Built against the mountainside in the Baroque style, this was the observation terrace of Beauclair Palace. White stone columns surrounded it, and the view was broad and unobstructed. At night, anyone standing here could take in the magnificent lights of the entire city at a glance.
Unfortunately, Viscount Victor Corion of Kaer Trolde had no opportunity to appreciate that beautiful sight just yet. He stood at the foot of the steps leading to the terrace.
Having returned to Beauclair, he once again found himself before its beautiful ruler, Dandelion's beloved little weasel, Duchess Anna Henrietta.
She looked down at the travel-worn witcher from the terrace, her small nose delicately upturned, her blue eyes deep and clear.
Since they had arrived close to midnight, this audience was relatively discreet. Only Anarietta's closest confidants and the handful of nobles permanently residing at the palace were present for the conversation.
That suited Victor perfectly.
Before finding Regis and obtaining enough leverage for a proper discussion, he did not want Rhenawedd to notice that the Phantom Troupe had appeared. Still less did he want to wake in the middle of the night and find Dettlaff standing beside his bed, demanding that he leave Toussaint immediately.
At the bottom of the steps, once the witcher had finished paying his initial respects to the duchess, Anna Henrietta spoke.
"Victor of Kaer Trolde, come closer. Stand before me."
At the duchess's request, Victor climbed to the landing halfway up the stairs and inclined himself slightly.
"It has been far too long, Your Enlightened Grace. I am deeply honored to answer your summons."
"I am equally pleased that you came. Closer, witcher. Come up here and look at this magnificent view!"
She had barely finished when a soft cough interrupted them before Victor could move.
"Your Grace, that would seem somewhat inappropriate," Chamberlain Sebastian Le Goff said quietly.
"Be silent, Goat-Beard! I wish to demonstrate how seriously I regard this commission. Besides, Viscount Corion is a witcher worthy of respect. He earned himself an excellent reputation here last winter. Am I remembering incorrectly, Damien?"
The burly, bald Damien de la Tour, Anarietta's most loyal hound, glanced at Victor and then at Angoulême behind him.
"Mr. Victor can be trusted."
It must be emphasized that describing this gentleman as Anarietta's hound was not meant as an insult. In fact, Damien would probably have been delighted to hear himself called that.
The chamberlain, a man deeply concerned with etiquette and propriety, saw that both the duchess and the captain of her guard approved. He bowed apologetically to Victor, stepped back, and fell silent.
Viscount Corion therefore ascended the remaining steps. Under the watchful eyes of rank after rank of guards, he stepped onto the observation terrace and stopped three paces from the duchess, maintaining a proper social distance.
"Mr. Victor, I believe Horace and Guillaume already explained the general situation while you were on your way here..." The Enlightened Lady's voice was clear, firm, and utterly fearless.
"Yes, Your Grace. I know that Count Crespi was unfortunately murdered. As for the second victim, another nobleman of equally distinguished standing, I was not personally acquainted with him, but I am told he once served as your tutor." Victor's answer remained gentle while preserving every courtesy.
Gesturing for Victor to follow her, Anna turned and walked to the balustrade. The summer night breeze stirred the hem of her dress, while the stars overhead mirrored the lights scattered throughout the city below.
"Come and look. This is Beauclair. She is beautiful, is she not?"
Facing the splendid cityscape, the ruler's voice carried undisguised anger.
"This beautiful city is my city. Yet now some filthy Beast is spreading fear and death through its streets!
"When people feast, they fear that one among them might suddenly disappear, only to be found dead in a square with his neck locked in a pillory. When people sleep, they fear waking to discover someone in a gutter, dressed in nightclothes, clutching a bed warmer and dead like some ridiculous fool.
"And that is something I, Anna Henrietta, absolutely will not tolerate!"
The Enlightened Lady stood magnificent, her commanding presence fully unleashed.
"Listen well, Witcher Victor. Find this Beast for me and kill it. Rid this city of fear, and you shall receive an exceedingly generous reward!
"As the Wine Viscount, you have already proven yourself capable of managing an estate. Therefore, following Count Crespi's death without an heir, I shall grant you Corvo Bianco Vineyard, together with two thousand florins in gold.
"I have every confidence that you will resolve this matter. Furthermore, the grape harvest is upon us. The workers need to know whose protection they will serve under before they can work with peace of mind. Therefore, Sebastian will transfer the key and deed to Corvo Bianco into your possession later tonight, in advance.
"The gold, however, will only be paid once you bring me proof that the problem has been solved, the Beast's head or some equivalent trophy.
"That is my decision. Is there anything you wish to add?"
Victor placed a hand over his chest in gratitude.
"Your Grace, I can only admire and thank you for your generosity and wisdom. However, regarding the investigation, I do have one small request. For the time being, please do not announce that I have begun hunting the Beast."
She paused for a moment. When the young man offered no immediate explanation for such a request, the duchess abruptly turned and fixed the witcher with a piercing stare.
Victor met Anarietta's sharp gaze and shrugged.
"Your Grace, consider the circumstances. The first victim, Count Crespi, died when claws tore open his throat, yet his corpse was deliberately arranged in a kneeling position. Someone clearly wanted him displayed that way.
"The same applies to the second victim, Sir Ramon du Lac. His fatal wound was a long claw driven through the heart, yet he was dressed in nightclothes and a sleeping cap, with a pillow beneath his head and a bed warmer in his arms, as though he had gone to sleep in the gutter.
"The Beast deliberately arranged both corpses to make their deaths look ridiculous, almost as though humiliating them for something they had done while alive. I suspect the motive might be revenge.
"If that is true, investigating their personal connections may reveal what set them on the road to their deaths."
Damien de la Tour stiffened slightly at the witcher's reasoning, unable to keep the thought from crossing his mind.
"Impressive. This young man truly does know what he's doing... Ramon du Lac had many disgraceful dealings with the criminal underworld, while Count Crespi's reputation in the wine trade was notorious."
The duchess met the witcher's gaze thoughtfully before allowing a faint smile to appear.
"That is certainly an unusual request. But if the investigation is kept secret, you will lose the advantage of others volunteering their assistance. Nor could Corvo Bianco be handed over to you openly for the time being."
"Thank you for your understanding, Your Enlightened Grace. All I require is a written warrant granting me unrestricted access to any scene connected to the Beast's investigation, along with temporary authority over no more than two members of the Ducal Guard."
He bowed with a faint smile.
At the witcher's request, Anarietta blinked her beautiful eyes. The first condition naturally posed no problem. As for the second, she turned toward Damien de la Tour.
The scar-covered, bald captain considered it briefly, then bowed to indicate that he had no objection.
She raised her chin slightly.
"Very well, Victor Corion. I look forward to seeing what you accomplish. That is the expectation of the Duchess of Toussaint."
The witcher placed a hand over his chest and accepted the charge.
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