Following the ceremony came the grand tribute presentation.
Seven new Queens flanked Lo Quen as they jointly received congratulations and offerings from across the world. Merchants from the Free Cities, ever mindful of appearances, presented lavish and costly gifts. Qohor sent a massive, intricately woven tapestry. Pentos offered golden wine vessels inlaid with ivory and emeralds. Braavos presented an exquisite set of Cyvasse chess pieces carved from precious stones. Each gift drew gasps of admiration from the assembled guests.
The envoys from the Summer Isles and Basilisk Isles took a starkly different approach, bringing living wonders. Exotic birds of extraordinary coloration chirped within gilded cages, while docile spotted leopard cubs were led by their trainers. Most captivating was the lively, adorable baby chimpanzee presented by the Summer Isles envoy. Its comical antics elicited both fear and gasps of awe from some of the ladies present. Lo Quen observed these creatures from the distant south, his face betraying a hint of surprise and interest.
The gifts from Slaver's Bay's slave masters were blunt and crude. One hundred Unsullied soldiers and one hundred beautiful maidservants. This gift was less a congratulatory offering and more a sales pitch.
The representatives from Qarth and Asabhad, acting on behalf of their merchant guilds, each presented ten large merchant sailing ships. For these two Free Cities, this gift was truly substantial.
Next, the envoys from the Far East stepped forward. Merchants from Yi Ti presented exquisitely crafted celadon vases and vibrantly glazed painted plates and cups.
"Your Grace..."
The leader of the Yi Ti delegation spoke: "We come from the ancient capital of Tiqui in Yi Ti, crossing vast oceans to present these gifts and offer our congratulations on your royal wedding."
At these words, a flicker of light passed through Lo Quen's eyes. He had heard Luo Wen report that Tiqui was mired in a quagmire of warlord strife. These merchants' arrival now likely held more than mere gift-giving intentions.
He responded with a smile: "Thank you for the gifts from our distant homeland. Yi Ti porcelain is renowned far and wide. Please take your seats and enjoy the fine wine and cuisine."
The Yi Ti merchants exchanged glances, seeming to hesitate, but ultimately bowed respectfully and withdrew, deciding to seek another opportunity.
Lastly, the graceful women from Leng approached. They glided forward, their retainers following behind, carrying nine heavy ebony chests. The moment the chests opened, the entire hall seemed to ignite. Inside lay heaps of uncut yet dazzling gems, their kaleidoscopic brilliance overwhelming the guests. The sight left them breathless, their eyes filled with greed and awe. Leng Island's reputation for wealth was indeed well-deserved.
The lead Thunder Island envoy spoke with a voice as enchanting as her appearance: "Your Grace, I have crossed the Smoking Sea at the command of the Empress of Leng to bring you her most sincere greetings. Her Grace has heard of your glorious deeds—your mastery of the great dragon and your conquest of the West—and is deeply impressed. She extends a special invitation for you to visit Leng, where you shall be received with the grandest of ceremonies."
She paused, her voice growing even more enchanting: "Moreover, our Empress has yet to find a worthy Yi Ti consort. Should Your Grace consent, Her Majesty yearns to become your wife. This union would forge the strongest alliance between Leng and your kingdom."
The entire hall erupted in uproar!
At the very wedding where the King had just married seven Queens, he was now being proposed to by another Empress? The Eastern nation's approach was undeniably direct and bold!
Lo Quen, however, understood perfectly—even finding it somewhat amusing. He was well aware of Leng's peculiar tradition. Since the era of the God-Empress Khiara, successive Leng queens typically maintained two husbands: one of pure Leng blood and one of Yi Ti descent. This practice balanced the influence of the island's ethnic groups.
The envoy's mention of 'becoming a wife' likely referred to an invitation for him to serve as that 'Yi Ti husband'—effectively a male consort. This wasn't arrogance or discourtesy from the Leng people; it was simply their tradition.
His expression remained composed, his tone gentle: "I am deeply grateful for Her Grace's profound kindness and generous invitation. Please convey to Her Grace that while I appreciate her gracious offer, I must currently focus on consolidating the newly established kingdom. I have no plans for distant travels or remarriage at this time."
The female envoy from Leng wore an expression of profound disappointment, yet she maintained her elegant decorum, bowing deeply before withdrawing.
