Essos, Vaes Dothrak, Governor's Mansion.
Lord Green sat on the ground with his long legs stretched out, his back leaning against the side of the bathtub.
Splash, splash.
Behind him, Daenerys was in the bathtub, with her two handmaidens scrubbing her body.
In front of him, three small dragons seemed to be asleep.
Lord Green had a faint smile on his face, but his mind was racing. His eyes flickered as he looked at the three small dragons, who currently appeared well-behaved.
Lord Green's brown eyes trembled slightly... Should he keep them or not?
Lord Green's thumb and forefinger slowly approached each other, then suddenly paused. He turned his head to look behind him, and his gaze met Daenerys'.
Daenerys' eyes were filled with undisguised affection. Her voice was very soft, as if she was worried about something.
"Lord Green, this isn't a dream... is it?"
Daenerys' small, dark hand gripped Lord Green's clothing tightly; this was one of the main reasons he was sitting there at that moment.
Lord Green's fingers moved, and then... his hand gently covered Daenerys' hand.
He smiled, his eyes crinkling: "I am here, my princess."
The corners of Daenerys' eyes reddened slightly. She slid over and wrapped her arms around Lord Green.
After looking at each other for a while, she murmured, "This isn't a dream. Respond to me."
"Princess Daenerys..."
She softly interrupted, "Call me Daenerys."
They pressed close together, and the low giggles of the handmaidens reached their ears.
Daenerys felt Lord Green's warmth and breath, her consciousness gradually blurring as sleepiness swept over her like a wave... She finally let go of her "struggle" with relief, allowing sleep to carry her into sweet dreams.
Their lips parted. Looking at Daenerys, who was now sound asleep, Lord Green couldn't help but show a gentle smile.
Splash, splash... A wet Daenerys was carried out of the bathtub by Lord Green.
After a pause, Lord Green lowered himself again, signaling to Daenerys' handmaidens with his eyes that one of the princess's hands still needed... a wash.
The two handmaidens were well-trained; one washed and scrubbed, the other wiped with a dried towel. Soon, Lord Green stood straight again... Lord Green took Daenerys to the bedchamber. When he returned to the washroom, a greatsword of ice appeared in his hand.
Closing the door, Lord Green "dragged" the ice sword and walked slowly towards the quiet three small dragons. The tip of the ice sword made a harsh scraping sound on the hard stone floor.
The noise Lord Green made woke the three small dragons. They all hissed and occasionally puffed out small black smoke.
Lord Green sat in front of the three small dragons, the ice sword upright. The ripples deep within its blade were faintly visible; it was still as sharp as when it was first forged.
With the ice sword laid diagonally, Lord Green took out a rough whetstone.
Zzz~ zzz~ zzz~ zzz~ zzz~ zzz~ zzz~
The crisp, pleasant sound of sharpening gradually lowered the dragons' hissing.
Chirp~ chirp~ chirp~ chirp~ chirp~ chirp~ chirp~
The current Daenerys was not the one who had grown through many painful experiences. Because of his intervention, she was still just an exiled princess who had just found her strength and lost her family. But... could Lord Green, whose goal was the Iron Throne, trust her?
Daenerys loved him, but what was love? Was love a special physiological reaction? Lord Green, a transmigrator and power player, tried to explain it with memories from his previous life, but... he couldn't find a precise answer at the moment.
Swish~ swish~ swish~ swish~ swish~ swish~ swish~
Compared to those who harbored goodwill towards him, Lord Green sometimes preferred to face those who harbored ill will, because it wouldn't affect the speed at which he drew his sword.
Perhaps, it needed some time, not for others, but for himself.
Hiss~ hiss~ hiss~ hiss~ hiss~ hiss~ hiss~
The crisp, pleasant sound of sharpening seemed to help the three small dragons one by one find their inner peace.
Lord Green nodded secretly. Beautiful music indeed helped deepen affection between them.
Today's music lesson ends here.
Lord Green rose from his chair. He was very patient, for he knew that "fatherly love" needed to be cultivated, starting from a young age... The next day, in the afternoon.
Daenerys, still sleepy, looked at Lord Green sitting by the bed.
Lord Green closed the book, which contained Valyrian legends, and smiled, saying, "Daenerys, are you awake?"
Daenerys stared at Lord Green, silently nodding her chin.
