Chapter 43: A Victory Without Bloodshed

The maid introduced herself as Pyrena. She wore a long, pale-colored dress with three red patterns on the sleeves, which gave the impression of some kind of status symbol. Pyrena recognized Viserys and his sister at a glance. She only refused to follow Kyla.

"It's okay, you can just guard the carriage," she said.

With that, the two siblings followed her into the fortress. As soon as they entered, Viserys felt as if he had opened the door to a fantasy world. The vibrant colors and exotic flowers made it seem like a painted canvas. The garden was adorned with coral decorations, their bright red hue so intense it was almost blinding.

Walking through a long corridor, they passed walls decorated with vivid murals, painted with gold leaf and precious pigments. Servants bustled about everywhere in the fortress, tirelessly running around like worker ants. Pyrena led the siblings through countless turns, and while Viserys was fine, Dany was starting to feel a bit dizzy.

After about half an hour, they arrived at a side hall. "The Lady is still washing up, so you two can wait here for a while," Pyrena said.

"No problem," Viserys replied.

The siblings observed the so-called "side hall," which was spacious enough to hold a ball. It wasn't exactly magnificent, but it was quite stylish. The room featured more than twenty bonsai-sized coral decorations, reflecting the family's fondness for coral.

Viserys noticed that Dany seemed a little nervous. She sat upright, as if someone was supervising her. "A little nervous?" he asked casually.

Dany shook her head shyly. "It's nothing."

"You'll get used to it," Viserys reassured her. To him, the difference between those who had seen the world and those who hadn't was just a matter of experience. If the richest man in the world were placed in Viserys' world, he'd be overwhelmed too. Dany hadn't attended any formal social gatherings before, so her nerves were understandable.

After another half hour, Pyrena returned. "Ghests, the Lady is waiting for you."

The siblings got up, and Dany followed Viserys through the hallways until they finally met Lady Methys on a terrace, dressed in luxurious clothes. According to aristocratic custom, visits should be made in the afternoon or evening. Viserys and his sister had come early in the morning, which was rather rude. However, when Methys heard that they had been waiting outside all night, her slight displeasure disappeared.

Pyrena arranged for the siblings to sit down. Methys' eyes kept wandering over Dany, as if she had seen something she particularly liked, making Dany feel a little embarrassed.

After a few seconds, Methys reluctantly looked away, then turned to Viserys and said, holding up the envelope in his hand, "You told me you had a solution to these problems?"

"I can't say it's a complete solution, but it can be greatly improved. At the same time, the probability of House Zalyne having a healthy child will be greatly increased."

Methys looked at him seriously, revealing a hint of pressure. But Viserys, who had faced warlords before, remained unfazed.

"Lady, the problem is with the water you drink."

Pyrena, standing nearby, looked at him with contempt. This was water from the Sweetwater River, and the nobles of Braavos had been drinking it for hundreds of years without issue. To her, Viserys was simply exaggerating.

"Tell me," Methys said, his sincere expression prompting Viserys to continue.

"The Braavos healers like to call illnesses such as 'dizziness,' 'insomnia,' and 'easily fatigued' 'nobleman's illnesses,' but in fact, these are all symptoms of lead poisoning."

"Lead? Poisoning?" Methys repeated in confusion. Pyrena, still skeptical, added, "Prince, lead is considered a good medicine by many healers. It calms the nerves and helps people sleep. How can it poison people?"

Viserys didn't intend to mock her. He knew about lead poisoning, a knowledge that stemmed from the understanding of that era.

'In some historical plays,' he thought, 'the sedative soup often mentioned is made by imperial doctors adding lead. Restless children? Sedative soup. Ladies struggling to sleep? Sedative soup. This has caused numerous cases of lead poisoning.'

"It is a common misconception to talk about toxicity without considering the dosage," Viserys explained. "People will die of starvation if they don't eat, but they can also die from overeating. The same principle applies to medicine."

He continued, addressing Methys, "The symptoms of the Sealord's Palace's illness are typical of anemia. Although he has never disclosed his physical condition publicly, I am certain he exhibits all these symptoms. For example, shortness of breath, pale complexion, loss of appetite, and sensitivity to cold."

Methys nodded thoughtfully. "I haven't seen the Lord for a long time, but I can say that his demeanor varies significantly with the weather."

Methys and Pyrena exchanged a quick glance, silently acknowledging each other's agreement.

Viserys caught the subtle exchange and decided to press his point. "Lady, lead poisoning is especially harmful to children."

At the mention of children, Methys's expression tightened. The subject was almost taboo within the fortress.

"Delayed mental development, resulting in a lack of intelligence," Viserys elaborated. "Weak muscles, meaning they lack strength. Easily agitated, leading to bad tempers."

If Viserys had only mentioned the first two symptoms, Methys might have dismissed him as a charlatan. But the third symptom struck a chord. For the past decade, no child in House Zalyne had grown up healthy. They were either slow-witted or frail and prone to anger. This was known only to those serving closely within the household. The Healers' remedy for the children's bad tempers had always been "calming soup," perpetuating a vicious cycle.

Now, Methys believed him. "Then what is your solution?"

Viserys felt a surge of relief, knowing he was more than halfway to his goal. "Eat more lemons, fish, and shrimp, and most importantly, stop drinking water from the Long Canal. Instead, drink directly purified water."

He paused, then added with a serious tone, "Lady Methys, I also have a plan that will make House Zalyne the sole master of Braavos. And it will be a victory without bloodshed."