TOUSSAINT - BEAUCLAIR -
Hours before the Nilfgaardian delegation's departure from Beauclair…
The last of the Nilfgaardian delegation's footsteps faded into the marble corridors of Beauclair's elven palace. Beyond the tall stained glass windows, Toussaint still pretended at peace, vineyards rolling like green waves, banners drifting lazily in the warm air, but inside the royal audience chamber, the mood was very different.
Duchess Anna Henrietta did not bow to anyone, but she bowed now anyway, just slightly, just enough for the man in the black armor and the golden sun necklace who acknowledged her with a restrained nod before leaving alongside his n.
The man was none other than the Emperor of Nilfgaard, Emhyr var Emreis.
One of his attendants, a young squire with ink-stained gloves and the nervous posture of soone learning how to stand in the presence of power, fell into step beside him as they descended the marble steps of the palace.
"My Emperor," he said carefully, voice lowered out of habit rather than fear, "with the duchy's backing secured, we now have sufficient funds and logistical support for the operation you outlined."
Emhyr's pace did not change. His eyes remained forward as he walked. "This," he replied evenly, "was never about coin or cooperation."
The squire hesitated, Emhyr continued with a calm tone.
"It was a test. To see whether Toussaint still rembers which empire allows it to operate freely and independently. And they passed that test, Anna Henrietta is a wise ruler, can't say the sa for her late father.. insofar as obedience can be called passing."
"Still," he added, "we do not require their resources, not truly. Nilfgaard does not hinge on vineyards and noble courtesies. We have more than enough to press the north into submission when the ti cos."
He stopped walking and the escort behind him tensed instantly.
Emhyr lifted two fingers.
A silent command.
"Leave us."
Without argunt, the guards who accompanied him bowed and withdrew. Their footsteps vanished into the corridor, leaving only the Emperor and his closest servant.
Then Emhyr turned slightly, gesturing forward.
"Co with ."
They moved into a private chamber deeper within the palace, an older room, sa elven style, and that was the norm all over the palace. Sunlight filtered through high windows and fractured into gold across polished floors.
Emhyr sat without ceremony and the servant remained standing.
Emhyr's gaze lifted at last. "Now that we are alone," he said, quieter but sharper, "we return to the matter that actually concerns ."
His fingers interlaced. "My child."
"I believe I was clear. Trackers were deployed, I expect results, it was simple. I have no use for theories, or comforting rumors, only results concern ."
"I also made myself explicit regarding Geralt of Rivia. The White Wolf. He is a variable in this equation. One that cannot be ignored, he may have taken her to Kaer Morhen from Cintra, years ago."
The servant hesitated. It was subtle, but Emhyr noticed everything that mattered.
"My Emperor," he said at last, "there have been reports. They were.. Let's just say Incomplete, so most were dismissed as unreliable."
Emhyr's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Speak."
The servant swallowed once.
"The Witcher known as the White Wolf was sighted in Vizima, Teria, but he was alone."
For a mont, Emhyr said nothing.
'Vizima.'
"…So what about Kaer Morhen," Emhyr concluded.
The servant shook his head, carefully.
"With respect, Your Majesty… that is unlikely."
He reached into his coat and produced a folded report, worn at the edges from repeated handling.
"One of the rcenary teams we hired sent this, about Kaer Morhen."
Emhyr's gaze sharpened at once.
The servant continued quickly, as if speed might soften the consequence of what he was saying.
"They breached the keep. They encountered resistance, significant resistance, from a single Witcher. He killed five of their n and the rest retreated. One of them still managed to get deeper inside the keep and later confird with this exact word: 'there was no sign of the girl you described, there isn't anyone except for this fucking old witcher who butchered five of our n like cattle!'"
"No individual matching her description."
Only then did Emhyr lean back slightly in his chair.
"And you judged this unworthy of my attention, because?" he said quietly.
The servant bowed his head imdiately.
"Your Majesty gave strict instruction. 'No rumors. No fragnted intelligence and only verified confirmation of her status, alive or dead.' This report contained neither. I did not wish to burden you with empty words during this very delicate ti."
A long silence followed.
Then Emhyr exhaled slowly through his nose.
"Delicate... that's an understatent." he said at last, "My court is already crowded with vipers. Courtiers who smile while they sharpen knives behind their backs. Provinces that forget their place the mont my attention shifts elsewhere."
His eyes lifted again.
"And now I must also contend with my daughter being moved like a piece across a board I do not fully see... I know that so who know about her existence wish to kill her for political reasons too, and they are smart for that.."
He paused for a second.
"The North believes war is asured in armies," he continued. "And they are correct. But true warfare is asured in absolute control, and that control begins and ends with her."
His voice hardened, "She is not to be lost, not to so viper form my court, not to prophecy and certainly not to Geralt of Rivia... she must be found and brought to ."
The servant bowed again. "Of course, Your Majesty. I have not ceased efforts. Every day I.."
"I know," Emhyr cut in, more restrained now. "If you had ceased, you would not be standing here discussing this with ."
A brief silence passed between them, then the servant spoke again, carefully this ti.
"If I may suggest… a different approach."
Emhyr's gaze flicked toward him.
"You may."
The servant chose his words like stepping through a minefield. "We require soone less constrained. Soone… willing to cross lines without a second thought. A hunter of dangerous people, maybe even monsters. They should be efficient and unsentintal. If the goal is to reach the girl, then we need a blade that does not hesitate when drawn, soone who will stop at nothing to get to his goal."
There was faint shift in Emhyr's expression.
"And you already have such a blade in mind I suppose, otherwise you wouldn't have brought this up to ." he said.
It was not a question.
The servant allowed himself the smallest nod. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"A man," Emhyr said softly, almost to himself. "Or sothing close enough to serve as one.."
The servant held his breath.
"Tell , since they'll know that I'll be the one who hired them.." the Emperor said at last, "who would be foolish, or desperate enough for such a task?"
/-\\
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