Essos, Qarth, Governor's Mansion.
Inside the council hall, Viserys stood by the highest governor's chair, slowly surveying the room with a mocking smile.
"Daenerys, my dear sister, you are truly lucky."
Daenerys turned her small face away, and everyone could see her sorrow, except Viserys.
Jorah Mormont, who was beside her, couldn't help but say, "King Viserys, luck alone cannot conquer a city. It was Princess Daenerys's decisiveness that allowed us to stand here."
Viserys was in a good mood for the time being, so Jorah Mormont's "resistance" did not awaken his sleeping dragon's fury.
Viserys sat on the governor's chair, looking down at the people below from his lofty position.
He announced loudly, "In the name of Viserys III, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, Protector of the Realm, I declare that the city-state of Qarth shall be renamed Vaes Dothrak."
"In the name of the true King of the Iron Throne, I bestow glory upon this city."
As Viserys's excited words fell, the hall suddenly became silent, and everyone was stunned.
Seeing that no one echoed his declaration, Viserys's handsome face twisted. He roared, "Are you deaf? Are you planning to disobey the King's command?"
The more Viserys spoke, the angrier he became. He suddenly stood up and shrieked, "How dare you disobey the King's command?"
Still, no one spoke, nor was there the kneeling and begging for mercy that Viserys had imagined. The war had just ended, and most of the people below still had bloodstains on them.
No one was afraid, and no one was angry; they just gathered around his sister in unusual silence.
Their gazes at him were calm, as if devoid of any emotion, but this situation made Viserys, in his rage, feel a sudden panic.
Viserys's face flushed red. He quickly dispelled the inexplicable fear within him. He was a true dragon; a true dragon feared nothing!
His body trembled with rage, and he needed an outlet. He slowly scanned the faces below, and finally… his gaze settled on Daenerys, who was looking down.
A cold sneer crept onto Viserys's somewhat distorted face.
"Daenerys… sister…"
Viserys's chilling voice came, and among those present, only Daenerys involuntarily trembled.
Daenerys, who had been grieving over the loss of so many soldiers, came back to her senses. She looked up at her brother, who was high above.
The corners of Daenerys's eyes were red. During this time, her brother no longer scolded her or hit her. The two of them could be said to have finally experienced a rare "peaceful" coexistence after growing up… But she didn't know why the brother who used to play with her and tell her stories was becoming increasingly blurry in her memory.
That was the warmest place deep in Daenerys's memory. She had always prayed for that brother to return, but… why was she remembering his appearance less and less clearly? Was that brother abandoning her?
… … … …
A hot tear escaped from the corner of Daenerys's eye, slowly rolling down her cheek.
Viserys naturally saw Daenerys, who was crying from fear, and his eyes showed an unusual excitement. This was the consequence of awakening the sleeping dragon's fury!
Viserys chuckled a few times and sat back in his chair.
He proudly raised his chin and said contemptuously, "My dear sister, did you hear my command?"
Ser Jorah noticed something was wrong with Daenerys. He turned his head to look… The Princess's eyes were hollow, and she was silently weeping, tear after tear.
Ser Jorah's heart ached. Just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by Viserys's voice.
"Daenerys, why aren't you speaking? Are you trying to awaken my sleeping dragon's fury?"
As Viserys's words fell, Daenerys's petite body trembled uncontrollably once again.
Daenerys's hollow gaze gradually disappeared, and a glimmer of light appeared in her violet eyes.
Daenerys raised her hand and looked down at her palm. This was her own hand; it was still trembling slightly, acting against her will.
Daenerys closed her eyes. She seemed to have found the answer.
That brother was a memory kept in her heart, but the current brother… curses and beatings. Was Viserys leaving painful memories in her body?
Why did the brother who accompanied her through days of constant fear leave her… She understood now; that brother found someone else who could replace him.
That brother didn't abandon her… That skinny little brother finally revealed a relieved smile.
… … … …
Ser Jorah's tall, strong body moved, blocking Viserys's line of sight.
