The Witcher: Aethan of Cidaris

Chapter 6: The King And Queen Of Cidaris

Author's Note:

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Should have been released on the fifteenth, sorry.

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(Castle Cidaris, Duchy of Cidaris, Kingdom of Cidaris, Northern Kingdoms, The Continent, Witcher-Verse)
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(King Aethan I Jaenerys of Cidaris POV)
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The time had come for Aethan to Marry Adda. All the invitations had been sent, and all had been invited. This event had little expense spared, the alcohol had arrived, the meals were being prepared, and the decorations had been completed. This was a big event, not just for the political implications. But because it was such a big event, all eyes were on it, including Imperial Eyes.
Aethan had given the Order, and Keira together with Letho, Gezras, and Ivo would break into the Nilfgaardian Capital city and rescue a certain Nilfgaardian General's family with Cantarella and a few associates, additionally, there were…rumours of discontent and riots were rife in various Nilfgaardian territories. It was a web of intermediaries and various middlemen, but Aethan had caused a lot of chaos in the Kingdoms through such people. A nice benefit was that he had thrown the economic stability of various Nilfgaardian Territories into chaos. The fact that the very same chaos had begun creeping towards Verden and Kerack without his prompting had been a good thing. 
Because it gave Aethan a chance to introduce new trade laws and thus increase the profits of the Trade League and paint the league in the light of helping people benefit from the chaos rather than suffer from it. The fact that merchants were climbing over each other trying for either a seat at the table of the League's leadership or to be placed under its banner allowed Aethan and the League to benefit.
If a merchant wanted to join the League then they had to be vetted extensively, and all aspects of their business were investigated. If they had any dodgy deals or criminal associations they were denied membership unless they could present an argument which satisfies the leadership of the League as to why they had such associations. At which point they'd be granted a conditional and probationary membership for five years. If at any point during those five years of probationary membership, they were caught doing under-the-table deals with criminal elements their membership was severed and they were arrested by the City Guard and had their goods seized and received heavy fines.
If they were caught at least a year after their probationary membership was ended and they were granted full membership in the league, they were instead given a warning and had one strike placed against them. If they were caught a second time, they faced substantial fines and a significant loss of privileges, if they were caught a third time they were jailed.
One of the new trade laws that Aethan had put out was that any merchant who willfully and knowingly conducts deals with criminal elements is subsequently just as culpable for whatever crimes were committed using what was sold by them as the people who did the crimes. Aethan in particular had been cracking down harshly on smuggling, The smugglers were given a choice, lose a hand and face a lengthy prison sentence or start working for the intelligence service. In exchange for their service, and so long as they didn't do anything too illegal and didn't actively subvert the more stringent trade laws, the smugglers were allowed to make a profit and even received a monthly stipend of about a thousand Novigradian Crowns.
Eventually, it had gotten to the point that all of the smugglers working for them decided to take inspiration from Aethan and formed a smugglers cartel. The leadership of said cartel took orders from the National Cidarian Intelligence Services Investigations branch. That branch was one of the seven under the wider organisation, but it was one of the big three within that tree. The Internal Security Bureau and Military Intelligence Section were the others.
Speaking of which, the man he'd hoped for the latter position…was within the Castle. Bernad Ducat, also known as Thaler, was posing as a member of the servants. Aethan had ordered for Thaler watched and would have the man detained eventually, just for a little chat. But Thaler wasn't the only one in the Castle that was identified as a spy, just the most notable. Sooner or later, the Intelligence Service would detain, question and either turn or execute the spies depending upon their affiliations and personalities and their methods. There were several other distinguished guests within the castle, not simply just Kings and Queens, but men and women of note such as the Sorceresses Philippa Eilhart, Triss Merigold, Sabrina Glevissig, Margarita laux-Antille, Fringilla Vigo, Francesca Findabair, Ida Emean aep Sivney, Yennefer of Vengerberg, and the like were in attendance as were guests such as the likes of Elgan of Verden, Vysogota of Corvo, Duchess Anna Henrietta, Sigismund Dijkstra, Vernon Roche, Jan Natalis, and The Witchers Vesemir, Eskel, Coen, Keldar, Gaetan, Kolgrim, Warritt, and Voren of Dillingen. It wasn't easy getting the Witchers to attend, but it was less easy getting a message to them. Luckily Aethan knew the general locations of the Keeps. But of the Witchers in attendance, he already had Keldar in his cabal of Witchers, so it was unnecessary to head to Kaer Seren.
