The Original Vampire

In the silent night, only the faint hoot of an owl could be heard.

  The atmosphere in the small guest room was so stagnant that it seemed almost suffocating.

  Count Uman and Knight Louis stood there blankly, caught off guard by the news from Butler Drinden.

  They never thought that Duke St. Hilde would actually make a will.

  For a time, thousands of thoughts flashed through the minds of the two men with ulterior motives, but none of them were clear.

  The butler Drinden didn’t seem to care about the silence between the two of them and unfolded the parchment in his hand.

  The breathing of Earl Uman and Knight Louis suddenly became heavy. They looked at each other, and then immediately turned back to the butler, as if waiting for the final judgment of fate.

  Drinden seemed unable to sense the abnormality between the two of them. He cleared his throat and read out the content on the parchment:

  ”I, Seris St. Hilde, in the name of the seventeenth Duke of the North, Canonize Vera St. Hilde as the Marquis of the North. After my death, she will inherit the position of Duke of the North, take charge of the authority of the North, and inherit the glory of St. Hilde…” “

  Impossible!” Delin Before Den had finished reading, Knight Louis shouted loudly, his face full of disbelief and panic.

  Count Uman’s face was gloomy, with a dangerous light in his eyes, and his tone became as hard as stone: “Your Excellency Drinden, are you mistaken? Master Joyce’s succession is before Miss Vera. “

  Butler Drinden said solemnly: “How could there be a mistake? This is the will written by Duke St. Hilde himself.”

  ”I don’t believe it!” Knight Louis began to move towards the door, obviously preparing to block it. Stay at the exit.

  Earl Uman also slowly approached Butler Derinden and said in a deep voice: “Can you show me this will?”

  Butler Derinden seemed completely unaware of his situation and handed the will to Wu with an indifferent expression. Earl Mann.

  Count Uman glanced at it quickly, and then his expression turned completely gloomy.

  He recognized the handwriting of Duke Saint Hilde and the will was genuine.

  Knight Louis also saw clues from the change in Count Uman’s face, and immediately clenched his fists, ready to fall out at any time.

  Butler Drinden still looked calm and asked calmly: “My lord, have you finished reading?”

  Earl Uman slowly put away the parchment, stared at Butler Drinden for a moment, and then exchanged with Knight Louis. After a glance, he turned around and threw the will into the fireplace.

  Phew—

  the flames suddenly ignited the parchment, but Butler Drinden seemed to turn a blind eye to it.

  It wasn’t until Duke St. Hilde’s will was completely reduced to ashes that Count Uman and Knight Louis finally breathed a sigh of relief.

  However, Steward Drinden’s behavior puzzled the two of them.

  Why didn’t he stop it?

  Earl Uman suddenly laughed and said to the housekeeper: “Your Excellency Derinden, you don’t want to see Miss Vera inherit the title of Duke, right?”

  A smile finally appeared on the indifferent face of Butler Derinden. He nodded and said, “Yes.”

  The tension in the room suddenly dissipated.

  Knight Louis laughed loudly and said: “Mr. Butler, you told me earlier! We almost misunderstood you.”

  Steward Delinden said with deep meaning: “If I had told you earlier, how could I know the true attitude of the two of you?”

  Wu Count Man put his hands on his hands and smiled and said: “Mr. Steward is right!”

  Knight Louis also nodded repeatedly. After a moment, he asked doubtfully: “Mr. Steward, why do you think the Duke made Miss Vera his heir?”

  Steward Delinden Smiling slightly: “You probably don’t know that the Duke made this will in September of last year.”

  ”September of last year?” Knight Louis was still confused.

  But Count Uman had already reacted: “Miss Vera’s coming-of-age ceremony was in September last year, right?” “

  That’s right.” Butler Drinden nodded, “It was after Miss Vera’s coming-of-age ceremony that the Duke Your Excellency made this will and entrusted it to me for safekeeping.”

  Knight Louis then remembered that the previous Marquis of the North, Adams, the second son of the Duke, was poisoned at the coming-of-age ceremony dinner…

  It turned out that at that time, Duke St. Hilde had already decided on the successor to the position of marquis, but he did not announce it in public.

  But why didn’t the Duke announce in public that Vera was canonized as Marquis of the North?

  Just as Knight Louis was about to ask, he realized that it was a stupid question, because at that coming-of-age ceremony, the Duke had already betrothed Vera to the half-elf prince Tupe Medivh.

  How could a woman who married a foreign race inherit the title of Duke of the North?

  But…why did Duke St. Hilde make such a will?

  ”Didn’t the Duke already marry Vera to Prince Tupe? Why did he make a will to let her inherit the position of Marquis?”

  After hearing Knight Louis’ question, Butler Delinden hesitated for a moment, and finally answered Said:

  ”Actually, I can’t give you a clear answer to this question, but according to my judgment, the Duke was originally unwilling to establish Vera as his heir, but was forced to do so due to some pressure. A will.

  Therefore, I have always felt that this will is not a reflection of the Duke’s true will, and it is most appropriate for it to be destroyed now.”

  ”Under pressure?” Earl Uman said solemnly, “Who can put pressure on Duke St. Hilde?”

