The following day, at Vizima Palace, Wayne, under Triss's guidance, met King Foltest of Temeria. The king, a handsome middle-aged noble, was adorned in rich attire but bore a somber expression. Flanked by two armed guards and several chamberlains, he greeted Wayne in a private chamber of the castle. Ignoring the protests of his attendants, Foltest dismissed everyone except Wayne, leaving them alone by the fireplace.
"Are you Wayne the Witcher?" the king's voice rasped, low and heavy. The loss of his wife and daughter had left deep wounds in his heart. Now, the daughter he believed dead had returned as a bloodthirsty monster, a looming threat to the old city of Vizima. Even the construction of a new city and the relocation of the palace were tied to this tragedy.
The matter of his daughter's curse remained a heavy burden on the king's soul. Despite opposition from his subjects, Foltest was resolute in his determination to save her.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I hail from Kaer Morhen, a witcher of the Wolf School." Wayne's polite smile and calm demeanor made it seem as if he were addressing a commoner, not a king. This surprised Foltest, but also instilled a degree of confidence in him. Someone so composed in the presence of royalty must possess some skill.
"I'm unfamiliar with the Wolf School," Foltest admitted, "but I've heard tales of witchers since childhood. Unlike those prejudiced and narrow-minded fools, I know you are experts in dealing with monsters, experienced and ruthless."
"But I believe Counselor Triss has informed you of the delicate nature of this situation, and you understand who you'll be dealing with." Foltest's expression hardened as he met Wayne's gaze. "I want you to tell me, how confident are you in lifting the Striga's curse?"
Wayne, sensing the king's seriousness, dropped his smile and replied in kind. "If I were acting alone, my confidence would be around sixty percent. However, with Your Majesty's support and the freedom to make certain arrangements, I believe my chances of success would increase to ninety percent."
"But rest assured, Your Majesty," Wayne added, "even if I fail to lift the curse, I will not harm the Striga. My goal is to contain her, preventing further chaos and bloodshed in Vizima."
Foltest fell silent for a moment. Wayne's answer exceeded his expectations. Whether it was lifting the curse or merely containing the Striga, both outcomes were acceptable to him.
King Foltest, however, was not a naive ruler easily fooled. He was well aware of the numerous nobles within Temeria who eagerly awaited his missteps, hoping to weaken the monarchy and seize power for themselves. Even the sorceresses were more loyal to the Brotherhood than to him. Therefore, Foltest didn't fully trust Triss and her companions.
After a long pause, the king stated his own condition: "I want to witness the entire process of lifting the curse, to see my daughter transformed back into a human."
Wayne couldn't agree to this. Not only would it expose his abilities and secrets, but the king's presence would be a liability. If Foltest were endangered, it would be disastrous for everyone involved.
He shook his head firmly. "That's impossible, Your Majesty. While I'm confident in handling the Striga alone, your presence would be a distraction. It could lead to unforeseen complications, potentially forcing me to kill your daughter."
Seeing Foltest's silence, Wayne continued, "I propose an alternative. While I lift the curse, you and Lady Triss can wait outside the tomb. Though I wouldn't recommend seeing the Striga before the curse is lifted, I can arrange it if you insist."
The two men locked eyes for a tense minute or two. Realizing Wayne wouldn't budge, Foltest sighed and turned towards the fireplace, his gaze distant. After a moment, he asked in a somber tone,
"Wayne," Foltest began, his voice heavy with sorrow, "you witchers are experts on monsters. You understand the Striga's curse far better than ordinary folk."
"Many say my child was stillborn and transformed into a monster because of my relationship with my sister, Adda. Is it true? Was she cursed because of what we did?"
Wayne paused, considering his response. Having read the books and played the games, he knew more about this situation than the king himself. He shook his head.
"Your Majesty, the Striga's existence stems from a curse, a powerful grudge. This wasn't a natural curse; someone deliberately used a malicious ritual to afflict your daughter."
"What transpired between you and your sister was not evil, nor was it a transgression against love. There is a true culprit in this matter. He killed your daughter and cursed her into a monster."
Foltest was stunned, then rage ignited in his eyes. He had always blamed himself for his daughter's fate, never suspecting there might be another responsible party. The thought of his daughter being murdered and cursed filled him with a burning fury.
He gritted his teeth, fixing Wayne with a fierce stare. "Is what you say true, witcher?"
"Are you certain my daughter was not stillborn, but cursed to death?"
Wayne's expression remained steady. He nodded firmly. "Yes, Your Majesty. And the perpetrator must have intimate knowledge of the palace and its affairs. They wouldn't have had the opportunity otherwise."
He paused, then added calmly, "There's no need to be overly anxious, Your Majesty. Their involvement in this Striga incident should have led to its current state. If the court becomes aware of a witcher confident in lifting the curse, this murderer may very well reveal themselves to prevent me from succeeding. When that happens, I'll be able to identify them and resolve this matter once and for all."
Though filled with rage, Foltest remained composed as he listened to Wayne's reasoning. He tapped his fingers on the armrest of his chair, lost in thought. After a moment, he looked at Wayne with a solemn expression.
"Your news has shocked me, witcher," he said. "While I can't fully trust you yet, I am willing to try your method."
"If you can restore my daughter to her human form and help me apprehend the murderer," he continued, his voice unwavering, "I, as a father and a husband, will owe you a debt. You will be handsomely rewarded. If you wish for nobility and a fiefdom, I can grant you that as well."
Wayne left the chamber, and Triss, who had been waiting in the corridor with several ministers, immediately approached him, eager to speak.
Wayne gave Triss a subtle shake of his head, then whispered in her ear that they would discuss the details later that night. He then departed Vizima Palace.
The method to lift the Striga's curse was largely the same as he remembered from the books and games. The Striga needed to be lured away from her coffin and kept out until dawn. To accomplish this, Wayne would need to make some preparations beforehand.