"King Viserys, I would like to remind you that this is Essos, not Westeros. Your declaration will only bring us more and stronger enemies!"
Viserys was seething with anger, but Ser Jorah stared back, unyielding.
Viserys gnashed his teeth: "Mormont, I will cut off your head sooner or later!"
Why was Viserys so eager to claim Qarth? Because Viserys had long been dissatisfied that everyone only obeyed Daenerys, while ignoring the true King of the Iron Throne… He felt that today was the best time for him to seize power.
Why did Viserys think today was the best time to seize power from his sister… He hadn't carefully planned or calculated the reasons… He was a true dragon. If a true dragon felt it was the best time, then it must be the best time. This reason was enough.
As for the hidden dangers mentioned by Jorah Mormont, they had nothing to do with him… For Viserys, seizing power was to gain the King's rightful authority, and nothing else… Because Daenerys had already promised him that within the one-year agreement, he would get ten thousand soldiers to return to Westeros.
In short, his taking over the forces in Daenerys's hands and his obtaining soldiers from Daenerys were two separate matters.
… … … …
Dick had always stood respectfully beside the governor's chair. He was now highly trusted by Viserys, and he could also be said to be Viserys's only subordinate who helped him display the King's majesty.
While Viserys and Ser Jorah were in a standoff, Dick quietly looked at Daenerys.
At this moment, Daenerys was wiping away tears with a towel. She seemed to sense Dick's gaze, paused, and subtly nodded her chin.
After receiving Daenerys's command, Dick's eyes habitually darted around. He approached Viserys, bowed, and whispered, "King Viserys, dealing with the people's petitions is more important. The people will know who is the master of this city."
After hearing Dick's advice, Viserys paused. If he just sat here and handled petitions, the people would know who the true master was… This was a clever way to seize power!
Viserys first gave Dick a satisfied look, then he said, "Mormont, I'm giving you a chance to atone. Go and announce outside that starting tomorrow, I will personally receive the people here and handle their petitions."
Ser Jorah's face instantly darkened. He was once the Lord of Bear Island, and he naturally understood what it meant for Viserys to handle petitions.
Ser Jorah clenched his fist. Princess Daenerys had finally conquered Qarth with great difficulty, but he was going to unashamedly and recklessly usurp Princess Daenerys's power.
"Ser Jorah, please step back."
Hearing Daenerys's clear voice, Ser Jorah immediately unclenched his fist, moved aside, and stood to the side.
Ser Jorah glanced up at Princess Daenerys, who was standing with her small waist straight, then quickly lowered his eyes.
At Ser Jorah's suggestion, Daenerys decisively offered a helping hand to the Governor of Qarth, who had not received reinforcements.
As a result, more than half of the new recruits from slave backgrounds and the guards from Crab Claw Peninsula were sacrificed, and Othana and Anguy, whom Daenerys trusted, were also seriously wounded.
Finally, with the combined efforts of Daenerys and the Governor of Qarth, the invaders were repelled.
As the enemies retreated, the already gravely wounded Governor of Qarth, on his deathbed, handed over the responsibility of protecting the city to the Silver-Haired Princess.
Thus, Daenerys Targaryen, Dragonstone Princess, Breaker of Chains (obtained when rescuing slave ships), Stormborn… as a savior, rightfully took over the responsibility of protecting this city of tens of thousands from the former Governor.
[Daenerys's cheat-like life needs no further explanation; please use your imagination for more details.]
… … … …
Daenerys stepped forward, her gaze first meeting Dick's.
Dick nodded slightly: "Please rest assured, Princess."
He was the clever Dick. When he was in King's Landing, he had slipped into the Red Keep with the crowd and witnessed how the lofty King's Hand handled one petition after another… Dick felt that if it were him, he would definitely not be able to handle those complex and troublesome big and small problems.
Dick was very familiar with Viserys… If he couldn't handle them, let alone Viserys.
Count Green had told Dick that he was the bridge between House Clebber and House Targaryen, and House Clebber was betting not on Viserys, but on Daenerys.