Seeing Daenerys staring at him without moving, Lord Green chuckled softly and said, "Your Highness, does Princess Daenerys require the services of Lord Green, your attendant?"
A hint of a smile appeared on Daenerys' lips. She nodded her chin again.
Lord Green reached out his hand, but Daenerys, following his pull, threw herself into his arms.
Daenerys hugged Lord Green's waist tightly: "I missed you so much, my knight."
Lord Green put one arm around Daenerys and gently patted her back with the other: "I am here, my princess."
Daenerys nodded in Lord Green's arms, hugging him even tighter.
The two quietly embraced... After an unknown amount of time, Daenerys looked up and asked, "Lord Green, did you come for me?"
Lord Green nodded gently and said softly, "Daenerys, on the first day's dream, I heard your voice. The second day was the same dream, but I still couldn't hear what you were saying. On the third day, I heard clearly. I heard you calling for help, so I came."
Daenerys' passionate warmth was Lord Green's response... Daenerys' breathing grew heavy. Her palm pressed against Lord Green's chest, pushing him, and Lord Green lay back on the bed.
Daenerys sat on Lord Green, then reached out, habitually intending to brush her long hair aside, but her movement paused.
Lord Green's hands were clasped behind his head. Looking at Daenerys, who had suddenly frozen, he couldn't help but curve his lips into a slight smile.
Daenerys touched her tender scalp, her pupils widening: "Where is my hair?"
She touched it again, repeating in disbelief: "Where is my hair?!"
Lord Green was about to speak, but Daenerys suddenly climbed off him and rushed barefoot to the dressing table.
Staring blankly at her bald reflection in the mirror for a while, Daenerys burst into tears.
The scene should have been somewhat melancholic, but Lord Green always felt like laughing. He... had to adjust his facial muscles.
After a pause, Lord Green left the bed. Daenerys saw him approaching in the mirror and immediately covered her face with both hands.
"Daenerys, trust me, you are very charming."
Daenerys' fingers parted slightly. She looked at Lord Green standing behind her through the mirror.
"Lord Green, this was from the fire..."
As she spoke, she suddenly paused. Her eyes caught sight of her bald head in the mirror, and Daenerys couldn't help but cry again.
Lord Green thought for a moment and suggested, "Daenerys, should I have your handmaidens find you a pretty headscarf?"
...Westeros, Riverlands.
Lannister sworn knights, leading free riders hired by Tywin Lannister, suddenly crossed the border between the Westerlands and the Riverlands.
Thousands of cavalry, divided into many small units, began to burn, kill, and loot the Riverlands, which were ruled by the Tully Family.
The vassal armies, originally gathered at Riverrun by order of Edmure Tully (son of the Duke of Riverrun, Catelyn's brother), were now, under his further command, returning to their own fiefs with their lords to defend against the sudden attacks of the Westerlands cavalry.
The heir to the Duke of Riverrun vowed to do his utmost to defend every inch of the Riverlands and protect every man, woman, and child under the name of the Duke of Riverrun.
When the Riverlands armies were dispersed, Jaime Lannister led 15,000 Westerlands soldiers eastward from Golden Tooth in the Westerlands (a fortress guarding the Riverlands). The Riverlands armies, stationed at various points in the Riverlands, were easily defeated by him one by one. Jaime's Westerlands army advanced directly towards the Tully Family's Riverrun.
Tywin Lannister led 20,000 Westerlands soldiers along the Goldroad, crossing the Red Fork River, sweeping through the scattered Riverlands armies.
Wherever the Westerlands army led by Duke Tywin passed, the castles of the Riverlands lords were plundered, and villages were razed to the ground.
Lady Shella Whent of Harrenhal, lacking sufficient soldiers to defend against the Westerlands army's attack, surrendered her castle to Duke Tywin. The Westerlands army took up residence in Harrenhal... A gallows was erected outside the gates of Harrenhal. The bodies hanging there swayed back and forth, covered in crows. When someone approached, they cawed loudly and flapped their wings into the sky.
Inside a red tent, Duke Tywin sat at a table, his quill pen moving.
Although Duke Tywin was over fifty, he still appeared tall, with long legs, broad shoulders, a flat stomach, and slender but muscular arms.
Duke Tywin had shaved his head bald after his golden hair began to thin, and his mustache and chin beard were clean-shaven, leaving only his sideburns.
