Corrected entry: When Geralt meets the queen lioness in the castle, stringing along the wizard, she mentions that she thought she banished him. He replies he's been away for 12 years. How would this be possible if he met the princess at the ball in earlier episodes? (00:11:00 - 00:13:40)
Correction: At the ball he met the daughter of the queen, who was of course also a princess. The ball was 12 years before and Geralt came back 12 years later to claim the grandchild of the queen, who was promised to him.
Correction: The princess he met was the daughter of Queen Calanthe (Pavetta). He accidentally staked a claim on her granddaughter (Ciri, one of the main characters and thee daughter of Pavetta) by invoking the Law of Surprise. 12 years later he returned to the kingdom to claim Ciri and take her away, which Queen Calanthe does not approve of. It seems you are getting confused between Ciri and Pavetta, but they are 2 different characters.
Correction: The earlier episodes happened in a different timeline so it's 100% correct that he had not returned.