chapter 94 part 3
Tyrion seemed to be reminiscing, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. "When I was young, I often hid in the deep tunnels of Casterly Rock, lighting bonfires. Staring at the blazing flames, I imagined it was the fierce fire breathed by a demon dragon, and I would watch for a very long time. Occasionally, I would imagine... never quite sure if my real father was burned to death by a giant dragon, or sometimes it was my mother."
Tyrion, whose head was slightly bowed, quietly glanced up at Samwell's terrified face and couldn't help but burst into hearty laughter.
"If Glyn heard this, he would seriously advise me that action speaks louder than thought, hahaha."
Tyrion's brand of humor startled him... Samwell wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.
Tyrion laughed for a while, then his smile faded, and his voice became serious. "For me, all of that is in the past and can no longer hurt me, which is why I can now bring it up as a joke. Sam, please remember, daring to face the past and daring to choose the future, these are all powerful aids in your life."
Having spoken, Tyrion nimbly jumped off the chair, reached out and patted Samwell's... knee, humming a popular warm melody of King's Landing, and turned to leave.
Tyrion's kind words before leaving seemed to strike the deepest part of Samwell's heart, leaving him deeply stirred.
Samwell watched Tyrion's tiny figure, the candlelight stretching his shadow very long.
Samwell's gaze unfocused for a moment; he seemed to see a giant.
"..."
"..."
In the Free Cities, Pentos, the Magister's Manse.
Daenerys Targaryen's handmaiden was dead.
Magister Illyrio's maester informed Daenerys that her handmaiden was injured internally and could not be cured.
Overwhelmed with grief, Daenerys suffered nightmares for an entire night.
"You have awakened the wrath of the sleeping dragon!"
In the dream, Daenerys was completely naked. Viserys attacked her again, his face twisted as he punched and kicked her.
Daenerys was so terrified that she was helpless. She wanted to run away from Viserys, but her body wouldn't obey her commands.
Daenerys's thighs were covered in fresh blood. She was closing her eyes and moaning when she heard a ferocious roar, followed by a magnificent burst of roaring fire, as if someone was answering her.
Daenerys opened her eyes to see Viserys had vanished. Around her, huge pillars of fire rose, and in the center of the flames was a giant dragon.
The giant dragon slowly turned its head. The moment its colossal eyes, like molten lava, met Daenerys's gaze, she awoke.
When she awoke, Daenerys was trembling all over, cold sweat streaming down her.
"..."
Daenerys's cheeks, red from Viserys's blows, and her wretched appearance forced Magister Illyrio to postpone her marriage plans.
Magister Illyrio was a merchant who specialized in trading spices, gems, and dragon bones, as well as other unsavory dealings.
His network was extensive, not only spanning the nine Free Cities but reaching as far as Vaes Dothrak in the East and the legendary lands along the Jade Sea.
Rumor had it, he was happy to sell out any friend, provided the price was right.
Magister Illyrio offered, "Your Grace Viserys, your sister must at least look like a princess."
Viserys declared loudly, "She is, of course, a princess! She is the Princess of Dragonstone, a true-born princess!"
Magister Illyrio patiently explained, "Your Grace, you need an army. What you need now is Princess Daenerys, not a pitiful little girl. People are accustomed to judging the value of things by their appearance."
Viserys finally listened.
"..."
Although Viserys could not leave scars on Daenerys's body, he still had other methods.
"Break the habit of hunching your back, and hold your head high for me."
Viserys reached out and pulled Daenerys's shoulders back with a jolt, his fingers slowly gliding over her various parts.
"My sister, don't disgrace me again in the future. If you make a mistake... you wouldn't want to awaken the wrath of the sleeping dragon, would you?"
Viserys's slightly twisted smile made Daenerys tremble involuntarily.
Viserys's fingers squeezed tighter and tighter. Although Daenerys was wearing outer clothes, she still felt unbearable pain.
"Do you understand?"
"Yes... I understand..."
Viserys then showed a satisfied expression, tenderly caressing Daenerys's silver hair. "One day, when I reclaim the Iron Throne, I will not forget your contribution."
The Iron Throne... that land across the Narrow Sea, which her brother always claimed, the Westeros she had never seen, was their rightful inheritance.
Those names he uttered: Casterly Rock, the Eyrie, Highgarden, the Vale of Arryn, Dorne, etc.—to Daenerys, they were merely combinations of words.
Because of Robert's Rebellion, they were forced to flee King's Landing. Viserys was still a one-year-old boy at the time, while Daenerys was still safely in her mother's womb.
Daenerys vaguely remembered Ser Willem Darry. He was a burly, grey-bearded man. Even when he was half-blind, he could still roar angrily and give orders from his sickbed.
The servants were very afraid of Ser Willem Darry, but he was always kind and gentle to Daenerys. His hands were as soft as leather. He called her "little princess."
At that time, they lived in the House with the Red Door in Braavos. Daenerys had her own room, and outside her bedroom window, there was a lemon tree.
After Ser Willem Darry, who had been suffering from illness day and night, died, the servants stole all the remaining money, and not long after, they were driven out of that spacious red house.
When the House with the Red Door was forever closed to them, Daenerys could no longer hold back her tears.
Daenerys felt that was her home.
(end of chapter)