The First Vampire

And all the secrets possibly hidden under this identity.

The Duke’s adoptive daughter, yet she was sent to Yevir to study the arcane.

At that time, Colin wondered why the Duke St. Hilde had done so.

Only when Marquis Garcia revealed a part of this secret did Colin understand the Duke St. Hilde’s ambivalent attitude towards Vera.

But at the same time, he couldn’t help but wonder, who is Vera’s birth mother?

Why didn’t Marquis Garcia marry her?

And why was he so secretive about her identity?

Now, he finally understood.

This damn thing is incest!

No wonder Marquis Garcia couldn’t marry her, and no wonder Duke St. Hilde helped to adopt Vera as his daughter.

Moreover, thinking about the age of Queen Midela and thinking about the age of Vera, Colin couldn’t help but cursed Marquis Garcia—

Beast!

This would absolutely meet with condemnation in modern society.

He finally understood who poisoned Marquis Adams to death.

The secret promise between Duke St. Hilde and Marquis Garcia was definitely known to Queen Midela. So, when Duke St. Hilde broke his promise, Vera’s birth mother resolutely carried out her revenge.

However, Colin’s doubts arose again—logically speaking, Duke St. Hilde should have had leverage on Marquis Garcia and Queen Midela.

Once the news of their incestuous relationship was revealed, they would be completely finished.

Especially Midela, her position as queen would definitely be compromised, and the furious emperor might even kill her because of this.

The reason why Queen Midela dared to be so bold, not only poisoning Marquis Adams but also forcing Duke St. Hilde to write a will, making Vera the first heir to the Northern Duke.

Unless, Duke St. Hilde had more crucial leverage in Queen Midela’s hands…

As Colin was speculating about the grudge between the three siblings, Queen Midela spoke again: “Colin, you are indeed intelligent! But I hope your intelligence can be used in the right place.”

“Yes, Your Highness!” Colin’s attitude became noticeably more sincere.

Although he still had doubts about this mysterious queen, at least Colin could affirm that she should not harm Vera.

In this regard, he was indeed a natural ally with her.

“Do you know why I chose to speak openly with you at this time?” Queen Midela stepped back and lay down on the ivory bed, revealing her enticing body curves.

“It should be because of the baptism ceremony during the day,” Colin did not avoid the question anymore and said seriously, “I also guess that Pope Gregory probably did something to Vera.”

“Correct. The phenomenon at the end of the baptism ceremony is not a normal procedure, but a godly technique performed by the Pope.”

“What godly technique?”

“I don’t know.”

Colin couldn’t help looking up, but saw Queen Midela looking helpless, not deliberately hiding something.

“The Church has many secrets, even the Royal Family can’t fully understand.” Queen Midela continued, “The godly technique that Gregory performed during the baptism ceremony actually has two parts, one is the gaze looking down you felt.

Did you assume that came from the Lord of Glory?’

Seeing Colin nod, Queen Midela sneered, “How could the Lord of Glory spare attention for such minor affairs? How could Gregory have the virtue or ability to summon him?

This technique is actually just a ruse to attract everyone’s attention and cover up the second godly technique that he really wanted to perform.”

Colin hurriedly asked, “There’s another godly technique?”

“Yes. I do not know the name of this technique as well, but I know its effect.”

“What kind of effect?” Colin asked nervously.

“It will make the patient gradually drawn towards the Holy Light, and eventually become a fanatic follower of the Church!”

Colin felt tense and suppressed his worries for Vera, first asked doubtfully: “Your Highness, if you don’t know the name of this technique, how do you know it’s effect?”

“Because Vera is not the first patient.”

“Oh? Who else has been subjected to this technique before?”

Queen Midela didn’t answer immediately, instead counter-questioned: “Do you know why the Church and the Royal Family have been fighting since the founding of the country?”

Colin wanted to say, isn’t it all about power and benefits? Do you need more reasons?

But in the end, he sincerely said, “Please enlighten me.”

“Because, when the first Pope baptized Garel, the son of Emperor Gana, he used a similar method!” Queen Midela sneered, then continued,

“At that time, Emperor Gana didn’t pay much attention, thinking the baptism of his son had attracted the gaze of the Lord of Glory. But later, as time went on, Garel gradually warmed to the Church, even once wanted to become a monk, or even join the Temple Knight Regiment!

It was then that Emperor Gana realized something was wrong. Later, he personally went to the summit of the Holy Mountain to question the Pope and even fought against him. In the end, under the threat of this legendary Holy Knight, the Pope finally admitted his tricks, and personally removed the mark of the magic technique on Garel.

After that, Garel gradually returned to normal. When he was crowned the second emperor of the Empire, he even more intensively restricted the power of the Church, this completely ignited the feud between the Church and the Royal Family that has lasted for a thousand years.”

“So this magic technique, apart from making those affected become closer to the Church, has no other side effects?”

“Yes, but, it can’t be called a side effect, because it actually enhances the patient’s sensitivity and affinity for the Holy Light.

You know about the Temple Knight Regiment, right? Most of the knights there are commoners. This is because very few nobles are willing to wholeheartedly dedicate themselves to the Church and become tools at the disposal of others.

