79 -Chapter 73-

-Chapter 73-

I smiled at Viserys and then said, raising my glass, "Everything went even better than I had planned."

He smiled and did the same: "Seeing that old Lannister dog and Oberyn Martell so helpless in such a situation was so satisfying."

"They got what they deserved," I said, pleased to have proven to these old players that I could be unpredictable at any moment.

"No one can control the dragon," Viserys stated like some kind of personal mantra.

I nodded and said, "No one."

I emptied my glass and contentedly reminisced about the events that led me to the decision to marry Arianne despite my notorious reputation.

-Flash-Back-

"I don't know what that Reach whore did to him, but it must have been truly divine for him not to even glance our way nearly half a year after her death."

If I had been just a meter further away, I wouldn't have heard the whisper, but unfortunately for them, I wasn't.

A dark anger surged within me like a raging fire threatening to destroy everything in its path, but I restrained myself and said to one of the dragon's guards stationed in the castle, "Invite Lady Tyene and Princess Arianne to my private chambers."

He nodded and immediately carried out the order.

"Is everything alright, Your Majesty?" Ser Barristan asked, sensing my discomfort.

I nodded and, regaining my impassive demeanor, we continued toward my chambers, my anger still boiling inside me.

"Your Majesty, Princess Arianne Martell and Tyene Sand have arrived," Jaime announced, knocking on the door.

"Let them in," I commanded, finishing removing my coat and casually setting aside my sword on my table.

I watched the two ladies enter, and before I could speak, Tyene said with an innocent air, "Your Majesty, we shouldn't be alone in your apartm..."

I raised my hand, clenched the air, and said, "Don't open your pretty mouth to spit your venom, little serpent. You've done enough."

"Your Majesty," Arianne started, but I placed a finger to my lips with my free hand and said, "Shhh, I didn't give you the floor."

I watched Tyene's face turn from its usual color to scarlet as she struggled to breathe against the imaginary hand choking her, and I said, "You know, I'm aware that you exploited the naivety... no, the stupidity of my Hand to gather information about me. I could have blown your little head off for that, but you know, if I had to do that, then I'd have to blow off the heads of all the Sand Snakes, and of course, Oberyn, Arianne, Doran, and everyone carrying Martell blood, including my so-called half-brother."

I moved closer to her, slightly loosening my grip so she wouldn't faint while I spoke, and continued, "I'm not afraid of you. In fact, I'm not afraid of anyone in this low world. I could kill you all and win the war. The only question is when and how I would do it. Do you know why I haven't killed you and haven't exterminated your father's lineage?"

She couldn't move her head as my grip tightened, and after a moment, still in the same cold, monotonous tone, I said, "Because it would be a wasteful use of resources. I neither have the desire nor the patience to do all that. But after the audacity you had to speak of Valeria, I wonder if I should take the time to reconsider this question. What do you think?"

Her eyes widened, finally understanding the reason for my anger, and then Arianne said, "I think it would be a grave mistake."

I turned my head towards her, raising an eyebrow, and echoed, "A mistake? Have you seen the two dragons that hover in the sky all day?"

"I can be your queen," she stated, unimpressed or at least pretending not to be.

I smiled and said, "I must admit, you've got nerve."

"I'm the best candidate..." she began, and before I could object, she quickly added, "...With me, the future children we'll have will also rule over Dorne, and then we can unite the current Crownlands, incorporating the Riverlands, the Stormlands, the Crownlands, and Dorne because the first child automatically becomes the heir in Dorne."

"That only works if I have a son because if I have a daughter, Dorne will gain a dragon rider for nothing and could destabilize my future dynasty," I pointed out.

Her face tensed, highlighting the flaw in her plan, and I said, interested in her offer, "How can you be sure and certain that House Martell will keep its word?"

She replied with a smug smile, "Haven't you seen the two dragons that hover in the sky all day?"

I was taken aback for a few seconds before laughing and releasing her cousin, who immediately knelt, trying to breathe as much air as possible while coughing.

Arianne helped her cousin by patting her back and said, "Such a demonstration was unnecessary."

I smiled and poured wine into goblets, saying, "I haven't demonstrated anything. If you hadn't piqued my curiosity, she would have had the same fate as that worm Varys. Now that we're all friends, what personal advantage do you gain from this marriage?"

She helped her cousin sit down and then said, "I need help to win the throne of Sunspear that my family intends to give to my brother Quentyn."

"It's simple, isn't it? I just have to declare you Princess Heiress of Dorne," I said.

She grimaced slightly before saying, "There would also need to be a show of force."

"Like what?" I asked.

"A royal procession with an army, your direwolf, and your dragons as an escort once our marriage is official," she said.

"That sounds like a trap," I said, narrowing my eyes.

"It's not one," she insisted strongly.

"Very well, let's assume it's not. Why should I agree to this request? Your father knows he's not in a position to refuse me anything, otherwise the entire kingdom will rally against Dorne, and we'll effortlessly trample all his armies," I said.

"Quentyn has left for Astapor," Arianne revealed.

"Intending to marry Daenerys, I assume," I said, immediately understanding what she meant.

"Yes," she confirmed.

"Unfortunately for your brother, I possess two dragons," I said, unimpressed.

"One dragon," Tyene corrected, coughing immediately after her statement.

"Oh, she speaks," I said sarcastically.

"You would know if you hadn't choked me as soon as I entered this room," she retorted with a hint of resentment in her eyes.

"And I wouldn't have choked you if you hadn't done what you did," I said, my cold demeanor returning.

A long silence fell between us until Tyene bowed her head and reluctantly said:

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty."

I nodded and then resumed a normal expression, saying, "It's forgotten. Now, let's discuss the rest in more detail if you don't mind."

-End of Flash-Back-