Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
At Mère-Lachaiselongue Cemetery, inside Regis's Alchemy Laboratory.
Deep underground, it was difficult to distinguish day from night. After waking, Victor casually browsed through the bookshelves until he noticed a notebook lying on the table. He opened it and began reading the latest entry, "Final Thoughts Before Sleep."
...
The last thoughts in my mind before I fall asleep...
If death did not exist, would life still exist?
Hatred is a fascinating emotion. I have noticed that once hatred takes root in a person's heart, they will do everything in their power to make themselves stronger.
Sometimes I truly wish I could stop thinking.
If we created a god for ourselves, as humans do, what would it be like?
People constantly justify their evil deeds by insisting that their intentions are good. I can think of nothing more foolish in this world.
I would like to drink freshly squeezed infant blood. I know I must not, but I dearly wish that velvety texture could lull me to sleep.
I try very hard to live like a human. This means I feel uncomfortable among both humans and my own kind. Perhaps I have made a terrible mistake.
What I have wanted to write all along is this: I am so tired. To hell with everything.
Humans rarely think about the present. Usually, they are remembering the past or worrying about the future.
I have a premonition that my friend Dettlaff will die. It makes me very sad.
...
From the notebook, Victor could sense Regis's confusion over his identity and his moral uncertainty.
And that final sorrow was remarkably human.
"Reading another person's diary without permission is exceedingly impolite."
The herbalist's gentle voice came from behind him.
Victor snapped the notebook shut.
"Sorry. I just never expected you to have enough leisure to keep a diary."
"Recording history is an instinct of intelligent beings. Come along. The Resonance potion is finished."
The higher vampire turned and walked out of the room.
Victor yawned and leisurely followed.
...
For the moment, the scene shifted away from the underground laboratory and returned to Beauclair Palace, to the white stone viewing terrace.
The ruler of the Duchy of Toussaint, accompanied by nobles, knights, and ladies-in-waiting, was receiving a sorceress.
"Lady Yennefer, today marks the third day since we last met. May I know what you have been doing during that time?"
"Your Grace, Her Enlightened Ladyship, since you specifically summoned me here, I imagine someone has already reported my every movement over the past three days to you in considerable detail.
"Yes, I have been carefully verifying all available information concerning the Beast and attempting to identify the person manipulating events from behind the scenes."
Anna Henrietta's delicate nostrils flared slightly in confusion.
"There is someone manipulating the Beast from behind the scenes? I was under the impression you had spent the past few days harassing my knights, leaving them hopelessly infatuated with you, and verbally interrogating and tormenting my poor Vivienne. She's still just a young girl dreaming of romance!"
"Your Enlightened Ladyship, forgive my candor, but although you have many people under your command, very few are capable of easing your burden when it comes to the Beast.
"And what I am about to tell you concerns secrets pertaining directly to Your Grace. I would prefer to report them in private."
Yennefer of Vengerberg stood there in her sharp black-and-white trouser suit, composed and capable, her confident attitude accompanied by an almost weaponized arrogance.
Anna Henrietta waved a hand and ordered the others to withdraw.
Only Chamberlain Sebastian Le Goff and Captain Damien remained on the terrace.
"As you wish, sorceress. I hope your report proves satisfactory."
Yennefer calmly gathered back a few strands of her black curls.
"As I said three days ago, nearly everyone investigating this affair is an idiot. Only one individual has displayed slightly less stupidity than the others, the witcher Victor.
"He clearly identified the proper direction of the investigation. Every victim in the Five Virtues Murders was chosen deliberately. None of them were random.
"Monsters do not make such carefully considered choices. Therefore, the selection of victims must reflect a human consciousness.
"So long as we can discover the connection linking the three victims, we can uncover clues leading to the Beast.
"Which is why I find it astonishing that, even after three entire days, none of your knights has managed to identify what the victims had in common!"
Damien de la Tour's face flushed red with anger.
"Stop with the pointless sarcasm and continue," the duchess said flatly.
"Yes, Your Grace.
"Over the past three days, I have spoken with a great many knights of the duchy. During what you just described as my process of seducing them, I unexpectedly discovered that fifteen years ago, these three knights participated in the same assignment..."
Asking Yennefer not to be sarcastic was practically more difficult than climbing to the heavens.
Chamberlain Sebastian was just about to reprimand her when two words instantly extinguished his anger and left him speechless.
"Sylvia Anna."
The ruler's fists tightened as well, her sharp gaze locking onto the sorceress.
"Continue!"
"Count Crespi, Ramon du Lac, Count de la Croix, and Milton de Peyrac-Peyran.
"Fifteen years ago, acting on the orders of the previous ducal couple, they exiled your elder sister, Sylvia Anna.
"Unfortunately, according to the official record, when they approached the duchy's border, Sylvia suddenly went mad and fled into the forest. She was never seen again.
"A ten-year-old girl ran madly into the woods, and yet among the four brave knights present, not a single one managed to protect her.
"What a regrettable accident."
Anna Henrietta's entire body began to tremble, her teeth clenched tightly.
"So what are you implying?"
"I suspect that something unpleasant occurred during the journey into exile.
"And I believe the person orchestrating the Five Virtues Murders is Sylvia Anna herself.
"She intends to use these killings to utterly humiliate and pass judgment upon the disgraces hiding among Toussaint's knights."
"No. I don't believe you. Syanna would never be so cruel."
"I have discovered something even more interesting.
"As far as I know, Milton de Peyrac-Peyran is currently carrying out a mission abroad. At the latest, he will return before next month's knightly tournament, where he is scheduled to play the Hare during the festivities.
"If he were unfortunately murdered at that time, the contrast between a cowardly hare and a valorous knight would make for a rather interesting comparison..."
Anna Henrietta raised a hand, cutting the sorceress off.
She walked over to the railing, covered her face with both hands, and began sobbing quietly.
The other three remained silent.
After a while, Anna Henrietta turned around.
"Yennefer, find my sister. I want her alive and well.
"She must have suffered terribly out there all these years.
"She is my sister, my last remaining family. I want her brought home.
"That is an order from the Duchess of Toussaint."
"I will do everything I can."
The sorceress smiled, bowed, and withdrew.
Anna Henrietta remained standing on the terrace, reflecting on their conversation.
Several minutes later, she suddenly tore a bracelet from her wrist in fury and hurled it hard against the floor.
Damien immediately bent down and picked it up.
"Your Grace, there is no need to become angry because of that sorceress. They're all ill-mannered whores with no concept of courtesy."
"It's not the sorceress!"
The duchess's chest rose and fell sharply with anger.
"It's our witcher, Viscount Corion!
"He obviously knew all of this before I did. Otherwise, how could he have told you three days ago with such certainty that the Valor murder would occur next month?
"That damned bastard must have known all of this was connected to my sister, and yet he said nothing to me!?"
"Your Grace, I cannot speculate about Victor's intentions. Perhaps he wasn't certain either, or perhaps he had other considerations.
"Regardless, I will send people to locate him as quickly as possible."
Trying to calm the duchess's anger, the captain of the guard hastily reassured her and made his promise.
"Listen carefully, Damien. I want you to investigate this thoroughly.
"Find out exactly how many other things that witcher is hiding from us."
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