Chapter 223: Aegon's Crown

Under the brilliant afterglow of the setting sun, Samwell arrived at the dock of Starfall City with his fiancée, Margaery.

Natalie Dayne had been waiting on the pier with others for a long time.

Watching Samwell walking down the gangway with Margaery on his arm, Natalie's eyes flashed with disappointment. Still, she steeled herself, showed a polite smile, and stepped forward to greet him.

"Welcome to Starfall City, Lord Caesar, Lady Margaery!"

"Why are you so outspoken? Call me Sam." Samwell stepped forward and rubbed Natalie's hair out of habit.

This familiar movement and tone made Natalie instantly jump for joy.

The disappointment and sorrow she had felt after hearing the news of the engagement disappeared, and a sweet smile once again appeared on her delicate face.

"Natalie, long time no see!" Margaery stepped forward to hug Natalie and kissed her cheek.

"You have become more beautiful! Especially the purple dress you chose, it matches your purple color eyes very well."

"Really?" Natalie found that she couldn't be angry with Margaery . "My mother helped me choose this dress."

"Lady Ashara is so discerning! Can i ask her to help me choose a yarn. Maybe Scarf ? The wind and sand in Dorne always easily blur my eyes."

"Of course."

Looking at the two girls who were once again as close as sisters, Samwell secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

However, he was not surprised by this.

After all, in the original work, even Joffrey, the "Eternal Emperor," was submissive to Margaery.

A little white rabbit of Natalie's level would have no difficulty at all for her.

Samwell summoned Gil Shad, the acting city lord of Starfall City, and asked,

"Has Prince Doran arrived?"

"Prince Doran came to Starfall City three days ago."

"Huh! What has he been doing these three days? Did he met anyone?"

"No, Prince Doranhas been staying in his room. At most, he asked the servant to push the wheelchair around the courtyard a few times."

Samwell nodded silently.

Prince Doran seemed quite honest and seemed to really want to see him.

As the group returned to the castle.

Samwell washed himself, changed his clothes, and went to find Prince Doran.

Originally, he wanted to leave Cleopatra in the care of Margaery, but after thinking about it, Samwell took the white dragon with him.

By this time, Cleopatra had grown to the size of an eagle, and Samwell's shoulders seemed a little cramped for her.

The servant took Samwell to a courtyard near the sea.

There was a huge olive tree planted in the courtyard, and Prince Doran was sitting under the tree, staring at a Cyvas chessboard in a daze.

This was the first time Samwell had met the Dornish ruler.

Have to say, he was little disappointed.

Prince Doran was not at all domineering as a ruler should be.

On the contrary, his face was swollen, his hair gray, and his gouty legs were resting on a cushioned footstool.

He looked like a frail old man.

Of course, Samwell did not dare to underestimate this person.

If he really had to choose an enemy, he would rather face the "Red Viper" than the seemingly weaker Doran.

Hearing the footsteps, Prince Doran turned his head, stared with misty eyes for a moment, and said, "Is it Viscount Caesar? Sorry, I can't get up to greet you."

Samwell leaned forward slightly: "Yes, Prince Doran, you don't have to be so polite."

Prince Doran nodded in greeting, then looked at the guard captain behind him and said, "Areo, let me talk to Viscount Caesar alone."

"Yes." Areo Hotah turned and left carrying long-handled axe.

"It's so beautiful." Prince Doran looked at the white dragon on Samwell's shoulder and couldn't help but sigh.

"Thank you."

Samwell said, "You came all the way from Sunspear only to see me, not the white dragon?"

"Of course not. But it's mainly because of it." Prince Doran held up the wine glass with trembling hands, took a long sip, and then looked at Samwell, "Would you like some? Pure Dornish red wine. I rely on it to ease the pain and persist until now."

"No ,thank you." Samwell would not drink the wine given by the Dornish people. "I have no pain to relieve."

And he finally understood why Prince Doran had such severe gout.

"That's because you haven't joined this game long enough." Prince Doran said leisurely,

"Wait until you are like me and stay in this cruel and bloody game for decades, watching your former relatives, friends, subjects, and even your enemies die one after another, you will be able to understand the pain of loneliness.

At that time, you will be unable to do without the comfort of wine."

"I hope that day will come later." Samwell responded casually, and then tried to bring the topic back on track, "I heard that the Martell family has concluded an alliance with the Lannister family?"

"Yes." Prince Doran admitted frankly, "But you should also be able to understand that this alliance is not from us ."

Samwell curled his lips: "Whether you are taking the initiative or being forced to do so, you are indeed helping the Lannister family now, right?

Otherwise, you just need to return to the army of three realms of Riverland, Vale, and Stormland. Against that army, even the Lannister family will be in dire straits."

