Essos, the Viserys City-State, the Magister's Palace.
Gryn stretched out his long legs and sat on the floor, his back leaning against the side of the bathtub.
Splash!
Behind her, Daenerys was soaking in the bathtub, while her two maids were scrubbing her body.
Ahead, there appeared to be three small dragons asleep.
Lord Gryn wore a faint smile, but his mind was racing. His eyes flickered as he looked at the three little dragons that seemed so docile at the moment.
Gryn's brown eyes trembled slightly... To stay or not to stay?
Gryn's thumb and forefinger were slowly approaching, but he suddenly stopped, turned his head to look behind him, and his eyes met Daenerys's.
Daenerys ' eyes shone with undisguised love, and her voice was soft, as if she were worried about something.
" Gryn, this isn't a dream... right?"
Daenerys's small, dark hands gripped Gryn's clothes tightly, which was one of the main reasons he was sitting there.
Gryn's fingers twitched, and then... he gently placed his hand on the back of Daenerys's hand.
He smiled, his eyes crinkling. "I'm here, my princess."
Daenerys's eyes reddened slightly as she slid over and wrapped her arms around Gryn.
They looked at each other for a moment, then she murmured, "This isn't a dream, respond to me."
Princess Daenerys...
She interrupted softly, "Call me Dany."
The two pressed themselves together, and the soft laughter of the maids reached their ears.
Daenerys felt Gryn's warmth and breath, her consciousness gradually fading, and sleepiness washed over her like a wave... She finally gave up the "struggle" and let sleepiness carry her into a sweet dream.
As they parted their lips, looking at Daenerys, who was already fast asleep, Gryn couldn't help but reveal a gentle smile.
Splash... A soaking wet Daenerys was lifted out of the bathtub by Gryn.
After a pause, Gryn lowered himself again and gestured to Daenerys's maid with his eyes, indicating that the princess's hand still needed... a thorough cleaning.
The two maids were well-trained; one washed and scrubbed, while the other dried him with a towel. Before long, Gryn was standing up straight again.
Gryn escorted Daenerys to her dorm room, and when he returned to the bathroom, he was holding a greatsword of Ice.
After closing the door, Gryn pulled Ice slowly toward the three quiet little dragons, the tip of Ice's sword making a harsh scraping sound on the hard stone slab.
The commotion Gryn made woke up the three little dragons, who began to hiss and occasionally spew out small plumes of black smoke.
Gryn sat down in front of the three little dragons, the Ice standing upright, the ripples deep within the blade appearing and disappearing, it was still as sharp as when it was first forged.
With the Ice set aside, Gryn took out a rough whetstone.
Sizzle~ Sizzle~ Sizzle~ Sizzle~ Sizzle~
The crisp, pleasant sound of sharpening the knife gradually lowered the hissing of the three little dragons.
Chirp~ Chirp~ Chirp~ Chirp~ Chirp~
The Daenerys we know today is not the same person who grew up through countless hardships. Because of his intervention, she is now just an exiled princess who has just regained her strength and lost her family. But... can Gryn, who aims for the Iron Throne, trust her?
Daenerys loved him deeply, but what is love? Is love a special physiological response? The transmigrator and power player, Gryn, tried to explain it using his memories from his past life, but... he couldn't find a definite answer for the time being.
Whoosh~ Whoosh~ Whoosh~ Whoosh~ Whoosh~ Whoosh~
Gryn sometimes prefers to face those with ill intentions rather than those with good intentions, because that doesn't affect his speed in drawing his knife.
Perhaps, it takes some time, not from others, but from ourselves.
Hiss~ hiss~ hiss~ hiss~ hiss~ hiss~ hiss~ hiss~
The crisp, pleasant sound of sharpening knives seemed to help the three little dragons find peace of mind one by one.
Lord Gryn nodded secretly; beautiful music indeed helped deepen their relationship.
That concludes today's music lesson.
Lord Gryn rose from his chair, patient, for he knew that "fatherly love" needed to be cultivated, starting from childhood.
The following afternoon.
Daenerys, lying on the bed, glanced sleepily at Gryn sitting beside her.
Gryn closed the book containing Valyrian legends and said with a smile, " Dany, you're awake?"
Daenerys stared at Gryn and silently nodded her chin.
