“Countess, please forgive me for seeking an audience with you only today. It was truly out of necessity… During the years that Castell has been absent from the territory, the North has undergone tremendous changes. The noble families of the county have already been infiltrated by a mysterious bloodborne force! Even our Leon-Castell family has been compromised!”
“I have been investigating in secret for many years and only recently confirmed that this matter is likely related to the Lagrisse family and the Starfall Kingdom’s bloodbornes. Here is the detailed information I have gathered. Please take a look.”
Viscount Leon-Castell said as he presented a parchment scroll with both hands.
Charlotte signaled to Sebastian, who took it and handed it to her.
She glanced through it and found it to be a report from an investigation that had lasted nearly five years.
The report detailed the suspicious activities of various families over the past five years, covering almost one-third of Castell’s nobles. Among them, the Lagrisse family had the most records, detailing how they secretly interacted with the Starfall Kingdom’s bloodbornes, how they marginalized other families in the mining workshops, how they recruited soldiers and expanded their cavalry, and how they purchased various strategic materials on the black market.
The data made Charlotte’s eyelids twitch.
“Countess… I suspect that the Lagrisse family is colluding with the Starfall Kingdom’s bloodbornes to overthrow Castell!”
“Three years ago, Laura de Lagrisse had just barely ascended to the Starry Sky tier, and today she is already a Silver Moon. Such rapid advancement is absolutely abnormal in history…”
“It is said that some powerful bloodbornes can elevate the strength of ordinary people to an unbelievable level through initial embrace. I seriously suspect that she has secretly become part of the bloodborne!”
“Countess, the bloodborne targeting Castell is likely far beyond our imagination. They are well-hidden, and even now I have not been able to fully uncover their true identities. I believe they will not miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity today and may try to strike at you during the audience!”
“I suggest you immediately end the audience and quickly seek aid from the Holy Court, informing the church of everything happening in Castell!”
The old viscount said solemnly.
Charlotte did not expect the first noble family to seek an audience would drop such a bombshell.
However, she did not respond immediately.
She put away the old Viscount’s report and then quietly activated her blood divine power, staring directly at him.
“Viscount, thank you for the information, but I have two questions.”
“First, how did you gather such detailed information?”
“Second, if the situation is so serious, why didn’t you inform me earlier or report it to the church in Borde?”
The old Viscount sighed.
“Countess, it’s a long story. To uncover the secrets of the Lagrisse and the Bloodborne… I had to pretend to betray Castell…”
“After realizing that our family was infiltrated, I knew I was being watched. To protect my family and to investigate the truth, I had to take this desperate measure to gain the Bloodborne’s initial trust…”
“These documents were gradually obtained after I gained their trust.”
“I had intended to report everything to you and the church earlier, but my first attempt to send a message was intercepted. The next day… my son was killed while going out…”
Saying this, the old viscount’s eyes reddened with a bitter expression.
“I knew they had their eyes on me again, and on my family. They are too powerful, and without absolute certainty, I dared not act rashly…”
Charlotte sighed softly.
“My condolences…”
But quickly, she asked again.
“So now… why are you telling me everything so decisively?”
“Because you are the Holy Court’s Saintess! You are the favored one of the God Lord Harald!”
The old viscount said excitedly.
“Even if the Bloodborne wants to overthrow Castell, they would never dare to act directly against you, for that would surely incur the wrath of our Lord!”
“In my view, they will choose to marginalize and control you but will never kill you. Therefore, I suggest you cancel the audience to prevent their schemes!”
Hearing this, Charlotte looked surprised.
She nodded slightly and said,
“I understand, Viscount. Thank you for the information.”
“However, I cannot cancel the audience. As the Lord, I cannot rely solely on your word.”
She then added.
“Of course, I have always trusted the loyalty of the Leon-Castell family. I will heed your warning.”
Hearing Charlotte’s words, the old Viscount showed a resigned expression. He sighed and said,
“Your will, I understand… However, since you insist on the audience, please be wary of mental attacks. The mental magic of the bloodborne is highly insidious and terrifying!”
Saying this, the old Viscount trembled as he took out a scroll from his robe and presented it with both hands.
