He chose a relatively compliant path, handing the meticulously gathered evidence over to the Brotherhood of Sorcerers.
Then, formal charges were filed against Alexandra for her crimes, demanding the Brotherhood judge and punish her.
Whether this sorceress would slip through the cracks of procedural justice remained unknown.
The bloody purge ended at dawn on the third day.
The scent of blood that still lingered in the air was replaced by a new atmosphere, one of tension and anticipation.
......
Within the palace, Foltest convened a great royal council.
Almost all the powerful figures of Vizima—counts, generals, priests, and Mayor Velerad—were in attendance.
Everyone knew this was both a celebratory banquet
and a declaration of the new power structure, as well as a warning to all potential dissenters.
In the council chamber, the atmosphere was solemn and oppressive.
Foltest sat upright on the throne; though his face still showed signs of fatigue,
his eyes were sharp as an eagle's, scanning the silent nobles below.
He didn't dwell much on the bloody storm of the past two days, instead turning his attention directly to the hero who had saved the princess.
First to be rewarded was Geralt. The king, in his name, praised the Witcher's skill and the important role he had played in the operation.
As a reward, he increased the promised sum of 500 Orens to 800 Orens.
This move not only affirmed Geralt's merit but also implied a small compensation for the previous misunderstanding and detention.
On the attendant's tray lay a heavy pouch of Orens, the gleam of gold coins flickering in the dome's light.
Geralt stepped forward expressionlessly, gave a brief salute, and took the money pouch.
His demeanor remained indifferent and detached, as if this immense wealth and the envious eyes around him were of no concern.
He understood perfectly that today, he was not the true protagonist.
Immediately after, the audience's focus shifted to Karl.
Foltest's voice became noticeably more solemn and filled with emotion: "Next, we wish to praise the greatest contributor to this operation."
"With unparalleled courage, wisdom, and strength, the true hero who brought my daughter back from the abyss of curses—Karl El!"
Under everyone's watchful eyes, two strong servants carried a child-sized oak box to the center of the hall and lifted the lid for all to see.
In an instant, the entire hall seemed illuminated by a golden light; the box was piled high with brand new Orens.
They shone brightly in the light, radiating a captivating allure.
Uncontrollable exclamations and sharp intakes of breath arose from the crowd.
In the eyes of many nobles, there was clear desire and envy.
Foltest said in a deep voice: "In this box is your reward for successfully lifting the curse, doubled as a reward for finding key clues to the true culprit—a total of four thousand Orens."
Hearing this, the nobles secretly swallowed their saliva.
This huge sum of up to 4,000 Orens was enough for any middle-class family to live comfortably for many years.
This generosity undoubtedly proclaimed to all Karl's nearly indispensable position in the king's heart.
However, this astonishing wealth was not the climax of the day.
Foltest slowly rose from his throne and signaled an attendant to present a parchment scroll, tied with purple ribbon and bearing a large royal wax seal.
He walked step by step towards Karl, document in hand, and the entire hall fell silent.
"Karl El."
"Your bravery has not only saved my family but also preserved the dignity of the Temerian royal family."
"However, heroes should not be bound by their origins."
"After investigation and confirmation by the royal family, you... Karl El, are the son of the loyal Baron Raymond El!"
Foltest's voice was loud and clear, echoing through the silent hall.
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall suddenly buzzed with uncontrollable whispers of surprise.
The ministers exchanged glances; some had guessed that Karl might not be of high birth, but none had expected him to be the bastard son of an unremarkable baron.
But the surprise quickly turned to greater anticipation, for they knew the main event was approaching.
Foltest continued, his tone extremely solemn: "Today, I, Foltest, solemnly declare in the name and authority of the king..."
"I pardon all... the legal and worldly obstacles stemming from your birth!"
"I recognize the union between your father, Raymond El, and your mother, Alyssa El, as a legitimate and sacred marriage!"
Immediately, he personally handed the heavy legitimization document to Karl.
The document not only clearly proclaimed the legalization of Karl's status,
but also detailed that he would fully inherit all the titles, honors, and fiefdoms of his father, Raymond.
At the end of the text, the effective date, location, and the bright red, dazzling lily heraldic seal, symbolizing Temeria's supreme authority, were clearly inscribed.
"From this day forward, Karl El is no longer a bastard son, but the legitimate and honorable heir to the barony of the Kingdom of Temeria!"
"His honor and rights are protected by the laws of the kingdom and by my sword!"
Foltest's gaze swept over the ministers in the hall with undeniable authority.
First, there was silence in the hall, then it erupted into warm applause and congratulations, perhaps mixed with some forced enthusiasm.
The ministers whispered among themselves, all lamenting the king's extreme importance to this upstart.
Such public confirmation and granting of full inheritance rights were extremely rare in recent years.
It meant that a new noble family, having won the king's favor, had officially entered Temeria's political arena.
Karl took the documents, felt the weight of the parchment and the slight warmth of the wax seal, and bowed deeply to Foltest.
For him, this document held no significant meaning.
But for Raymond, it was more than just a legal document.
It reflected that the El family finally had a legitimate heir, and that his relationship with Alyssa was recognized.
Up to this point, Karl had fulfilled his wish to come to Vizima to participate in the martial arts tournament and had successfully achieved it.
Next, he needed to consider when to go to the Temple of Melitele in Ellander to obtain the blessing from Nenneke.
And... it was time to put taking courses at Ban Ard Academy on his agenda.
The bustle of the royal council finally subsided, and the magnificent hall gradually emptied.
Karl carefully put away the legitimization document and left the palace with Geralt.
The afternoon sun warmed his face, but it couldn't dispel the tension of the past few days or the complex emotions swirling in his heart at this moment.
The corridor was relatively quiet. Geralt stopped, his cat-like eyes looking at Karl with a rare, almost imperceptible hint of emotion: "Your Excellency, the Baron Heir, how does it feel?"