Astartes of the Bear School

Chapter 1821, page 1793: Sintra Royal Palace

Thanks to the sorceresses' teleportation spells, Lann and his entourage successfully arrived in Sintra before the post-war peace talks began.

The fact that peace talks were held in Sintra is a bottom line that both the North and the South can barely accept, which also shows that the country is caught in the middle between the North and the South.

Because they came directly through the portal, Lann and the Ember Knights didn't have a chance to see what the land they had once roamed and fought for looked like now. Instead, they went straight into the Sintra Royal Palace.

As soon as he stepped out of the portal, due to the [Ear of Lyman], Lann was completely different from before, experiencing almost no dizziness.

Today is the day when the peace talks are about to officially begin, and representatives from all countries have gathered in place.

Because Sintra is located at a much southern latitude, Lann immediately sensed that the temperature was a few degrees higher as soon as he stepped outside.

Even the morning sunlight seemed a bit more intense. The morning mist that is common in Velen was nowhere to be seen here; only the scent of flowers and grasses rose from the sunlight and warmth.

Cassandra adapted quite well, after all, the sunlight and temperature in the Aegean Sea are much higher than here.

The Ember Knights, clad in magnificent and sturdy full armor, felt unwell after stepping out of the portal, yet they still gazed intently at the sights within the Sintra Palace.

For them, the scene was like a dream.

Lan En looked to the side.

There should be a dried-up ditch next to the gardens of the royal palace.

The last time he visited the Sintra Royal Palace, a dozen or so children were chasing and playing in the dried-up ditch, like a school of sardines constantly changing direction.

They let out joyful screams in their tender voices, which at the time made one's head ache.

But now... Sintra Palace is quiet.

Lann didn't know what happened to those children during the First Northern War, but he heard from Hakuso that when the palace was besieged, all the men of the Sintra nobility, along with their families, committed suicide to show that they would never surrender.

Perhaps Harkso, as the chief steward of the palace at the time, would have known better.

...But Harkso also died.

As you continue deeper into the castle, Nilfgaardians come out to greet you.

The schedule was all notified in advance, after all, it was a negotiation between the two parties.

“Please follow me, Sir Lann,” said the Nilfgaardian butler, who wore a sun-shaped necklace around his neck, with a courteous air. “I will lead the way for you and your attendants. Please rest assured that we have made every effort to ensure your comfort.”

As he spoke, he turned to the side and reached out his hand, gesturing to lead the way.

But the next moment, Lincoln stood directly in front of him.

The usually amiable scribe, along with several other Ember Knights, naturally fell silent upon entering the Sintra Palace.

“Are you sure?” Lincoln’s veiled eyes stared directly at the Nilfgaard butler, “you’re going to stay here and lead the way?”

The Nilfgaardian was stunned for a moment, then suddenly clenched his teeth, his face turning pale, as if he had suddenly realized something.

Then he stopped talking and quickly took several steps back.

Lann walked forward: "Tell us about the accommodations you've arranged, and the necessary rules will be followed. But if you want to assert your sovereignty over Sintra over such trivial matters... tsk."

Finally, Lan En clicked his tongue in disdain.

They left the Nilfgaardian steward behind and continued on their way, passing a large meadow within the royal castle.

On this lush green meadow is a small hill, and a large tree grows abruptly from the top of the hill. In the morning sunlight, the entire hill reflects a warm glow.

A bench was hung from the branches of a large tree by two iron chains, turning it into a swing.

Lan En remembered that the last time he climbed this hill, stood by the swing, and talked to a lady who was sitting on it.

That lady is Calanthe, the Queen of Sintra... the former Queen.

Thinking back, it seems like it was six years ago. But now, even though the scene is exactly the same as it was back then, it feels like so much time has passed.

The large group of people who followed Lann out of the portal went their separate ways after entering the palace and castle.

The Ember Knights naturally followed Lann, but Tisaya and Margarita, who were responsible for opening the portal and came along, went their separate ways.

Margarita is the head of Aretusa and, in a sense, represents the warlock community.

Tisaya's role in this meeting was that of a wise wizard standing behind the new king of Viden.

When the war began, King Viden surrendered immediately, but the prince of Viden instead led a guerrilla movement. This naturally paid off after the war; the prince became a king beloved by his people.

At that time, Tishaya, who went to lend a helping hand on Lann's advice, not only rebuilt her prestige as a member of the warlock community, but also gained personal prestige in Viden.

