Not long returned from the dungeons, Lann was seated with his eyes closed, resting.
His mind lingered on the conversation he'd had with Fringilla Vigo.
Following an official seal of approval from the [Follower] system, Fringilla's favorability toward Lann had skyrocketed.
Though in her own mind, perhaps she simply believed she'd been swayed by the future he painted and the promises he made.
Regardless, the result was the same—she had reached a state of complete openness, holding nothing back.
To Lann's surprise, he discovered during their exchange that Fringilla had already established contact with Philippa.
They had even discussed his Elder Blood heritage.
Among the southern sorcerers, Fringilla was known for being quite unorthodox. On one hand, she had a powerful uncle—Artorius Vigo. On the other, she was a cousin of the Duchess of Toussaint, and by blood, even a distant relative of Emperor Emhyr.
This granted Fringilla a certain level of political protection. As long as she didn't commit outright treason, the emperor largely tolerated her eccentricities.
In that environment, Fringilla developed the belief that 'magic stands above all else', and it was this ideology that had led her to connect with Philippa.
But what exactly was Philippa plotting by reaching out to southern sorcerers in her personal capacity?
Lann suspected that today, he might finally find out.
If his guess was correct, he might just receive the opportunity he had long been waiting for—the chance to unify the North.
The sound of the grand doors opening echoed through the chamber.
Lann lifted his head and saw Philippa and Radovid approaching side by side.
Rumors had spread that Vizimir II had appointed Philippa as the prince's personal tutor.
"Greetings, Duke Lannister."
"May His Majesty Vizimir II enjoy good health," Lann replied courteously.
Regardless of what anyone felt privately, the formalities had to be observed.
What surprised Lann, however, was that the one to speak first wasn't Philippa—but Radovid.
It seemed Redania was deliberately using this diplomatic visit to give its young prince—one destined to be known as 'Radovid the Stern'—a bit of seasoning.
"I bring my father's congratulations. The Duke of Lannister's military achievements have become widely known across the North, and Redania hopes to establish a closer and more intimate cooperation with Cintra."
The young prince was even younger than Ciri, yet he spoke the diplomatic language with practiced ease.
One day, he would unexpectedly ascend as a brutal monarch—but for now, that unrestrained side had yet to emerge. At the very least, his court education had produced acceptable results.
Even if there was a certain stiffness in the way he recited his lines.
Lann, however, showed Radovid no warmth.
"I appreciate His Highness and His Majesty Vizimir's blessings. But why is it that Cintra feels nothing of Redania's supposed closeness?"
"To my knowledge, all Redanian port cities have raised trade taxes specifically on Cintran goods—and have even blocked access to major canals," Lann said coldly. "Is that what you call 'intimacy'?"
Lann's accusation wasn't without merit. Redania had indeed been causing Cintra considerable trouble.
With the exception of Novigrad, which was under the control of the Church of the Eternal Fire, the rest of Redania's official institutions had displayed a clear hostility toward Cintra.
Even though Redanian merchants were eager to do business with the war-torn and rebuilding Cintra, these unfavorable conditions had dragged down transport and commercial activity, severely slowing Cintra's recovery.
Lann had a vague sense of what was happening.
He knew that after Nilfgaard had been driven out, the attitudes of the Four Northern Kingdoms toward Cintra would inevitably shift.
The alliance had always been fragile.
Still, he hadn't expected Redania to be the first to turn—and so quickly, and so drastically.
At that moment, Prince Radovid set aside his scripted lines. Displeasure appeared on his face.
"Duke Lannister, we've merely returned our policies to their previous state. During Queen Calanthe's reign, Redania's relationship with Cintra was exactly as it is now. I think you owe me an apo—"
Philippa coughed lightly behind him, cutting off the prince before he could finish that impulsive remark.
Radovid's expression of displeasure instantly twisted into one of barely contained embarrassment.
Because he had his back to Philippa, Lann could clearly see the flames of suppressed rage in the young prince's eyes.
What made it all the more interesting was that while the prince floundered in silence, Philippa made no effort to pick up the conversation and smooth things over.
The sorceress merely curled her lips slightly into a satisfied smile, as if thoroughly enjoying the prince's awkwardness.
So Lann leaned back in his chair, perfectly content to observe for a while before speaking again.
"In that case, may I ask—what instructions has His Majesty Vizimir sent with Your Highness?"
This answer, too, had clearly been prepared in advance by his advisors. The young prince returned to his rehearsed lines, stiffness creeping back into his voice.