“Countess, this is a mental defense magic scroll I prepared. I offer it to you for protection. May the light of the Divine Lord always protect you.”
The old viscount drew a holy cross on his chest.
Charlotte looked at him in surprise and signaled Nice to accept the scroll.
“Thank you again for your information, Viscount.”
Charlotte said sincerely.
After presenting the scroll, the viscount took his leave.
Watching him depart, Sebastian commented with a peculiar expression.
“This Viscount Leon seems like a devout holy follower…”
Charlotte did not comment.
The mansion records noted that Viscount Leon-Castell was indeed a devout holy follower.
She glanced at Nice, who then inspected the scroll.
“It’s a second-tier mental barrier, a very good mental defense spell. Even against a third-tier mental assault, it can buy a few seconds of reaction time.”
“Hey, this Viscount Leon really went all out. Such a mental defense scroll is rare and quite valuable.”
Hearing Nice’s words, Charlotte nodded slightly.
She had just used her blood divine power to check and found no signs of the old viscount being controlled by the bloodborne. But honestly, Charlotte was unsure if this was good or bad.
“Next… is the Lagrisse family, right?”
She glanced at the nobles outside the curtain.
“Yes, Master.”
Sebastian replied respectfully.
Charlotte chuckled lightly.
“Let her in.”
…
“Countess!”
Laura de Lagrisse, the Viscount Lady of the Lagrisse family, entered the curtain and bowed respectfully to Charlotte.
Charlotte curiously looked at the noblewoman who had just been reported by Viscount Leon-Castell, and discreetly activated her blood divine power.
Subtle light flowed in her pupils as Charlotte intended to probe the woman’s mental state.
However, before she could act, the Viscount Lady suddenly took off the hairpin from her hair.
In an instant, a blood-red glow radiated from her, and a familiar aura flooded Charlotte’s senses.
“Bloodborne!”
Sebastian’s expression changed slightly.
He instinctively moved to shield Charlotte, but Laura did not attack. Instead, she bowed before Charlotte.
“Lady Charlotte! I wish to report! The Leon-Castell family is colluding with external enemies, intending to overthrow Castell!”
Hearing Laura’s words, Charlotte’s expression turned peculiar.
She looked deeply at the woman and said,
“Before you report, shouldn’t you tell me what happened to you?”
Laura was silent for a few seconds before sighing.
“Countess, as you can see, I am no longer human.”
She gritted her teeth and continued.
“I have become a bloodborne, and this… is proof of the Leon-Castell family’s crimes!”
With that, Laura conjured a stack of parchment scrolls in her hand.
She respectfully presented them, and Sebastian stepped forward to receive them, then handed them to Charlotte.
Charlotte opened the scroll and began to read. The more she read, the stranger her expression became.
“You mean to say that the Leon-Castell family has infiltrated various noble families with the help of the bloodbornes from the Starfall Kingdom, secretly recruiting and training an army with the intention of rebelling?”
“Not only that, but they also infiltrated the mining workshops and the Lagrisse family, even attempting to kill you?”
Laura nodded, gritting her teeth.
“That’s right! Luckily, I awakened the power of the dragon at a critical moment and managed to kill the bloodborne who attacked me, seizing their power!”
Charlotte’s expression grew even more peculiar.
She glanced at the information on the scroll and said,
“But I heard that the Lagrisse family has control over most of the managers in the Castell’s mining workshops.”
“Gibberish! It’s a plot against us! The mining workshops have long been out of our control. The Leon-Castell family is using the workshop’s income to expand their army. I tried to use our family’s influence in the workshops to sabotage their plans, but they turned the tables on us!”
Laura spoke angrily, her expression gradually becoming solemn.
“Countess, the Leon-Castell family is not only secretly recruiting soldiers but also using their extensive network to spread rumors across the territories, claiming that you are a Saintess of the Holy Court. They say your arrival will unify the territory’s faith, intending to stir conflict between the Castell family and the people!”
Charlotte was taken aback.
“So, you don’t believe that I am a Saintess of the Holy Court?”
Laura nodded.
“Our Lagrisse family had an ancestor who was a Saintess of the Church a thousand years ago. We know some secrets. If you were truly a Saintess, the Theocracy would have received a divine revelation from the Lord and canonized you long ago.”
