The First Vampire

“…The thwarting of the conspiracy by Queen Midela and Mr. Ji is due to your support. On behalf of the Empire warriors in the Storm Fortress and the citizens of Westland, I express my gratitude to you…”

Emperor Reinhardt was reclining in an armchair, eyes closed, forehead topped with a hot towel, looking overworked and in unbearable pain.

A group of Empire nobles respectfully stood in front of the armchair, listening to Emperor Reinhardt’s edict. Even if someone noticed the Emperor’s tone and posture were a bit odd, they would only think it was due to his physical discomfort.

“…Therefore, after comprehensive consideration, I have decided to withdraw the troops from the Storm Fortress.”

Hearing this, the Duke of the South Border couldn’t help but raise his head, looking at the Emperor on the couch in confusion.

In the previous chaos, he had been secretly detained by Queen Midela and others for opposing the sacrifice plan, and released only when the situation stabilized. Thus, he was somewhat dazed by the completely overturned situation in the fortress now.

Now, he was even more surprised at Emperor Reinhardt’s sudden change in attitude.

Did this stubborn and obstinate Emperor actually agree to withdraw the troops?

Duke St. Rands and Scholar Yerug exchanged glances, then asked,

“Luwal Valley.” Emperor Reinhardt answered indifferently.

This time, not only Duke St. Rands, but the rest of the Empire nobles were also taken aback.

Isn’t this the strategy of Marquis Garcia?

But… Emperor Reinhardt had previously hated Marquis Garcia to the point of wanting to flay and dismember him.

Why is he now ready to adopt his strategy?

This was not the Emperor’s style!

The people cast their gaze towards Emperor Reinhardt on the couch, but found him with his eyes tightly closed, no expression on his face.

“Do you have any objections?” Emperor Reinhardt asked lightly, his tone revealing no emotion.

The others exchanged glances and for a moment didn’t know what to say.

Then, Colin asked,

“Your Majesty, now that you’re ready to adopt the strategy of Marquis Garcia, are you also ready to pardon his treason?”

“No.” Emperor Reinhardt said coldly, “He is still accountable for the fall of Westland, but if the defensive blockade in Luwal Valley is successful, I can consider forgiving his previous crimes.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Colin seemed very satisfied with this and didn’t make any further requests.

Duke St. Rands watched with a cold eye, understanding that while the Emperor hadn’t pardoned Marquis Garcia immediately, he had actually eased his stance and even given the latter a reason for redemption.

What a drastic change in attitude.

Duke St. Rands immediately turned his gaze to Duke St. Gregorian.

It was well known that the person who despised Marquis Garcia the most was none other than her.

But strangely, upon hearing that Emperor Reinhardt was prepared to pardon Marquis Garcia, Duke St. Gregorian only frowned slightly without showing any opposition. ṙÅΝɵВÈŜ

What’s going on?

Duke St. Rands was momentarily dazed and wondered,

What has happened in Storm Fortress while I was detained?

Duke St. Rands also agreed with the strategy of Marquis Garcia. But he knew that the strategy called for a great sacrifice, a price that was being borne only by Westland and the Crimson Flame Territory.

This was why Duke St. Gregorian and Emperor Reinhardt had firmly opposed Marquis Garcia before.

Now, Westland had fallen, but what about the Crimson Flame Territory…

“Alright, since you have no objections, we will withdraw from the fortress first thing tomorrow morning,” Emperor Reinhardt ordered decisively, “Begin evacuating the refugees in the fortress immediately, and notify all the lords west of Luwal Valley to arrange for the evacuation of their people, implementing a scorched earth policy…”

Seeing this, Duke St. Rands, no matter how astonished he felt, knew that Emperor Reinhardt had completely given up on the vast territory west of Luwal Valley.

What exactly prompted him to make such a decision?

Did he really rely solely on Count Angler’s word?

During his contemplation, he saw Emperor Reinhardt open his eyes and asked:

“Have you found the Queen?”

Colin replied: “We only found the Queen’s clothes and a pile of ashes… We suspect that Her Majesty the Queen might have forcefully initiated the sacrifice ceremony without enough offerings, resulting in her life force being drained by the magic array…”

“Humph! She brought it upon herself!” Emperor Reinhardt sneered, “Issue my edict, Midela St. Hilde colluded with Mr. Ji, attempting to sacrifice the Storm Fortress and slaughter the Empire’s warriors and citizens. This sin is unforgivable!

Hereby, I strip her of her queen’s title for treason!”

All the nobles were not surprised at all. It was predestined that the Queen would be the scapegoat for the unsuccessful sacrifice ceremony.

However, such a significant matter as dethroning the queen must be ordered in writing.

An attendant immediately stepped forward and unfolded a scroll of parchment, writing on it the emperor’s edict to dethrone the queen.

After it was written, it was passed on to Emperor Reinhardt.

Emperor Reinhardt quickly scanned it to confirm there were no issues before signing his name with a goose feather pen.

“That’s it. If there’s nothing else, you all can go and prepare.” Emperor Reinhardt waved his hand, as if he was tired.

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

All the nobles immediately accepted the command and withdrew.

Upon leaving the door, Duke St. Rands quietly said to Scholar Yerug:

“Why has His Majesty had such a drastic change in attitude? Did the disaster at the Storm Fortress finally wake him up?”

Scholar Yerug gently shook his head and said:

“I don’t know. His Majesty’s attitude is indeed strange, and besides, Duke St. Gregorian is also acting a bit abnormal.”

Duke St. Rands immediately nodded in agreement: “So, what exactly happened at the Storm Fortress in these two days?”

After thinking for a while, Scholar Yerug suggested: “Perhaps we should talk to Count Angler. I have a feeling that he is the puppet master behind the changing situation at the Storm Fortress.”

“Right.” Duke St. Rands nodded in agreement, “With the current situation evolving according to the strategy of the North Territory, and His Majesty seemingly prepared to clear Marquis Garcia’s name… Such changes, if not for Count Angler’s intervention, no one would believe…”

Just as they were about to look for Colin in the crowd, someone approached them.

“Duke St. Rands.”

“Governor Fred, what can I do for you?” Duke St. Rands turned to laugh.

He recognized the person as the Governor in the Senate for the Royal Family – Fred Lorenzo.

This person is also the son of the last Lattom governor. After Lattom was “killed” by Prince Lexie, Fred inherited his position in the Senate.

“Your Grace.” Governor Fred stopped Duke St. Rands, and after waiting for the other nobles around to walk away, he asked quietly, “Have you noticed the unusual behavior of His Majesty tonight?”

Duke St. Rands’s eyes flickered and he said, “You mean… His Majesty’s attitude?”

“Yes.” Fred, the Governor, nodded, “But it’s not just that…”

“What other abnormalities?”

“I don’t know if you have noticed, but His Majesty signed the edict with his right hand…”

Duke St. Rands startled, as if remembering something, and immediately turned to look at Scholar Yerug.

Scholar Yerug immediately understood what was on Duke St. Rands’s mind, affirmatively nodded, and said in a deep voice:

“I remember His Majesty is a left-hander!”

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