"In the past twenty-odd days, they haven't mentioned leaving the courtyard, not even once?"
Illyrio, his portly frame settled in the master seat of the study, finally posed the question after listening to the reports from his steward and Annie.
"Yes, Master," the steward replied earnestly.
"You used the word 'pattern' just now when describing your observations. Explain what you mean by that," Illyrio inquired.
"Certainly. He sleeps in bed until noon each day. Before his sister fully recovers, after lunch, he would casually grab a book from the cabinet in the living room. First, he would go to his sister's room to tell her a story. Usually, he would leave after finishing one story. Then, he would walk around the courtyard with the book, circling it until sunset. After his sister's legs healed, he would take her with him to stroll in the courtyard after lunch, still reading while walking, occasionally commenting on the garden's scenery. Sometimes he would tell his sister the stories from the book, and sometimes he would let her read it herself. After dinner, he would shut himself in his room to practice swordsmanship, often for several hours. This routine continues daily, without fail."
Illyrio pondered, then asked, "Hmm, what do you think he's doing all this for?"
"I don't know about the rest, but based on his actions, reading is just a cover for his training. He is training himself, and he is very effective," the steward replied. "His behavior can be considered arduous training, like a soldier. He seems to be strolling in the courtyard during the day, but in reality, he is constantly walking, rarely sitting to rest, even wearing out a pair of new shoes. At night, he practices swordsmanship diligently. He has almost become a different person in these past few days; he has gained weight, his steps are steady, and his back is straight. He looks even more like a noble than when he first arrived."
Illyrio said instinctively, "You mean he's quietly training himself to be a king?"
"That's right," the steward replied, head bowed. "That's what I believe."
Illyrio was silent for a moment, then turned to Annie, who was standing guard nearby. "What do you think?"
"I have the same feeling," Annie replied. "He's almost unrecognizable from when he first arrived. If I were to meet him for the first time now, and the master told me he was a noble, I wouldn't doubt it."
Illyrio's expression didn't change, but he asked in a low voice, "Besides that, what other observations have you made?"
The steward answered, "He burned his Dragonbone Necklace with fire one night, turning the silver chain black, but he still keeps it tied to his hand. Other than that, there's nothing more to say. That's all from Viserys' side."
Illyrio was silent for a moment after hearing this, as if digesting the information. After a while, he asked, "And the girl?"
Annie replied, "That girl is very tight-lipped. She relies heavily on her brother, and sticks close to him every day. She's timid, suspicious, and has no personality of her own, letting him control her. She's wary of me. She doesn't ask me for information, nor does she answer my casual questions. She responds to all my kindness with silence, and though she shows interest in what I say, she never asks questions. Sometimes she follows behind Viserys, and when Viserys tells her not to speak, she doesn't utter a single word all day."
Illyrio said, "Viserys is wary of us. He doesn't fully trust me, and of course, he wouldn't trust you."
"But it's not like we haven't noticed anything," Annie said. "That girl isn't afraid of heat. Once, the bathwater was fresh from the kitchen, boiling hot. The girl didn't wait for the old woman to add cold water; she just got right in. The water was scalding, but she didn't make a sound or show any discomfort. I secretly had Viserys try the hot water a few times to see if he'd react the same way, but he always insisted on having it cooled down."
Illyrio's expression shifted at the news. He looked thoughtful, but no one knew what he was thinking. Finally, he simply said vaguely, "Perhaps there is something special about the Targaryens."
"Governor Illyrio, you're finally back!"
Viserys's joyous voice echoed from the dining room door before he even appeared.
The tone suggested he had been waiting for Illyrio for a long time, which left Illyrio momentarily speechless, causing him to abandon his prepared opening remarks.
Illyrio looked up and saw Viserys enter the dining room first, followed by the butler he had sent to guide him, and then Daenerys.
Viserys had an eager smile on his face. He strode forward, trying to maintain an air of authority while struggling to contain his excitement. He quickly approached Illyrio, and with an effort to restrain his excitement, he laughed and said, "Governor Illyrio, what did your trip to Westeros yield? Tell me everything!"
At this point, Illyrio finally understood what the steward and Annie meant when they said Viserys had changed.
Recalling his first meeting with the king, Illyrio thought he truly deserved the title "Beggar King." He was dressed in filthy, tattered finery, with a gloomy expression, a sallow and gaunt face, a thin, tall frame, and a somewhat hunched posture. His unkempt hair was a mess, and he seemed a little neurotic. When speaking to others, his hands were restless and trembled slightly, yet he tried hard to control it. When excited, his voice would become high-pitched, and his pale, violet eyes held a look of fanaticism.
But now, after only twenty-odd days. The king's appearance had changed drastically. His pale face now had color, his features were clean, and the hollows of his cheeks were visibly filling out. His long hair was combed to a shine like molten silver. Although still thin, his upright posture could now fill out his clothes. Illyrio had no doubt that, with his healthy and handsome appearance, Viserys could attract many young ladies at a noble banquet. The only things that hadn't changed much were the excitement and fanaticism in his purple eyes, hinting at the madness hidden beneath the surface.
He is indeed training himself to be a king, at least physically.
Illyrio had made many calculations before returning. He guessed that the king's collaboration with the Dornish people would be nothing more than a marriage alliance. Princess Arianne Martell of Dorne was still unmarried. Prince Doran always presented her with elderly suitors when considering marriage, and there were also suitable candidates who sought to marry the princess, but Prince Doran had turned them all down. Now, he realized that the Dornish people had already betrothed the princess to Viserys, waiting for him to return to Westeros and help him reclaim the Iron Throne.
Seeing Viserys now, Illyrio was even more convinced that the Dornish and Viserys had communicated secretly where Varys couldn't see—even though Varys was still ambiguous about the matter. They had searched through the Little Birds' reports from recent years, but still didn't know when the two sides had secretly colluded.
But Viserys was now in Illyrio's hands, and he had to quickly probe the king's true plans to plan the next steps.
With this in mind, Illyrio bowed slightly, "Your Grace, please be seated first."
What Illyrio didn't know was that Viserys, even before hearing Illyrio's usual "Your Grace," was filled with excitement. Inside, however, he was feeling rather guilty. He'd been so busy putting on a happy face when he woke up that morning and heard his butler say, "The master is waiting in the dining room," that he hadn't even listened to what the butler said afterward.
....
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