Chapter 17:

I have been a hundred times on the point of killing myself, but still was fond of life. This ridiculous weakness is perhaps one of our worst instincts. What can be more absurd than choosing to carry a burden that one really wants to throw to the ground? To detest, and yet to strive to preserve our existence? To caress the serpent that devours us, and hug him close to our bosoms till he has gnawed into our hearts? - Voltaire

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P.O.V Switch: Emhyr Var Emreis

1 Day Prior

Current Year: 1259

"My liege, here are the fiscal reports for this quarter." One of my many servants said while handing me several folders filled to the brim with accounting information. "As you can see by the outlined numbers in red ink, productivity is up by 17%. The reforms that you've outlined and put into place since the end of the rebellion have been well met. The people are prospering, my liege."

I nodded at the information. The servant in question was rather plain looking among the Nilfgaardian populous. He had bland black hair and eyes, along with a hooked nose. This man used to be a serf, I saw his potential in mathematics and elevated his position. He is actually one of the advisors that I believed wouldn't betray me, he was too skittish. Despite that, I still kept tabs on him… I needed capable people that I can use, I did not want them to stagnate as laborers. The man in question, whose name was Sterkaf, must have noticed that I wasn't in the finest of moods. So, he moved on to topics that I was more interested in.

"Our military is also seeing rapid growth, my liege. Their martial prowess and discipline seems to be on the rise according to your instructors. The number of volunteer soldiers have also doubled since the previous year. So many young Nilfgaardians want to make their nation proud. I believe that within a few years time, our military might will also succeed your previous expectations. Now, moving on to land holdings. I think that we-" Sterkaf continued to say with conviction, but I just tuned him out. I hope he was right about our military matters, for my plans to succeed, we need to maintain our position as the strongest nation in the world.

It's not like I was in a bad mood because of all the managing I had to do, I was fine with something like that. I was in a bad mood because nearly a month ago, a ten year old half-elven witcher, who I didn't even know the name of, came into my palace and threatened me. I tried to research more about the child, but it's like he was a spectre. There was no information to be found about the half-elf boy. My spy within the school had, probably, already been tortured and killed. The boy did have a Skelligan accent, I checked with my sources there, but they weren't able to find anything. The people of Skellige aren't known for their gossiping, especially considering this boy could have left his home years ago.

The little shit had managed to pull the wool over my eyes, for a moment anyway. I kept on thinking of the fact that I was such a fool that day. I let my temper get the best of me and he took advantage of it. I even killed that damned bastard of the usurper in front of him! He saw my weakness and promptly took advantage of it. He certainly is a little schemer, so much so that I almost wanted to induct him into my plans for ruling this continent. It was too late though, he threatened me. That is something I cannot forgive. I have a few cards up my sleeve that I think are now appropriate to play.

"Sterkaf." I said without emotion. I interrupted whatever he was currently going on about.

"Y-yes, my liege?" He asked with worry. He probably thought I was frustrated with him, I was not.

"How many troops do we have stationed near the Tir Tochair mountains?" I asked while staring off into space at my desk.

"Well, my liege… I believe we have around five garrisons that are close to the mountain range itself. The total number of troops stationed should be close to twenty-seven hundred." Sterkaf said with a bit of a lump in his throat.

Twenty-seven hundred huh… That should be enough. Alright, now I just need to make sure of a few things.

"Alright, Sterkaf. Have one of our resident mages go and retrieve Fringilla from the school of the viper, I wish to speak with her. Send word to the troops at the garrisons to be ready to move out within a moment's notice. Also… Send word to Vilgefortz, tell him I have a matter that needs to be dealt with, something of utmost urgency." I said with a strong voice. No emotions were portrayed on my face.

"I will send word at once, my liege. I will return shortly." Sterkaf said while lowering his head and bowing to me. He then quickly opened my door and swiftly travelled down the hall.

I leaned back in my chair and pondered for a moment. I needed for this boy and his allies to die. I have no idea where he could have possibly figured out that I used to be 'Duny'. I kept replaying the events in my mind, it simply did not make a lick of sense! Vilgefortz obviously didn't tell him, we were still in league and our deal had already been established. He would gain nothing by trying to deceive me, he would never get what he wants that way…

Perhaps the boy used some type of divination magic? I do not know the mechanics behind such things, but it is very possible. I can't ask any of my mages besides Vilgefortz. I don't trust anyone with the knowledge of my previous identity besides him. If more people found out about it… It could be disastrous.

Fringilla had assured me that it would be better to work with the school of the viper. She had sent word of it to me of it during the past month when the boy went off to do some sort of special 'training' … I was starting to think that she didn't have the best interests of Nilfgaard in mind… Is she, perhaps, in league with the boy? I would find out soon enough.

A few hours went by while I allowed my mind to race, several theories came to my mind regarding the nature of this boy. None of them really mattered though, the only thing that did was the fact that everyone who knew of my previous identity would die.

After a few more moments of thinking, someone knocked on my door. I told them to come in and was greeted by the sight of a man. He was tall, handsome, and in reasonably great shape. It was one of my most powerful allies, Vilgefortz.

"Emhyr, why have you requested my presence? We are not yet ready for the next war and you have only recently returned to power." Vilgefortz questioned. He was a bit unhappy that I disturbed him, he was trying to be an upstanding member of the brotherhood. It wouldn't do anyone good if it became known he was plotting to take over this continent with me.

"Vilgefortz, we have a problem. A… Witcher 'trainee' from the school of the viper has discovered my identity as 'Duny'. We need to eliminate him and anyone else he told before it's too late. If it got out, I don't know if we'd be able to take the northern realms if they formed an alliance against us. At the very least, it would be incredibly more difficult." I said with a grave tone. My face formed into a slight frown.

"A witcher… 'trainee'? How did someone like a witcher find out? They have no inclination towards politics in the first place." Vilgefortz said with a complicated expression on his face. It would do him no good either if word got out. In exchange for his help on my quest to become emperor, I promised him the north. He won't be able to rule if my identity is exposed and an alliance is formed between the northern factions.

"I do not know, perhaps divination? It does not matter. We need to kill everyone who knows. Fringilla is about to come here and explain some things to me. I have a feeling she'll have a lot to say in this matter, she's spent a lot of time with the boy. In the meantime, go wait with one of the garrisons in the Tir Tochair mountains. I'll have one of my servants give you a map. When I give the order, we'll storm the keep. We will leave no survivors." I said with a tone of certainty. We must act quickly.

Vilgefortz nodded in understanding. He understood that this was a grave matter. He left my quarters quickly in order to prepare for the siege that was about to commence. After a few minutes, I heard another knock at my door.

I told whoever it was to come in. What greeted my sight a moment later was a very beautiful female mage that was dressed in black robes with shortly cut black hair and green eyes. She smiled as she walked in the door, but I could see that she was sweating a bit. She was obviously afraid. That's good, I can use that to my advantage.

"Fringilla." I said with an even tone and a frosty look on my face. "Please, sit. We have much that we need to speak of regarding that little half-elf boy from the Viper school."