The post-war peace talks were held in the throne room of the Sintra Royal Palace. Lann had never actually been to that place before.
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Beneath the black beams of the corridor, a long row of shields hung on the wall, their surfaces adorned with the colorful family crests of the Sintra nobles.

Foltest could immediately distinguish between the faded coats of arms of the old Sintra nobles and those of the newly emerging nobles during the reign of Calanther.

The latter is brightly colored, has not faded, and has not been infested by insects.

However, the most vibrant colors belong to the Nilfgaardian noble coat of arms, which were only put up in recent years. They distinguished themselves in the war and proved their worth during the subsequent five years of imperial rule.

As Foltest looked at the exquisite shields, he thought: Once Sintra returns to the northern camp, we must ensure that these things are not destroyed by the fervor of restoration.

After all, the Nilfgaardians didn't even damage the original noble coats of arms, yet these exquisite works of art were destroyed after the restoration of Cintra—that would be a huge blow to their reputation. Politics is one thing, aesthetics and reputation are quite another.

But as he thought about it, Fortest realized... this was probably not something he should be concerned about, and his concern would be of no use at all.

He looked toward a witcher sitting calmly at the conference table.

'So, it all started here.' Dixter surveyed the hall, thinking to himself, 'At that famous engagement party, Uchion the Hedgehog proposed to Princess Pavita, daughter of Calanther. Calanther, in turn, brought a witcher. And it's said that the one who shaved that witcher that night was Ser Harkor, the Grand Steward of the Court.'

The spymaster thought of the other witcher sitting at the table right now, and a thought that even he found clichéd came to mind: 'The intertwined fates of humanity can be so bizarre.'

Meanwhile, Queen Mivi of the United Kingdom of Lyria and Livia was looking out at the courtyard outside the castle through the long, narrow, towering glass windows of the throne room.

Her gaze was filled with reminiscence and contemplation.

More than five years ago, the blood and brains of Kalanther, the "Lion of Sintra," were spilled on the stone ground of this courtyard. As the last descendant of the Sintra royal family, Kalanther's portrait still hangs proudly in the throne room.

Her only child, Paveta, died in a shipwreck, and her bloodline now only extends to her granddaughter, Cirira.

If the two widely circulated theories are true, one is that Princess Shireira, who has not been seen for a long time, has died in this chaotic year of war.

Secondly, the princess who was entertained in Nilfgaard was indeed Cirra.

'But is that really possible?'

Queen Mivi immediately snapped her mind out of this naive idea.

'Whether Cirira Fiona Ellen Rayanren, the girl receiving hospitality and protection at the Nilfgaardian court, truly owns that noble name is not currently up to her.'

'If this witcher, the rightful duke of Cintra, doesn't recognize him…'

Coincidentally, Queen Mivi also glanced at the man discreetly at that moment.

At the same time, the Queen covered her left cheek with a handkerchief in her hand.

Even though Queen Mivi already had two sons who could roam freely, she remained beautiful and charming.

But this charming face has already been drastically altered by the war.

In the previous Second Northern War, the United Kingdom of Lyria and Rivia was the first to be hit and occupied by the Nilfgaards who crossed the Yaruga River.

Queen Meve waged guerrilla warfare against the Nilfgaardians in her own lands and in the southern part of Aden, leading from the front and being wounded several times.

Her beautiful face was once struck by an enemy's blade, but fortunately, the blade that pierced her cheek struck her back molars instead of severing the lower half of her face.

Her back molars were knocked out, and the inside of her mouth was visible through the wound on her face.

Although it has now been cured, the scars are still there.

Her court magic advisors suggested she seek help from Aretusa's crystal cultivation techniques to mend the now unsightly wounds.

"Please sit down," said Cyrus Engelhead Hemelfat, Archbishop of the Eternal Flame of Novigrad, waving his trembling hand. "Please, everyone, take a seat."

Just like the peace talks after the First Northern War, he became the host of the negotiations based on his age, seniority, status, and prestige.

The attendees took their seats at the large table in the center of the throne room, with mahogany nameplates on the table indicating their positions.

Queen Miwei.

Foltest, and King Wenslav of his vassal state of Bruge.

King Demawi of Aden, King Henset of Cordwin, and King Esein of Hidalis.

There is also Prince Christian of the Viden Kingdom, who ascended the throne due to his merit in resisting the invaders.

Duke Nietet, Speaker of the Regent Council of Redania, and Count Dikoscher, who was accompanying him.

These people were entitled to a place at the table, while their advisors, stenographers, and so on stood behind them, ready to be consulted.

(End of this chapter)