Chapter 160: There Can Only Be One Truth
For the next two days, Lynn, Geralt, Regis, and Maximus stayed at the palace.
They received treatment befitting nobles. After two days of enjoying a decadent lifestyle, Lynn couldn't help but sigh, realizing why so many people fought tooth and nail, climbing over others, to reach the top.
The pleasures and privileges afforded to those at the top were indeed intoxicating.
In terms of just food and drink, even though this fantasy world's productivity and development had surpassed medieval Europe in his home world, it still couldn't compare to an ordinary citizen's life in the 21st century. But the real thrill lay in the privileges and power.
You knew there were people on standby outside, ready to serve your every whim. You could raise a loyal retinue at any time. With just a word, they'd eagerly work for you, clearing any obstacles. If your power grew even slightly, you could even...
However, despite enjoying his time at the palace, he didn't forget to use the speaking tube to tell Triss to intercept Palmerin, Milton, and Reynard, who were already on their way to Novigrad.
Now that Duchess Anna Henrietta was saved, the ranger knights didn't need to dirty their hands or compromise their honor.
As for Duchess Anna Henrietta, although she still showed no signs of waking, her condition was visibly improving.
Lynn wasn't in a hurry to return the chalice to the Lady of the Lake. When he left Toussaint, he would pass by Lake Serawe anyway, so he could return it then.
More pressing for Lynn was figuring out who orchestrated the assassination attempt on the Duchess. So, he found Maximus and again asked for the details of the Duchess's assassination.
"I've already told you, we found Her Grace and her handmaiden in the treasure chamber. By the time we arrived, the assassin was gone."
Lynn rested his left hand on his right elbow, making a fist with his right hand and gently tapping his cheek, deep in thought. "Is the treasure chamber above ground or underground? Are there any other exits?"
Maximus replied, "It's underground, and there's only one exit."
"Could the assassin have entered or exited through a ventilation shaft?"
"There's no ventilation shaft large enough. At most, only a few rats could squeeze through."
"So the guards outside the treasure chamber, before and after the incident, didn't hear a sound? And they didn't spot any suspicious people?"
Maximus thought carefully, then shook his head.
It seemed he'd have to visit the treasure chamber for a firsthand look.
After getting the location of the treasure chamber from Maximus, the ranger knight realized the situation was more complex than it seemed and wanted to join, but Lynn insisted he rest.
He went alone. And was stopped by the guards at the entrance to the treasure chamber. Just as he was about to state his purpose...
A voice spoke from behind him. "The witcher is here on my instructions to investigate the scene of Her Grace's assassination."
"Madam Fringilla," the guard immediately straightened up, then said with difficulty, "but even someone as noble as yourself cannot enter without the Regent's command."
Fringilla, the short-haired sorceress, walked to Lynn's side. She stood with one hand on her hip, staring at the guard. "When Toussaint was still run by Her Grace, I could enter and exit freely. Now I need the Regent's permission?"
The guard shivered involuntarily, but he had to maintain his stance. "Apologies, but this was a direct order from the Regent. Please understand."
Fringilla waved her hand, seemingly very magnanimous. "It's alright, you're just doing your duty. However, there's been much talk in the palace these past few days, I'm sure you've heard some of it?"
"While Her Grace, the Illustrious Duchess, hasn't fully awakened, she is recovering. She will gradually recover if given more time. Her Grace was saved by the witcher's tireless efforts and the holy chalice he found. Before that, my uncle and I sustained Her Grace's life."
"When Her Grace awakens, perhaps I'll mention this to her casually. What do you think she'll think then?"
The guard immediately started sweating. He quickly stepped aside. "My apologies, Madam Fringilla, Master Witcher, please enter."
The sorceress then smiled with satisfaction, nodding to Lynn. "Please, esteemed Master Lynn."
Torches burned at regular intervals along the descending passage walls. The witcher and sorceress walked down the stone steps, their footsteps echoing in the dimly lit corridor.
Lynn glanced at Fringilla and said, "I thought you'd solve the problem with magic."
The short-haired sorceress chuckled. "Magic isn't omnipotent, and sometimes, achieving a goal without magic is more effective than using it."
"Let me take a bold guess: you could have easily asked Count Raymond for a pass, but you didn't. Are you, perhaps, suspecting Count Raymond?"
Lynn clicked his tongue. "Without knowing the full truth, Count Raymond does have significant suspicion. Before and after the Duchess's assassination, the guards outside the treasure chamber noticed nothing unusual. The assassin who harmed the Duchess and her handmaiden vanished as if into thin air; no one saw how they left."
"From a conspiracy theory perspective, the only explanation is that someone distracted the guards, creating an environment where the assassin could come and go freely."
"And inferring from the outcome, the biggest beneficiary is Count Raymond. If the Duchess were to die, with her two daughters still young, all of Toussaint's power would fall completely into Count Raymond's hands."
"At least until the two princesses come of age, Count Raymond would fully control court affairs, suppress dissenters, and cultivate his own loyalists. He could also seize the opportune moment to marry off his son—I believe his name is Raymond—to either princess, making him a Prince of Toussaint."
"In this way, Count Raymond's family's position in Toussaint would become unshakable, like Mount Gorgon."
Fringilla applauded. "A truly brilliant deduction! Yes, I thought the same."
Lynn shook his head. "Unfortunately, this is purely reverse-engineering the cause from the effect, destined to be far from the truth."
The beautiful short-haired sorceress seemed to choke on her own saliva, looking at the witcher in surprise. "Isn't it?"
"Of course not."
....
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