(Thanks to R Bai Ruide for the 2 monthly tickets)
Casterly Rock.
As the capital of the Westerlands, it is the largest, wealthiest, and most heavily defended castle in the Seven Kingdoms.
Even the dragonfire of the Targaryens could do nothing against it.
Ever since Lann the Clever, a Lannister ancestor, swindled it from the Casterly family, the Lannisters have ruled these lands for over a thousand years.
The Warden of the West and current leader of the Lannisters, Tywin inherited not only his family's strikingly handsome appearance, but also the sharpest methods and intellect in Westeros.
During the War of the Usurper initiated by Robert, his godlike strategizing made the Lannisters the greatest victors after the rebellion without expending the slightest effort.
"Thump, thump, thump~"
A series of hurried knocks interrupted Tywin as he handled family affairs. Ever since his wife Joanna died, he spent nearly ten hours a day in his study.
It was precisely thanks to Tywin's diligence that the Lannister family grew increasingly powerful. Both in wealth and military strength, they faintly overshadowed the other nobles of the Seven Kingdoms, and even faintly overshadowed the current royal family, the Baratheons.
"Enter."
Without putting down the quill in his hand, he simply gave a calm call.
As the king of a pride of lions, Tywin possessed an extraordinary composure and elegance.
"Tywin."
The heavy doors opened, and Tywin's younger brother and lieutenant, Kevan Lannister, walked quickly up to Tywin and handed over a slip of paper:
"I think you need to see this immediately."
This usually shrewd and composed younger brother now actually seemed somewhat anxious. Tywin hurriedly took the slip of paper and carefully read the contents upon it.
Instantly, the two men fell silent, the air in the room seeming to freeze solid.
After finishing the contents, Tywin slowly put down the slip of paper and closed his eyes as if pondering something.
"Kevan."
After a long while, the shrewd old lion opened his eyes and took the initiative to seek his younger brother's opinion:
"What do you make of this matter?"
"Too reckless."
Kevan's intellect and personality were extremely similar to Tywin's, and as fellow Lannisters, conversation between the two required no excessive beating around the bush.
"Yes, too reckless."
Seeming to express agreement, and yet perhaps somewhat moved with emotion, Tywin's tone drifted somewhat:
"A lion's nature should be to command, not to charge into battle."
"However, given that brat's intelligence, he shouldn't make such a rash move."
"Unless he has absolute certainty."
Muttering to himself, the lion in the prime of life seemed to think of something, and a sharp light instantly flashed in his eyes:
"Kevan!"
"Take the family's best knights and set off for King's Landing immediately."
Gracefully standing up, Tywin walked swiftly toward the window. Sunlight shone upon the golden-cast lion emblem on his chest, gleaming with a golden radiance.
Without the slightest fear of the dazzling sunlight, he faced the sun and gazed into the distance toward King's Landing:
"The Lannisters' opportunity has arrived!"
Meanwhile, on the distant other side of the Narrow Sea.
Inside a mansion in the Free City of Pentos.
Thirteen-year-old Daenerys Targaryen stood naked before her older brother, Viserys Targaryen.
Though still young, she was naturally blessed with a breathtaking beauty. The typical silver-gold hair and purple eyes of the Valyrians perfectly set off her graceful figure.
"Daenerys, my sister."
Viserys gazed greedily at his own sister's graceful curves. In his equally purple pupils, this incomparably alluring naked body represented that he would soon possess tens of thousands of troops!
"Tomorrow, Khal Drogo, leader of the Dothraki's mightiest khalasar, will come here."
"If you can win his favor, Khal Drogo is willing to use his one hundred thousand Dothraki knights to help me retake the Iron Throne that rightfully belongs to me!"
"As long as you can win Khal Drogo's heart, even if he has those one hundred thousand Dothraki, warhorses included, run a train on you, you will just have to endure it!"
His words did not treat Daenerys as a sister in the slightest, viewing her merely as merchandise capable of exchanging for formidable power.
Looking at Daenerys, whose lips trembled slightly and who seemed somewhat frightened, Viserys not only offered no words of comfort, but instead threatened viciously:
"Daenerys, you had better pray that Khal Drogo takes a fancy to you."
"Otherwise, you will experience the wrath of the waking dragon!"
The fierce words seemed to frighten young Daenerys somewhat, but long accustomed to her brother's tyranny, she could only stand foolishly in place, not even daring to move her fingertips easily.
"Viserys!"
Just as Daenerys was at her wits' end, a lovely and crisp voice rang out at the door.
The two turned their heads to see a maiden almost identical to Daenerys standing at the doorway, holding a longsword and glaring at Viserys with similarly purple eyes.
"You actually dared to have people trick me!"
Watching the maiden slowly approach him with sword in hand, a trace of fear actually surfaced in Viserys's eyes.
Yet immediately he gritted his teeth, put on a bold front, and roared toward her:
"What do you understand!"
"More than ten years of living under others' roofs and wandering from place to place-do you not wish to return to Westeros, to our home?"
His seemingly rational roar failed to shake the maiden's footsteps, and she still pressed toward him with murderous intent.