But today was a day of marriage and alliances, and Aethan would seal his first alliance himself. Marrying Adda locked down his biggest neighbour, as not just an ally and friend, but family. Marrying Atthis into Lyria and Rivia, Margaery to Aedirn, and Eellie to Hengfors gave him allies further north and in the east. It also ensured that he had alliances against Kaedwen, Angren, Mahakam, Tir Tochair and Redania.
Aethan hadn't yet seen Adda, but he was letting himself be seen. He'd greeted each King personally, as well as Queen Meve, and he made sure to place Atthis next to Prince Villem, Margaery next to Prince Stennis, and Eilliana next to Prince Nievallar. But Aethan had also asked for Anna Henrietta to join him for a drink. She'd brought Princesses Fiona and Isabelle with her, and Aethan knew at once what the answer to the question he needed answering was.
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(POV Shift: Duchess Anna Henrietta of Toussaint)
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Anna Henrietta hadn't seen Aethan for about four or five years, during that time her husband had died, and she retained her title as was her right as the sole remaining heiress of the Toussaintois Ducal Dynasty, and the fact that the Emperor was her cousin didn't hurt her rights to remain the Duchess. 
In the Empire, a Northern Monarch was not very popular, but in Toussaint? King Aethan was celebrated, and while still a prince he fulfilled the duties of a Knight-Errant and won the Grand Tourney three times. The Toussaintois people adored him because of his valour and Courage. And Anna Henrietta herself adored King Aethan.
The man was a fantastic lover, and he could be discreet. He'd share meals and wine with her husband, then get him flat drunk and end up ploughing her right next to his drunken sleepy form. His actions against Count Crespi were a large part of why the people of Toussaint adored him. Exposing the Count as the man he was and killing him in Honorable Combat had further endeared them to him.
But Aethan's relationship with her was different to her other various lovers, they shared something together unlike any other.
''They're mine…aren't they? Fiona and Isabelle? They're my daughters?'' Aethan asks her, and Annarietta takes a long sip of her wine, before releasing a short sigh.
''Yes.'' She tells him simply, there was no point in denying it, Aethan was too perceptive for that.
''Who else knows?'' Aethan asks her.
''No one. I passed them off as Raymund's offspring easily enough, you and Raymund share some similar characteristics after all.'' Anna Henrietta says.
''Let's keep it that way, but…someday tell them the truth. I've missed you Anna, but I hope you understand I won't be able to bed you again.'' Aethan tells her, and Annarietta doesn't begrudge him that, he's trying to be loyal to the woman he's about to marry. If only Raymund were as loyal, he might still be alive. Then again perhaps not, she would've ended up killing him herself eventually. Apoplexy just sped it up.
Then again, someone would've likely beat her to that as well, Raymund was loved little…by anyone, least of all his own family. His own brother after all tried to kill him several times over the years.
''Very well.'' Anna Henrietta agress. ''So long as you make an appearance at the next Grand Tourney, of course.'' Anna Henrieta adds.
''You can count on it that I'll certainly try, failing that someone will represent Cidaris. Enjoy the ceremony, Anna.'' Aethan tells her, but as a parting shot, he gently gropes her behind before departing. He did so enjoy that.
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(POV Shift: Princess Adda ''The White'' Dezmoiden of Temeria)
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Today was her day.
Adda never expected anyone of note to wish to marry her…or anyone at all really. But King Aethan…he chose her. That meant a lot to her, she wasn't as smart as most Princesses, but she was learning fast. She struggled every day, but she was learning and growing stronger by the day.
