The First Vampire

The sudden bad news took everyone by surprise, crushing their dreams like bubbles, and the cold, harsh reality weighed heavily on everyone’s hearts.

After a long time, Colin asked uneasily, “How did Governor Lattom…die?”

“Natural death.” Governor Crete squeezed out these words through clenched teeth, his face full of concealed shock and anger.

Obviously, none of those present believed this answer.

How could Governor Lattom happen to die at such a crucial time?

It seemed that Prince Lexie’s party had lost their patience and resorted to the most drastic measures, eliminating the biggest obstacle to the declaration of war.

“Following Governor Lattom, who should be the next chairperson?” Scholar Doan asked solemnly.

“Emoson St. Prowse.” Crete answered with a serious expression.

Colin’s heart also sank to the bottom.

Of the surname St. Prowse, it was clear this governor came from the eastern region, and the inclination of the eastern region…

Colin had seen the Duke of the East’s second son, Count Evan, and his fiancée at a court banquet just yesterday. And this fiancée was Prince Lexie’s own daughter.

So, it needed no ass’s brain to understand that the Eastern Region had undoubtedly fallen entirely to Prince Lexie.

And for their own interests, the Eastern Region was the force most eager to see the Empire declaring war on Yevir. Since Yevir itself lay on the border of the Eastern Region and the Bright Moon Forest, its existence had always been a thorn in the side of the Eastern Region.

Now that the Empire was willing to send troops to sweep away Yevir, the East was bound to throw their full support behind it.

Once Governor Lattom died, and Governor Emoson assumed the rotating chair of the Senate, he would hasten to push the proposal to declare war on Yevir to a vote.

In this case, it wouldn’t be nearly soon enough for Vera’s side to pressure the elders of the North Territory to defy the orders of Governor Sebat and vote against the proposal.

Moreover, the death of Governor Lattom would intimidate the elders of the St. Lorenzo family, so more of them would probably side with Prince Lexie.

Therefore, if the proposal to declare war reached the Senate for a vote at this time, it was certain to receive an absolute majority of approvals, barring anything unexpected.

Thinking this, a sense of despair filled Colin’s heart as well.

Bang!

Crete hit the dining table hard, unable to suppress his internal anger and fear anymore. He growled, “He’s breaking the rules of the game!”

Indeed.

Killing an Elder Senate Governor wantonly was a bit too much.

As a governor himself, Crete inevitably grieved for the rabbit when the fox dies.

He stood up abruptly and shouted angrily, “I won’t allow such blasphemy against the highest authority of Empire! Whoever did it has to pay for it!”

Crete’s face turned pale, and he was shaking uncontrollably, whether it was from anger or fear.

However, clearly, he had no desire to let this go.

Even if the murderer was probably Prince Lexie, this governor from Westland was not willing to compromise.

His sharp gaze moved between Vera and Colin, and he spoke urgently. “I will immediately contact elders I’m familiar with and demand a thorough investigation into the death of Governor Lattom!”

He strode out of the restaurant hurriedly, without waiting for a response.

Colin and Vera exchanged glances for a long time, then sighed in resignation. With hearts heavy, they said their goodbyes to the butler and took their leave.

When they entered the horse-drawn carriage, the three fell silent, each contemplating how to unravel the mess in light of the current circumstances.

Things had been looking good, and it seemed they would be able to prevent Prince Lexie’s proposal from passing the Senate, but no one had expected St. Lorenzo’s Holy Knight to upend everything.

This was really out of line!

Inside, Colin was seething. He had been restraining himself, working hard within the framework of this political game, but now, since someone had instigated him, they could not blame him for no longer playing fair!

Just then, Vera suddenly asked, “Colin, do you think Governor Crete can find the real murderer of Governor Lattom?”

Colin sighed, “I don’t think there is much hope. If Prince Lexie dared to commit murder, he would not leave any trace. So, even though everyone knows he killed Lattom, without evidence, no one can do anything to him.”

“Yes, nobody can touch Prince Lexie.” Scholar Doan agreed, but then he added earnestly, “However, the change of public opinion doesn’t need any proof. Prince Lexie has apparently secured his proposal’s chance of passing in the Senate, but he will lose more in the process.

It might not become apparent in the short term, but this open defiance of rules will one day backfire fatally.”

Colin nodded silently.

Indeed, Prince Lexie now relies on his invincible martial strength and thus flouts the rules.

But even a Holy Knight is a mortal, not god. He will age, his power will weaken. The more reckless he is now, the greater the reckoning he will face when he can no longer intimidate others with his martial prowess.

Of course, this day is still a long way from now, and Colin must face the current pressing issues.

As Colin was pondering over the solutions, the horse-drawn carriage suddenly stopped.

Scholar Doan lifted the curtain to ask what happened, then heard their accompanying guard report, “Miss Vera, a mage is blocking our path.”

“A mage?” Hearing this, Vera immediately got out of the carriage, and then saw an elderly man in a silver robe standing in the middle of the road, smiling at her.

“Master Ernest!” Vera cried out in surprise and was about to go over, but after a few steps, she found her hand being held by Colin behind her.

“He is the Speaker of Yevir Mage Council,” Vera explained over her shoulder. “Don’t worry, it’ll be fine.”

“Hmm, be careful then,” Colin only let go of her hand after this.

However, he advanced a few steps himself, maintaining a chargeable distance, while still giving them enough privacy.

Ernest talked with Vera for about fifteen minutes, then nodded to Colin, and disappeared into the night.

“What did he say to you?” Back in the carriage, Colin immediately asked.

“Master Ernest has heard about Prince Lexie’s intention to declare war on Yevir, so he wants to meet Emperor Reinhardt, seeking a peaceful solution.”

“Why didn’t he go through the formal diplomatic channel? Why did he come to you?”

“He said he had already submitted a formal diplomatic letter, but he has received no response, so he came to me, hoping I could deliver his message to His Majesty.”

“What else did he say?”

“He said Yevir didn’t want to be an enemy of the Empire. And Mr. Ji’s actions in the North Territory were entirely personal, without the consent of the Mage Council. The Council would absolutely not tolerate the resurrection of the Forbidden Spell, which sacrifices commoners.”

“Anything else?”

“No, nothing more.”

Colin shook his head slightly, a little disappointed in the Council Speaker.

Even if you sent a personal diplomatic letter, Emperor Reinhardt wouldn’t see you. Do you really believe that the emperor would see you if Vera relayed your message?

Moreover, the key figure in the current political situation in the Imperial Capital is not Emperor Reinhardt at all. Can’t you see that His Majesty has already been forced to feign illness?

Rather than finding Emperor Reinhardt, it would be better to go directly to Prince Lexie, to discuss the terms.

Colin sighed to himself. Apparently, Yevir can’t be relied on either.

Soon, the horse-drawn carriage smoothly arrived at Phoenix Palace.

Arriving at the side hall where they are staying, Colin assisted Vera out of the carriage, then bid farewell to Scholar Doan.

As soon as he entered the door, Colin smelled a familiar fragrance.

He looked up to see Queen Midela, leaning lazily on the couch, smiling at them.

“Vera, Colin, I’ve been waiting for you for some time.”