Lann turned to Yarpen. "Yarpen, I consider you a friend, so I tell you this: if I were the king and faced a group of unknown origin, I would definitely look for ways to test them."
"I would at least let some of them die to prove their loyalty to me, and then I would accept them as my own people, understand?"
Yarpen, who led his company to travel across the continent, has a rich social experience, but his connections were mainly with low-level mercenaries and explorers. So he didn't understand much about the thoughts of nobles.
Lann knew that Yarpen Zigrin's company would be loyal to Kaedwen in the future, but in return they would receive suspicions and ridiculous evidence, which even led to Yarpen losing two team members with whom he had spent day and night.
Heroes with the honor of hunting dragons would die under the ridiculous suspicion of the king, something common in the northern kingdoms.
After hearing what Lann said, the enthusiastic dwarf leader was obviously stunned: "But I went to help them."
"I don't know if you have heard of the reputation of the King of Kaedwen, Yarpen." Lann said sincerely. "But he is a king who treats non-human races very cruelly. In a sense, the Scoia'tael is his fault. And you have no obligation to sacrifice your brothers for him."
Zoltan also intervened to persuade him. "Stupid hammerhead! I told you before, taking care of our own brothers and friends is enough, doesn't Lann understand the opinion of those kings better than you?"
Yarpen looked visibly discouraged.
At this time, because of this conversation, Lann's group had been waiting outside the palace for a long time, and Keira's figure could already be seen not far away. She had obviously come to greet them after hearing the guards' report.
Lann pretended to search his pocket for something, but actually took out two badges with the Lannister family coat of arms from his inventory.
He handed the two emblems to the two dwarf leaders respectively. "Yarpen, no matter what you choose in the end, I respect your decision. But if you encounter difficulties, you can come to Cintra to find me at any time."
"As long as you display this insignia, you can go anywhere with the Cintra flag."
After saying this, Lann smiled embarrassedly. "You also know that Cintra is still in a difficult situation recently. She may not be able to give you any great help, and she may even need your help."
"But I can guarantee you that you will receive enough respect and courtesy, and no one will be able to harm you in Cintra as long as I am alive."
Yarpen felt even more discouraged, while Zoltan glowed with excitement, as obtaining these badges meant that he could open up a new trade route, especially in a kingdom at war, there were many trade opportunities.
Then, Lann and the dwarves temporarily separated and, following Keira, Lann entered Temeria's palace.
His accompanying soldiers and attendants were all properly settled, because the king only wanted to see him.
Lann passed by a royal garden where the scent of lilacs perfumed the air. He couldn't help but feel nostalgic, as it had been a long time since he walked through a royal palace.
Keira quickly led Lann to the door of the palace audience room, he nodded his thanks and pushed the door inside.
Foltest, one of the most powerful kings in the North, was standing before the fire when Lann entered.
"Earl Lannister." He greeted softly.
"Your Majesty." Even if the king couldn't see him, Lann gave a royal salute.
The king turned around, and Lann couldn't help but sigh. The other party was really as handsome as the rumors said, no less than himself.
At this moment, there were at least ten guards staring at Lann in the room. The smile on Lann's face did not change at all.
"Sit down, Lannister." The king pointed to the chair in front of his desk.
"Don't say anything extra. I believe you are a smart person, so I treat you the same way I treat smart people."
The king's commanding eyes looked directly into Lann's lion eyes. "Let's get straight to the point, Lion of Cintra, why did you go to so much trouble to see me?"
"I went to so much trouble to see you because I noticed your attitude. I feel uneasy now, but not for Cintra, but for Temeria and the northern countries."
Lann said slowly: "Your indifferent attitude has disappointed me, but for the sake of the North, I felt I had to come see you."
Foltest laughed. "Your Cintra is about to fall, Count. Are you trying to persuade me to help in your fight? How do you plan to convince me?"
"It's not you who helps me, Your Majesty, but we help each other." Lann said slowly.
"Once Cintra falls, the last barrier preventing Nilfgaard from attacking the entire North will be gone. Cintra is defending the safety of the North with the blood of countless warriors. Do you plan to look away and let the Nilfgaardian cavalry invade us?"
The king said indifferently: "I have no intention of offending, but Cintra cannot be compared with Temeria. Nilfgaard has left you with no power to fight back, but they can't invade Temeria at all."
Lann sighed. "But as far as I know, Lyria and Rivia is also being invaded by Nilfgaard, and Kaedwen, which is separated from Nilfgaard by Redania, has been attacked by the Scoia'tael. With your wisdom, you should be able to see the connection."
"Nilfgaard's invasion has never been limited to the Iron Cavalry. They have done everything they can, even including trade and academia. I can guess that Temeria has a big problem with taxation recently."
The King of Temeria finally fell silent about the question raised by Lann.
He worked hard to make Temeria the strongest country in the North today, and he was naturally proud. But Nilfgaard's fighting methods are endless, even if there is no direct battle, it seems to have been attacked. Even if Temeria wanted to counterattack, she couldn't see the enemy.
Or in other words, those 'enemies' are his own people and nobles, and even himself.
"You make a good point. It turns out that you are smarter than I thought. I never thought that Henselt would not have as much knowledge as an earl under 20 years old."
"You exaggerate." Lann smiled modestly.
"According to what you said, I really have no reason not to help you, but as a king, I have to consider my people." Foltest said. "I can't trust you completely, so you need to provide us with a guarantee."
Lann made a gesture, indicating that he was willing to continue listening.
"Marriage is the strongest alliance." Foltest raised his chin slightly. "I only have one princess, but I have many illegitimate children. You can choose a suitable husband for your princess Cirilla. I will recognize his identity and make him a true prince that matches the identity of the young lioness of Cintra."
Letting Lann choose a husband for Ciri was a big concession in King Foltest's eyes. It meant that Lann could pick a straw bag as a puppet in the future without worrying about the power of Cintra falling into someone else's hands.
But Lann's lion eyes narrowed and glowed slightly.
…
Meanwhile, outside the audience room, Keira was stopped in her tracks again by Princess Adda. "Miss Keira, is the young lion of Cintra inside now talking to my father?"
"Yes, Princess Adda." Facing the princess, the proud Keira just nodded as a greeting.
Adda was not one to worry about such details. She looked curiously toward the audience hall, apparently reflecting on how far the king would forgive her for her reckless entry.
"Princess Adda." Keira advised. "Although Lann is only an earl, he is now the actual ruler of Cintra. What he and His Majesty discuss may change the situation in the North. It would be better not to interrupt."
Adda nodded indifferently. She wanted to say something else, but she heard her father's angry shout suddenly from the conference hall. "I thought you were a smart man, Lannister, but now it seems that you are not much better than those idiots! Then let your Cintra fend for itself. Temeria will teach the North how to deal with Nilfgaard later!"
The king's angry voice made the guards at the door tremble, and then the door opened, and Lann came out with a cold face.
Seeing Lann's face, Adda, who had been waiting outside the door, suddenly brightened up and walked up to talk: "You are Lann Lannister, the lion of Cintra, right? I heard that you are a witcher, is that true?"
Lann paused for a moment because of the sudden appearance of the girl, saw the helpless expression of Keira beside him, and turned to look at the red-haired girl who suddenly appeared in front of him.
There is no other red-haired woman who can be so rude in the Temeria Palace and shout outside the king's audience hall.
Adda, the princess of Temeria, is also the only officially recognized daughter of Foltest.
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