Her father seemed happy and sad at the same time. But she saw that he was happy for her and sad to see her go, she loved him for it, but this was her day.
Ever since the pact had been made, Adda had been reading up on Cidarian history, culture, traditions, and the nuances of Cidarian speech. For six months, she'd studied this in addition to her own studies, but she'd also - at the request of her father - read the various reports on Aethan. From the reports of his time at Oxenfurt to his time in Toussaint as a Grand Tourney winner, and finally the circumstances and rumours around his campaign against the Count of Ebeltoft. She wasn't sure if she liked the methods he'd used against Count Ebland, but her father said that he could not blame the then-prince for protecting his family at any cost.
So why should she hold it against the man she was about to marry if her father wasn't going to? After all, her father was allowing her to marry him, so maybe there was more to the reports than was indicated. Plus, she heard there were Witchers in the castle, eight of them! A Witcher saved her life and now because of that Witcher, she was able to marry the King. But why were there so many Witchers? She'd have to ask her husband-to-be about that eventually, but first, she had to bathe, have her hair brushed and styled, and then have the various scents applied to her.
Not to mention the dress she would be wearing.
So beautiful!
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(POV Shift: King Aethan I Jaenerys of Cidaris)
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Aethan had about three hours to kill before the ceremony began, he'd spent the first speaking and chatting with the various monarchs and high-level nobles invited. The second was currently to be spent talking with distinguished guests, but Aethan spoke to but a few before secluding himself for a short time and calling on the Witchers present to join him.
''Cat of Poviss, named for my departed teacher. I've called each of you hear because I have an offer. I wish to rebuild the Witcher Schools into one unified School whose loyalty is to the people. You'll take coin for monsters, but I'll pay you to protect the people of my Kingdom and beyond from all manner of beasts. Be it a monster or a man. I already have several of your brethren joined me, as Keldar can attest. I have a Griffin, a Cat, a Viper and a Bear. But the latter three are currently on a mission.'' Says Aethan.
''I can't speak for the other Schools, but the School of the Wolf is barely standing. We don't even have the means to create new members of our Order…not that we want too.'' Says Eskel.
''We do, the usurper might have destroyed our school, but we didn't make the habit of putting our secrets in the open. Our Keep has hundreds of secret rooms and passages.'' Says Warrit.
''Same for the Bear, Haern Caduch is buried under a lot of snow, but we still know how to make Witchers, the trouble is I don't see how much use I'd be, I have the one hand.'' Says Voren.
''I invited Elgan of Verden, a mage with the necessary skill to design you a prosthetic. Moreover, I have a Master Elven Swordsmith who will forge your swords and repair them for you. I'm working to recruit a Master Smith soon enough for armour as well. As for your diagrams, I know the locations of where to find lost diagrams, however, my first big test for you is critical. I need you to finish a job a member of the School of the Wolf left unfinished. I believe you are familiar with him Witcher Vesemir. Reinald.'' Says Aethan and Vesemir looks shocked.
''Reinald has been presumed dead for centuries.'' Says Vesemir.
''He's possessed actually, a Red Miasmal possessed him and Reinald has been keeping it at bay. Be advised you must find all of Reinald's notes in order to truly defeat the Miasmal. Before I send you on to your mission, however, I'm giving you all the locations of lost witcher diagrams, each of you will pair up and seek out the lost diagrams of your order. Oh, and Vesemir? One last thing, the father of my bride, I'd like for you to meet him, Eskel as well.'' Says Aethan.
''Why the hell should we trust you? Kings and Queens are no different than common folk. You hire us for a job, we complete it, you pay us, and for what? So you can spit on our work right after?'' Gaetan asks.
''Because I always keep my word, and because I would not be getting married today were it not for the School of the Wolf. My bride used to be a Striga.'' Says Aethan.
''How'd a wolf manage to cure a Striga? Those things are near impossible to cure on account of the complexity of the curse and the fact that no two curses resulting in a Striga are the same?'' Warritt asks.
