Chapter 359: 357 Visit_1
When Colin looked up, he saw Vera, dressed in a beige long dress, softly walking in.
“Colin, are you busy?”
“No, what is it?”
Colin put down his goose feather pen, got up from his desk, embraced his petite wife by her small waist, and gently kissed her soft, moist lips.
Vera held onto her husband’s arm, her delicate nostrils quivered a few times, and she asked doubtfully, “Why is there a smell of blood?”
“I just taught a chatterbox a lesson and forgot to have the maid come and clean up.”
“Oh.” Vera nodded in understanding, showing no concern. She then asked softly, “Are Prince Harrison and Princess Judy doing well at Agate Manor?”
“Very well, the scenery there is beautiful, and they can horse ride. They don’t even want to come back to Winterfell City.”
“That’s good.”
Seeing Vera hesitant to speak, Colin asked with a laugh, “Have you heard something?”
Vera nodded, “I did hear some rumors, and Joyce came to me with her complaints, earlier.”
Colin laughed lightly, tightened his arm around Vera’s waist, and asked, “What do you think? Does Joyce have ill intentions for Princess Judy?”
Vera bit her plump cherry lips, hesitated for a moment, and shook her head, “I wasn’t there, I can’t judge recklessly. But…”
“But what?”
Vera lifted her head, and looked seriously at her husband, “But he is my brother after all, and I hope he can live out his life peacefully.”
Colin blinked, and laughed, “Of course, I too hope he can live out his life peacefully like an average noble’s son.”
Colin could understand Vera’s concerns. After all, Joyce was her brother. Even if he had competed with her for the Northern Duke’s title and now had ill intentions, but considering her character, she definitely wouldn’t want to be ruthless.
Thus, Colin made a promise — not to harm Joyce’s life.
Of course, he can’t expect any power or privilege in this life.
Vera understood the hidden meaning in Colin’s words and immediately gave a charming smile, leaning in for another kiss.
Thump, thump, thump.
Just as Colin was enjoying Vera’s tenderness, there was an untimely knock on the door.
Colin asked irritably, “What is it?”
The butler’s voice came from outside the door, “Sir, madam, Count Evan from the East with his fiancée, Miss Sallya, have come to pay their respects.”
Colin sighed, and responded, “Please ask them to wait in the drawing room.”
“Yes.”
Vera wriggled out of Colin’s embrace, her face flushed. As she straightened Colin’s collar, she asked,
“Why would they come to Winterfell City?”
“Sallya is here to find her father–Prince Lexie. As for Count Evan, hehe.”
Before Vera could ask why Colin had sneered, she heard him continue, “Let’s go, let us properly entertain our distinguished guests.”
…
“Count Evan, Miss Sallya, welcome to Lion Roar Castle!”
“Honorable Duke St. Hilde, Count Angler, thank you for your warm welcome. We hope our unexpected visit has not brought you too much trouble.”
“Not at all, Lion Roar Castle is always open to our friendly guests.”
After a round of pleasantries, the four of them took their respective seats. Maids, swift in their movements, brought in coffee and desserts.
Colin’s gaze shifted between Count Evan and Sallya, and then he asked with a smile, “The two of you have come to the North Territory this time for Prince Lexie, am I right?”
Vera looked at her husband, slightly surprised at his direct approach.
Sallya didn’t seem to mind Colin’s slightly impolite question, she nodded honestly and said, “Yes, Count, I did come to the North Territory following my father’s footsteps.
There are still many doubts surrounding the death of Governor Lattom, and I know my father’s innocence is hard to believe based on one-sided accusations. But he had some leads and that’s why he came to the North Territory.
So, if the St. Hilde family could help me confirm my father’s whereabouts, allow me to contact him, or even assist in clearing his name, I will be forever indebted to you!”
Vera’s beautiful face wrinkled slightly in hesitation. “Miss Sallya, I regret what has happened to your father, too. However, before concrete evidence is available, I cannot use the power of the St. Hilde family to assist you or your father.
