IV

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Arc IV Chapter 2

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Friedrich mustered his courage. After knocking at the door, he entered the study. Duke Aurelius might be busy, but his business was of equal urgency. His grace awaited Friedrich’s report on his most recent findings, even if they consisted mostly of unfortunate news.

“Excuse my intrusion, Your Grace, ...” Friedrich bowed. “My apologies, I wasn't aware that you are entertaining guests. As such, with your permission, I will take my leave ...”

Aurelius raised his hand. “No need to leave, Friedrich, you are not disturbing us at all. We have, more or less, settled most pending issues. Our esteemed guests intend to depart anyway, don't you, Wilhelm?”

Friedrich turned his head. Clad in an ensemble of Arcadian fur and heavy brocade, three nobles fell silent. His eyes identified Margrave Wilhelm, a loyalist. Count Conrad and Emeric accompanied him.

Wilhelm bowed to offer his respect. “True enough. We must thank you for receiving us despite your apparent lack of time. Your words have proven ... insightful. Not that we expected otherwise. Your wisdom precedes you, Aurelius.”

“You are flattering me overmuch, Wilhelm. Careful, more such praise and I might even believe in the sincerity of your words.” Aurelius reciprocated with a polite smile.

The noble chuckled. “At least you haven't lost your sense of humour yet, despite these trying times ...”

The duke was drumming his fingers on his desk. “Trying times ... That is quite an understatement on your part.”

“... Possibly so. I won't deny that your house has seen better days, but I am sure brighter times will undoubtedly return.

“Hopefully.”

“We will take our leave, Aurelius. May the elements protect you.”

The duke returned a mere nod. “Farewell, may the elements protect you. Greet your family on my behalf, especially your children. I was told that your son, in particular, is quite a promising talent in the field of magic.”

“You honour me, my children are indeed my pride. Sadly, recent times have caused them to indulge in bad habits. Nobility breeds arrogance. Magic breeds overconfidence, but I hope the coming years will mellow them. They are still young, and their noble blood runs wild with passion and pride. They are full of dreams and ambition. Not unlike us back in our younger days. They will both grow wiser.”

Aurelius folded his hands with a faint smile. “I will take your word for it.”

The nobles departed, but count Wilhelm halted at his sight. The margrave studied his figure from tip to toe. “Lord Friedrich, I presume?”

Friedrich nodded in confirmation.”Lord Wilhelm.”

Wilhelm scrutinised him.”You have grown tall. I still remember you when you were young, many years ago. You have become a respectable man ... Time truly passes fast.”

“Your words honour me, Lord Wilhelm.”

“My deepest condolences for your loss, Lord Friedrich. I knew Geralt well. I think that we all did. We have heard about what happened to him. Truly a tragedy. He was an honourable man. To think he would fall victim to the cold steel of assassins. What an unfortunate end at the hands of such despicable cowards.”

“Rest assured, Lord Wilhelm, my father fulfilled his duty to the last breath. He met an honourable death.”

...

...

...

Benevolence filled the margrave's voice. “I hope we will meet again under more favourable circumstances. As the eldest son, it now falls upon you to carry on your father's legacy.”

“It does.” Friedrich mustered a faint smile.

The door closed. He and Aurelius were now finally alone, surrounded by a veil of uncomfortable silence.

...

...

...

“What do we owe the pleasure of their visit?” Friedrich's gaze lingered on the closed door.

Aurelius displayed a slight hint of annoyance. “Nothing of importance. Only your typical business, bothering me and wasting my time. It’s what loyal vassals tend to do when they have nothing better to do than to trouble me.” Aurelius returned his attention to his work to fight a mountain of paper and documents. His eyes swept across countless pages and documents.

Friedrich raised his eyebrow. The duke's words shed little light on the situation.

Aurelius leaned back in his chair. “Wilhelm spoke in the name of my more loyal vassals. He voiced their concerns regarding the hereditary situation of our house ...”

Friedrich's smile vanished from his face. He understood. “Then, they know …?”