Subsequently, envoys from lesser islands like Great Moraq and Isle of Whips presented local specialties. Though less spectacular than earlier gifts, these offerings brimmed with exotic charm, delighting the assembled guests.
When an envoy from Ibben Island stepped forward, his face bore a confident, even smug expression—clearly certain his gift would impress.
He held a wooden box, roughly crafted yet sturdy.
Lo Quen glanced over with a hint of curiosity.
The box opened to reveal a soft fur lining, with several pieces of richly colored amber arranged in the center. The most striking item, however, was a long spiral-curved horn, about two feet in length, encircled by the amber.
"Your Grace!"
The Ibben envoy proclaimed loudly, "We present the treasure of Ibben Island—the horn of a unicorn! May Your Grace and the Seven Queens reign eternally!"
The envoy stepped forward, box in hand, intending to place this precious gift into Lo Quen's grasp, only to be halted by two Dragon Soul Guards who stepped in front of him.
Lo Quen gazed at the unicorn horn, his mind filled with exasperation. Even among living unicorns, Qyburn's meticulous breeding had long surpassed a hundred specimens. Their horns held little value as rare treasures to him.
Yet, as a sovereign, he maintained his regal composure and smiled, waving gently to the guards to allow passage.
The envoy's excitement intensified as he hurried to the foot of the throne, stopping less than half a step away from Lo Quen. He cautiously extended the wooden box forward, as if presenting the world's most precious treasure: "Your Grace, please witness this miraculous creation with your own eyes..."
His words abruptly halted!
In that instant, the excitement on the envoy's face melted like ice, instantly replaced by a twisted, savage grimace. His right hand suddenly drew a short dagger from beneath the amber, thrusting it straight toward Lo Quen's unguarded chest.
The hall erupted in a cacophony of terrified screams. The guests were utterly petrified by this sudden turn of events. The seven Queens paled visibly, with Myrcella and Sansa nearly fainting, their eyes brimming with endless terror and worry.
Yet, what unfolded next made everyone's screams freeze in their throats.
Facing this close-range assault, Lo Quen didn't even twitch an eyebrow. His reaction was too swift for the naked eye to follow. With a seemingly casual motion, he raised his right hand, meeting the poisoned dagger squarely with his open palm.
"Clang!"
A crisp, thunderous sound reverberated through the hall.
Under countless horrified gazes, the dagger—clearly no ordinary weapon—seemed to strike the hardest steel in the world. It shattered cleanly against Lo Quen's bare palm. The broken blade tip clattered to the floor, while Lo Quen's hand bore not even a single white mark.
Lo Quen's Dragon Bloodline had long granted him the formidable True Dragon Physique. While not quite invulnerable to blades and spears, he came remarkably close. At the very least, weapons not forged from Valyria steel could not pierce him.
The assassin's face contorted with utter disbelief.
But he was a professional killer. One strike failed, and he immediately changed tactics. He suddenly opened his mouth wide, and a needle as thin as a cowhair, flashing with a green glow, shot out, aiming straight for Lo Quen's throat.
At such close range, it was almost a guaranteed hit!
Lo Quen merely tilted his head slightly, the poisoned needle whizzed past his skin, silently embedding itself into the carpeted floor behind him.
The assassin's eye twitched violently, a flash of desperate madness crossing his gaze. He swiftly drew another backup dagger from his sleeve and lunged savagely toward Lo Quen's heart. This time, he poured every ounce of strength into the strike!
The result was identical.
Lo Quen raised his hand again, pinching the dagger's blade precisely between two fingers. With a slight squeeze.
"Snap!"
The second dagger snapped clean in two.
The assassin was utterly dumbfounded. Clutching the lone handle, he stood frozen in place.
This man before him... Was he not made of flesh and blood?
The entire hall fell deathly silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone was utterly dumbfounded by this unimaginable spectacle.
Only then did Lo Quen slowly lower his hand. Looking at the assassin before him, now utterly disoriented, a smile spread across his face as he said:
"Friend, what were you expecting?"
With that, he kicked the man hard, sending him crashing to the floor.
The Dragon Soul Guards pounced instantly, pinning the stiffened assassin to the ground.
...
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