Charlotte gave Laura a surprised look.
This was the first time she had heard such a thing.
“Countess! Castell is now rife with danger. Our Lagrisse family is ready for war at any moment to protect Castell. The Leon-Castell family and their bloodborne allies are powerful. Northport is no longer safe. Please consider heading north to the Lagrisse territory. Our family has expanded the cavalry regiment, and we will protect your safety with our lives!”
Laura knelt on one knee, her expression sincere.
Charlotte doesn’t answer. She handed the scroll to Sebastian with a light smile.
“Lady Laura, the Lagrisse family has always been loyal to the Castell, and I trust your family’s loyalty.”
“However, why did you not report such crucial information to me earlier and inform the Church?”
Laura was silent for a moment before sighing.
“Because I wasn’t sure if you had already been controlled by the Leon-Castell family. After all, it was their family who went to bring you back.”
“As for the Church… it is not trustworthy!”
Laura shook her head.
…
After detailing the intrigues of the Leon-Castell family and expressing a strong desire for Charlotte to head north and prepare for war, Laura took her leave.
Charlotte, Sebastian, and Nice looked at each other with indescribable expressions.
Sebastian finally broke the silence.
“Master, your territory seems to be even more lively than we imagined.”
Charlotte was also feeling a headache coming on. She hadn’t expected that the first two noble families to pay their respects would end up mutually accusing each other, almost like a Werewolf game.
“Next… it’s the Roman-Four family, right?”
Charlotte glanced at the curtains.
“Yes.”
Sebastian replied.
Charlotte nodded.
“Let him in.”
Unlike the previous two, the representative of the Roman-Four family was not the head viscount but a rough-looking middle-aged man.
“You must be Vincent, the eldest son of Viscount Francis. Where is the Viscount?”
“Countess, my father is old and suddenly felt unwell, so he had to leave. I’m here on his behalf.”
Vincent replied solemnly.
Charlotte gave him a deep look and nodded slightly.
“I see.”
Then, Vincent fished out a scroll from his coat.
“Countess, our Roman-Four family has urgent information to report. We discovered that several merchants and workshop owners in the territory have been in contact with the Starfall Kingdom’s Bloodborne, plotting against you.”
“This even includes members of some of the major families in the territory.”
Charlotte: …
“Hand it over.”
She ordered.
Vincent handed the scroll to Sebastian, who then gave it to Charlotte.
Charlotte opened it and quickly browsed through, her expression growing increasingly strange.
The document listed families, most of whom were new nobles in Castell, including the surnames of Leon-Castell and Lagrisse.
Charlotte remained calm and slowly put away the scroll.
“I understand. Thank you, Roman-Four, for the information.”
Then, the atmosphere became awkward.
Vincent, the eldest son of the Roman-Four family, was not very talkative. After reporting, he stood there stiffly like a cold stone.
Charlotte attempted some small talk but found it difficult to continue. In the end, she had to let him leave.
After the Roman-Four family representative left, the atmosphere inside the curtain grew even more subtle.
Charlotte exchanged glances with Sebastian and Nice, their expressions indescribable.
Well, the two viscount families accused each other, and the third one accused half of Castell along with the first two families.
“Next… it’s Baron Lanze, the leader of the new nobles, right?”
Charlotte asked.
“Yes.”
“Let him in.”
…
“Countess!”
The fourth visitor, Baron Lanze, representing the new noble faction of Castell, entered and respectfully saluted Charlotte.
Before Charlotte could say anything, he pulled out a scroll from his coat.
Charlotte’s eyelid twitched.
“Baron Lanze, are you also here to report something?”
Baron Lanze was taken aback.
“How did you know?”
Charlotte: …
“Go ahead, who are you reporting?”
She rubbed her temples.
Baron Lanze’s expression turned serious.
“Countess, I want to report the Roman-Four family!”
“They are colluding with merchants and nobles from the Starfall Kingdom, secretly selling mithril and weapons, extorting and blackmailing merchant ships in the territory, and secretly merging the various underground organizations in the county, plotting rebellion!”
Charlotte: …
Damn, why does her territory feel like a Mahjong table?