Arthur met the Black Pearl on the second floor of the pleasure barge.
"Long time no see. You've become even more beautiful."
Arthur scanned the woman who could now be called the premier courtesan of Braavos, secretly clicking his tongue at how her seductive aura had intensified with time.
The mask the Black Pearl wore was even smaller than Arthur's half-mask, covering only the area around her eyes. A circle of white pearls on the mask surrounded her violet eyes, accentuating their depth and allure like stars cradling the moon.
Her clothes were as scant and exquisite as her mask, tailored to highlight her proud figure without being vulgar.
A layer of sheer gauze enveloped her body, revealing glimpses of her brown skin, creating a hazy, ethereal beauty.
A necklace of jet and gold beads hung from her neck to her chest, swaying with her every breath.
"Thanks to you." The Black Pearl picked up the wine on the table and poured a glass for Arthur, gesturing for him to sit opposite her.
The pink liquid in the glass and the familiar peach aroma made Arthur raise an eyebrow.
"I had someone buy this peach wine specially. I heard it's from your hometown?" The Black Pearl poured herself a glass, took a sip, and said, "Though not as fine as top-tier wines, it has a unique flavor."
Arthur sipped the peach wine. "I heard Angelo Vof is dead. Pierced in the belly during a duel with another assassin for your sake. He was the first customer of my smithy."
"Valar morghulis." The expression under the Black Pearl's mask remained unchanged. She swirled the wine in her glass and said flatly:
"He didn't die for me. We simply used each other to gain fame and achieve our own ends, just as we have been doing all this time."
Surprised by Bellegere's candor, Arthur leaned back in his chair, shifting his attention from her face. "You waited here for me specifically? Is there something you need?"
The Black Pearl bit her lip lightly, an ambiguous smile flowing between her brows. "To pay the price for that dagger. To give you an unforgettable experience of a lifetime."
Hearing this, Arthur looked around, then at the wine glass in his hand, and finally at the Black Pearl, as if to say: Is that it?
"You seem a bit impatient?" The Black Pearl stood up and drained her glass of peach wine. A drop of pink liquid escaped the corner of her lips and slid down her slender neck.
"Of course, this isn't all."
The Black Pearl put down the glass, a hint of mist in her violet eyes. She paced over to him, leaned down, and breathed into his ear:
"The Masquerade at the Sealord's Palace lasts ten days. During this time, we will be together, day and night. My arrangements will be well worth the price."
Finishing her words, and before Arthur could respond, she pecked him lightly on the neck. A touch and go. By the time Arthur recovered, she had returned to her seat.
Even though he had anticipated and prepared for this, facing the Black Pearl's blatant provocation and sensory stimulation still made Arthur's blood rush a little.
Truly a succubus, Arthur cursed inwardly.
The moment the Black Pearl leaned close, the scent he smelled, the scenery he saw, the voice he heard, and the touch on his skin made his brain stop thinking instantly.
All that talk about a refined man not refusing elegance out of high-mindedness turned into a blank slate in that moment.
He felt that what truly killed Angelo Vof might not have been the rapier piercing his belly, but the blood rushing to his head.
That famous assassin, the first customer of the 'Snow & Peach' smithy, truly didn't die in vain.
Arthur's hand unconsciously reached for his waist... for the hilt of the Valyrian steel sword 'Zhanlu'. Arthur had long since had Zhanlu devour the two swords he forged himself, infused with the [Ice Sword] and [Blue Blade Sword] cards.
[Blue Blade Sword]: Strikes have armor-piercing effect; the blade is sharp enough to cut a hair blown against it.
[Ice Sword]: The blade is cold; holding it keeps the wielder's mind calm.
[Twin-Vipers]: The male sword can sense the location of the female sword. (Effective only for the host).
Now, 'Zhanlu' essentially had three card effects stacked together.
Feeling the chill from the hilt, the heat in Arthur's violet eyes subsided somewhat.
Arthur took a deep look at the Black Pearl and exhaled a long breath. "My lady, I must say you have a talent for assassination. Truth be told, I look forward to the next ten days."
The Black Pearl didn't reply. She reverted to the calm demeanor she had when they first met, as if the teasing just now had never happened. She seriously explained the etiquette and things to note after arriving at the Sealord's Palace.
As the Black Pearl spoke, the pleasure barge sailed along the canal toward the Sealord's Palace.