Aurelius nodded. “Apparently. Word travels fast these days. Not that I am surprised. They have their ears everywhere. Not to mention that we are hardly able to suppress the incident any longer with your father slain and my daughter missing. Information was bound to leak sooner or later.”

“Still ... They are quick to act. Barely two weeks have passed. They must have their informants within the knights.”

“Probably, considering that it's them who supply most of the recruits.” Aurelius scowled, troubled. “... Wilhelm fears that the duchy might fall to the crown with no successor in sight. The house lacks any direct descendant, with my daughter killed and my son fallen in battle. The proud House von Schwarz might finally cease. Millennia of glory for naught ...”

Friedrich straightened his back. “Are there truly no other candidates?”

“Unfortunately not. Grandfather left us with a dangerously thinned out stirps. Whether it was intentional on his part or not, I cannot say. Now only myself and my sister remain. Her children, however, would continue the Sturmberg line unless we can negotiate a suitable arrangement. Not the most ideal solution, but theoretically possible. Whether my nephew is particularly keen on accepting the offer is a different question altogether. Personally, I doubt so. “ Earnest concern plagued Aurelius.

“... That's indeed ... highly problematic.”

Aurelius gazed through the nearby window, to the horizon, across the duchy, the land of his forefathers. “Wilhelm urged me to remarry. I need to sire another heir before time claims me. As for an immediate solution, he suggested blood adoption.”

“Blood adoption ... An extreme measure, if I might say so ...”

“A necessary measure. Desperate times require such drastic measures. I think that neither the nobility, nor the church will oppose the use of black magic, not with the existence of a major house, an ancient house threatened by extinction.

I doubt that even the crown is willing to risk the very existence of our bloodline over some petty disputes and grievances. I hope so, at least. Arcadia needs our magic, our might, our strength. They can't afford us to die out. Not yet.”

Friedrich maintained his countenance. “You know what the nobles will say. You know what the people will say. Blood adoption is a practice widely held in contempt.”

“... I couldn't care less, Friedrich. Not that we have much of a choice. The nobles can gossip as much as they want. Their opinions are irrelevant. My first and foremost priority above all else is to secure the survival of the House von Schwarz. We must sacrifice our pride and the purity of our blood if necessary. The latter I have already jeopardised by marrying Felicia ...”

But tell me, Friedrich, what brought you to me? I doubt that you came only to exchange pleasantries.”

“You are correct, I came to report the newest findings.”

“I see. Did your investigations yield any notable results so far?”

Friedrich shook his head. The truth hurt. “Negative, none so far. We have failed to locate her corpse. Your daughter's body is still unaccounted for, but we must presume her dead at this point. A week has passed without any sign of her. We suspect that Aurora has perished in the chaos of battle. The assassins deployed potent magic, easily capable of obliterating human flesh. The scale of destruction supports our thesis. Craters. Scorch marks. Incinerated corpses. Her corpse probably didn't survive the ordeal.”

“... Aurora ...” Aurelius’ empty gaze swept to the window. His heart grew heavy and pain gripped his chest as fears turned to certainty. His daughter was no more.

The duke's anguish didn't escape Friedrich. He pitied the duke. No father was meant to outlive his daughter. “We have dispatched the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Knight Company. Stahl and his men are scouring the land for clues, but the assassins covered their traces well. We suspect that they travelled in small, separate groups, so as to not arouse suspicion.

We remain in the dark regarding their identity. Nevertheless, we were able to secure their horses, their weapons, and several corpses, or rather what remained of them. The majority were burned beyond recognition.”

Aurelius viewed him with expectation.

Friedrich was determined to not disappoint him. “Standard weapons. High quality steel. A few samples displayed mana conductive properties. Their horses were unremarkable, in general of average breed. What we can say for sure, though, is that our assassins were certainly no amateurs. Our friends enjoyed considerable support. They were highly skilled and trained. Whoever was behind their actions, it must be an influential actor from inside the highest circles of nobility, if not from inside the ... itself.”

Words were left unspoken, but Aurelius understood, regardless. Their true meaning didn’t elude him. “The royal family. How troublesome.”

Friedrich agreed wholeheartedly.

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