Daenerys's heart skipped a beat the moment she saw Illyrio. Viserys had just whispered to her in the seaside pavilion, and she couldn't help but connect the two, becoming nervous.
But it was just Daenerys overthinking things.
Viserys, on the other hand, was quite composed. He was the one who spoke first upon seeing Illyrio: "It's rare to encounter the Governor in the garden. What brings you to admire the flowers and scenery?"
In front of Illyrio was a rose garden, meticulously manicured and quite elegant.
"Hehe, Your Majesty, I'll be honest, I'm not interested in these flowers and plants. I just saw other courtyards with them, so I followed suit," Illyrio said jokingly.
Viserys didn't know if Illyrio was trying to maintain his nouveau riche persona, but it didn't stop him from rambling: "There aren't many varieties as gorgeous and beautiful as these. The flowers are full, the shapes are noble, the colors are rich, and they are graceful and charming. Are these from Highgarden?"
"I can't say for sure. To be honest, Your Majesty, these were left by the original owner when I bought the courtyard." Seeing Viserys looking like he wanted to chat about the rose garden, Illyrio quickly steered the conversation toward what he wanted to say. "Actually, I was waiting for you, Your Majesty."
"Oh?"
"There's a banquet," Illyrio said. "I wonder if Your Grace would be interested in attending?"
"A banquet?" Viserys' expression suddenly became tense. "Have I been invited? Has news of my arrival in Pentos spread? Has my location been exposed? Is this the Usurper's plot?"
Illyrio watched Viserys' eyes widen dramatically, his expression grave. He tried to guess how much of this performance was genuine and how much was for show. But his words, beyond his resistance, undoubtedly questioned his discretion. Illyrio quickly explained, "No, no, Your Grace. I didn't make myself clear. The banquet doesn't invite you; it invites me. Let me explain. It's an auction banquet. Rumors say a Dragon Egg will appear at the banquet."
"A Dragon Egg?" Viserys couldn't hide his shock. "Really?"
"Rumors are just that, rumors. It's impossible to verify," Illyrio said uncertainly.
Viserys thought to himself, But?
As expected, Illyrio said, "But I thought Your Grace might be interested, so I came to ask if you would like to attend."
"Of course, I'm interested," Viserys replied. "But, Illyrio, the Usurper has a high price on my head. He's tried and tried, I can assure you. The assassins he hires are always on my heels. I am the last True Dragon Descendant, and as long as I live, he won't rest easy. We are in the shadows now, so perhaps you don't feel it, but do you know the risks if I were to appear at a banquet and the Usurper found out?"
Viserys's expression was serious, and he spoke with great solemnity.
Illyrio thought, You've been attending banquets everywhere else. Why weren't you worried then? He said, "Many dignitaries will be at the feast. The host will naturally protect his guests. Furthermore, at such auction banquets, guests can wear masks. You can wear a mask, and I will vouch for you. No one will know who you are."
"Illyrio, go yourself. If there are Dragon Eggs, it's best if you can get them. If not, it doesn't matter," Viserys replied resolutely. "Perhaps you think I'm being paranoid, but times have changed. I can no longer take risks."
Viserys's rhetoric was always full of implications, attracting the attention of those with ulterior motives, What's different now? Why can't you take risks anymore?
Having said that, Illyrio could only lower his head respectfully: "Your Grace, please forgive my lack of consideration."
"It's not your fault, Illyrio," Viserys comforted him like a monarch comforting his subject. "You don't understand the danger of the Usurper. I haven't stayed in one place for years, haven't settled down. Besides failing to find a steadfast supporter, it's to avoid the assassins. Now, finally, there's someone like you willing to help, and I... I remember I told you that what I need most right now is time. It's rare to have such a safe place now, and I don't want to give it up easily."
Viserys's attitude was very sincere.
Illyrio was forced to respond, "Your Majesty, I understand your wishes. Please forgive my abruptness."
Illyrio came suddenly and left quickly, soon departing.
