Hearing the Duchess's question, Count Nichol subconsciously became alert.
As an old man who had been in politics for many years, Count Nichol certainly knew that the struggle for succession was often the most tragic and bloody.
Especially in the Eastern Region, in the House of Saint Prospero.
The struggle for succession had been going on for a long time. It could even be said that the current terrible situation in the Eastern Region was largely caused by the struggle for succession.
To be honest, Count Nichol had never wanted to get involved in this mess.
He was old, and his style had gradually become more conservative. He was no longer willing to do things that were highly profitable but riskier. Furthermore, the lessons learned from the Hall family and the Bruggins family had strengthened Count Nichol's resolve to stay out of this matter.
"Duchess, regarding the succession of the Duke of the Eastern Region, I really have no right to comment."
But the Duchess obviously did not intend to let Count Nichol get away with it so easily. She looked up at him and said in a low voice,
"Count Nichol, the Eastern Region is now in danger. As one of the few remaining loyal vassals of the House of Saint Prospero, do you intend to stay out of it?"
These words made Count Nichol fall into deep thought.
He heard the threat in the Duchess's words, but he also heard the intention to rope him in.
At this moment, he suddenly realized that of the three earls of the Eastern Region, Count Bruggen had died in battle, and Count Hall could not be trusted. Then, it seemed that Count Nichol was really the only one left in the House of Saint Prospero that could be relied on.
Count Nichol's cloudy eyes swept over the Duchess and Knight Ivan in front of him. He seemed to understand something, and he could not help but have a certain idea in his mind.
But out of his cautious nature, Count Nichol still asked tentatively, "Duchess, what do you think about the succession?"
He thought that the Duchess would avoid this question. Even if she had a plan, she would only give a hint. But unexpectedly, she said bluntly,
"My husband conferred Vincent as the Marquis of the Eastern Region when he was alive. Presumably, in his mind, this is the first successor. So, I am willing to respect his will."
Count Nichol looked at the Duchess in surprise. Obviously, he did not expect her to give such an answer.
Of course, Count Nichol knew about the succession of the Eastern Region, and he also knew that it was the Duchess who had first suggested that the Duke of Saint Prospero make his second son, Evan, the first successor.
Why did she change her mind now?
Count Nichol suddenly realized something and asked, "Bloody Cavalry attacked White Dew City this time. Did they take away the members of the Hall family in the city?"
"No." Knight Ivan shook his head, "Under the desperate resistance of Marquis Vincent and Duke St. Pross, the Bloody Cavalry returned empty-handed."
"That's good." Count Nicol breathed a sigh of relief. He finally understood why the duchess had changed her mind.
As long as the Hall family was still in White Dew City, letting Marquis Vincent inherit the position of Duke of the Eastern Region was indeed the wisest choice.
With his relationship with the Hall family, it wasn't difficult to change Earl Hall's mind.
. As long as the Nu Shui River was still in the hands of the House of Saint Prospero, the Eastern Region could be relieved.
Although the Earl Of Avon was engaged to the daughter of the Bruggen family, the Fire Velvet Army had been wiped out. The Bruggen family's opinion naturally did not matter.
As for the Nichol family, they had benefited from Count Nichol's caution and had never really taken sides between the two successors. Therefore, no matter who became the Duke of the Eastern Region, the Nichol family would not be adversely affected.
But just as Count Nichol was about to nod in agreement, Knight Ivan suddenly reminded him.
"Duchess, of course I will not question the succession of Marquis Vincent, but … in his current condition, can he really succeed the title of Duke?"
Count Nichol was shocked and quickly asked, "What happened to the Marquis?"
Knight Ivan sighed and said, "In order to prevent the Northern Frontier from taking away the Hall family, Marquis Vincent fought bravely. Unfortunately … he was seriously injured and his life is in danger …"
It was only then that Count Nichol realized that what Knight Ivan had said about "fighting to the death" was not just an exaggeration!
The Duke of Saint Prospero died in battle, and Marquis Vincent was seriously injured and on the verge of death … For the sake of the Hall family, the House of Saint Prospero … The price was too high.
Previously, when the Duke of Saint Prospero issued the conscription order, he had told Count Nichol that he was prepared to use the Hall family as bait to lure the Bloody Cavalry into the city. Then, he would cooperate from the inside and the outside to kill them in White Dew City.
But now it seemed that the Hall family was more like a bait thrown by the Northern Frontier. The targets were the Duke of Saint Prospero and Marquis Vincent …
The people of the Northern Frontier could not be so cunning, right?
Count Nichol tried hard to shake this thought out of his mind, but he could not help but feel a chill in his heart. He suddenly felt a sense of fear towards the guardian of the Northern Frontier, Count Angele, whom he had never met before.
"Duchess, since you proposed to let Marquis Vincent inherit the position of the Duke of the Eastern Region, you must have the confidence to save his life, right?"
Faced with Count Nichol's question, the Duchess did not give an answer. She only lowered her head and her shoulders shook slightly, as if she was sobbing.
Count Nichol was silent.
But he was more puzzled.
Since the Duchess, who was the archbishop of the Eastern Region, did not have the confidence to save Marquis Vincent, then why did she propose to let a dying person inherit the position of the Duke?
Even if the Earl Of Avon's actions in Alfalfa City and Tinder City were disappointing, there was still Miss Anna.
Could it be that in order to win over Count Hall, the House of Saint Prospero was willing to do anything?
After a long time, the Duchess finally put away her grief and said in a deep voice,
"Letting Vincent inherit the position of the Duke is my husband's last wish, and also the most legal choice. As for your worries … Even if the worst happens, there is still Eckart … "
"Eckart?"
Count Nichol muttered the name and finally understood the Duchess's plan.
The person she really wanted to be the Duke's successor was not Marquis Vincent on the surface, but the Marquis' son — Eckart!
Logically speaking, Eckart's line of succession was after the Earl Of Avon and Miss Anna. But if Marquis Vincent inherited the position of the Duke first, then his only son, Eckart, would automatically be the first in line to be the next Duke of the Eastern Region.
But Eckart was only three years old …
Count Nichol was well aware of the Duchess's intention of pushing a three-year-old child to the position of the Duke.
"I agree." Knight Ivan seemed to have understood something and immediately echoed.
Then, the two of them turned their gazes to Count Nichol.
Count Nichol knew that he had no choice. The Duchess represented the will of the Church, and Knight Ivan could influence the Senate. As for the lords of the Eastern Region …
The Hall family would definitely not oppose letting Eckart inherit the position of the Duke. The Bruggen family no longer had much say after losing the Tinder Army. So, as long as the Nichol family agreed, the remaining lords would naturally not dare to have any other thoughts.
In this way, the situation in the Eastern Region could be stabilized again.
But from then on, would the House of Saint Prospero be in control of the Eastern Region, or …
"Count Nichol, what do you think?"
Hearing the Duchess' urging, Count Nichol could only sigh inwardly and say,
"I also agree."
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