Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Corren Greyjoy followed Euron's gaze, slightly surprised: "Ashara Dayne? She is indeed beautiful, but the Dayne family..."

“With a brother of such noble character and legendary stature as Arthur Dayne,” Euron interrupted him, his tone resolute, “Miss Ashara naturally inherits her brother’s qualities and sentiments. Noble yet unassuming, gentle yet not weak. She is like… a tranquil deep lake, not a raging sea. The latter can plunder, but the former can nourish and sustain.” His words revealed a prudence and discernment beyond his years; he regarded Ashara as a more stable ally and partner, a more worthy long-term investment.

Corren hesitated for a moment, his eyes gleaming as if he were quickly weighing the benefits and risks behind the two options. Finally, he nodded: "The Dane family holds a prestigious position in Dorne and has close ties with the royal family. Ser Arthur is also the knight of Jaime Lannister... Alright, I'll go sound him out."

Corren Greyjoy walked straight toward Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Dawn, who was talking with several Dornish lords. The two elders met formally and went to a secluded corner to talk in hushed tones.

Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting dappled shadows on them. Euron saw Sir Arthur listening to his father Corren's words, his expression initially showing slight surprise, then becoming serious and earnest, as the two exchanged their opinions in hushed tones.

Meanwhile, Euron didn't stand still. He naturally walked towards Ashara Dayne, bowed slightly, and extended an invitation: "Miss Ashara, the ceremony here is breathtakingly solemn. Would you have the honor of strolling with me to the harbor? It is said that the Lannister harbor's fleet is second only to King's Landing's; the sea breeze might bring some lighter topics."

Asara seemed somewhat surprised, but her good upbringing allowed her to quickly regain her composure. She glanced at her brother, who was still having a serious conversation with Corinth, nodded slightly, and gently placed her hand on Euron's outstretched arm.

The two walked side by side down the castle slope to the bustling harbor. The salty sea breeze carried the scents of ships, timber, tar, and goods from afar, a stark contrast to the luxurious atmosphere inside the castle.

They strolled along the breakwater, chatting about trivial matters—seabirds, ship designs, the deserts of Dorne, and the waves of the Iron Islands. Euron abandoned his usual eccentricity and aloofness, behaving like a knowledgeable, slightly melancholic young nobleman. Ashara was quiet, but her voice was gentle, her manners elegant, and when she occasionally spoke of Starfall and her brother, genuine emotion would shine through her eyes.

Ashara inquired about Euron's three-year journey across the Narrow Sea. As Euron recounted his adventures and the wondrous sights he described, she gasped in amazement, her amethyst eyes filled with curiosity about the unknown and admiration for Euron's courage.

The walk wasn't passionate, but a tacit peace flowed between them. Euron's eyes would occasionally fall on her serene profile, assessing her, with a hint of genuine satisfaction.

As they returned from their walk, Corinth and Arthur's conversation had just ended. Ser Arthur Dayne walked toward his sister, gave Euron a complicated look, and then nodded slightly to Ashara.

Corren walked to Euron's side, his voice low but carrying a hint of satisfaction at a deal being struck: "The Dane family has agreed. Sir Arthur acknowledges your...potential and considers this a suitable marriage. However, Miss Ashara is still young, and the Dane family wishes to keep her for another three years."

Euron looked in the direction of Arthur and Asara. Asara blushed slightly and avoided his gaze, but did not show any reluctance.

"Of course, we're not old enough yet." Euron's lips finally curved into a genuine, yet still deeply hidden, smile. "Three years from now, I will travel to Starfall City to marry my bride."

This grand gathering, orchestrated by Tywin Lannister and bringing together almost all of Westeros's future rulers, was far more significant than a knighthood ceremony. It was more like a meticulously planned chessboard, with the marriage being the most important and powerful move. Besides the unexpected yet secretly arranged engagement between Euron Greyjoy and Ashara Dayne, the air was thick with other overt and covert tests and tacit understandings.

Invisible threads are quietly woven amidst the clinking of glasses and seemingly casual strolls.

Where eyes meet, the elders of the family are silently assessing and weighing their options; behind the lighthearted conversations of the young men and women, the foundations of future alliances are often being laid. Many marriage proposals, large and small, sprout in this grand gathering, like tender branches in early spring, fragile yet full of possibilities.

However, what kind of flowers will these marriages, based on current political interests, bloom in the future, and whether they will bear sweet or bitter fruit, whether they will nourish towering trees or breed poisonous thorns... all of this can only be left to the cruel years and the ever-changing political situation to decide.

Tywin Lannister's gaze never left his chessboard. He had chosen, in his opinion, the most reliable and effective partner to unite the forces of the Riverlands for his heir, the radiant Jaime—Lysa Tully, the youngest daughter of House Tully.

Although this young lady was not as composed as her sister Catelyn, the Tully family's prestige and Riverrun's strategic location more than made up for it. The engagement was practically a done deal with the tacit approval of both families, awaiting only the right moment for a formal announcement.

However, even the shrewd and calculating Lord Tywin Lannister encountered a small obstacle from within his own family.

His daughter, Cersei Lannister, possessed beauty that could captivate the Seven Kingdoms and the matching Lannister arrogance. Her gaze swept over all the young talents present—the valiant Robert? In her eyes, he was merely a drunken brute; the composed Eddard? The harshness and silence of the North held her in contempt; even Euron, who had just defeated her brother? A second son from the Iron Islands, with heterochromia that she disliked, he was utterly unworthy of her attention… She scoffed at every suitor, a twisted possessiveness towards her brother Jaime and a thirst for the pinnacle of power burning within her, believing that no one was truly worthy of her.

Tywin sensed his daughter's resistance. His cold gaze lingered on her for a moment as he weighed the benefits and risks of forcibly issuing the order.

Ultimately, however, he chose not to force the issue. This wasn't out of indulgence, but rather a calm, value-based judgment. Cersei's beauty and the Lannister name were undeniably top-tier assets, like the most dazzling gold in the treasury—rare commodities to be acquired, and there was no need to rush to sell them cheaply now and here. He believed that, given time, these assets would bring him even greater and more crucial benefits.

Thus, in this grand feast that forged numerous alliances, Cersei Lannister, like a proud and solitary golden phoenix, coldly observed everything. She never belonged to any suitor, and her future, amidst her own woven fantasies and her father's ruthless schemes, remained an enigma waiting to be written.

In addition, the high-ranking officials who are in charge have finalized many secret matters. Those secret alliances and deals will come to light one by one in the future. For now, they are just fermenting in the dark.