Viserys's expression was as calm as ever, but he felt immense pressure inside. Facing Illyrio's relentless probing, even though he was prepared, he still couldn't handle it easily. Illyrio's actions could be considered aggressive, even willing to use something like Dragon Eggs as bait, showing a ruthless determination.
Viserys naturally believed that Illyrio was setting him up. This guy didn't make his intentions clear. The news of the Dragon Eggs was probably just bait to attract Viserys. If he went to the so-called banquet, everything he encountered would be controlled by Illyrio. Viserys lacked information and had no idea what traps Illyrio would set for him at the banquet.
At this time, Viserys had to control the pace as much as possible. Doing less meant making fewer mistakes. He adopted a posture and acted according to his own rhythm, which would make him appear confident and cause Illyrio to hesitate.
He desperately hoped for some feedback from the tests on Daenerys.
Daenerys didn't know what he was thinking at the moment. She was pondering the words he had spoken to Illyrio. Those familiar words made her momentarily associate him with his pre-trauma appearance. Thinking of how he always said the Usurper's assassins were hot on his heels, yet Daenerys hadn't seen a single assassin in all these years; thinking of the True Dragon he always mentioned and his insane craving for the throne across the sea...
She couldn't tell if his words were true or false? Were the words he said to Illyrio all lies, and could the whispers he said to her be taken seriously?
The courage she had finally mustered to stand by his side was quietly dissipating. Daenerys stared at him blankly, trying her best to keep up with his steps, wanting to maintain her courage. She tried to clear her mind of all the random thoughts and told herself again: We are family.
They walked around in the sun for several more rounds. Viserys, for some reason, kept going under the sun today, and Daenerys was dizzy from the midday heat. When Viserys suddenly suggested going back to rest, Daenerys couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
After lunch, she had walked a long way and been exposed to the harsh sun. Back in her room, sitting by the cool window, she closed her eyes and rested silently for a while. Daenerys grew drowsy and soon drifted off to sleep.
Daenerys dreamed of Viserys.
At first, in the dream, Viserys was hitting her, bullying her again. She was terrified and at a loss. She wanted to run away from him, but her body wouldn't obey. He struck her repeatedly, knocking her to the ground. She was covered in blood, moaning with her eyes closed.
Suddenly, there was a thunderous roar like an explosion, followed by a terrifying flash of lightning. Opening her eyes, she saw that Viserys was no longer hitting her. He smiled at her first, then didn't look at her again, striding away into the distance. His face was full of confidence, his steps firm, without looking back, growing farther and farther away from her. She suddenly felt abandoned and desperately wanted to catch up to the departing figure. But her feet were heavy, unable to move even an inch. She looked down. There was another Viserys, his face contorted with a vicious expression, clawing at her bloodied legs, his nails digging into her skin, as if trying to drag her into a bottomless, dark abyss. She looked up in astonishment, but the Viserys who had departed was already gone.
The horizon was a vast, endless dark curtain.
That pitch-black darkness stood between heaven and earth, dominating everything in her field of vision.
Her senses fell into a peculiar state at that moment, as if she were not herself. Unprecedented panic surged from the depths of her heart.
Leave, leave quickly.
She heard a voice calling out. Searching for the source, she realized it was her own throat that was moving.
Then Daenerys woke up, shivering and drenched in cold sweat. The lingering echoes of the dream, urging her to leave, still seemed to resonate in her mind.
"What is it? Did you have a nightmare?"
At that moment, she heard Viserys's voice beside her.
Daenerys was startled.
Looking up, she saw Viserys sitting across from her in the tea seat by the window, observing her as if in judgment. Sunlight streamed from behind him, casting shadows over his face.
The lingering echoes in Daenerys's mind gradually faded, as if they were a hallucination. Viserys's concerned greeting reached her ears: "Daenerys, you look terrible. Are you alright?"
Hearing his concerned greeting, Daenerys's agitated heart quickly calmed, and the fear brought by the nightmare seemed to be peeled away.
"It was a nightmare," she said. She quickly recalled Viserys's whispered words in the seaside pavilion earlier that day. If you feel anything unusual or dream of anything, remember it, and tell me discreetly when you have the chance. Not long after he'd said those words, she'd had an unusual dream. A certain inquisitive curiosity and unease made Daenerys eager to get some answers; she didn't even know what the question was, but she needed an answer. Her voice lowered, and she spoke in a whisper. "I dreamt..."
