Istredd doesn't relax despite the fact she seems to be backing off because that can change very easily. Still, he keeps his distance. He truly doesn't want to fight, this is a huge dichotomy shift for him as well. He never thought he'd be faced with the real Cirilla.

"My entire life I have been trying to find truths in between all the lies in our history books, and this is the closest I've ever come to it. Perhaps knowledge means nothing to you, but I followed this thread because I wanted to find something real. I was not seeking anything else."

He was studying something else entirely when Geralt showed up and turned his world upside down. He never thought that he would be playing detective and learn about a princess who could use monoliths. None of this was planned.

"You're special, Cirilla. I'm no threat to you, you are far more important than I ever will be."