"But we are also helping you." Prince Doran explained calmly.

Samwell raised his eyebrows: "Help me?"

"Isn't it?"

Prince Doran played with a cyvasse chess piece between his red and swollen fingers, "Don't deny it, Caesar, even though you support Stannis Baratheon on the surface to ascend the Iron Throne, deep down in our heart, we didn't want to see him win.

I put back the armies of the Three Realms.

The Lannister family would probably not be able to cope with the Alliance of Fish, Wolf, Deer, and Eagle in its heyday.

By then, Stannis would become Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, do you think he will be grateful for your support, or will he nip this threat in the bud?"

Samwell smiled slightly: "It turns out that I have unknowingly owed you such a huge debt to the Martell family."

"It goes without saying. I just want to tell you that we are not enemies, but friends."

"Why do you want to help me?" Samwell stared into the eyes of Prince Doran.

"Revenge," Prince Doran whispered, as if he was afraid of being heard.

"Justice."

He showed Samwell the agate chess piece he was playing with, "Blood and Fire."

It was a chess piece symbolizing a dragon.

Samwell narrowed his eyes: "By revenge, do you mean revenge against the Lannister family?"

"Yes. Tywin thought that by giving one of his dogs to the Martell family, we would forget about the hatred back then," there was a hint of chill in Prince Doran's tone.

"No. This is not enough. From the day I heard that my sister Elia and her children died tragically in King's Landing, I have been committed to revenge. The real murderer. Not the executor 'the Mountain,' but the one who gave the order—Tywin Lannister!"

Samwell asked, "But I also killed your biological brother, the 'Red Viper.' Why won't you take revenge on me?"

"It's different," Prince Doran replied.

"You killed Oberyn on the battlefield, honorably. So I don't hate you. And what Tywin did to my sister was murder, the murder of an innocent person! I want him to pay the price with blood!"

Samwell shrugged, seeming to accept this reason, and continued to ask, "What about the justice you mentioned?"

"Robert Baratheon's justice, of course," Prince Doran replied. "He is the king I once swore allegiance to, and I cannot tolerate his throne being occupied by an evil spawn."

"What about blood and fire?"

Prince Doran pointed to the white dragon on Samwell's shoulder. "You have a dragon. This reason is enough for the Martell family to place their bet on you."

"What about the conditions of the Martell family?"

"You marry my daughter, Arianne."

"Sorry," Samwell spread his hands and said, "I have entered into a marriage contract with Lady Margaery of the Tyrell family."

"I know," Prince Doran nodded. "I didn't ask you to withdraw your marriage either. You can marry two."

"Marry two?" Samwell laughed loudly. "The laws of Westeros only recognize monogamy."

"The law only restrain the weak,"

Prince Doran stated. "Back then, Aegon the Conqueror Targaryen married two wives. You also have a dragon, why can't you follow suit?"

Prince Doran said, opening a wooden box on the table.

Samwell saw that the box contained a crown.

It was a ring-shaped crown made of Valyrian steel, with edges as sharp as swords.

The sun shone with a chilling glimmer, and it was inlaid with huge rubies, as red as beating flames.

"This is the crown that Aegon the Conqueror wore back then," Prince Doran explained.

"Why is it in your hands?" Samwell stared at the crown, his eyes seeming to sink in.

Cleopatra suddenly became excited, flapped her wings, and let out a silent roar.

"This was when Daeron I attacked Dorne for the second time. Some Souvenirs were left here," Prince Doran's narrowed his eyes .

Samwell knew that the "Young Dragon Lord" Daeron Targaryen was tricked and killed when he attacked Dorne for the second time.

It seems that the crown passed down from the "Conqueror" fell into the hands of the Martell family.

"Do you want it?" Prince Doran said with a hint of temptation in his tone. "If you marry my daughter, this crown will be my wedding gift to you."

Samwell's heart began to beat violently unconsciously, but he calmed down and shook his head slowly.

"Why?" Prince Doran was a little surprised.

Samwell asked, "How did the 'Young Dragon Lord' Daeron I die in Dorne?"

Prince Doran was silent.

Samwell answered for him, "When Daeron I attacked Dorne for the second time, he had already won, and the Dornish people agreed to surrender.

However, when Daeron I came to accept allegiance, the Dornish people betrayed their faith, launched a surprise attack, and killed him. Tell me, Lord Doran, how can I trust you when the Dornish people are so erratic? And this time, you have clearly formed an alliance with the Lannister family, but you turned around and thought about stabbing the lion in the back. I don't know if you will sell me out one day."

Prince Doran sighed, feeling a little helpless, "You rejected the goodwill of the Martell family for this reason?"

"Oh, there is another reason."

"What?"

"I don't want to marry your daughter."

[END]