Dick kept his mission in mind… It seemed he was helping Viserys, but in reality, he was digging a pit. The real purpose was to let Daenerys step forward at the right time to win back the people's hearts when Viserys caused public resentment.
This was something Dick learned while frequenting Flea Bottom. He found that some people used similar tactics when doing certain things.
Although Qarth had repelled the invaders, no one could say that the danger had been averted, because those invaders might return tomorrow, so the former Governor smoothly handed over the responsibility of protecting the city to Princess Daenerys.
Dick couldn't guarantee whether the invaders would return, but he knew they were outsiders and couldn't let the city live too comfortably.
Otherwise, after a period of peace, the city would quickly forget Princess Daenerys's kindness and instead treat them, the outsiders, as invaders.
Therefore, this city needed a bad guy, and Dick felt that the erratic Viserys was very suitable.
In a while, Dick would also ask Princess Daenerys to give him a few executioners… He had to stay close to Viserys to prevent accidentally causing a riot and losing his life there.
… … … …
Daenerys looked at Viserys and said, "Brother, I will arrange for someone to announce that starting tomorrow, the Governor's Mansion council hall will accept petitions from the people."
Daenerys couldn't guess Dick's intentions, but she chose to trust Dick, and she also needed some time to consolidate Qarth's defenses.
During her time in Pentos, the man as warm as summer sunshine told her why the army was the foundation of power and the guarantee of security… Green's gentle voice and simple, easy-to-understand words were still in Daenerys's ears.
Viserys smiled broadly: "Daenerys, my good sister, you are indeed my good sister… I will not forget your contributions. I will definitely reward you when I reclaim the Iron Throne."
Daenerys nodded in dismissal and was about to leave, but Viserys called her back.
"Daenerys, don't forget about the renaming."
Daenerys showed a puzzled expression… Facing the death of so many familiar people for the first time, Daenerys was immersed in grief and had not heard Viserys's words.
Ser Jorah explained, "Princess Daenerys, His Majesty wants to rename Qarth to Vaes Dothrak."
Daenerys frowned slightly. She looked up at Viserys, who was leaning against the armrest with a triumphant expression.
Ser Jorah advised: "Princess, this action can easily provoke discontent and hostility from others. We cannot handle so many enemies right now."
Daenerys's violet eyes flickered. She said, "Ser Jorah, thank you for your advice. Let's go. Take me to visit the wounded."
Viserys was stunned when Daenerys left with her people. Just as he was about to explode in rage, Dick quickly approached him.
"King Viserys, such a small matter doesn't require the Princess's help at all. After a period of petitions, everyone will know that you are the master of this city. Then you can just announce it directly."
That makes sense, Viserys smiled.
… … … …
A bedroom in the Governor's Mansion.
Daenerys saw Othana, whose face was pale, and hurried over.
Daenerys took one of Othana's hands with both of hers, her beautiful eyes becoming moist: "Othana, I'm sorry, it's all my fault."
Othana parted her cracked lips and whispered, "Your Highness… it's impossible for no one to die in war… I'm just injured… I'll recover in a few days… Hiss… Damn it!"
It turned out that Borona, seeing the atmosphere was too heavy, reached out and pressed Othana's wound.
Othana and Borona glared at each other, and Daenerys couldn't help but curve her lips as she watched them.
… … … …
… … … …
Prime Minister's Tower, Prime Minister's bedroom.
Thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump, the urgent knocking on the door made Eddard Stark sit up abruptly from his sleep, his heart pounding.
Someone outside the door was shouting, "Lord Stark!"
Duke Eddard felt a deep sense of unease for some reason. He got out of bed, crossed the dark room, and pulled the door open.
Outside the door were Guard Tomard, who was raising his fist to knock, and Guard Caine, who held a candlestick, with the Lord Steward standing behind them.
The Lord Steward spoke expressionlessly, "Prime Minister, King has summoned you for an immediate audience."
Had Robert finally decided to return?