Light and Ugliness

Today, laughter and the clatter of cups and plates converged into a river within Sealord's Palace, echoing through the halls.

This night featured not only splendid performances by courtesans and renowned troupes, but also exquisite feasts rich in color, aroma, and flavor, along with costly wines from both shores of the Narrow Sea.

Attending such a banquet was naturally a symbol of status and standing.

If one was not an old Braavosi noble, wealthy merchant, official, or notable figure, it was difficult to obtain an invitation to the Sealord's feast.

Viserys was also getting a firsthand glimpse of how Braavos's court operated. Trade was the core of the city-state's workings, while land was the pillar supporting Westeros.

In the Free Trade Cities, merchants, courtesans, and socialites also held high status and counted as part of the upper class.

This was another difference between the power structures of Essos and the Sunset Lands. Westeros was governed by feudal military lords.

Like the newly rich of these trading city-states, the lords and nobles of Westeros would look down on them as upstarts and cheese mongers.

Viserys's room was rather peculiar as well: courtesans and an exiled king.

"Today isn't even the liveliest," Black Pearl explained. "The liveliest is the annual Ten-Day Revelry, commemorating Uthero casting aside his cloak. At midnight on the tenth day, the Titan of Braavos lets out a roar, and everyone attending the feast and revelers alike remove their masks in perfect unison."

"How intoxicating," Viserys replied as he skillfully picked out snow-white crabmeat.

This ten-day masked carnival was surely lively, but that excitement belonged to others. Viserys was already considering how to make his escape.

"Is it really that good?" the cold and glamorous Lady of Darkness asked as she watched Viserys tear through the food, knife and fork flying.

The shells of snails and crabs he had eaten were piled beside him.

She truly seemed connected to darkness somehow, carrying an aloof and chilly air.

Lady of Darkness was not lovestruck. She simply found the contrast striking: such a handsome, refined man eating so much and so casually, with barely any noble bearing left.

And he was the descendant of proud, ancient dragon kings. He should not have fallen so low.

"It really is delicious." Viserys could not be bothered with other people's stares. Why suffer just to save face?

The finest state for a king was to be indifferent to such things.

When one was away from home, dignity was something others bestowed. The face of a fallen royal house was now little more than an empty shell.

Sea snails, giant lobsters, Sea Lord Crabs, lampreys, and the like were all exceedingly expensive, with considerable preparation costs.

If one went to Braavos's fish market to buy them, there might be money but no goods, and fresh catches were especially difficult to acquire.

"Eat mine too, Silver Traveler, Viserys. A good knight needs a good appetite." Moonshadow smilingly pushed her sea snail soup toward Viserys. Her hands were fair and delicate. "I don't like sea snails."

"I am deeply honored by Lady Moonshadow's generosity," Viserys thanked her.

Perhaps Moonshadow did not care about Viserys's identity at all. It could only be said that Viserys's looks and talent had stirred this courtesan's heart a little.

"Just don't eat yourself into a fat man," Black Pearl and Nightingale joked.

"Don't worry. I won't," Viserys promised.

What a joke. His Cannibal Talent ensured that the food he ate was converted into attribute energy.

Without that Talent, Viserys would have eaten himself into gout, obesity, or iron poisoning long ago.

"Eat mine too." Lady of Darkness pushed over her own small bowl of creamy snail soup.

Viserys looked at Lady of Darkness in her black dress. She seemed shrouded in the misty chill of an iceberg, a courtesan as mysterious as a riddle.

Lady of Darkness wore a black dress. Her proportions were exquisite, and the close-fitting gown displayed her captivating curves, enough to draw any man's gaze.

It was just that her face always seemed to carry that irritating air of keeping everyone at arm's length.

"Your luck is truly remarkable. Lady of Darkness has always been sparing with her words. Even I've never received such treatment," Black Pearl teased.

"If you want it, you can come find me," Lady of Darkness snorted coldly.

"Braavos has beautiful sights and fine food, but the local wine leaves something to be desired." After eating and drinking his fill, Viserys sampled some watered-down local Braavosi wine. It was truly dreadful.