From the second floor, Arthur could see the surrounding scenery clearly through the sheer curtains: statues of past Sealords, magnificent temples, and the Moon Pool where bravos duelled.
Finally, the barge docked at the Purple Harbor, reserved exclusively for Braavosi purple-sailed ships.
The Purple Harbor was located north of the Sealord's Palace. From here, one could see the high dome and towers of the palace.
Unlike the crowded and noisy Ragman's Harbor, there were relatively fewer ships here. Every vessel was either an ornate pleasure barge or a purple-hulled, purple-sailed ship.
They were moored orderly at the docks, their masts standing straight like soldiers waiting for inspection by the lords in the high tower.
As Arthur surveyed the grandeur of the Sealord's Palace, the Black Pearl's voice in his ear changed from flat to seductive: "The Mermaid Queen, the Veiled Lady, Moonshadow, the Nightingale, the Poetess."
Arthur's hand subconsciously gripped 'Zhanlu' as he followed her gaze to the various pleasure barges. "You know them well?"
"Is that strange?" The Black Pearl stretched, gathering her somewhat loose hair. "One must know one's peers extremely well."
Peers are rivals. The Black Pearl's words reminded Arthur of other insurance merchants in Braavos. Now, on the White Harbor-Braavos route, the one-eyed fat man truly dominated alone.
Arthur examined the different pleasure barges and noticed the count was off. "Besides ours, there are six barges in the harbor."
"The courtesan on that barge is called the Daughter of the Dusk." The Black Pearl pointed to a barge with a figurehead of a nude black woman. "She is a friend."
"A friend?" Arthur was surprised. "How was your friendship formed?"
"You wouldn't want to know." The Black Pearl narrowed her violet eyes in a mysterious smile, then added:
"You'll find out soon enough."
After docking, the Black Pearl and Arthur were led towards the Sealord's Palace by a palace official wearing a purple mask.
Following the official, Arthur left the Purple Harbor and stepped onto a winding corridor. Flanking the corridor were colorful flowerbeds filled with rare flowers presented by Braavosi captains from foreign lands.
The flowers emitted various exotic fragrances. The peaceful atmosphere made Arthur's breathing quicken slightly as he passed.
The Black Pearl suddenly took Arthur's arm and asked with interest, "I heard there is a flower called the Winter Rose in the North of the Sunset Kingdoms. Have you seen it?"
"There are such roses in the gardens of Winterfell." Though unsure why she brought it up, Arthur explained, "They only bloom in the cold environment of the North. The flowers are ice-blue and incredibly fragrant."
"I wondered why there were none here. It turns out the environment doesn't allow it." The Black Pearl gently touched the flowers in the bed, smiling.
"I saw a play about the tragic story of this flower. The Dragon Prince abandoned his wife and children and lost his kingdom, dying in war, just to present a crown of Winter Roses to the She-Wolf. It's a good story."
"That is not a story, but something that truly happened." The official joined the discussion with interest, speaking with certainty.
"It was seven or eight years ago. I received a knight from the Sunset Lands who came for an audience with the Sealord. He brought a young boy and a baby girl. Both children had silver hair and violet eyes. I suspect they were the dragon orphans of the Sunset Kingdoms."
"I have a drop of dragon blood myself, so I always enjoy stories about the Sunset Kingdoms." The Black Pearl curtsied slightly to the official. "Kind sir, could you tell me more?"
The official in the purple mask was about to say more, but was interrupted by a cacophony of animal cries.
They had reached the end of the corridor, where an arched gate made of finely carved stone stood.
"This is the Sealord's Menagerie." The guide dropped the story and led them through the gate, introducing it with pride. "Almost every animal in the world is kept here."
"All of them?" Arthur scanned the place, which resembled a large zoo from his previous life, marveling at the Sealord's wealth while asking, "Do you have dragons?"
"Dragons are long extinct." The official boasted, "If there were still dragons in the world, I imagine one would be here."
Passing through the Menagerie led to another long corridor lined with statues and ornaments, each displaying the Sealord's prestige and taste.
While passing through the Menagerie, the Black Pearl intentionally or unintentionally steered the topic back to the dragon orphans, but the official evaded, introducing various animals instead and never mentioned it again.
"This is the Sealord's Palace."
At the end of the corridor, the official pointed to the majestic domed palace Arthur had seen from the Purple Harbor, bowed, and withdrew.