Game of Thrones: The Black Dragon King

High Tide, like the Eyrie, is built of white stone and boasts countless slender towers, their tops adorned with silver foil that shimmers in the sunlight. At midday tide, High Tide is surrounded by the sea and connected to Tidehead Island by only a causeway.

At this moment, the causeway was submerged by seawater, which was only ankle-deep. Under the sunlight, the surface of the water shimmered, and the originally turquoise seawater now had a warm hue. The white stones that built the causeway were faintly visible underwater, and occasionally two fish could be seen swimming by.

As the sunset painted the distant Spice Town a golden hue, the rooftops gleamed in the evening light. The harbor was filled with masts and sails, various boats gently rocking on the waves, their lights gradually illuminating the scene against the backdrop of the evening glow. On the docks, fishermen busily prepared their nets, merchants haggled over prices, and goods piled high—from spices from afar to local seafood—were plentiful. The entire Spice Town, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, appeared exceptionally peaceful and serene.

Reed waded barefoot in the ankle-deep water, a small shovel in his right hand and a half-full bucket of his beachcombing catch in his left, including razor clams of various sizes, small crabs, brightly colored pearl oysters, and clams.

A gentle sea breeze caressed his cheeks, and Reed, finally able to relax, gazed contentedly at the distant scenery: the Spice Town under the setting sun, white sails on the sea, clouds in the sky, and the horizon where the sea met the sky... He listened to the pleasant white noise in the distance: the sound of waves crashing at high tide, the calls of seabirds, and the laughter of children.

The laughter of children came from Lannar and her brother Lannino. At this moment, the once noble and reserved aristocratic girl and the extraordinary heir to Tidehead Island were covered in mud. Lannar, devoid of any aristocratic grace, lifted her skirt and tied it around her waist, revealing her long, slender, white legs. She frolicked in the waves with a carefree and giggling expression, occasionally bending down to pick up seashells and conches washed ashore, or playfully splashing seawater at Lannino. Lannino, in turn, angrily berated his servant, ordering him to pour handfuls of salt from the sack onto the potholes Lannino had dug.

The two were originally there at the behest of their host, Earl Corliss the Sea Serpent, to accompany guests on a tour of Tidehill City. The itinerary was to introduce his own castle and the beautiful scenery of Tidehill Island in a routine manner. However, when they were walking on the beach, Reed saw the breathing tubes left by razor clams after the tide had gone out, and the tone of the tour changed.

Red asked for a small shovel, a bucket, and salt, then took off his boots and waded into the sand after the tide had receded. First, he searched for a relatively dry spot on the beach, then used the shovel to carefully remove the top layer of sand near the breathing tube. When he found a black, oval-shaped hole, he sprinkled salt into it. Soon, a small stream of water would emerge from the hole, and then plump razor clams would emerge on their own. At this point, one had to be quick and grab them, pulling their prey out.

Originally, the feeding tube of this kind of shellfish is similar to that of a geoduck, protruding around and looking somewhat slimy and unsightly. However, driven by the human hunting instinct, this novel and thrilling way of beachcombing caught the eye of the siblings who were the hosts.

The siblings watched from the sidelines, their initial surprise turning into keen interest, and they even began to try it themselves. Lannar would shout excitedly every time she caught a salt, much to the frustration of Lannino, who had caught none. He kept urging the servants to bring more salt, while the old scholar shook his head and sighed, heartbroken at the wasted salt, yet also infected by the children's joy, a smile unconsciously creeping onto his face.

"The tide's coming in, let's head back." Reed handed the log to his servant. Thanks to Climax City being the lord's residence, this beach had hardly been developed, and the various shellfish were quite plump, giving Reed the idea of ​​eating seafood. "Let them soak in the clear seawater and spit out the sand. I'll cook them tonight."

Not far away, on the terrace of Climax City, another group of guests were gazing intently at Reid and his entourage.

A young man dressed in jet-black clothing, adorned only with lace at the cuffs and collar, said with displeasure, "He's ultimately a mercenary leader, full of the lowly habits of a fisherman. He's even corrupted a lady!"

The young man himself was unaware of how sharp his words had been, offending three people with a single sentence. The Uncrowned Queen, Countess of Tidehead Island, steed of the Red Queen Melias, and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, pursed her lips. Her gaze fell on the young girl busy gathering seafood in the distance, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes: "My daughter is none of your business. If you continue to speak recklessly, don't blame me for kicking you out!"

"Madam, I... I didn't mean that. You should understand. I just..." The young man realized he had misspoke, and his face turned pale instantly. He hurriedly tried to make amends.

But Renis had no more desire to hear it. She gently waved her hand, signaling him to step back, her tone revealing undeniable authority: "If you don't know how to speak, at least learn to be silent."

