The First Vampire

Upon hearing the Duchess’s question, Count Nicoll instinctively became alert.

As a veteran in politics for many years, Count Nicoll obviously knew that the struggle for inheritance rights often tended to be the most fierce and bloody.

Especially in the East Territory, within the St. Prowse Family.

The struggle for inheritance rights had been going on for a long time, and one could even say that the current dire situation in the East Territory was largely caused by it.

Truth be told, Count Nicoll had always been unwilling to get involved in this muddled mess.

He was old, his approach was becoming increasingly conservative, unwilling to engage in things such that return could be great, but the risk might be even greater. Moreover, the lessons learned from the Howell Family and the Brugen Family further convinced Count Nicoll of the need to sidestep these affairs.

“Duchess, as for the matter of the successor to the Duke of the East Territory, I really am not in a position to comment.”

But the Duchess clearly did not intend to let Count Nicoll pass so easily, she lifted her head and looked into his eyes, saying solemnly:

“Count Nicoll, the East Territory is now in great crisis. As one of the few remaining loyal vassals of the St. Prowse Family, do you intend to remain aloof?”

He heard threats from the Duchess’s words, but also saw her attempts to court him.

He abruptly realized that out of the three Earls of the East Territory, Count Brugen had already been killed in battle, and Earl Howell could not be trusted. So, it seemed that the St. Prowse Family really only had Count Nicoll left to rely on.

Count Nicoll’s murky gaze swept over the Duchess and Knight Evan in front of him, as if understanding something, a certain thought began to sprout in his heart.

But due to his cautious personality, Count Nicoll still ventured to ask, “Duchess, what are your thoughts on the matter of the heir?”

He had assumed the Duchess would avoid the topic, and even if she had plans, would merely give a hint. However, surprisingly, she replied straightly:

“My husband had made Vincent the Marquis of the East Territory during his lifetime. I assume it was because Vincent was the primary successor in his heart. Therefore, I’m willing to respect his will.”

Count Nicoll looked at the Duchess, evidently startled at her unexpected response.

He had been well aware of the dispute over the successor of the East Territory. Moreover, it was the Duchess herself who initially suggested to Duke St. Prowse to reposition his younger son, Evan, as the primary successor.

Why had she changed her stance now?

Count Nicoll suddenly realized something and asked, “In the Blood Knight Army’s surprise attack on White Dew City, were the members of the Howell Family in the city captured?”

“No,” Knight Evan shook his head and said, “Under the desperate resistance of Marquis Vincent and Duke St. Prowse, the Blood Knight Army returned empty-handed.”

“That’s good.” Count Nicoll breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that he finally understood why the Duchess had changed her mind.

If the Howell Family was still in White Dew City, then allowing Marquis Vincent to inherit the Duke of the East Territory would indeed be the wisest choice.

Given his relationship with the Howell Family, it wouldn’t be difficult to persuade Earl Howell to change his mind.

As long as the Angry River remained in the hands of the St. Prowse Family, the East Territory could take a breather.

Earl Evan had already gotten engaged to a daughter from the Brugen Family, but since the Huorong Army had been completely eliminated, the Brugen Family’s opinion naturally became unimportant.

As for the Nicoll Family, thanks to Count Nicoll’s caution, he had never truly taken a side between the two heirs. Therefore, no matter who succeeded as the Duke of the East Territory, there would be no adverse effects on the Nicoll Family.

However, just as Count Nicoll was preparing to nod in agreement, Knight Evan suddenly spoke up to remind:

“Duchess, I, of course, would not doubt Marquis Vincent’s right to inherit, but… given his current condition, can he really succeed smoothly as the Duke?”

Startled, Count Nicoll hurriedly asked, “What happened to the Marquis?”

Knight Evan sighed and said, “To prevent the Northerners from capturing the Howell Family, Marquis Vincent bravely fought on the battlefield and unfortunately … was seriously injured and is hanging by a thread …”

Count Nicoll understood then that the “desperate resistance” mentioned by Knight Evan was not an exaggeration.

Duke St. Prowse died in battle, Marquis Vincent critically injured … The price that the St. Prowse family had to pay for the Howell family was … a bit too steep, wasn’t it?

When Duke St. Prowse issued the enlistment order earlier, he told Count Nicoll that he planned to use the Howell family as bait, to lure the Blood Knight Army into the city, and then trap and kill them within White Dew City.

But now it seems that the Howell family looks more like bait thrown out by the Northerners, with their true targets being Duke St. Prowse and Marquis Vincent…

The Northerners couldn’t be this cunning … could they?

Count Nicoll tried to shake off this thought, but he could not help feeling a chill in his heart. A sudden fear arose in him for the northern guardian he had yet to meet, Count Angler.

“Duchess, if you propose that Marquis Vincent inherit the Duchy of the East, I suppose you must be confident in saving his life?”

The Duchess did not respond to Count Nicoll’s question, only bowing her head, her shoulders shaking slightly as if she were sobbing.

Count Nicoll fell silent.

But what he felt more was confusion.

If even the Duchess—a formidable Archbishop of the East—had no confidence in saving Marquis Vincent, why did she propose that a dying man inherit the dukedom?

Even if Count Evan’s deeds in Alfalfa City and Huorong City were disappointing, there was still Miss Anna.

Could it be that the St. Prowse family was so desperate to win over Count Howell that they didn’t care about anything else?

Eventually, the Duchess finally ceased her sobbing and said in a low voice:

“Letting Vincent inherit the Duchy was the last wish of my husband, and it is also the most lawful choice. As for your concerns…even in the worst-case scenario, there is still Eckert…”

“Eckert?”

Upon uttering this name, Count Nicoll finally understood the Duchess’s plan.

Her real choice of heir to the Duchy was not Marquis Vincent as it seemed, but his son—Eckert!

Normally, Eckert would stand to inherit after Count Evan and Miss Anna, but if Marquis Vincent were to inherit the Duchy first, his only son, Eckert, would become the first in line to inherit the Duchy of the East.

But Eckert was only three years old…

What the Duchess planned by putting a three-year-old child in line for the dukedom, Count Nicoll of course fully understood.

“I agree.” Knight Evan seemed to have also understood something, immediately chiming in.

Then, they both turned their attention to Count Nicoll.

Count Nicoll knew he had no other choice. The Duchess represented the will of the Church, while Knight Evan could influence the Senate, and as for the lords of the Eastern Territory—

The Howell family certainly would not oppose Eckert inheriting the Duchy. After losing the Huorong Army, the Brugen family had lost much of their power, so as long as the Nicoll family agreed, the remaining lesser lords would naturally not dare to think otherwise.

In this way, the situation in the Eastern Territory could stabilize once again.

But from then on, who would truly control the Eastern Territory, the St. Prowse family or…

“Count Nicoll, what is your opinion?”

Upon hearing the Duchess’s prodding, Count Nicoll was left with no choice but to let out a quiet sigh, saying:

“I agree as well.”

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