Chapter 124: White Orchard's Hidden Secrets
"I was once cursed to become a Striga. A witcher named Geralt helped me remove the curse. His nickname is White Wolf."
"Unfortunately, Geralt left too soon, I didn't even see it with my own eyes."
Princess Adda spent the first ten years of her life as a monster that eats human flesh. Therefore, she did not care much about the etiquette in the palace. She could even be said to be wild, arrogant and unrestrained. However, no one could say anything about her because of the king's favor.
Princess Adda looked at Lann curiously: "I am a Striga transformed, and you are a witcher. I think we have a lot in common."
"You don't seem well, was the conversation with my father unpleasant? Do you want me to intervene?"
Lann took a deep breath and forced a smile. "My apologies, Your Highness Adda. I have some disagreements with the king, and I feel that they cannot be easily explained in a few words. If you allow me, I prefer to retire, I have many pending commitments."
Adda was not used to being rejected, she frowned discontentedly, crossed her arms, highlighting the shape of her breasts.
"I looked for you for a serious matter. What's wrong? It seems like you were getting along with Miss Keira just now, is it because my hair isn't blonde enough? From what I know, you like redheads too."
Faced with the princess's actions and words, Lann's mouth twitched uncontrollably. He just felt that he had never met a princess with a personality that was 'princess' enough since he came to this world.
Princess Adda continued: "I heard that you are now the actual ruler of Cintra, right? I think we can help each other. You want to drive away Nilfgaard, and I…"
Lann sighed and was about to interrupt Princess Adda, when King Foltest's voice suddenly came from the reception room behind him. "Adda, come in."
Adda wrinkled her nose in dissatisfaction and wanted to say something to Lann again.
"Adda, come in!"
This time the king's voice was slightly angry, and even the princess did not dare to disobey the order. She simply gave Lann a reproachful look before entering the room.
Soon, King Foltest's reprimands to his daughter were heard, followed by the princess's indignant resistance.
The two guards closed the door and blocked all the sounds inside.
Keira shrugged and asked Lann: "Not going well?"
Lann shook his head. "We can't accept the conditions offered by the other party."
Since the talks broke down, there was no reason to stay in Temeria. Lann then exchanged a few words with Keira and prepared to leave.
He met up with the soldiers waiting outside, and surprisingly, the two teams of dwarves were also present.
The team led by Zoltan was mainly dedicated to business and occasionally played as mercenaries. The purpose of staying here was to take a ship with Lann to Oxenfurt to find the king and then detour to Novigrad to do business. However, after obtaining Lann's token, he was already considering opening a trade route from Novigrad to Cintra.
On the other hand, the team led by Yarpen was simply a group of adventurers and mercenaries. Under the persuasion of Lann and Zoltan, he had given up his plan to go to Kaedwen.
"After dropping you off at the ship, I intend to head to Cintra. Aiding the North Gate in its hour of need against Nilfgaard should improve the dwarves' reputation, don't you think?" Yarpen said with his usual directness, which was well received by Lann.
Lann and his party then prepared to go to the port city according to Zoltan's instructions.
And the day after Lann left, a red-haired knight led a team of cavalry and chased in the direction of Lann and his group.
If Lann and his party wanted to take a boat, they had to go to Maribor, and on the way, they had to pass through White Orchard.
They decided to stop there for a day to rest. To their surprise, they were greeted with unexpected and warm enthusiasm from the locals.
Lann was shocked. After careful questioning, Lann learned the truth.
Due to long-standing evil deeds on Verrieres' part, coupled with the stupidity of destroying the king's cold treatment plan for Lann, the angry king deprived Verrieres of the management rights of White Orchard, retaining only his noble title and fiscal ownership of land.
White Orchard is a rich land, but it has been ruined by Verrieres for most of these years. The king had always had problems with Verrieres, and this time he took the opportunity to act.
The tax officer appointed by the king will soon take over the management of White Orchard.
Lann was pleased with this.
But there was another surprise that Lann did not expect.
At noon, House knocked on the door and reported to him: "My lord, there is a boy who wishes to see you. He is the boy who did not testify falsely against Mr. Kolgrim during the trial, his name is..."
"Leo, right?" Lann said.
He was deeply impressed by this name. Considering his age and location, Lann already had a guess in his mind.
"I am very happy, House." When House turned around and was about to go out to call Leo, Lann suddenly said. "Even if it's just a child, you didn't drive him away, but came to inform me and ask my opinion."
"I was always afraid that you would become one of those haughty noble servants, but it seems I was wrong. Keep it up."
House nodded heavily.
After a few moments, a boy pushed the door with shaking hands.
"Lan... Lord Lannister, greetings to you."
It was unclear where this boy had learned the formalities from, but he really looked respectful. He lowered his head, not daring to look at Lann, but his eyes kept moving, nervously observing the room.
Lann smiled and said: "Raise your head. Children should not learn everything from adults. I just arrived at White Orchard today and you came to me. It seems that you have been waiting for me."
After listening to Lann's words, Leo raised his head, looked at the dark golden lion pupils curiously, and then lowered his head in panic.
"Lord Earl... I'm sorry to bother you. I want to ask you: Are you a witcher?"
Lann nodded and said: "It's true."
Leo took a deep breath and said: "I once heard a bard, his name is Dan or something, sing a story about a witcher called 'White Wolf'. He said that witchers are errant knights who defend justice and fight evil."
"I would like to ask you Lord Earl... are you that kind of witcher too?"
Although Leo did not dare to raise his head, Lann could see in his actions the fantasy he held in his heart.
As a responsible adult, it seemed like I should dispel Leo's illusions and help him see reality. After all, reality is often cruel to children who cling to illusions, especially in a medieval fantasy world where life doesn't have much value.
But through Leo's narration, Lann had already guessed the boy's identity: Leo, the apprentice witcher of the Wolf School, who would die during the attack on Kaer Morhen.
"Kid, at your age, it's hard for you to understand in every group there are good guys and bad guys, including witchers. So next time you find someone with eyes like mine, don't approach so hastily."
Lann chuckled. "But you're lucky, at least for now I don't consider myself a bad guy. What about you? Do you have any 'missions' for me?"
Leo's eyes lit up and he finally had the courage to raise his head.
Then, Lann heard a story.
Not long ago, before Kolgrim left White Orchard, young Leo found him and wanted to hire him with an almost ridiculous supposed reward.
Facing Leo, who admired witchers, Kolgrim originally wanted to scare and discourage him, but ended up momentarily giving in to his kindness and accepted Leo's task: to search for the beekeeper's missing son, Vitty.
It all started when Kolgrim came to White Orchard, looking to buy honey to make mead, but he got into trouble.
Afterwards, Kolgrim explained to Leo what had happened before he was captured.
"When I got there, there was a lot of noise in the beekeeper's house, and his wife and son were injured by him. I didn't want trouble, I just wanted to buy some honey."
"Who knew that the guy, seeing that I was a foreigner, wanted to charge me triple the price? Did he think I was stupid?"
"After I left, the boy came looking for me, ridiculously wanting to ask me for the money for honey three times on behalf of his father."
"I didn't hit him, which was considered my kindness. I just scolded him."
After accepting Leo's commission, Kolgrim returned to the place where he met Vitty that day, activated the witcher's senses and easily followed the scent of honey.
The smell passed the beekeeper's house, seemed to linger at the door for a while, and then turned out of the village and went north to the edge of the Ismena River.
Kolgrim did not stop to think why the beekeeper's son had come to that place alone, but he found a group of drowners there.
After defeating the drowners, he found Vitty's body at the drowners' meeting place.
The truth came to light.
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