Duke Tywin's eyes were pale green with a golden hue. It was rumored that a jester once joked that Duke Tywin's excrement contained gold, and he was then imprisoned in the deepest dungeon of Casterly Rock. It is said that he is still alive to this day... Ser Kevan, Duke Tywin's younger brother, entered the tent with hurried steps.
"Duke Tywin, a raven just arrived. Jaime fought a decisive battle against the main Tully Family forces beneath Riverrun. The Riverlands army suffered a great defeat, and Edmure Tully, along with many Riverlands vassals and knights, were captured."
Duke Tywin's quill pen paused. He looked up at his somewhat portly brother and said, "Wait a moment."
Swish, swish, swish. Soon, Duke Tywin finished writing the letter and set his quill aside.
Duke Tywin extended his hand, and Ser Kevan immediately handed him Jaime's letter.
Taking the letter, Duke Tywin quickly read it and nodded slightly.
After a moment of silence, Ser Kevan spoke: "Duke Tywin, the Mallister family still holds Seaguard, and it is said that Walder Frey of The Twins is also gathering troops. Will they affect Jaime's siege?"
Duke Tywin shook his head slightly and said, "The old fox of the Frey family will never send troops unless he smells victory, and right now, the air is thick with the scent of defeat.
As for Earl Jason Mallister of Seaguard, he lacks the forces to fight alone. Once Jaime takes Riverrun, those two families will naturally submit."
He paused, then added, "If the Stark family doesn't send troops to support Riverrun, we have already won this war."
Ser Kevan still looked worried: "The Stark family's 20,000 troops are stationed south of the Neck. They could march south at any time."
"Any sword, only after being tested, can its sharpness be known."
After a pause, Duke Tywin continued: "That Stark boy is still a child. He probably loves the king's game of trumpets and waving banners, but war is, after all, a slaughter. I fear he won't be able to bear it for long."
At the mention of Stark, Ser Kevan felt a headache coming on. He rubbed his head and said, "If Cersei had only managed to keep the Direwolf and the wolf cubs, we could have made the Stark family submit without even using troops."
Hearing this, a vein pulsed on Duke Tywin's forehead. He let out a heavy snort.
"Presumptuous in her cleverness, she likes to act smart, can't even control a child king. When the war is over..."
Speaking, Duke Tywin walked to the long table covered with a map, lowered his eyes, and said, "She cannot remain in the Red Keep."
Ser Kevan never opposed his brother's decisions. He shrugged and said, "As you wish, I will keep an eye out for a suitable place."
Duke Tywin nodded almost imperceptibly, staring at the map of the Seven Kingdoms. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "How is he doing in King's Landing?"
Who was "he"? Ser Kevan naturally knew who was being referred to: Tywin Lannister's son, whose name he was reluctant to even utter—Tyrion Lannister.
"He's doing very well, cleaning up quite a few messes Cersei and Joffrey made."
Duke Tywin snorted contemptuously and said, "As a Lannister, that is his duty. Without the Lannister name, he is merely a Dwarf to be ridiculed."
Ser Kevan hesitated, then said, "He came up with what seems like a good idea..."
As he spoke, Ser Kevan took out another letter from his pocket and handed it to Duke Tywin.
Duke Tywin began to read: "Dear Father, I apologize for making you read a letter written by a Dwarf. Last night, I dreamed you almost twisted your back trying to hug me..." The vein on Duke Tywin's forehead pulsed again, seemingly throbbing. He continued to read: "Thank you very much for sending troops to the Riverlands for a Dwarf who lost half his nose. I imagine a proud father like you would surely not want to admit doing such a touching thing... To flaunt my Lannister identity, I, on a friend's suggestion, spent a fortune on a golden nose... It works wonderfully. Before, people loved the gold dragons you gave me, but now they love my golden nose even more..." Duke Tywin always placed great importance on correspondence, because he believed that some victories were won with swords and spears, while others were won with pen, paper, and raven.
So, he patiently read Tyrion's "eager" greetings, finally reaching the main point of the letter.
Duke Tywin placed the letter on the table, frowning: "He wants to arrange a marriage alliance with the Dornish?"
Ser Kevan nodded and said, "He told me that his current problem is that Cersei doesn't want to marry Myrcella off, and her stance is very firm."
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
[patreon.com/TripleCrown07]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"