Beauty and Trouble

"Who stands behind the Mermaid Queen?" Viserys asked curiously.

"House Prestayn." Black Pearl spoke softly. "Braavos is full of secrets. You needn't ask too many questions."

Viserys had also heard of this noble family. They were quite famous in Braavos.

House Prestayn was one of the ancient Sea Lord families, though its power and prestige had now fallen behind the three great houses of House Antaryon, House Ferrega, and House Zainenn.

Even so, they could still be considered one of Braavos's ten greatest families.

They possessed tall, square towers built along the western bank of the Long Canal, stretching from the Palace of Truth to the northern part of the Sweetwater Canal.

Nightingale, Lady of Darkness, and Moonshadow followed a short distance behind Viserys. Rather than seeking dance partners themselves, they seemed intent on watching Black Pearl dance with Viserys.

Viserys and Black Pearl stepped into the center of the dance floor together, and the people dancing there could not help but turn to look at them.

Viserys wore black, while his silver half-mask and silver-white hair gleamed beneath the lights.

Aside from her mask, Black Pearl wore a dark yellow, low-cut silk gown that complemented her glowing brown skin.

Her black hair was gathered beneath a golden hairnet, and a necklace of black jade and gold hung over her full breasts.

The talented young men of Braavos, who had been eagerly waiting to see whom Black Pearl would grant her first dance of the evening, discovered that someone had already beaten them to it.

They had no idea who this silver-haired young man was, to be so bold.

"Honored Lady Bellegere, it is my privilege to ask you for a dance."

"The honor is mine, mysterious knight—the Silver Traveler."

Viserys and Black Pearl began to dance together, their movements slow and unremarkable at first.

Viserys took her hand, then wrapped an arm around Black Pearl's waist. It was the opening posture of a ballroom dance, though more difficult moves would follow.

The movements gradually grew faster.

"Your dancing is rather rusty," Black Pearl said.

"Practice makes perfect," Viserys said with a smile. His strength and physique were far better than before; now he only needed to recall the techniques and rhythm of those dances from the past.

Black Pearl was patient as well, and the pair's dancing became ever more beautiful and captivating.

"You truly are a master of many arts. Most people would be called geniuses for mastering even one, yet you are talented in so many ways." Black Pearl looked at him curiously.

"For that praise, I paid far more than you can imagine."

"You still aren't telling me the truth." Black Pearl complained with dissatisfaction.

Though the others could not see Viserys's face clearly, they could see his tall, athletic figure and his graceful, gentle dance movements. The two looked like a perfect pair.

Black Pearl was unquestionably the center of attention in the entire hall. Beneath the lights, she was breathtakingly beautiful, her figure alluring and her steps light and elegant.

Viserys and Black Pearl gradually found their rhythm. They spun and swayed, and Black Pearl even pushed away from his embrace before being swept back into it in a dazzling movement.

Their splendid performance drew a chorus of cheers.

"Do you have more lyrics? A fine meal would do as payment too," Black Pearl asked.

"I do, but I want gold and dragonbone. Other than dragonbone, Sea Lord Crabs and purple giant lobsters will also do."

"You truly are greedy, but I like that kind of honesty. If you want something, you ask for it. I'll do my best to find them, but you must be prepared to trade."

"Don't worry."

Who would win the favor of a courtesan had always been a favorite topic at balls.

The eyes of many young Braavosi nobles practically spat sparks. This had been their chance to make a name for themselves, yet someone had directly stolen Black Pearl away.

The Mermaid Queen had also entered the hall. Dancing with her was a young man in brown clothes with brown hair and sharp, calculating eyes.

Viserys noticed that the young man occasionally looked in their direction.

"Why do I feel like someone is watching me?" Viserys asked.

"You are not mistaken," Black Pearl said. "The young master of House Prestayn. It seems he had intended to invite me for a dance, but never got the chance. He is narrow-minded and places great importance on face and family pride."

"So he already dislikes me?" Viserys was speechless. No wonder people said beauty was a blade hanging over one's head.

"Are you afraid?" Black Pearl asked deliberately.

"Not really," Viserys said.

"Once people enter the arena of power, it is like stepping into a swamp. They can never pull themselves free." Black Pearl looked into Viserys's eyes. They were like violets—on closer inspection, a lilac purple.

Whether rulers, warriors, singers, merchants, or courtesans, anyone who wanted to rise above others had to step over someone else's corpse.

"I'm sorry," Black Pearl said softly. A faint fragrance clung to her. "You have become famous, but it seems that is not entirely a good thing."

"Trouble is always there. I will never lack trouble in this life." Viserys held Black Pearl around the waist and drew her closer into his arms.

"You really are a little madman," Black Pearl complained, her breasts trembling.

"Very soft," Viserys remarked.

Black Pearl could not be blamed for this. This world was one where people devoured one another.

A man may be innocent, but his treasure invites disaster.

As long as Viserys was alive, he possessed considerable value. Not to mention that he had two little beauties with him—the exiled descendants of the true dragon.

Since I can't avoid it, I can only gamble everything. There is no helping it; the world has always been this cruel. What is good will be taken by the strong from the weak. Viserys had already made up his mind.

Black Pearl's beauty had already caused him great trouble, let alone Rhaenys and Daenerys in the future.

Only the strong could protect them better.

Viserys glanced once more at the young man from the Preston family. He was dancing merrily with the Mermaid Queen, as though nothing had happened.

But Viserys remembered that venomous gaze perfectly. Trouble would come knocking eventually.

After one dance ended, Black Pearl found a place to rest briefly.

But Viserys noticed that Lady of Darkness had also walked over.

"You are inviting me?" Viserys asked.

"Come," Lady of Darkness answered simply.

Viserys began to dance with Lady of Darkness.

"'No More Meeting' is quite pleasant to hear," Lady of Darkness said. "Did you write it?"

"I did," Viserys said shamelessly.

Lady of Darkness was somewhat like a cold beauty. Even her skin carried a cool sensation.

"Why do you like 'No More Meeting'?" Viserys asked her.

"Because, like that song, I am a wanderer," Lady of Darkness said frankly.

Viserys and Lady of Darkness danced like shattered stars scattered across the sky. Her movements were swift, light, and elegant, to the point that Viserys could not help suspecting that this courtesan had trained as well.

When the second dance ended, Moonshadow unexpectedly came for a third.

"How can he dance with three courtesans?" displeased young Braavosi men began whispering to one another.

"The Silver Traveler—it's the man who wrote those exquisite lyrics." Someone had already guessed Viserys's alias.

At today's banquet, whether it was the three-fold singer identity created by Viserys's alias or his becoming Black Pearl's first dance partner, both had drawn attention.

Viserys's alias had become famous in a single stroke, but amid all that beauty, trouble was unavoidable.

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