Viserys hurriedly hid behind Daenerys in fear, though his mouth remained unyielding:
"I am the true dragon. Since you are unwilling to help me retake the Iron Throne, I have no choice but to trade Daenerys for an army."
"As long as we present Daenerys, we will obtain an army of one hundred thousand. Are you not tempted in the slightest by such an opportunity?"
"Viserys, you despicable and base creature, a worm who only knows how to bully his sister."
Hearing Viserys's bottomless sophistry, the maiden's pair of purple pupils nearly spewed fire, and a faint blue cluster of energy gradually gathered in her hand:
"Even if I must raise an army to fight my way back to Westeros, I will never use such dirty methods."
"Even rats in the sewers are more noble than you!"
"A fellow like you is simply unworthy of the title of the true dragon!"
As her voice fell, the blue cluster of energy left her hand. Seeming to possess a mind of its own, it actually bypassed Daenerys and struck Viserys directly behind her.
Viserys was instantly knocked flying like a kite with a snapped string, fresh blood slowly welling from his mouth.
"It's that..."
"Accursed magic again!"
Struggling to stand up and watching the blue light slowly dissipate in the maiden's hand, the jealousy in Viserys's angry eyes grew even more intense.
"Yet what use is it even if you know magic."
"Matters are already settled, and Khal Drogo will come tomorrow."
As if already bolstered by an army of one hundred thousand, Viserys wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with great smugness.
"Go on and protect her then. I want to see how long you can protect this good-for-nothing who is completely useless apart from her beauty!"
"That army of one hundred thousand, I am determined to have it!"
Seeing the silent maiden and believing his words had taken effect, the manic-looking Viserys puffed out his chest like a victorious general and strode out of the room.
"That damned fellow who only knows how to use women."
The moment Viserys left, the maiden could no longer sustain the exhaustion in her body, swaying and slowly sitting down on the ground.
With the current scarce concentration of magic, forcibly wielding arcane magic was simply far too taxing.
"How are you?"
Daenerys cared not about putting on clothes, hurriedly walking over to the maiden and stretching out her hand to help her up.
Two peerlessly beautiful maidens of such similar appearance pressed closely together; if any man in the world were to see this sight, he would likely find it difficult to resist.
"I am merely somewhat overdrawn. A rest will set it right."
Noticing the worry in Daenerys's eyes, the maiden reached out to stroke the face before her that was nearly identical to her own, speaking in a soft, comforting tone:
"Do not worry, Dany."
"Today was only because Viserys had people trick me, saying they had discovered traces of giant dragons, which was why I left your side."
"Tomorrow I shall stand guard right here and go nowhere. No one will be able to take you away by force!"
"It does not matter."
Daenerys likewise stretched out her hand to touch the maiden's face. Looking at this younger sister who had been born with her amidst a storm and had always protected her along the escape route, a glint of crystal tears surfaced in Daenerys's eyes:
"I am willing to marry Khal Drogo!"
"What?"
The maiden looked at Daenerys in disbelief, feeling that the sister who had always been timid suddenly seemed somewhat unfamiliar at this moment.
"In truth, I have always envied you and Viserys."
"The two of you-one is the true dragon, and the other possesses mysterious magic. Whichever of you two takes the Iron Throne that originally belonged to the Targaryens, I would feel it is only right and proper."
Saying this, Daenerys's beautiful purple eyes revealed an unquestionable firmness:
"Viserys is right. If we wish to return to the Westeros that belongs to us and retake the Iron Throne, relying solely on the three of us as stray dogs is far from enough."
"We need powerful assistance!"
Walking slowly toward the window, Daenerys presented her naked, flawless, and peerlessly beautiful body without reservation to the maiden.
Her neck was held high, like a noble swan:
"I believe that Khal Drogo will surely not refuse my beauty!"
"At that time, I will no longer become a burden to you two."
"Dany..."
The maiden looked at this sister whom she had always considered somewhat timid and cowardly; at this moment, she was so firm and confident.
"Since you have already decided."
Sighing, she picked up the longsword in her hand and turned to walk outward, leaving Daenerys with an equally flawless back:
"Once upon a time, a person made a decision, but I refused him."
"To this day, I have continually wandered in the abyss of regret."
"This time, I will respect your choice."
This maiden born alongside Daenerys spoke in a voice that should have been crisp, yet now sounded somewhat weathered, though tinged with a sense of relief as if a burden had been lifted:
"It is also time for me to go and see other parts of Pentos."
"Where are you going?"
Watching the maiden's back, Daenerys, who had never been parted from her, appeared somewhat flustered at this moment.
"To cross the Narrow Sea, one needs at least enough ships, does one not?"
The maiden looked back with a smile, the elegant poise emanating from between her brows surpassing even Daenerys, who looked identical to her:
"Perhaps the next time we meet, Dany."
"I shall have already brought back a thousand ships to find you."
"By then, all the nobles of Westeros will tremble and shout our names."
"Daenerys Targaryen."
"And..."
"Jaina Targaryen!"
Before you continue