  Butler Drinden shook his head, indicating that he didn’t know.

  Count Uman’s eyes flashed, and he suddenly felt that this must be related to the death of Marquis Adams, and perhaps also to Vera’s life experience.

  At this time, the slightly impatient voice of Knight Louis sounded in the room: “Since the will has been burned, then don’t worry about it anymore! The top priority is to control Winter City. Vera must not be allowed to enter with the Golden Lion Army. In the city!”

  Earl Uman also nodded in agreement: “Mr. Steward, if I remember correctly, the commander of Winter City’s defense force is Knight Thomas, right?” “

  Yes.”

  ”Do you know what he knows? Do you support Master Joyce or Miss Vera?”

  Butler Drinden smiled slightly and said, “Shouldn’t we find out if we invite him here and ask him personally?”

  Count Uman and Knight Louis looked at each other and nodded immediately. Said:

  ”Okay!”

  …

  In the dark night, Knight Thomas followed the attendant to the reception room of Lion’s Roar Castle.

  This Thomas knight also had the surname of Saint Hilde. In terms of seniority, he was the cousin of Duke Saint Hilde. He had a horse face, was unsmiling, and did not have a particularly prominent reputation in the north.

  However, to be able to become the commander of the city defense force in Winter City, Knight Thomas must be a die-hard loyalist to Duke St. Hilde.

  Entering the drawing room, Knight Thomas met Steward Drinden, and of course, Count Uman and Knight Louis.

  As for the latter two, as the commander of the city defense force, Thomas certainly knew that they had just entered the city tonight.

  ”Mr. Butler, I wonder why you came to see me?”

  ”Knight Thomas, there is no news about the Duke so far, and there are even rumors that he is dead. In addition, the rebels are approaching step by step. Therefore, I think that in the cold winter, The city needs a leader to lead everyone through the difficulties.

  Who do you think is more suitable?”

  Steward Drinden used the word “leader” instead of the Duke of the North. After all, the succession of the Duke requires the canonization of the royal family. , they are certainly not qualified to determine the ownership of the Lord of the North.

  However, Thomas Knight can also understand the implicit meaning of the other party’s words, which is asking him to stand in line.

  ”Where is the Golden Lion now? How is the situation?”

Seeing Knight Lewis appear in Winter City, and then the butler suddenly asking him to choose his side, Knight Thomas immediately realized that this matter must be related to the Golden Lion.

  Sure enough, I heard Knight Lewis say in a sad tone: “The Golden Lion Army has been forcibly recruited by Miss Vera, and is fighting the Dawson family on the river bank!”

  Knight Thomas narrowed his eyes, his expression uncertain, and he didn’t know what he was thinking. What.

  Then, Count Uman asked in a solemn voice: “Knight Thomas, do you think that Miss Vera is qualified to command the Golden Lion Army when Duke St. Hilde’s life and death are unknown?” Knight Thomas was

  shocked, Knowing that the most critical moment has come.

  Moreover, he was also keenly aware that Count Uman and Knight Louis had sandwiched him on the left and right, and were ready to attack. If he didn’t answer the next sentence well, he might not be safe and sound. Get out of here.

  ”Of course it’s not appropriate. Master Joyce is the Duke’s current first heir.”

  Phew –

  the stagnant atmosphere in the hall instantly relaxed.

  Butler Drinden also had a smile on his face and asked: “So, do you also think that under the current situation, Master Joyce should be the leader of Winter City?” “

  Yes.” Knight Thomas said in a deep voice.

  Although Thomas Knight has no obvious preference between Vera and Joyce, under the current situation, he knows very well that he must make a choice.

  And this choice can only be Joyce.

  …

  The dim light of the morning tore apart the darkness shrouding the earth, and shed the first ray of morning light on the highest point of Lion’s Roar Castle.

  After Joyce finished washing up under the service of the maids, Butler Derinden stepped forward and saluted:

  ”Master Joyce, there are several guests outside waiting for your summons.”

“Oh? Then invite them in. .” Joyce didn’t pay attention but was a little confused as to why a customer came to the door so early today.

  ”Okay!” The housekeeper immediately went out in person and brought in the three Earls of Uman.

Joyce obviously knew these three people, so he smiled and greeted them: “Good morning, Count Uman, Uncle Thomas, and Chevalier Louis.”

  ”Good morning, Master Joyce!”

The three people also greeted him in unison, and then he kneeled down on one knee in front of Joyce and raised the sword above his head.

  Joyce was stunned.

Of course, he understood that this was an act of swearing allegiance, but…

  he looked at Butler Drinden and saw an encouraging look from him.

  Joyce seemed to understand something, and a strong sense of excitement appeared on his face. He immediately strode to Count Uman, took the long sword, and placed it on the opponent’s shoulder.

  ”I, Talos Uman, offer my unconditional loyalty to Joyce St. Hilde, a descendant of the noble Paladin family!

  From now on, your will is my direction of progress, and your orders are my highest creed! “

  Joyce took a deep breath, tried to imitate his father, and said loudly:

  ”I accept your allegiance! ”