"Braavosi wine really doesn't belong on the table. Everyone agrees that the finest wines come from Dorne and the Arbor." Black Pearl nodded. She was a seasoned gourmand herself.

"You can come to my place. I have excellent wine." Moonshadow looked at Viserys. As a courtesan, she naturally possessed a certain allure.

"His Majesty Viserys has three unmatched gifts," Black Pearl introduced him to the others. "First, his writing—his fine lyrics are famous throughout Braavos. Second, his tongue—this king's tongue can savor countless delicacies. Third, his sharp sword—he is a genius swordsman."

"They are hardly worth mentioning." Viserys waved a hand.

That measure of humility only improved Viserys's image. Besides being a descendant of the exiled dragon kings, he was also accomplished in many arts.

Moonshadow's gaze held the lethal force of a hunter seeking hearts, yet Viserys showed no reaction at all.

Right now, Viserys was preparing to pull off something huge. He had no mood to leave romance in every corner of Braavos.

Besides, when it came to connections and intelligence networks, Black Pearl utterly outclassed Moonshadow.

The dinner gradually ended amid laughter and chatter. After the long tables on the first floor were moved aside, the cleared passage became a place for men and women to dance.

Quite a few men and women were already seeking partners, preparing to shine on the dance floor.

"Let's go, knight." Black Pearl spoke to Viserys as she put on her mask. "My first dance."

"With pleasure, beautiful young lady." Viserys took Black Pearl's hand.

Viserys had learned some court dances as a child. Though he was not particularly graceful, at least he would not embarrass himself.

The most dazzling young courtesan in the hall was dancing her first dance with Viserys. It would surely leave many people stunned.

Moonshadow looked as though she wanted to devour someone. In this food chain, Black Pearl had her completely pinned down.

Black Pearl and Viserys walked ahead, followed by Lady of Darkness, Nightingale, and Moonshadow.

The few of them appeared to be a small clique. Black Pearl had complicated connections, Lady of Darkness maintained her mystery, while both Nightingale and Moonshadow were linked to Moonsinger priests.

When Viserys took Black Pearl's hand and stepped out of the room, he spotted several other courtesans on the spiral staircase.

The Mermaid Queen and her four mermaids, the Masked Lady who allowed only her lovers to see her face, and the Poetess who always held a book in her hands.

Braavos's top courtesans had all gathered here.

"Miss Black Pearl, and this is?" the Mermaid Queen asked behind her silver mask.

She saw only silver hair and beautiful violet eyes, with an extraordinary air about him, though the mask hid his face.

"The man who writes songs for me, the Silver Traveler," Black Pearl introduced. "And my first dance partner."

The Mermaid Queen and the Poetess had thoughts of recruiting Viserys as well, but now was not the right time.

The Mermaid Queen, the Poetess, and the Masked Lady were all taken aback. They had not expected Black Pearl to be so casual about it.

A skilled lyricist was certainly hard to come by, but not so valuable that she needed to show him this much favor.

For the first dance, how many young lords and princes were waiting to become her partner? It was the hottest opportunity of the night.

Yet Black Pearl had other plans.

"Then it will surely be a beautiful dance," the Mermaid Queen praised.

"I hope so." Black Pearl's expression remained indifferent as she headed downstairs with Viserys.

"You don't like her?" Viserys asked.

"Of course." Black Pearl lowered her voice. "Did you see her four mermaids? When the Mermaid Queen is unwell or not in the mood, the mermaids socialize in her place. The noble courtesan keeps herself pure, while the mermaids are pitiful playthings."

"This..." Viserys could only say that they certainly knew how to play. It was practically buy one, get four free.

"That is the mermaids' rule. It has always been that way." Black Pearl raised a brow.

"Then those mermaids..."

"Pitiful mermaids. Whenever one leaves, a new one takes her place," Black Pearl said calmly.

"Doesn't Braavos reject slavery?"

"They aren't slaves. They are maids from respectable families, or girls hoping to rise through the courtesan's path. They want to make something of themselves, but in truth, they will forever be the mermaids' servants and tools."

Where there is light, it seems ugliness is destined to exist as well, Viserys thought.

This was Braavos, and also a place where people fought for power and profit.

There was light, and there was darkness. There was splendor, and there was ugliness.

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