Chapter 189: Toussaint, My Unseen Homeland
As evening approached, the servant finally came to the drawing-room, apologetically informing the two that Orianna had at last returned.
They proceeded to the dining hall, which was now brightly lit by numerous candles, illuminating the otherwise dim interior as dusk settled. The immense long table was laden with abundant food, items rarely seen in ordinary households.
Orianna, meticulously dressed and smiling, invited them to take their seats. During dinner, none of the three spoke. The only sounds were the gentle clinking of cutlery, the soft cutting of meat, and quiet chewing.
Only nearing the end of the meal did Orianna set down her knife and fork, dab her lips with a napkin, and inquire, "Master Lynn, what do you think of Toussaint?"
Lynn also put down his knife and fork, responding, "Before coming to Toussaint, I always considered it my second homeland, one I had never seen. And upon arriving, I found that my feeling was indeed correct; it truly is a land like something out of a fairy tale, just as the books described."
Lynn wasn't merely flattering; his words came from the heart. Although Toussaint inevitably had its share of unsavory individuals, overall, most people were considerably better than those in the North.
Especially notable was how Toussaint managed to escape the three Northern Wars that were yet to come. In that war-torn world, it remained a peaceful and tranquil sanctuary, like a hidden paradise.
Though Lynn's past life education told him that such an idyllic life couldn't last forever, and defense couldn't always be outsourced to a suzerain, at least by the end of The Witcher 3 game, the Toussaintois were still living well.
Lynn's words brought a satisfied smile to Orianna's face. She held a wine glass, gently swirling the wine within. "Since you hold it in such high regard, have you ever considered settling down in Toussaint?"
"Settle down?"
Before coming here, Lynn had made many conjectures. But he certainly hadn't considered that Orianna's reason for inviting him was this. On reflection, Orianna knew he was a witcher, yet still wanted him to stay. Did she have absolute confidence that her identity wouldn't be discovered, or was there some other reason?
Lynn pondered for a moment before speaking. "Madam, Toussaint's bandit problem has now been cleared. The Knight-Errants who previously left the Duchy have also returned. With them here, Toussaint's peace can surely be maintained."
"Furthermore, precisely because Toussaint has seen almost no war, the number of monsters rampaging within the Duchy is far lower than in the North, where petty squabbles constantly escalate into conflicts."
"Madam, as you know, witchers primarily make their living by hunting monsters. If all the monsters are eliminated, witchers will have no way to survive."
At this point, Lynn couldn't help but sigh: It's no wonder that over these past few centuries, despite the tumultuous changes across the Continent, there hasn't been a single nation ruled by sorcerers.
Even legendary sorcerers as great as Cosimo and Alzur, who created the witchers, didn't possess much greater political acumen than other sorcerers. They single-handedly founded the Witcher Order, yet placed this force outside the control of the Northern Kingdoms.
They attempted to create an independent organization akin to the Brotherhood of Sorcerers, but never considered whether the Brotherhood would tolerate their privileges being encroached upon by a third party.
The Witcher Order's noble ideals and knightly spirit stemmed from Alzur's own aspirations. But he failed to consider that the Northern Kingdoms were not like Toussaint, a land free from war and blessed with favorable weather.
An orange grown south of the Huai River is an orange; grown north of it, it becomes a bitter orange. Knightly chivalry could take root in Toussaint, but if you transplanted it unchanged to the North, it simply wouldn't adapt.
Moreover, what Alzur failed to realize was that if you were too noble, wouldn't that just highlight the incompetence and uselessness of the noble lords? What would the noble lords think then? You'd have no way to survive, would you?
"Hmm, I understand. But what if a noble, wealthy, and charming lady were willing to enter into a long-term contract with you?"
Orianna leaned slightly forward over the table, allowing the witcher a glimpse into the depths of her low-cut neckline. For this dinner, the noblewoman wore a magnificent gown that perfectly accentuated her figure.
If other men were present, they would likely find it hard to tear their eyes away. This also caused Fringilla, sitting nearby, to show a hint of awkwardness.
Fringilla hadn't spent much time with Orianna, but she had heard some rumors about this noblewoman: both the male nobles and merchants of Beauclair had been profoundly impressed by her.
They were all obsessively enamored with Orianna's charm. This was why this noblewoman, despite being an outsider, owned such a grand mansion in the heart of Beauclair.
"I will give you a steed as black as night and swift as the wind; I will give you a sharp sword gleaming like moonlight; I will give you endless, inexhaustible wealth; I will give you a respected status wherever you go."
"All of this, everything, depends entirely on you. If only you are willing to stay."
Lynn pondered for a moment, then said, "Your offer is very tempting."
Orianna's smile grew even more enchanting.
"But I must respectfully decline."
The noblewoman's expression instantly froze. Fringilla couldn't help but almost laugh aloud, quickly covering her face with her goblet. Orianna didn't look at Fringilla. She simply gazed at Lynn, filled with confusion and incomprehension.
"Why?"
"Because there are still many things waiting for me to do."
"You can tell me. Perhaps I can help you."
Lynn, however, shook his head. "No, you cannot help me. Don't misunderstand, I'm not doubting your status, wealth, or abilities. It's just... never mind. Let's not discuss this topic any further."
Orianna carefully observed Lynn's expression. To her surprise, Lynn was serious. Never before had a man refused her charm. This was the first time she had tasted defeat. So Orianna did not pursue the topic further. Instead, she invited Lynn and Fringilla to stay overnight at the mansion.
Lynn, who probably guessed what would happen, did not refuse. However, what he hadn't expected was how truly open and daring the sorceresses of this era were. While Orianna came to Lynn's room in the middle of the night, Fringilla also joined in without any hesitation.
And then, dawn broke.
....
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