Rhaenyra looked at him, with a trace of complicated emotions flashing in his eyes.
She knew that Redd had his plans, and she knew that he would not do anything he was not sure of.
But this feeling of being caught in the middle still made her very uncomfortable.
"Redd," she whispered, "Are you really sure? Daemon, Three Cities Alliance, Dorne... three opponents face each other at the same time. What if..."
"There is no such thing as a chance." Redd held her hand and said firmly, "Dawg Lass' fifty thousand navy and two dragons are enough to immobilize Daemon.
Once the 150,000 troops were sent to the border, the merchant governors of the Tri-City Alliance couldn't sleep well. As for Dorne..."
He paused and a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth, "What they are best at is waiting and watching.
As long as we don't take the initiative to attack Dorne, they won't take the initiative to get involved.
Once Daemon and the Three Cities Alliance are settled, Dorne's matter is just a matter of convenience."
Rhaenyra was silent for a moment, and then sighed softly.
"I hope so."
Redd looked at her and suddenly smiled.
He reached out and gently stroked her swollen belly, feeling the faint movement of the two little lives inside, and his tone became softer:
"Stop thinking so much.
Your most important task now is to give birth to these two little guys safely.
Leave the rest to me."
Rhaenyra leaned back on the chair, closed his eyes, and felt the warmth of his palms.
All those anxieties and pressures seemed to have gone away temporarily at this moment.
In the garden, the sunshine was just right and the fragrance of flowers filled the air. The gentle laughter of the maids could be heard in the distance, and everything seemed so peaceful.
But beneath this peaceful surface, a storm sweeping the entire Narrow Sea is quietly brewing.
On Stepstones, Daemon stood at the highest point of his "palace" - a simple but solid stone fortress - looking at the densely packed battleship masts on the eastern sea.
Those flags belonging to Redd rustled in the sea breeze, as if they were silently mocking his "throne".
"Redd..." He gritted his teeth and spit out the name, with the flames of hatred burning in his eyes.
If it hadn't been for him, he wouldn't have fallen to this point - being jealous of his brother, abandoned by his family, and forced to call himself the "King of Stepstones" on this barren reef.
If it weren't for him, he should have been the most powerful prince of Seven Kingdoms, and even had the opportunity to covet that Iron Throne.
But now, he can only be trapped on this isolated island, surrounded by a group of fleets that are eager to look at him, and he may be swallowed up at any time.
"Master," a subordinate stepped forward cautiously, "there is news from the Three Cities Alliance that their fleet has been assembled and can support us at any time.
But they said... if you want to send troops, you need to pay half of the military expenses first."
Daemon's face became even more gloomy.
Those merchants in the Three Cities Alliance are indeed unreliable.
The alliance that was agreed upon becomes very fussy when it comes to money. How can he have so much money? How much tax can Stepstones collect in this barren land?
"Tell them," he said coldly, "When Redd's fleet retreats, I will naturally pay. Now, let them bring the fleet over first to give me more momentum."
The men took the order and left.
Daemon continued to look into the distance, a crazy light flashing in his eyes.
Redd, don't you want to trap me to death? Then give it a try and see who can have the last laugh.
He also has the mutated Caraxes. The power of that dragon frightens even him. If they really fight, he may not lose.
And... he also has a trump card.
Tormund.
That damn pirate took his sea dragon and hid somewhere.
But Daemon knows that he must still be somewhere, and he must still be coveting this sea area. If he can be found, if he can be persuaded to join forces...
A sneer appeared on the corner of Daemon's mouth.
This game is far from over yet.
At the same time, in Lys city, thirty-two governors were arguing fiercely.
"We can't delay it any longer!" A fat governor slapped the table, his voice trembling with anger, "Redd's 150,000 troops are on the border and may attack at any time!
We have to make a decision!"
"What to decide? Surrender?" Another governor sneered, "Our Three Cities Alliance has been a country for hundreds of years. When did we ever surrender to the enemy?"
"Then what do you think we should do? Fight? What to fight with? Can our mercenaries defeat an army of 150,000 people? Can they defeat those two dragons?"
"We can join forces with Daemon! And Dorne! As long as the three of us join forces, we may not lose!"
"Daemon? That 'king' who is besieged on an isolated island? What can he give us? Dorne? They don't even dare to fart now!"
There were constant quarrels, but no agreement could be reached.
This is what Redd wants - to let fear and disagreement slowly ferment within the enemy until they are completely disintegrated.
Redd, who is far away from King's Landing, knows all this very well, but is not in a hurry.
He was sitting in the garden of Red Keep, holding an ancient book in his hand and refreshments beside him, as leisurely as if he were on vacation.
Occasionally, a minister would come to urge him, but he would just say "the one-year period has not yet come" and send him away.
Until that day--
In the delivery room of Rhaenyra, the cry of the baby could be heard.
Two.
One man and one woman.
Rhaenyra successfully gave birth to a pair of healthy twins.
Redd Standing outside the delivery room, when he heard those two crisp cries, a sincere smile finally appeared on his usually calm face.
He pushed open the door and walked to the bed.
Rhaenyra was lying there, his face pale and sweating profusely, but his smile was extremely gentle.
She was holding two small swaddles in her arms. When she saw him coming in, she said softly:
"Come and see our children."
Redd leaned over and looked at the two wrinkled little things, feeling an unprecedented complex emotion well up in his heart.
This is his bloodline. His continuation. The most authentic trace he left in this world.
"What are their names?" he asked.
Rhaenyra looked at him, his eyes shining with happiness. "The boy's name is...Jaehaerys. The girl's name is...Visenya. What do you think?"
Redd nodded lightly, stretched out his hand, and carefully touched the cheeks of the two little beings.
Very soft and warm.
At this moment, all wars, calculations, and conspiracies seemed to have gone away temporarily.
But Redd knows that this is only a short period of tranquility.
The storm outside was still waiting for him.
And now, he has someone he must protect.
The candlelight in the delivery room swayed softly, casting the entire room in a warm orange hue.
Redd sat beside the bed, gently holding Rhaenyra's hand with one hand, and carefully touching the two sleeping little beings - Jaehaerys and Visenya with the other hand.
He could feel that strange connection.