Chapter 456: Storm in King's Landing

In the distant Westeros, on the Kingsroad leading directly to King's Landing:

"Roar, roar, roar~"

A seemingly endless horde of Dothraki, clad in animal-hide armor, their chaotic hoofbeats trampling the sunset, make their way. Subdued allied soldiers are gathered among them, and Viserys soars on his mighty dragon, the howling wind in his ears.

The magnificent capital of the Seven Kingdoms lies ahead, now a shadow on the horizon.

At that moment, the silver-haired dragon rider atop the dragon suddenly opens his eyes, a pair of pale violet orbs, long lashes catching the sunset's glow.

He turns his head to the east and clenches his fist slightly.

"Heh—"

Bellereon then lets out a deep and melodious roar that echoes across the sky. The dragon soars, its wings rushing into the clouds, flying towards the direction opposite the setting sun.

King's Landing is within arm's reach.

The Dothraki and the subjugated soldiers of the Seven Kingdoms' allied army below are momentarily agitated by the sudden departure of the dragon.

But the confusion soon settles. After all, this isn't the first time such a thing has happened.

Viserys, riding his dragon in the sky, would occasionally leave temporarily without reason, but would return soon after.

No one paid it much mind. Khal Drogo, dressed in animal-hide armor and a belt tied with an arakh, looked up at the direction of the departing dragon, then spoke loudly in Dothraki and swung his horsewhip, pointing towards the distant capital of the Seven Kingdoms.

The great army rolled on towards King's Landing.

The Dothraki army arrived in King's Landing by evening, accompanied by Oberyn and Princess Arianne Martell. The city was filled with banners and armies.

The common folk of King's Landing had never witnessed so many gathered forces, including many strangers they had only heard of in legends.

A group of Dothraki reeking of the blood of the slain, their strength evident in their long braids, each warrior possessing one to three warhorses, their martial skill apparent in their fierce eyes. The Dothraki came into conflict with the Gold Cloaks, and a roaring Dothraki warrior sent ten Gold Cloaks fleeing.

The pregnant Princess of Dorne was placed within the Red Keep, beside the chambers of the senior princess.

The once-lady of the place, Cersei Lannister, and her two children were forced to move from the royal chambers to the servant's quarters. Oberyn took residence in the Tower of the Hand.

The arrival of the Dothraki and the subjugated Seven Kingdoms' allied army brought not only the good news of the liberation of the Riverlands but also their greatest prize.

The usurper Robert Baratheon's injuries had healed over time, and he was confined to the dungeons of the Red Keep.

Eddard Stark, the Duke of Winterfell, suffered the same fate. The two difficult brothers were fatefully close, even in imprisonment.

But when it came to holding Stannis, there was a problem. He and some regular nobles were confined in the dungeons of King's Landing, only to suddenly be attacked and whisked away by unknown assailants. The whereabouts of Stannis were lost.

King's Landing was a complex place, as Renes realized for the first time. She ordered a thorough investigation, and the final result pointed to Stannis's former subordinate, the 'Onion Knight' Davos.

He had disappeared after the Battle of Rushing Rivers, arriving at King's Landing ahead of the army, and hiring a group of underground forces and mercenaries to prepare to break out the prisoners.

But alas, the army's protection was too extensive, and they had no opportunity until they were able to strike in King's Landing using the intricate networks, terrain, and population to their advantage.

Davos Seaworth had bribed some Gold Cloaks, creating a deliberate defensive flaw.

Then they were able to successfully strike, taking Stannis from his prison wagon, disappearing without a trace.

The 'Onion Knight' had once been a smuggler, a veteran of the underworld, and therefore was familiar with King's Landing's complex underground networks and exits to the outside city. The Gold Cloaks couldn't locate Stannis for a time.

The loss of Stannis wasn't too serious, as he was already a mere figurehead, but it wasn't trivial either, as he still had a claim. Renes was furious.

The city guard had made continuous mistakes, first letting the 'Kingslayer' Jaime Lannister escape and then allowing Stannis to be taken.

Renes saw the corruption within the city guard. She ordered the execution of several Gold Cloaks bribed by Davos and took the opportunity to dismiss Janos Slynt, the commander of the city guard, who had performed well in the surrender of Vhagar, replacing him with the Black Beetle.

The Black Beetle promised Renes that he would transform the city guard, holding the soldiers to the training standards of the Unsullied.

But the turmoil in King's Landing that night had not ended.

Viserys's prolonged absence caused concern, and his pregnant fiancée silently prayed.

"May the gods above keep Viserys safe and sound."

Arianne's greatest dream was to become a queen, but the reality was something she never even dreamed of. What was once an unattainable dream had suddenly come within reach.

The Targaryen army had taken King's Landing, the banners of the three-headed dragon flying over the Red Keep, and even the dragon bones stored in the vaults were brought back up, replacing the tapestries of the Baratheon family.

Renes, touching Arianne's swollen belly, curiously put her ear to it, and after a moment, said, "I think I hear the baby's heartbeat!"

"It's only a few months old; perhaps you're hearing my heartbeat."

The Princess of Dorne laughed, teasing Renes, pinching her smooth face. "A beauty like my sister lying on me, of course, my heart will race."

Renes blushed slightly, seemingly teased by her cousin.

Since it was not widely publicized, few knew that Renes and Arianne were in fact cousins, Renes's mother being Arianne's aunt.

But then Renes seemed to think of something and asked curiously, "Sister, do you know if the child you carry is a boy or a girl yet?"

Arianne, hearing her question, raised an eyebrow but shook her head.

"Some maesters can determine the child's gender by the mother's diet, but Maester Marwyn is not skilled in this, so we cannot discern."

Maester Marwyn remained in Pentos, mainly immersed in his research on Valyrian ruins.

"But I hope it will be a boy."

The exotic beauty said, her eyes filled with longing.