Guilliman's proposal met with no opposition and received strong support from Princess Adda.
The day after dealing with Philippa, he took Princess Adda's writ, along with lists and portraits written by two royal advisors, and quickly headed to the Maribor battlefield.
However, this time, he was accompanied by Triss, whose injuries had not yet fully healed.
As a royal advisor who had previously assisted Foltest in the Maribor war, Triss was unwilling to recuperate in Vizima and hoped to return to the front lines, unafraid to work even with her injuries.
Guilliman, of course, would not refuse this request. He was also too lazy to negotiate with the army, and such matters could be left to Triss, a political elite, to handle.
Marshal Natalis, an upright soldier, was surprised and shocked when he received Adda's order, but he immediately began to mobilize the army without any hesitation, preparing to act as commanded.
In just one afternoon, Temeria's army marched to another large town in Maribor.
However, what awaited them was a shocking scene.
Because Guilliman, who had set off several hours before them, had already entered the town, capturing all the nobles and rebel leaders outside the city and leisurely waiting for them.
Even the town's gates and defensive mechanisms had been destroyed by him using alchemical bombs and brute force.
When Temeria's army arrived, the entire town was already in chaos, with soldiers even fleeing and looting the townspeople amidst the disorder.
Soldiers of this era, except for the king's soldiers, were basically private soldiers hired by nobles and did not bear any national responsibilities or obligations.
Once they lost their employers and commanders, they were no different from common bandits or civilians.
Seeing this situation, Marshal Natalis no longer hesitated and immediately ordered the army to attack the town. Lacking the protection of city walls and without commanders, the disorganized rabble on the other side was no match for Temeria's army.
The battle lasted only a few hours, and the large town was occupied by the King's army, ending the fighting... By nightfall, the entire town was under the control of the King's army.
Guilliman stayed in the most luxurious inn in the city, resting with his eyes closed, digesting the souls he had absorbed over the past few days.
The night wind, carrying the lingering scent of burning from the battlefield, brushed against the windows, making a faint sound.
The last embers in the fireplace struggled to emit a dim red light, barely dispelling the chill in the room.
The door slid open silently. There were no footsteps, only a wisp of cold wind and a faint, familiar scent, a mix of herbal freshness and the smell of gunpowder, that squeezed in.
Guilliman didn't look up. Only when the crisp scent drifted closer did he open his eyes and look at the beautiful and captivating figure.
"Triss."
Triss Merigold stood at the edge of the shadows, the firelight sparingly outlining her pale profile and her famous fiery red hair.
She wasn't wearing the luxurious gown that signified her status as a high-ranking sorceress, but had changed into a very sexy purple sheer nightgown.
The hem of this nightgown was very short, barely covering the private parts of the sorceress's snow-white thighs, while the deep V-neck design of the upper body exposed Triss's full and ample chest without reservation to the witcher.
As a mature man, seeing Triss approach him dressed like this, his heart immediately sounded an alarm, and he prepared for battle.
"Guilliman."
She spoke, her voice carrying a hint of shyness, yet she tried to maintain clarity.
"Forgive my uninvited presence... at such a late hour."
Guilliman stood up, his tall figure casting a huge shadow over her in the faint firelight.
"Forgive what? You look..."
His gaze swept over her face, still a little pale from her unhealed injuries, and her captivating, delicate body that made one's mouth dry and heart burn.
"Do you need some mulled wine?"
"No," Triss's body moved a step closer, her voice dropping to an almost whisper, "I only need... you. Right now."
She took a deep breath, as if needing immense courage to utter the next words.
"That day, before you rescued me, I had already despaired."
"The torment from Philippa and Dijkstra left me physically and mentally exhausted."
"And I didn't know if His Majesty Foltest would survive, or if Temeria would have any hope of overcoming this crisis in the future."
"Until your appearance."
"You were like a hero, saving me."
"Please forgive me, I don't know how to thank you."
Guilliman watched her in silence, his face expressionless, but the line of his tightly pressed lips seemed to soften slightly.
"You are an important friend to us, Triss."
"No need for thanks, it's what I should do."
"No." Triss suddenly interrupted Guilliman, reaching out to grasp his large hand and then placing it on her chest.
"No, I must thank you."
Through a thin layer of sheer fabric, he could feel her skin trembling beneath its coolness. She didn't resist the contact; instead, like a drowning person clutching a piece of driftwood, her fingertips tightly gripped the lapel of his shirt.
"Guilliman..."
When she opened her eyes again, they were filled with tears. Her fiery red hair seemed to faintly glow with a bit of life under her strong emotions, reflecting the firelight as it danced on her cheeks.
"In this life... I owe many people many favors. But never once, like this... like a real, heavy, kindness that pulled me back from eternal darkness."
Silence fell in the room, broken only by the wind against the window and the faint crackling of the last charcoal in the fireplace.
Triss took a deep breath, as if that breath consumed all her strength.
She lifted her head, her gaze no longer simple fear or gratitude, but a desperate resolve, carrying the sorceress's unique pride that was hard to extinguish even in moments of vulnerability.
She let go of his lapel, raising both hands—not in a spell-casting gesture, but reaching for the ties of her purple nightgown.
Her movements were slow, almost ceremonious. The ties were undone, and the delicate purple sheer nightgown slipped from her smooth skin, revealing the alluring and exceptionally beautiful body beneath, which made any man drool.
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