Speak with Mercedes
Travel to the Windbluff Tower
Seek Out Mercedes
Observe the duel
Report back to Aldous
Completing this quest will remove Mercedes from the rest of the game. If you want her to become your love interest in the story, you need to max out her affinity before taking this quest from Aldous.
If you want Julien to be your love interest, you must bring a Wakestone. (See the details below)
The sidequests “Supply and Demand” and “The Conspirators” will become unavailable after completing this quest.
Talk to Mercedes inside the Demesne then travel to Windbluff Tower. Ignore the fighting soldiers and continue upstairs. Head to the marked location for a scene. Julien and Mercedes will then engage in a duel. Here, you’ll have the following choices:
1. Let the combatants duel without interruption. Mercedes will be defeated and Julien will escape.
2. Before Mercedes takes three hits or before Julien blocks, you can quickly go behind him and backstab him. Revive him using the wakeshard. This will prompt him to return to Gran Soren to turn himself in.
(If you want to make him your love interest, visit him in the dungeons of the capital. You’ll get his shield “Wizard’s Vizard”) and his affinity to you will be maxed out.
After making any of these choices, Mercedes will have to leave. Return to the capital and talk to Aldous again to complete the quest.