That’s why the Church selects some exceptionally qualified commoner children, and baptizes them.

However, because commoners have inferior bloodlines, they have a very poor affinity for the Holy Light. Even if they manage to become knights, their achievements are quite limited. That’s why they need the God’s technique to help them augment their sensitivity to the Holy Light and assist them in promotion. This is also a brainwashing technique, which has led to the creation of knights in the Temple Knight Regiment who are devout to the point of near madness.

Of course, the knights created from this kind of God’s technique cannot ascend to the Holy Field. Otherwise, I would believe that many nobles would unscrupulously join the Temple Knight Regiment for the honor of the Holy Knights.”

“It’s a relief there are no other side effects.” Then Colin slightly let down his guard and took a deep breath: “So, if I want to remove the God technique from Vera’s body, I have to go to Pope Gregory, right?”

“Yes,” nodded Queen Midela. “But I advise you not to act rashly. Gregory is not a simple figure, and he’s not as kind as he appears.”

“I understand.”

“Furthermore, I would advise you not to inform Vera about this matter. The influence of this type of God’s technique on a person’s consciousness can’t be resisted by their own willpower. If she knew about it, it would only increase her anxiety and guilt, and it might backfire.”

“So what should I do?”

Queen Midela looked at Colin seriously and extended a finger: “Firstly, you must take personal control of the military and political power in the North Territory. I believe it shouldn’t be hard for you given your capabilities and Vera’s trust in you.”

Then she extended a second finger: “Secondly, you must be careful of Vera’s mental state. Ideally, she should not have too much contact with Church personnel. It would be best if you could keep her inside and focus on studying the arcane. Of course, be careful during the studies and don’t let anyone from the Church find out. After all, after converting to the Lord of Glory, Vera shouldn’t be dabbling in heretical theories like arcane.”

Seeing Colin nodding, Queen Midela finally said: “When the time is ripe, we can follow King Gana’s example and have the Pope personally remove Vera’s God’s technique!”

Of course, by the ripe timing, she was referring to the time when the royal family could completely suppress the Church.

“Okay!” Colin said solemnly while nodding, “I will do as you instruct.”

Only then did Queen Midela nod in satisfaction, and her room brightened as she returned to her smiling demeanor:

“Colin, I have always admired you and believed that you are the key figure in our fight against the Church. I hope you won’t let me down.”

“I will do my utmost!” Colin said in a deep voice, then added, “Your Highness, if you have no other orders, I’ll take my leave now.”

“Wait!” Queen Midela immediately stopped Colin, “You’ve forgotten the most important thing!”

“What is it? Please tell me.”

“The alliance.”

Colin was slightly stunned, and asked with confusion: “You want a ceremony for the alliance?”

“Ceremonies are all superficial. The key is, what is the foundation of our trust?”

It seemed that Colin understood Queen Midela’s intentions, and he tentatively asked: “So you hope for me to pledge to you?”

“I do not hold trust in oaths!”

Colin was somewhat troubled, and tried again: “Then shall we write down a formal oath?”

Queen Midela still shook her head: “That’s nothing but a scrap of paper.”

Now Colin was at a loss for what to do, and could only ask: “Do you have any good suggestions?”

Queen Midela looked at Colin with eyes full of deep meaning, “Do you trust me now?”

“Of course!”

“Why?”

“Because you are Vera’s biological mother, and I am Vera’s husband.”

Queen Midela nodded her head and then shook it: “That’s true, but the blood relation between Vera and me can’t be changed. However, you can divorce at any time.”

Colin squinted his eyes and quietly looked at Queen Midela. It seemed that he wanted to see through this beautiful face and find out what kind of a soul was hidden behind it.

Seeing that Colin didn’t speak, Queen Midela just gave a light smile, and said: “I’ll tell you why you can trust me. It’s because you hold my handle!”

She was indeed correct.

Since knowing that Vera was the biological daughter of Queen Midela, and even learning the true culprit behind Marquis Adams’ death, Colin indeed possessed leverage over Queen Midela.

Therefore, even without the relationship with Vera, Colin could be sure that Queen Midela wouldn’t dare harm his interests.

Otherwise, as long as Colin revealed this secret, the result for Queen Midela would be extraordinarily miserable.

However, this was only a one-sided trust.

Finally, Colin understood what Queen Midela was getting at, and blurted out: “You want my handle too?”

“Yes!” Queen Midela nodded, “Only then would the alliance be truly unbreakable!”

After hearing this, Colin couldn’t help but admire the Queen’s peculiar logic. It was his first time seeing an alliance forged this way.

But after thinking about it, it made some sense. If both parties held each other’s handles, it would indeed have more restraining power than promises, oaths or any such thing.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness, but I’m afraid I don’t have any handle to give you,” Colin said with an innocent face, appearing like a pure twenty years old boy who had never done anything wrong.

Queen Midela extended a clear and jade-like foot, slowly climbing up Colin’s thigh. Then, with a very suggestive tone, she said:

“That’s okay, we can create a handle right now!”