This was the scene Vlad and his party saw upon arriving at Dracula Castle.
Without much ceremony, Vlad, accompanied by numerous ministers and nobles, entered the castle.
Along the way, city residents gathered to watch.
"Make way, please, thank you, make way! Hi~ Vlad, Vlad, hi!"
Amid the lively crowd, a slender figure darted through the people.
Occasionally, loud shouts rang out, immediately catching Vlad's sharp attention.
Just as he wondered who was calling him, a beautiful figure came into view.
At that moment, Vlad felt his heart suddenly race, as if struck by lightning.
"It's her~!" Vlad murmured absentmindedly.
Scenes flashed through his mind — the girl who grew up with him before he was sent as a hostage to the Ottoman Empire.
She was also his future wife: Mirena.
The last image frozen in his mind was of Mirena falling off a cliff, helpless as he watched her die in his arms.
Now, seeing the blonde girl weaving through the crowd, jumping and waving her slender white arms with a happy smile, Vlad felt an inexplicable urge to cry.
It was as if a vision of reincarnation from another world had come to him.
Vlad turned to the guard beside him and ordered,
"Let that girl come over."
The guard glanced at the chief minister beside Vlad. After a subtle nod, he turned and carried out the order.
Vlad watched silently, storing the moment in his mind.
He needed to gather more information before deciding whom to trust and whom to remove.
One cannot judge loyalty or character based on small incidents alone.
"Hi~ Vlad, you're finally back," a touching voice called out.
It was Mirena, holding up a beautiful skirt as she trotted toward him, her emotions barely hidden.
Her slender figure, fair skin, and long golden hair were slightly disheveled from running.
Before Vlad could catch his breath, Mirena gently placed a hand on her chest and greeted him warmly.
"Hi, long time no see, Mirena."
Vlad dismounted his warhorse, approached her, and examined the woman she had become.
He hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead.
Blushing at the sudden affection, Mirena coquettishly tapped Vlad's chest to hide her embarrassment.
The surrounding townsfolk cheered and whistled, filling the scene with lively energy.
This showed that governance here was stable, and the common people were not intimidated by nobles or soldiers.
Vlad observed this quietly and nodded to himself.
"Mirena, come with me."
"Ah~!"
Before she could reply, Vlad held her slender waist firmly, lifted her onto his horse, and rode toward the inner castle.
Behind them, Count Messer Rand, the Minister of Finance—Mirena's father and Vlad's uncle—exhaled in relief.
Seeing the childhood sweethearts reunited so closely lifted his spirits.
"Hey, you only know how to bully me. It was like this when we were kids, and it's still like this now," Mirena muttered, blushing and lowering her head, but she gently elbowed Vlad as a playful rebuke.
Vlad pretended to clutch his chest in pain.
"Don't think I don't know your tricks. You always used this to scare me as a child, but I won't fall for it now."
Mirena glanced sideways and caught Vlad's half-smile, unaware she was being tricked again.
Leaning close, Vlad whispered in her ear:
"Same as always, Mirena. You know I'm pretending, but you still choose to fall for it. You're so cute."
They whispered and bickered along the way, just as they always had, as if no years had passed.
Clearly, despite the time apart, they still held deep feelings for each other.
At that moment, Vlad felt a rare sense of ease.
"Mirena, take them to settle into the palace. I'll find you later."
Upon arrival, Vlad instructed Mirena accordingly.
He then signaled Marishka and the others to follow her and get settled.
Watching them leave, Vlad turned and headed toward the council hall.
"Earl Grantham, as Chief Minister of Internal Affairs, please update me on recent matters in the territory."
Vlad took his place on the throne at the top of the hall without hesitation, immediately assuming his role.
Looking down at the dozens gathered below, he saw the most powerful ruling class of Wallachia.
After listening for some time, he found their reports trivial and lost interest.
"If nothing important, Lord Grantham, you may handle it yourself."
Calling out to the elderly man with thinning blond hair, Vlad then turned to his uncle.
"Lord Rand, as Minister of Finance, please brief me."
Lord Rand, thin with golden curls, nodded.
"This autumn's harvest was good. The five major grain warehouses are full, enough to supply over 26,000 city residents for a year.
Regarding treasury revenue, in the first three quarters of the year, taxes, rents, and other incomes totaled over 34,000 gold coins. However, the royal family and funeral expenses for the late king have consumed over 16,000 gold coins in the same period."
Vlad interrupted Earl Rand's speech:
"Earl Rand, just tell me the treasury's current balance."
The earl paused, then met Vlad's intense gaze, as if understanding.
"Your Highness, the treasury currently holds 73,600 gold coins, over 100,000 silver coins, and some copper coins."
"That's so little," Vlad frowned.
"Your Highness, annual tribute to the Ottoman Empire accounts for one-third of total expenses, so…"
Though he said no more, Vlad understood perfectly.
He waved the Minister of Finance away and turned to the Minister of Military Affairs, Viscount John.
"Your Highness, there are 3,000 garrison soldiers in the city—2,200 infantry and 800 cavalry.
There are 500 palace guards, including 300 cavalry.
The armory holds 5,000 sets of armor, as well as many spears, swords, and longbows."
Viscount John was a strong-built middle-aged man with black curly hair, a beard, and a rough voice.
He spoke plainly and clearly, with the tone of a seasoned military man.
Vlad's first impression of him was very good.
This meeting—Vlad's first since returning—lasted two hours.
He gained a general understanding of the kingdom's situation and recognized many familiar faces in the ruling class.
By the way, they were reminded who the true king they must now be loyal to was.