Rhaenyra's actions left everyone present stunned. The maids and the Silverwork Guild's craftsmen tactfully lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound.
Danyla's personal maid, Jarelle Mooton, hurriedly gathered up the jewelry Rhaenyra had knocked over and immediately returned to Danyla's side.
Viserys felt a headache coming on, while a faint, nagging pain stirred in Aemma's abdomen.
But they were more worried that Rhaenyra's outrageous behavior had humiliated Danyla. Rubbing her belly, Aemma approached Danyla and comforted her.
"I'm sorry, Danyla. You shouldn't have had to suffer that. Don't worry, I'll give Rhaenyra a proper scolding!"
Viserys spoke up as well.
"Danyla, thank you for the silver belt and brooch. I like them very much! Rhaenyra was probably a little jealous of how thoughtful you are. She's the one being childish. Don't take it to heart!"
What the fuck?!
A hundred thousand curses thundered through Danyla's mind.
Yet she wore an unruffled expression as she said,
"Hahaha! What's gotten into everyone? It's all right. My niece Rhaenyra probably felt she'd lost face!"
"After all, I only just exposed her little scheme this morning!"
"She must have been so embarrassed that she lashed out!"
"She's still young. I won't hold it against her."
"Since she doesn't care for this jewelry, I'll keep it myself."
"I won't disturb you and your wife any longer, cousin."
"Try the belts on again, and tell the craftsmen if anything needs adjusting!"
"I'll take my leave now! Goodbye, cousin, cousin-in-law!"
With that, Danyla hurried away with Jarelle. As she stepped through the doorway, she deliberately gave herself a hard pinch, bringing tears to her eyes at once.
Then she turned slightly, just enough for Viserys and the others to see her wounded expression and tear-filled eyes.
On the way back to her room, Danyla slipped the Valyrian bracelet onto her wrist and told Jarelle,
"You, Anna, and the other girl can divide this pink diamond jewelry among yourselves! You're not so young anymore, after all. Think of it as an early start on your dowries."
Jarelle rolled her eyes at Danyla.
"Your Highness, stop teasing us."
"If Ser Harold hadn't severely punished those servants spreading gossip about you and Medrick in Dragonstone Castle, who knows what malicious people would have made of it by now?"
"When I heard early this morning that Queen Aemma had taken you into her room for a lecture, I immediately sent someone to White Sheep Town to fetch the Silverwork Guild's craftsmen."
"Instead of rewarding me for thinking on my feet, you're making fun of us? Honestly, Your Highness!"
"So do you want this jewelry or not?"
Danyla cut straight to the point, putting an end to Jarelle's complaints.
"Why wouldn't I? Anyone who turns it down would have to be an idiot! Gems this fine are hard to find anywhere in the Seven Kingdoms!"
"Hahaha! Yes, anyone who turns it down really would be an idiot!"
Danyla couldn't help bursting into laughter.
Through her dragon dream the previous night, Danyla had not only mastered the Old Valyrian spell for making dragonstone, but also become more sensitive to magical energy.
She could clearly sense the magical energy within the bracelet's purple gemstone slowly flowing along her wrist and spreading, little by little, throughout her body.
Though it brought no immediate change to her body, she believed its influence over time would surely benefit her greatly.
There was plenty of time ahead. Whatever the outcome might be, it would reveal itself sooner or later.
That was true of things, and even more true of people!
That was how Myracis looked.
After returning to her room, Danyla took a brief half-hour nap before getting up. She quickly selected a suit of pale red leather armor and put on her new belt.
Jarelle, Bethany, and the others had long since divided up the pink diamond jewelry and adorned themselves with it.
Since Anne was the oldest and the head maid, they had left the most valuable piece, the necklace, for her.
Jarelle chose a ring, while Bethany, the youngest, picked a brooch. To complement the exquisite pink diamonds, they had all changed into pink gowns.
"How are Harold's preparations coming along?"
Danyla asked Jarelle as she adjusted her outfit.
"The promising young men from the great houses will be arriving soon. We're going to need plenty of hands."
Jarelle, who was braiding Danyla's hair, promptly replied,
"Don't worry. He's already arranged everything!"
"When have the second sons and bastards of those great houses ever been anything but eager for a tournament?!"
"But are we really recruiting three hundred men this time, Princess?"
"We may have no shortage of gold dragons right now, but supporting three hundred noble knights will still be a considerable expense."
"And if we recruit so many at once, it'll be difficult to rigorously screen them for both character and ability."
"Jarelle, doesn't Her Highness always say that time reveals a person's true character?!"
"No matter how much information we gather, I think keeping them close and observing them over time would be more reliable."
Ten-year-old Bethany Rosby had a different view of her own.
"The larger the pool, the more good people we'll be able to select."
"Looking at it that way, spending a few more gold dragons would be worth it, wouldn't it?!"
Danyla hadn't expected Bethany to be so shrewd at such a young age. Clearly, she had inherited House Rosby's business sense.
"Hahaha! No wonder Anne always says Bethany is the best at doing the sums! See, Jarelle? Bethany's already outdone you!"
Myracis, seen from the front.
By the time Danyla had finished dressing, Dreamfyre and Myracis had answered Nila's summons and arrived above Dragonstone Castle.
Danyla then mounted Dreamfyre and headed for the dragonstone casting site, with Myracis following.
The dragonstone Danyla had forged that morning had fully set, so Nila rode Dreamfyre as the dragon picked up the pieces and carried them one by one to the Fighting Arena.
In all of House Targaryen's history, surely no Dragonriding practitioner had ever used a Great Dragon as a porter before!
It saved a great deal of manpower while giving the Great Dragon a chance to build her strength. Why wouldn't she do it?
By the time Danyla had moved all the dragonstone to the locations designated by the stonemasons, they had filled the molds with fresh materials.
This time, Danyla placed both hands against Myracis's chest and began chanting a spell in High Old Valyrian.
As the resonance between Danyla's and Myracis's magical energy reached its critical point, Danyla called out loudly to Myracis,
"Dragonfire!"
Myracis first let out a long roar, then spewed searing purple-pink dragonfire over the dragonstone materials before her.
"Just as I thought! This spell doesn't merely forge dragonstone with magical properties. It can also help Great Dragons strengthen their dragonfire."
Before you continue