Upon hearing this, the young man's face darkened further, but he dared not refute further. At the fervent invitation of Count Corliss, his father—the current Sea King of Braavos—had ordered him to travel to Tidehead Island to discuss his marriage to the Count's eldest daughter, Lanaer Valerian. However, unlike the eager Count Corliss, Princess Reynis's attitude was cold and distant. If it were merely distance, it wouldn't be so bad; Princess Reynis had shown admiration for the mercenary leader who had recently been begging at Braavos's Iron Treasury. This filled him with jealousy and resentment. He glanced at Reid in the distance with a sinister look, then turned and left the terrace.

Rhaenys's gaze lingered between Reid and Lannar. Her daughter, possessing dragon blood, was beautiful, elegant, and fiery. She had inherited not only her mother's pure Targaryen beauty but also her father, the "Sea Serpent," the perfect Valirea bloodline and indomitable spirit. Even more remarkably, she had tamed the largest dragon in the world—Vaghar. Such an exceptional girl deserved any man, no matter how outstanding.

But the husband was obsessed with power, and his judgment in choosing a son-in-law was nothing like the wisdom and decisiveness he displayed during his nine great voyages. First, there was Viserys, an overweight, widowed man old enough to be a father to his daughter; then there was the good-for-nothing, immoral, and extravagant son of the Sea King Braavos; finally, he found a young man of exceptional looks and wealth, with an ambition no less than his husband's, yet he hesitated and seemed lost…

"Mother."

Renish snapped back to reality and found Lannar standing prettily in front of her. She immediately put on a smile and asked, "What's up, darling?"

"Look!" Lannar excitedly handed the wooden bucket to Renish, which was filled with all sorts of colorful seashells and several plump razor clams. "The Black Dragon King taught me how to catch these; they're so much fun!"

Seeing the joy and contentment on her daughter's face, Renish felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She patted Lannar's head and said gently, "It seems you had a lot of fun today."

Lana nodded vigorously, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons as she smiled: "Yes, he knows so many things I don't. He's completely different in person from his portrait; he's not cold-hearted at all."

Upon hearing this, Renish's heart skipped a beat, and she asked softly, "Oh? So what are your feelings for him?"

Twelve-year-old Lanael was somewhat bewildered. She lowered her head and pondered for a moment, then looked up at her mother and said in a pretentious manner, "If Father agrees to the marriage, then I will marry him, guard the fireplace for him, continue the family line, and uphold the glory of the Valerian bloodline..."

"That's not what I want to hear, my darling." Renis looked gently into her daughter's eyes, her gaze full of encouragement. "The sea salt of the Valerian flows in your veins, as does the flame of the Targaryen. You are also the dragon rider of Vargarhal, the greatest dragon in the world. It is you who have brought glory to the family, not the family that has brought glory to you. You are perfectly entitled to choose your husband based on your own preferences, just like I did when I was young! I want to hear the voice of your heart."

"Mother······"

"Ahem!" Maester Manfred, dressed in gray, abruptly interrupted the mother and daughter's private conversation.

"A bachelor's degree?" Renis looked at him with some displeasure.

"Madam, Miss, I apologize for disturbing you," Maester Manfred said, bowing slightly. "We have received word that the King is coming, and the Master needs you now."

"What's he doing here?" Renis asked in surprise, her thoughts instantly disrupted. She quickly straightened her clothes and said to Lannar, "Honey, go play with your new friend for a while."

Although Lannar was a little reluctant, she obediently nodded and ran away with the wooden bucket in her arms.

Maester Manfred then took out a letter from his wide robe sleeves.

Renis took the book, quickly scanned it, and then instructed, "Thank you, Maester Manfred. Now please look after the young master and young lady, as well as our guests."

"Please rest assured, Madam." Maester Manfred nodded slightly.

Renis turned and left the terrace.

In the Hall of the Ninth Voyage in High Tide City, the surrounding pillars and niches were filled with rare and precious treasures acquired from all corners of the world during the nine great voyages of the Sea Serpent Corliss. This was where the Sea Serpent received his vassals and entertained his guests. At this moment, however, the Lord of the Tides was not seated on the perpetually damp, ancient driftwood throne in the center of the hall. Instead, he sat opposite Damon in a thick-backed armchair by the fireplace, the firelight flickering on his face, revealing his unpredictable expression.

"My brother's spies are everywhere, and of course, the Valerian fence is also leaky in many places."

"Korakshyu and that black dragon called Night Fury are both enormous creatures, clearly visible from Spice Town. It's not surprising that the King knows you've arrived."

"So what are you hesitating about? Isn't a Valyrian Dragon King of pure blood, with dragons and a massive army, qualified to be your Valyrian son-in-law?"

"I don't understand him!"

"?"

