count Morrison was the first lord to extend an invitation to Colin.

“Honored Viscount, welcome to the Morrison territory! The Count has instructed me to invite you and your wife to be our guests at the Phoenix Butterfly Fort!”

Upon finishing his delivery, the Morrison Family’s envoy reverently presented an invitation.

When Colin received and glanced at it, he felt somewhat hesitant.

He had originally intended not to delay his journey, yet found it somewhat inappropriate to directly reject the proactively inviting Morrison Family.

Firstly, they were a count’s family, with sufficient value to be recruited.

Secondly, the current Count Morrison had previously interacted with Colin, leaving a very good impression on him.

Moreover, the Morrison Family were loyal supporters of the St. Hilde Family, so the opportunity to gain significant aid while visiting Phoenix Butterfly Fort might arise.

Furthermore, after the storm, the ground was slick, preventing the cavalry from advancing at full speed. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to rest overnight at Phoenix Butterfly Fort before setting off the next day.

With these thoughts, Colin nodded to accept the other party’s invitation, “It is my honor to be a guest of the Morrison Family!”

At Colin’s command, the Dark Cavalry began to change course.

About half an hour later, they could see the outline of a city.

That was Floral City, governed by the Morrison family.

The Morrison family had run this city for over three hundred years. After several renovations and expansions, it had become one of the largest cities in the central part of the North Territory.

Floral City was famous for its flowers, especially its unique black tulips, which once set off a craze in the Glorious Empire.

At the height of the frenzy, the price of a single black tulip was enough to arm a hundred-man infantry unit.

But this madness put the Morrison family in the spotlight, with countless greedy eyes nearly leading this family, not known for their military prowess, to disaster.

Fortunately, the Count Morrison at the time was clear-headed enough to immediately publicize the cultivation method of the black tulips, causing its price to plummet. The Morrison family lost a cash cow, but it averted the crisis of being overthrown.

Accompanying Colin on horseback, Scholar Doan began to laugh, “Sir Viscount, did you know? Count Morrison had also previously requested Duke St. Hilde for Vera’s hand in marriage.”

“Oh?” Colin was startled, “So the reason the Duke didn’t respond to my marriage proposal for a while was that he was hesitating between me and Count Morrison?”

Scholar Doan shrugged his shoulders, “I wouldn’t know about that. Sometimes I can’t figure out the Duke’s thoughts either. But I guess that Count Morrison will definitely ask Miss Vera for help.”

“Help with what?” Colin suddenly became alert.

“Help him marry a lady from the St. Hilde family. Of course, there are no more direct female descendants of St. Hilde, but there are secondary lines.”

Colin finally let out a breath, laughing, “That shouldn’t be a big problem.”

At this moment, the curtain of the horse-drawn carriage was lifted, and Vera poked her head out, softly providing an explanation.

“Colin, the Morrison family has always liked to form marriage alliances with the St. Hilde family. In recent years, almost every wife of a generation of the Morrison family’s counts has come from the St. Hilde family.”

Colin found this somewhat amusing, “What are they trying to do? Improve their bloodline?”

Scholar Doan’s gaze was lively, “Yes. Who wouldn’t want a Holy Knight to be born within their family? However, it seems that those who wanted to improve their family bloodline by marrying a noblewoman from a Holy Knight’s family have never succeeded. Over a thousand years have passed, and the number of Holy Knight families in the Glorious Empire has only decreased, not increased. Therefore, most families have now given up on this extravagant hope, and the daughters of the Holy Knight families are not as pursued as before. But the Morrison family seems to have not given up. Perhaps they believe that noble bloodlines, like prized tulips, can also be artificially cultivated.”

Looking at the smirk on Scholar Doan’s face, Colin suddenly became interested.

What kind of secrets are hidden within the bloodline of a Holy Knight?

And what has this Morrison family discovered?

As they conversed, Floral City was now just ahead.

The elegantly dressed Count Morrison was standing at the gate of the city. Seeing Colin and his party, he immediately stepped forward to greet them.

“Honored Viscount Angler, Lady of the Viscount, welcome to Floral City!”