After all, I can’t let the family’s honor be damaged, I hope you understand this.”
Sallya’s eyes grew dim.
Although she had guessed the result, she couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
However, she didn’t hold a grudge against Vera. After all, Prince Lexie was now accused of killing a governor. No family would be willing to aid him publicly.
Count Evan, underneath the table, gently patted his fiancée’s hand in an attempt to comfort her, and was about to speak when Colin suddenly said:
“Miss Sallya, I met Prince Lexie just a half a month ago.”
“Really? Where?” Sallya asked eagerly, lifting her head in surprise.
“In Swan City.”
“Swan City?” The news stirred something in Count Evan’s mind, leading him to the recent dramatic events the city had experienced.
“Is my father still in Swan City?” Sallya hurriedly asked. Her restless demeanor suggested she would immediately rush to Swan City if she received an affirmative answer from Colin.
However, in Sallya’s disappointed gaze, Colin slowly shook his head, saying:
“I don’t think so.”
“Do you know where he might have gone?” Sallya ventured, having little hope. From what she knew about her father, he wouldn’t reveal his whereabouts to someone he was unfamiliar with.
Surprisingly, Colin nodded. “Prince Lexie should be in Floral City.”
Sallya’s face lit up with joy. “Really? I don’t doubt you, Count Angler, but why would my father go to Floral City?”
Colin said in a half-truth, half-lie manner: “You should have heard about the incident that happened in Swan City, right? Indeed, the initial appearance of Prince Lexie in Swan City was to investigate the death of Bishop John.”
Upon hearing this, Evan, out of curiosity, asked: “Didn’t Bishop John die because of Lucien? Why would the prince go to Floral City?”
“Lucien was indeed one of the culprits, but the real mastermind was someone else.”
“Who was it?”
Colin took a sip of his coffee, apparently hesitant about the question.
After a moment, he said slowly: “I’m sorry, but even I can’t be sure of the true identity of the mastermind. I can’t tell you right now.”
Count Evan shifted his gaze, asking: “Could this anything to do with the Morrison family?”
“Prince Lexie indeed had such a suspicion.” Colin quickly passed the blame.
Count Evan stared at Colin for a long while but couldn’t read anything from his inscrutable face. He ventured another question: “Count Angler, why would Prince Lexie take such an interest in the death of Bishop John?”
Colin shrugged, saying: “I’m not clear about that. Perhaps he felt that it was related to Governor Lattom’s death.”
Count Evan immediately fell into deep contemplation.
He didn’t fully trust Colin’s words, but couldn’t figure out the latter’s intention.
Meanwhile, Sallya, who had been impatient, immediately thanked him. “Count Angler, thank you for the information. If you need any help in the future, please don’t hesitate to ask!”
Having said that, the sprightly Miss Sallya immediately stood up to bid farewell to Vera and Colin.
Vera tried to retain her for a little while, but Sallya, with her heart set on her father, couldn’t stay for long and left Lion Roar Castle shortly after.
Colin watched the two leave until their figures disappeared into the distance. He then discreetly sent two blood slaves to follow them.
In fact, the reason he encouraged Sallya to go to Floral City was to locate Prince Lexie through them.
Though the prince should have arrived in Floral City by now, Colin’s informants there had noticed no signs of him. He didn’t know if Prince Lexie had failed to find the mysterious basement or if the Morrison Family had moved the Blood Pool elsewhere ahead of time.
In short, Colin was uncertain what the prince was up to and where he was.
This made him feel a bit uneasy.
However, it was impossible for him to dispatch blood slaves to track a Holy Knight. Therefore, he could only try to indirectly monitor Prince Lexie’s movements by tracking Sallya.
Moreover, he specifically mentioned the death of Bishop John, hoping that Count Evan and Sallya would investigate the matter, preferably catching a slip-up by Mr. Ji.
If this led to a confrontation between Prince Lexie and Mr. Ji, Colin would be more than happy.
Both of them were ticking time bombs for the North Territory. Colin wished nothing more than for them to fight each other and self-destruct.