But when the words reached her lips, Daenerys didn't know how to say them. She felt that the part of her dream about Viserys would definitely anger him. Would she awaken his "Sleeping Dragon's Fury"?
The sudden change in the past twenty-odd days was too short compared to the years of fear that had shadowed her. Her courage could only carry her this far.
Viserys saw Daenerys' hesitant expression, and calmly approached her. His hands naturally reached out to gently hold hers, a warm smile spread across his face, and he said to her as if to comfort her, "I guess you dreamed about me?"
"..." Daenerys lowered her eyes nervously, unable to meet his gaze.
"Did I hit you in your dream?" Viserys asked gently. He waited for a moment, and seeing that Daenerys didn't know how to answer, he followed up with a full of apology, "I'm sorry."
"..." Daenerys was at a loss.
"That's all in the past," Viserys' grip on her hand tightened, "I promise you, Daenerys, that will never happen again. We are family, the only family we have in this world."
Viserys guided Daenerys' hand slowly from the table to in front of him. He leaned closer, as if he wanted to press himself against Daenerys, and whispered softly in her ear, "I know you have countless questions, but believe me. Everything I do is for our brighter future."
The warm breath that Viserys exhaled made Daenerys' ears turn red. She held her breath for a moment, having no idea what would happen next, nor was she prepared. The story of Aegon the Conqueror and his sister-wives suddenly popped into her mind.
Before she could figure out why she'd suddenly thought of these things, she felt a sudden sting, as if a mosquito had bitten her, from Viserys's tightly clasped hand.
This broke Daenerys's train of thought.
Soon, Daenerys realized Viserys was just gently embracing her as a comfort. He'd grabbed her hand and secretly pricked her fingertip with a pin, drawing a drop of blood.
"Don't be afraid, Daenerys." Viserys's voice grew louder, his tone gentle, as if comforting her. "Don't be afraid."
Daenerys's face was pressed against Viserys's chest. She couldn't see his expression, only feel one of his hands, which had been holding hers, move from her hand to her head, as if affectionately embracing her head.
But Daenerys knew very well that Viserys was putting the blood he'd scraped from her finger into his mouth.
Daenerys heard a thumping heartbeat, and for a moment, couldn't tell if it was her own or Viserys's.
This embrace, which had another purpose, lasted for a while. Only after the heartbeat in her ear had completely calmed down, and after she was at a loss as to what she should do, did Viserys's voice come from above her head: "Are you feeling better?"
They finished embracing, and Daenerys finally had space to look up at Viserys's face. She saw him looking at her with concern.
"Much better." She couldn't say anything else.
Until nightfall, Daenerys couldn't escape the confused thoughts of gain and loss, of uncertainty. She already knew that what Viserys said out loud was half-true, and mostly not from the heart, but what he whispered to her, was that true?
She didn't know, and didn't want to think about it.
We are family. Before bed, Daenerys said to herself again. We are the only family we have in this world.
When she didn't know when she fell asleep, the dream she had in the afternoon continued.
Only this time, both Viserys's were gone. She was alone in a void, with an endless dark curtain across the sky.
At one moment, she felt herself in different positions simultaneously. Half of her was inside the dark curtain, purple dust pouring out of her body, swallowed by the ethereal, profound dark vortex, and finally, like specks of starlight, gradually dissipating in the dark curtain. The other half of her was outside the dark curtain, watching the specks of starlight-like purple dust gradually dissipate in the dark abyss.
As the purple dust was stripped away, the half within the dark curtain gradually became imperceptible, like an illusion. Her body felt faintly hot, and she lowered her head and saw sparks scattered on her. She felt that the places with sparks were radiating a hot breath, but it didn't make her feel any pain; instead, there was a comfortable feeling, like washing her body with hot water.
In a daze, she could feel the warm blood flowing through her skin.
She felt this warmth, like a mother's embrace, though she never knew what that felt like.
....
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