Seeing that Daenerys was staring at him without moving, Gryn chuckled and said, "Your Highness, would you like Gryn services?"
A slight smile appeared on Daenerys's lips, and she nodded her chin again.
Gryn reached out his hand, but Daenerys, following his lead, threw herself into his arms.
Daenerys hugged Gryn tightly around the waist. "I missed you so much, my knight."
Gryn put one arm around Daenerys and patted her back gently with the other. "I'm here, my princess."
Daenerys nodded in Gryn's arms, and she hugged him even tighter.
The two embraced quietly.
After an unknown amount of time, Daenerys raised her head and asked, " Gryn, did you come for me?"
Gryn nodded slightly and said gently, " Dany, I heard your voice in my dream on the first day, and I had the same dream on the second day, but I still couldn't hear what you were saying. On the third day, I heard you clearly; I heard you calling for my help, so I came here."
Daenerys responded to Gryn with warm and gentle words.
Daenerys's breathing became heavy, and she pushed Gryn's chest with her hand, causing Gryn to fall backward onto the bed.
Daenerys sat on Gryn's lap, then reached out to brush her long hair aside as was her habit, but she paused.
Gryn put his hands behind his head and looked at Daenerys, who suddenly seemed to freeze, and couldn't help but smile slightly.
Daenerys touched the soft scalp, her pupils dilating. "Where's my hair?"
She touched it again, repeating incredulously, "Where's my hair?!"
Just as Gryn was about to speak, Daenerys suddenly climbed off him and ran barefoot to the dressing table.
After staring blankly at her bald reflection in the mirror for a while, Daenerys burst into tears.
The scene was somewhat somber, but Gryn kept trying to laugh; he... had to adjust his facial muscles.
After a pause, Gryn got off the bed. Daenerys saw him approaching in the mirror and immediately covered her face with her hands.
" Dany, believe me, you're stunning."
Daenerys opened her fingers slightly and looked at Gryn standing behind her through the mirror.
" Gryn, this was burned..."
As she spoke, she suddenly stopped, her eyes catching sight of her bald head in the mirror, and Daenerys couldn't help but shed tears again.
After thinking for a moment, Gryn suggested, " Dany, shall I have your maid find you a nicer headscarf?"
Westeros, the Riverlands.
The Lannister Oath Knights, leading a group of Free Riders hired by Tywin Lannister, suddenly crossed the border between the Westerlands and the Riverlands.
Several thousand cavalrymen, divided into numerous small units, began burning, killing, and looting the Riverlands ruled by the House Tully.
Originally, the vassal armies that had gathered in Riverrun on the orders of Edmure Tully (son of the Duke of Riverrun and brother of Catelyn ) were now being ordered by him to return to their fiefdoms with their troops to defend against a surprise attack by the Westerlands cavalry.
The heir to the Duke of Riverrun is determined to defend every inch of the Riverlands and protect every man, woman, and child who is under the Riverrun's control.
With the Riverlands army scattered, Jaime Lannister led 15,000 soldiers from the Westerlands Westerlands from Golden Tooth (a fortress Eastward Expansion the Riverlands Westerlands). He easily defeated the Riverlands troops stationed in various parts of the Riverlands one by one, and Jaime's Westerlands army headed directly toward Riverrun of Tully.
Tywin Lannister led 20,000 soldiers from the Westerlands across the Red Fork along the Gold Road, sweeping through the scattered Riverlands army.
Wherever Lord Tywin's army of the Westerlands went, the castles of the Riverlands lords were looted and the villages were razed to the ground.
Earl Shella Whent of Harrenhal surrendered the city to Lord Tywin due to insufficient troops to defend against the Westerlands army's attack, and the Westerlands army occupied Harrenhal.
A gallows was erected outside the gates of Harrenhal, and the corpses hanging on it swayed back and forth, their bodies covered with crows that cawed and took flight when someone approached.
Inside the red tent, Lord Tywin sat at the table, wielding a quill pen.
Although Lord Tywin was over fifty years old, he still appeared tall, with long legs, broad shoulders, a flat stomach, and slender yet muscular arms.
After his blond hair began to thin, Lord Tywin shaved his head and clean-shaven his beard, leaving only his sideburns.