''If you ever meet Geralt of Rivia, you can ask him.'' Coen says.
''At any rate, I've decided on who you'll pair up with. Each of you has been selected because your experiences and skillsets line up well with each other and match well with the particular series of diagrams you'll be attempting to locate. Gaetan, you'll pair with Keldar, I'm sending you after the diagrams for the School of the Bear, Voren you'll pair up with Eskel, and you two will go after the School of the Wolf Diagrams. Vesemir will be paired up with Gerring, you two will pursue the diagrams of the School of the Griffin. Coen, you and Warritt will go after the Cat School Diagrams. I'm sending a man of mine with each of you, my Intelligence Service will take care of your information and monetary needs. When Letho of Gulet, Ivo of Belhaven, and Gezras of Leyda get back I'll send Ivo and Gezras after Viper School Gear. But for the moment please enjoy the festivities, I have my swordsmith awaiting you tomorrow morning, and he'll perform whatever you need, all costs covered.'' Aethan says, and there is some grumbling as the Witchers leave, but Vesemir and Eskel stay.
''King Foltest of Temeria? What business do we have with him?'' Eskel asks.
''His daughter, Princess Adda - who will soon be my Queen - was cured by Geralt of Rivia. However, there was another matter I had to discuss with you as it directly concerns Geralt and Princess Cirilla. When you see your brother from the School of the Wolf next, tell him this… Emperor Emhyr var Emreis is Duny and I have in my Castle a Fake Ciri ready to deliver to var Emreis if need be.'' Says Aethan.
''That's essentially a death sentence if it goes wrong.'' Says Eskel.
''Unlikely. Not a lot of people are aware of the fact that Emhyr is Cirila's biological father. Hmm, speaking of which, if you ever meet the Bard Dandelion tell him that if he so much as looks at Princess Fiona or Princess Isbelle with Lust, I'll have his lute shoved so far up his arse he'll choke on the strings. At any rate, I'm not going to give fake Ciri to Emhyr for free.'' Says Aethan.
''Meaning?'' Vesemir asks.
''I could take the take her as my Concubine as my Religion permits. The problem is that Kerack and Verden lie between me and Cintra. I'd be unable to claim it even with Temerian support. But I could offer Emhyr a way to claim Cintra through this false Cirilla with the caveat that I can keep my claims on Cintra in exchange for marrying a member of his family to one of my children. Along with the promise to remain a free and independent Kingdom.'' Says Aethan.
''Why not just invade your southern neighbours? You've got the wealth and men to do it.'' Eskel asks.
''I have the men and wealth to take Kerack. But Verden? I don't have the men for a sustained occupation, and frankly, even if I did, it would boil down to whether or not the Verdenian Army fell in line. If a majority of the Generals in charge backed me? It would count for a lot if I tried to seize power in Verden. But a lot of them are hardliners loyal to King Ervyll. I suppose I could try and get to their replacements, but I just don't have the time for that and they don't command as much respect.'' Says Aethan, and it was the truth, even if he had paid off a half dozen already.
''So basically for the moment, you wish for us to greet King Foltest in lieu of Geralt.'' Vesemir surmises.
''Pretty much, yes. At any rate, I've-'' Aethan was cut off as a servant rushed to him and bent down to whisper in his ear.
''My King, the Princess of Ofir has arrived with her entourage and awaits you at your earliest convenience.'' She whispers.
''Have Cantarella meet them, have her inform them I'm currently indisposed but I would like for the Princess to join me at the High Table during the Feast. I'll meet with them when I am able to.'' Aethan instructs.
''Yes, my liege.'' The Servant says departing.
''I assume your enhanced sense picked up on that? Eh, no matter. Look just greet Foltest, mention your history and relationship to Geralt of Riv, and answer whatever questions he has. At any rate, I have a lot of people to greet…now including an Ofiri Princess it seems.'' Aethan mutters before seeing himself out.
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(POV Shift: Witcher Vesemir, Master Witcher of the School of the Wolf)
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