"As the head of the Valerian family, my daughter's marriage must take into account the family's interests, but it cannot be based solely on interests. All my knowledge of that man... boy is based on your retelling, and this information makes it impossible for me to make a decision. He was extremely gentle and polite during our previous meetings and conversations, but that can be controlled and trained. I don't know his nature or his purpose, and I can sense that he has secrets."

"The Valyrians arrived in Westeros before the Targaryens, and our history is much longer than theirs. We have been cultivating the seas for over two hundred years since the Valyrian 'Cataclysm.' I have even sailed to Giscard, the Shadowlands, Iban, and the Jade Sea. Though I have not left my mark on every corner of the known world, I know better than anyone what is in every corner of the world. Apart from the Targaryens, I have never heard of a second Dragonflight family. Why has it suddenly appeared now? Its origins, its legions, its completely different way of doing things—there are too many mysteries."

"No one is omniscient or omnipotent. We live in the present, and no one can see the whole picture or control the whole situation," Damon said, crossing his legs.

"Then at least two things should be done so that I can trust him."

"You're too late, my brother. Your king is coming, and he's bringing Renilla with him."

……

Marriage is not only a matter between two people, but also between two families. Before officially entering into a marital relationship, it is necessary to be discerning and careful, to listen and test the other person to obtain more information about them and determine whether he or she is their destined other half.

In modern society, where freedom and tolerance are relatively high, men and women often use dating to determine if the other person is truly suitable for marriage. Through a long period of getting to know each other, they learn about each other's personality, abilities, hobbies, values, family background, financial resources, parents' character, and even their strengths and weaknesses.

In Westeros under the feudal system, marriages were arranged, with equal emphasis on social standing, especially among noble families. Both sets of parents would meticulously compare power, wealth, and influence, weighing the pros and cons before finalizing the engagement. Correspondingly, these preliminary investigations and tests were also conducted by the parents.

Reed is now facing a similar situation.

After feeding the Night Fury, I swam around in the sea, took a cold shower, and changed into loose pajamas. Just as I was about to fall asleep to the sound of the waves, a maid from the castle knocked on the door and came in to deliver fruit.

After the woman dressed as a maid entered the room, she placed a fruit plate on the table, extinguished some of the candles, and lowered the curtain. Then, in the short time it took Rhett to turn around, she had already dropped her skirt.

Full-bodied yet with soft curves, like a pear; round and plump, like a peach; tall and straight, like a pomelo; and correspondingly, some resemble grapes, strawberries, peeled lychees, and fresh cherries... Most importantly, although their whole body exudes the scent of ripe fruit, their overall temperament is like that of a green apple.

In the dimly lit room, her figure appeared especially alluring. Rhett's gaze was involuntarily drawn to the sight, and he even circled around her, admiring and scrutinizing her.

The maid lowered her eyes, her expression a mixture of shyness and anticipation. She approached Rhett gently, her voice soft and alluring, carrying a seductive, almost criminal quality: "My lord~!"

"What's your name?"

The maid looked up shyly, only to find that the admiration in Reid's eyes had vanished, replaced by a playful scrutiny.

"Li, Lina." The little maid was a little nervous, as things were not developing quite as the old nanny had told her.

"Lina, why did you do that?"

"I...I admire..."

"Lina, try to control your blinking a little when you're lying, even though it looks cute."

"I'm sorry, sir, I can't say." Whether it was from the cold or nervousness, the little maid's voice trembled slightly. Her proud body being left exposed made her feel not only that she had no secrets, but also that she was somewhat embarrassed.

"Put your clothes on," Reed commanded, turning his back to him.

"Yes, sir." The little maid dressed faster than she could undress.

"Let's go back."

The maid looked troubled and hesitated, unsure of what to do.

"Are there penalties for failing to complete the task?"

He nodded vigorously.

"To be honest, and relay this message for me: I'm perfectly normal, you're beautiful, have a great figure, and you've already aroused me." Reed pointed to his erection, then changed the subject: "But I'm furious. This kind of behavior exists in my hometown too, but it only applies to marriages between people of higher status. The higher-status woman's family sends a maid to the lower-status man's bed to conduct a premarital check-up to ensure the woman's marital life will be harmonious. But I don't think Earl Corliss of the Sea Serpent is qualified to inspect my goods!"

"I'm so sorry, sir!" The panicked maidservant ran away in a panic.

Reed went outside and took a cold shower. He was delighted with his young and healthy body, but sometimes he also felt embarrassed, such as by this physiological phenomenon that so clearly demonstrated his abundant vitality and emotional rhythm.

After all that fuss, Reed returned to his room and used the sea breeze blowing in through the window to dry his hair, which had gotten wet again. Just then, he heard a knock on the door.

"Sir, I've come to deliver fruit," a magnetic male voice said respectfully.

"Damn it!" Reed angrily drew his steel sword.