The First Vampire

Chapter 453: 451 Insider News (Part 1)_1
How to establish trust?

For this question, different people have different methods.

Queen Midela’s method is to exchange secrets with each other as a form of control over each other.

If Grace could become Queen Midela’s ally, it means that this seemingly innocent girl actually has a fatal lever in the hands of the Queen.

With the lever, they have means to restrict each other, so as not to betray each other.

Of course, the premise is that this lever must be real.

Colin played tricks the last time, but later he found out that Queen Midela was not honest either.

Ah, they are all old silver coins.

Exchanged a lonely.

But, in the case of Grace…

Colin thought that this innocent girl might not be able to deceive Queen Midela like himself.

So he asked the question just now.

Grace looked at Colin, but hesitated and did not speak.

Colin picked up the tea cup and drained the flower tea, saying:

“Originally, after Count Evan ran away, you lost your chance to win my trust. But now, there is a new opportunity in front of you, what are you hesitating about?”

Grace poured Colin a full cup of tea again, and tentatively said, “Count, when I first allied with Her Royal Highness the Queen, Her Royal Highness also exchanged her secrets with me, I wonder if you…”

Colin smiled faintly and said, “Of course. I will tell you the handle I gave to Queen Midela.”

Grace obviously didn’t expect Colin to be so easy to talk to, and her spirits lifted up, nodding repeatedly.

“My handle is – I killed Charles St. Hilde!”

Colin handed out his “handle” without any blush or heartbeat.

Grace could hardly hide her inner shock. She had always refused to kill Count Evan for fear of being tainted with the blood of the Holy Knight Family, but she didn’t expect that this man…

Besides, Charles was the brother of his wife!

Grace really wanted to ask Colin, don’t you feel guilty when you face your wife at night?

But from beginning to end, Grace never thought that Colin might be lying to her.

In her view, since Colin can win the trust of Queen Midela with this secret, it must be true.

Seeing the wide-eyed Grace, Colin made an inviting gesture with his hand and said, “It’s your turn.”

Grace took a few breaths deeply to calm herself down, and then counter-questioned:

“Count, do you know why I did not feel too sad after learning of your murder of Count Brugen?”

A thought crossed Colin’s mind.

Indeed, Grace’s performance was a bit strange.

Colin originally thought the other party was pretending to be strong, dealing falsely with the enemy who killed her father, looking for opportunities for revenge.

But Colin has given her so many great opportunities to assassinate, but Grace did nothing.

If she were the timid Viscount Grimm, it would be understandable, but to be so calm after learning of her father’s death, Grace obviously has enough courage.

Moreover, from their interaction during this period, Colin felt that, compared to avenging her father, Grace seemed to be tirelessly trying to win his trust.

If it weren’t for the fear of being tainted with the blood of the Knight Family, Grace might be willing to kill her own fiancé as a token of her name.

This was not the way a young girl should behave when facing the enemy who killed her father.

“Why? Did Count Brugen not treat you well?” Colin thought, hoping it wouldn’t be a cliché story.

Grace shook her head and said, “No, my father is very kind to me. He cherishes me as his own.”

“As his own?” Colin was about to question her use of words, but then it hit him, “Could it be that Count Brugen is not your biological father?”

Grace nodded, confirming Colin’s suspicion.

Colin hurriedly continued, “Then who is your real father? And how did the Queen find out about this secret?”

A nostalgic look crossed Grace’s face as she began to recount:

“Five years ago, I followed my father to Dragon City to attend His Majesty’s birthday celebration, and that was when I first met Queen Midela.

Upon our first meeting, the Queen openly showed her fondness towards me, even offering to personally tutor me in court etiquette.

Count Brugen, you should know that this is an implicit indication of her intent for me to marry into the Royal Family.

My father was thrilled. Although he knew it was unlikely for me to marry Prince Harrison considering my status, even marrying a side family member from the St. Lorenzo family would be a tremendous honor for the Brugen Family.

Thus, on that very night, my father sent me to the Queen for my education.

But after my father left, the Queen suddenly informed me – you are not the biological daughter of Count Brugen!

I was frightened and dared not to contradict the Queen, but I also did not believe her words.

However, the Queen instructed me to ask my mother, stating that I would find my answers there.

Upon returning, I immediately approached my mother and relayed the Queen’s words, hoping to receive a denial from her.

Unfortunately, my mother’s face turned ashen, and she regretfully confessed that the Queen was right—I was indeed not the daughter of Count Brugen…”

“Then whose daughter are you?” Colin couldn’t help but ask.

Grace shook her head, her eyes filled with confusion, “I don’t know. I asked my mother, but she refused to tell me. I also asked the Queen, but she wouldn’t tell me either.

She just assured me that she would not divulge this secret to others, and to ease my mind, she even shared one of her secrets with me.

Since then, I have grown increasingly close to Queen Midela. Not only did she teach me court etiquette, but she also revealed a lot to me, including the overt and covert conflicts between the Royal Family and the Church. She even openly stated that I was a chess piece she planted within the East Intranet, and that I would play a major role in the future.

After spending a whole year in Phoenix Palace, I returned to the East Intranet.

Before my departure, Queen Midela instructed me that someone would contact me in the future… so when you showed up in Huorong City, I thought that person was you.”

“The Queen never mentioned your existence to me.” Colin shook his head, and then he recalled Emperor Reinhardt, who was fond of cuckolding his vassals, and he couldn’t help but guess, “Could you be the emperor’s illegitimate daughter?”

But as soon as he finished speaking, Colin immediately dismissed his own guess, “No, it shouldn’t be. Emperor Reinhardt cuckolds his subordinates openly.”

Grace also nodded in agreement.

Indeed, if she were truly the Emperor’s illegitimate daughter, she should be kept in the Imperial Capital by now, and Count Brugen would not be in the dark, foolishly raising her as his own daughter for such a long time.

“And your mother?” Colin asked.

“My mother has passed away.” Grace’s face was gloomy.

Well, another clue had been cut off.

“What family did your mother come from?”

“St. Rands.”

“The Lord of South Border?” Colin was somewhat surprised.

“Yes, but my mother was born into a side branch of the St. Rands family.”

Colin fell silent. He didn’t know much about the South Border, and he couldn’t deduce anything based on this alone.

Shaking his head, Colin decided not to spin his wheels on this dead-end. He turned and asked, “By the way, what was the secret that Queen Midela shared with you?”

When he asked this question, Colin didn’t really care about it because he estimated that Grace got something similar to the lie that—’I am Vera’s biological mother’.

However, to his surprise, Grace’s response startled him.

“Her Majesty the Queen told me that Prince Harrison and Princess Judy are not the offspring of Emperor Reinhardt.”