Bear School Astartes

Chapter 440: 440. Take Her Away

”So, in your eyes, what kind of person am I, Lann?”

Calanthe stared at the setting sun in the distance, speaking as though she were indifferent to it all.

”Your Majesty,” the young man cautiously minded his words.

”Strictly speaking, I’m not a Sintra person. I’m also not aware of what has happened on this land, so I can’t comment.”

”Ah, seems to be the case.” Calanthe suddenly recalled something.

”You Demon Hunters often add the name of a place they’ve never even visited as a prefix to their own name for the sake of giving themselves a nice title. So even if you’re called ’of Sintra,’ you’ve never actually been to Sintra.”

This was a convention of the Middle Ages; adding a place name before one’s own was often a local lord’s way of introducing themselves externally.

Introducing oneself in this format naturally exuded a noble aura, conducive to the Demon Hunters’ business in the service industry, helping them attract clients and gain trust.

If other Demon Hunters were exposed by Calanthe for this little trick regarding their names, they might feel embarrassed.

But Lann felt little about it, as during the entire process from his debut to fame, the title ’of Sintra’ hadn’t helped him at all.

He naturally didn’t care about that... he cared about another matter—

”You seem to know us very well, Your Majesty.”

Lann spoke softly, his manners impeccable, his tone gentle.

”And you don’t hide your intentions in this regard.”

”Exactly.” The queen chuckled. ”As I mentioned earlier, that Demon Hunter, Geralt of Livia. He took my granddaughter’s guardianship all in the name of destiny. Do you expect me not to investigate your group?”

”Moreover, I know you protected my granddaughter last winter in Brokilon for... a week?”

”Around that.”

”That’s not important. What’s important is when my Little Ciri returned to the palace, she still couldn’t stop talking about you.”

Calanthe emphasized the ’you’ in ’you people’ at the end of the sentence.

Lann raised an eyebrow, sensing the topic was somewhat dangerous.

”Your Majesty... Ciri is still very young. She needs proper guidance.”

”Too young?” Calanthe turned in surprise, looking up at Lann.

”She’s already ten. Women see menarche at fourteen. At that time, if all goes well, she could have a fine boy the following year and become a royal heir... and you call this too young?”

The young man pursed his lips, knowing he couldn’t enlighten the queen about health education.

Because this knowledge defied current conventions and hindered the efficient spread of royal power through bloodlines.

”...a matter of personal taste. I just can’t appreciate girls with no breasts or buttocks.”

In the end, Lann could only blurt out this sentence.

The queen laughed heartily at this.

”That’s indeed a pity, a real pity... you don’t know how many young girls in Sintra hide under their covers, their faces blushing, indulging in themselves staring at a portrait barely resembling you. But this is good news for those noble ladies.”

The Demon Hunter bit his lip, helplessly pressing his fingers against his forehead to collect himself.

”Your Majesty, enough with the teasing. You brought me so close; it’s not just to taunt me verbally, is it?”

The queen’s hearty laughter gradually quieted down, eventually falling into silence.

With the disappearance of the laughter, she even ceased her occasional push of the ground to keep the swing moving.

The quiet atmosphere allowed the sound of birds scratching on the branches to be heard.

”Can you take Ciri with you, Lann?”

For the first time, Lann detected a tremor in Calanthe’s voice.

”Even if her destined guardian isn’t you, can you take her?”

This woman, with a temperament like a lion’s and a will of steel, now wavered uncertainly.

”You want me, a completely irrelevant Demon Hunter, to take away... your granddaughter?”

Lann furrowed his brows.

”Are you mad, Calanthe.”

”Are you afraid of unforeseen circumstances, or is it because of the current international situation?”

”Perhaps...” The queen paused, shook her head, and after sighing, resumed swinging. ”Both perhaps, both.”

”At that banquet ten years ago, your colleague taught me a principle: there are forces stronger and more elusive than royal will in this world. Ha...”

”At fifteen, I led my army to victory in the Hochepuz battle, yet the cries of three thousand dead and wounded soldiers were no more important to me than a field of crops. I thought holding power meant controlling everything... until that banquet.”

The queen’s voice seemed ethereal, caught in a mist of memories.

But soon, the woman broke free from memory and regained her strong tone.

”And the international tension is a significant factor, no doubt. Sintra is becoming more dangerous. Less suitable for hosting an underage princess.”

”I can hear the Niflgaard people across the Yaruga River mobilizing troops and supplies from the royal palace in Sintra. Spies and scouts fill our taverns and inns, masquerading as merchants, sellers, even temporarily boosting our city’s economy, haha, it’s ridiculous.”

”And the many northern kingdoms?”

Calanthe’s tone overflowed with sarcasm.

”Veltrest is busy feasting on Steza’s corpse, occasionally throwing some scraps to the daughter he fathered out of chaos, satisfying her cruel possessiveness. He can eat so happily, thanks to you, Lann.”

”King Vizimir of Redania, he’s occupied with power struggles in the capital with his Mage advisor, Philippa Eilhart has him at her mercy.”

”Codwin’s Henselt is a truly ’Wild Boar King,’ hoping for him to have some broader sense is less practical than asking him to control his own baser instincts!”

”Demavi of Yaden is a good man, but his soldiers and officials are fixated only on persecuting non-humans. Finding amusement from Elves and Dwarves is far easier for them than forming military formations.”

”So yes, Lann.”

The queen spread her hands.

”The Niflgaard people can’t frighten me, but I must admit: today’s international outlook is far from optimistic.”

”But you still have your husband, King of Sintra.”

Lann crossed his arms, showing political insight that made Calanthe wary.

”East Tursek can bring you help from the Skellig Islands. The island’s pirates boast they can each face ten at once, don’t they?”

”Yes, yes... Skellig.”

The queen murmured.

”But this is why I value this task, Lann. Rumors damage deeply.”