"Does Duke Lannister still recall the meeting held in Pontar with my father and the other kings?"
Of course. Lann thought to himself, his expression turning grim.
"What are you implying?"
Radovid declared confidently, "At the time, His Majesty my father, as well as King Foltest, King Henselt, and King Demavend, all agreed to support the restoration of Cintra—and that Princess Cirilla would, in the future, be married into one of the Four Kingdoms."
"And of the Four Kingdoms, only I—Redania's prince—am of appropriate rank and age to be her suitor."
"Cintra, too, stands in need of a powerful ally—one who will stand beside it through hardship and triumph alike."
He offered a dignified expression.
"Perhaps Duke Lannister is unaware, but Queen Calanthe once promised that I would be engaged to Princess Cirilla. There is a bond between us that transcends ordinary ties of fate."
"My father hopes that this visit will clear away the misunderstandings between our nations and allow the marriage between myself and Princess Cirilla to be reaffirmed."
"This—this is what we mean by a 'closer, more intimate' friendship. One that will unite Redania and Cintra into an unshakable alliance at the heart of the North!"
Lann remembered that before the Nilfgaardian invasion, Queen Calanthe had indeed once promised Ciri's hand to Radovid. But at the time, Vizimir II had no interest in getting involved in the conflict between Cintra and Nilfgaard, and so the engagement was withdrawn.
Later, Queen Calanthe had promised Ciri to a prince of the Kingdom of Verden instead—leading to the infamous episode where Ciri fled the engagement and escaped into Brokilon Forest.
And now Redania wanted to bring that old promise back?
Lann's expression turned cold.
Excellent. This will only accelerate the integration of the North.
...
That night, Lann soaked in a wooden bath, easing his weary body.
But his mind was racing.
He had long known that the so-called 'alliance' between Cintra and the Northern Kingdoms was full of holes, and he had fully expected that the Four Kingdoms would use any opportunity to turn against Cintra.
He had already prepared countermeasures for each of them.
"I just didn't expect Redania to be the first," Lann muttered. "I thought Temeria would strike first. I was even planning to support Adda's rise to power…"
"I wonder what demands the Temerian delegation will bring tomorrow…"
The window creaked open, letting the chill of the evening breeze sweep into his room.
With Lann's current constitution, this level of cold barely registered.
Not that he had any particular interest in bathing with the window open.
He was waiting for someone.
[Flap-flap—]
He didn't have to wait long. The sound of beating wings soon reached the balcony.
A large owl locked eyes with Lann.
Then, with a twist of chaotic magical energy, the bird's form began to expand and distort. A silhouette took shape—and soon, a female sorceress stood in its place.
It was none other than the royal advisor of Redania, who had only hours earlier stood beside Radovid during the audience. One of the North's top ten high-ranking sorceresses—Philippa Eilhart.
"Long time no see, Lann."
Philippa stepped forward slowly, glancing around the room.
After a moment, her gaze settled on Lann's upper body above the water. She studied his defined musculature with an appreciative look.
"Our last meeting wasn't exactly pleasant," Lann said flatly, offering her no warmth. "And you ought to address me the way you did earlier—Duke Lannister."
Their last encounter had been at Oxenfurt, and Philippa had left quite the impression on Lann's entire company.
Philippa's expression briefly stiffened.
But she quickly forced a smile—after all, the power dynamic between them had indeed shifted.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have gone through all the trouble to prepare for today's meeting.
"Those with great power and stature deserve to be treated with appropriate respect," she said, offering a slight bow. "Please forgive the intrusion, Duke Lannister."
"You seem to have anticipated my visit?"
"Radovid is a foolish child," Lann said with a cold chuckle. "But you, it seems, have gone out of your way to train him into a hotheaded little idiot."
"A proper royal tutor would've stepped in during the meeting. Instead, you let him steer the conversation straight off a cliff."
"You wanted me to find him detestable—so you could use my dislike for him to further your own aims." Lann shifted slightly in the tub to get more comfortable. "Which meant you'd have to seek me out privately for a second discussion."
"But what I'm really curious about is this—how can you be so sure I won't just strike you down the moment you show your face?"
Philippa lifted her chin slightly.
"I know you still harbor resentment over our last encounter. But you're now the de facto ruler of Cintra. I trust you'll place Cintra's interests above personal grudges," she said smoothly. "The benefits I bring are more than enough to outweigh any lingering hostility."
Lann remained silent.
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