Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Colum Greyjoy returned before the Lannister family's grand gathering, taking his son Euron with him to Lannister Harbor.

The bustling luxury of Lannister Harbor contrasted sharply with the rugged coldness of Pyke. At this grand event, ostensibly a celebration but in reality a display of Lannister power and a forging of alliances, Euron Greyjoy, the second son from the Iron Islands, stepped into the heart of Westeros's highest power circles for the first time.

Euron wore a smile, seemingly friendly to everyone, but in reality, he observed coldly, like a spectator watching the future protagonists who had not yet been fully shaped by fate.

Lord Tywin Lannister sat in the main seat, like a golden lion, majestic and aloof, his pale green eyes gleaming with a calculating light, as if every guest present was a pawn in his grand scheme.

Beside Tywin stood a pair of dazzling twins—Jaime Lannister and Cersei Lannister.

At fifteen, Jaime possessed a striking beauty and radiant spirit that could eclipse the sun. His golden hair, emerald eyes, and an almost arrogant, confident smile played on his lips, as if the whole world deserved his applause. His sister, Cersei Lannister, was breathtakingly beautiful, with blonde hair and emerald eyes, her appearance unparalleled. She wore exquisite dresses and possessed perfect poise, but her emerald eyes, so similar to her father's, concealed an ambition, arrogance, keen insight, and a subtle, almost imperceptible, obsession beyond her years.

Euron's gaze swept across the crowd, spotting many more familiar yet unfamiliar young faces:

The young Robert Baratheon, from the Stormlands, already displayed the physique and magnanimity of a bear, laughing and talking loudly with others and drinking mead, though his eyes still held an unconcealable weariness and sadness.

Eddard Stark and his brother Brandon Stark—heirs to Winterfell. Eddard was calm and composed, his brow already bearing the fortitude of the Lord in the North; Brandon, on the other hand, was more outgoing and fiery, known as "The Wolf."

Petyr Baelish (Littlefinger), of humble origins yet with sharp eyes, moved discreetly among the guests, his shrewdness evident in his quick, darting gaze.

The three children of Lord Horst Tully of the Riverlands: the eldest daughter, Catelyn Tully, with her dignified bearing, red hair, and blue eyes, was already a standard noble lady; her younger sister, Lysa, seemed more shy and sensitive, but her appearance was far inferior to her sister's; and the young Edmure Tully was somewhat immature and a bit dull.

Ser Arthur Dayne of Starfall City was also present, accompanied by a woman with the same violet eyes and a serene demeanor—his sister, Ashara Dayne.

Lyanna Stark, the youngest daughter of the Duke of the North, possesses a wild beauty that stands out from the refined elegance around her, and her smile is unrestrained and free.

There were also members of the Frey family at the river crossing, such as Réga Frey.

Arianne Martell of Dorne has also arrived, bringing with her the passion and mystery of the South, and her beauty is beyond compare.

She is the niece of Barristan Selmy, known as "the fearless."

House Tyrell of Highgarden, Vilas Tyrell, heir to Highgarden.

Domilik Bolton of the Westfront, the only legitimate son and heir of the Dreadfort skinner family, Duke Roose Bolton.

Barbara Leswell, the youngest daughter of Lord Rodrik Leswell of Streamland.

…………

As Euron Greyjoy's gaze swept across the noisy hall once more, a sudden realization washed over him like a bucket of ice water.

He noticed that almost every prominent nobleman who had gathered here from all corners of the Seven Kingdoms was accompanied by a patriarch—a duke, earl, or lord—and sometimes several young offspring of similar age to Jaime and Cersei Lannister.

These young men and women were all dressed in their finest attire, their demeanor displaying a deliberately practiced elegance and reserve. Meanwhile, Lord Tywin Lannister, seated at the head of the table, slowly and subtly scanned each eligible young man with an almost cold, scrutinizing gaze, assessing their family background, bearing, and worth, as if he were counting a batch of valuable livestock awaiting sale.

At this moment, the strange expression on his brother Baron's face before he set off, which seemed to be both smiling and hesitant, suddenly became understandable.

Euron instantly understood why his father, Corren, was whispering and pointing at the young people in the room, exchanging comments in hushed tones—it wasn't just casual conversation, but a silent negotiation about alliances and bloodlines.

All the clues connected at this moment, pointing to a startling fact: he, Euron Greyjoy, was not merely there to witness a knighthood ceremony. He had inadvertently stepped onto a chessboard meticulously laid out by Tywin Lannister, the most calculating golden lion—a grand matchmaking event for the elite young nobles of Westeros!

Lord Tywin is using his daughter's beauty and his son's right to the throne as bait to quietly select, evaluate, and try to bind the best allies for his family's eternal power.

The air was filled with more than just the sweet aroma of wine and melodious music; it was also brimming with something else, invisible yet far more deadly: a cold, precise calculation concerning the intertwining of power, bloodline, and the future. Behind every smile, every dance, lay the potential future of a river or a castle.

Youlun surveyed the elegantly dressed, subtly swirling atmosphere of the venue, a bitter smile playing on his lips—a smile only he could understand. He thought to himself: It seems that no matter the world or era, no one can escape the kind of drama that is both anticipated and awkward—"blind dates."

Since there was no way to avoid it, he simply adopted a more relaxed attitude. Well, starting to talk about marriage at the age of ten would have been an unthinkable fantasy in his previous life, but here, in this world of ice and fire, it was the most standard and realistic script for the aristocratic class.

Since we're already here, we should at least keep our eyes open and try to find a girl who suits our tastes.

At this moment, Corren Greyjoy finished exchanging pleasantries with several old friends and returned to his son's side. The father and son's eyes met, and Corren immediately realized that one of the purposes of his trip had been seen through by his overly astute son.

"There's really no need to hide it from me," Euron said first, his tone relaxed as if he were talking about the weather. "I never said I didn't want to find a wife."

Koren snorted, his voice low and realistic: "In aristocratic marriages, there is never anything like the 'mutual affection' sung about in ballads. Only interests and power are the eternal foundation."

Euron smiled wryly: "Speaking of which, the Iron Islands have always searched for rock wives within their own islands. Is it appropriate for me to suddenly marry a noblewoman from one of the Seven Kingdoms? Won't the other lords have something to say?"

"You're just the second son!" Corren interrupted him, his tone resolute. "Your brother, Baron, is the heir to the Iron Islands. He has already followed the ancient custom, marrying an Ironborn woman to solidify his position. You have no such obligation! Your marriage could be an extension of the Greyjoy family's tentacles."

Euron stroked his chin, his eyes gleaming with a practical light: "Alright, since that's the case... then at least we need to find someone beautiful, virtuous, gentle, and of good character." He stated his most basic requirements.

Upon hearing this, Corren almost laughed in anger. He gestured with his chin towards the prominent young women in the room and sneered, "Look at whose daughters these are! Tully, Stark, Martell... What right do you, a second son of the Iron Islands, have to be so picky? Hmph, it's already a miracle that anyone would even consider you and accept this marriage proposal!"

"That's true... If that's the case, why did you bring me here? To embarrass yourself?" Euron rolled his eyes.