Lord Tywin's eyes are a pale green with a golden tinge. Legend has it that a court jester once joked that even Lord Tywin's excrement contained gold, so he was imprisoned in the deepest Dungeons of Casterly Rock, and it is said that the man is still alive today.
Kevan Lannister, the younger brother of Lord Tywin, hurried into the tent.
" Lord Tywin, just received a message from Jaime: Jaime is engaged in a decisive battle with the main Tully forces outside Riverrun. The Riverlands army has suffered a crushing defeat, and Edmure Tully, along with many Riverlands vassals and knights, have been captured."
Lord Tywin paused, his quill pen still in his hand. He glanced at his slightly overweight younger brother and said, "Wait a minute."
With a few swift strokes, Lord Tywin finished writing the letter and set the quill aside.
Lord Tywin extended his hand, Kevan immediately handed him Jaime's letter.
After receiving the letter, Lord Tywin quickly read it and nodded slightly.
After a moment of silence, Ser Kevan spoke up, " Lord Tywin, House Melister still holds Seagard, and it's said that Walder Frey of the Twins is also gathering troops. Will they affect Jaime's siege?"
Lord Tywin shook his head slightly and said, "Unless they smell the scent of victory, the old fox of House Frey will never send out troops, and right now the air is thick with the smell of defeat."
As for Jason Mellist of Seagard, he lacks the manpower to fight alone. Once Jaime conquers Riverrun, both his and his family will naturally submit.
He paused, then added, "If the House Stark don't send troops to reinforce Riverrun, we've already won this battle."
Kevan's face still showed some worry. " The Stark's 20,000 troops are stationed the Neck, and they could move south at any time."
"The sharpness of any sword can only be known after it has been tested."
After a pause, Lord Tywin continued, "That House Stark brat is still a child. He probably enjoys the king's games of trumpeting and flags waving, but war is ultimately a massacre. I'm afraid he won't be able to endure it for long."
The mere mention of the Stark gave Kevan a headache. He rubbed it and said, "If only Cersei could have kept the Direwolf and their cubs. We could have made the House Stark submit to us without even using an army."
Upon hearing this, a vein bulged on Lord Tywin's forehead, and he let out a heavy, cold snort.
"With his self-proclaimed cleverness, he loves to act superior, and can't even control a mere brat king. What will happen after the war ends..."
With that, Lord Tywin walked to the long table covered with maps, lowered his eyes, and said, "We can't let her stay in the Red Keep any longer."
Kevan never objected to his brother's decisions. He shrugged and said, "As you wish, I'll keep an eye out for suitable places."
Lord Tywin nodded almost imperceptibly, staring at the map of the Seven Kingdoms. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "How's he doing in King's King's Landing?"
Who is he? Kevan knew perfectly well who he was referring to: Tyrion Lannister, the son of Lord Tywin Lannister was reluctant to name.
"He did a great job cleaning up a lot of the mess Cersei and Joffrey made."
Lord Tywin scoffed dismissively, saying, "Being Lannister is his duty. Without Lannister, he's nothing more than Dwarf to be played with."
Kevan hesitated for a moment, then said, "He came up with a seemingly good idea..."
As he spoke, Sir Kevan took another letter from his pocket and handed it to Lord Tywin.
Lord Tywin read aloud, "My dearest father, I'm sorry to have you read a letter from Dwarf. Last night I dreamt that you almost twisted your back trying to hug me..."
Lord Tywin's veins bulged again, seemingly throbbing, as he continued reading, "Thank you so much for sending troops to the Reach for the Dwarf lost half a nose. I imagine my proud father would rather not admit to having done something so touching... To further emphasize my Lannister status, on a friend's advice, I spent a fortune on a nose made of gold... It works wonderfully. Before, people loved the Gold Dragon you gave me, but now they love my Golden Nose even more..."
Lord Tywin always valued correspondence, because he believed that some victories were won with swords and spears, while others required pen and paper and ravens.
So he patiently read through Tyrion's "attentive" greetings and finally got to the point of the letter.
Lord Tywin placed the letter on the table, frowning. "He wants to arrange a marriage alliance with the Dornish?"
Kevan nodded and said, "He told me that his current problem is that Cersei doesn't want Myrcella to marry him, and her attitude is very firm."