Chapter 46: Falia’s Troubles

"Prince Viserys, can you tell me what happened between you and Andersen on the day of Lady Dany's birthday party?" Ranche asked anxiously.

"Huh? Didn't Morel tell you?" Viserys replied.

"No, we can't get in touch with them at all. I snuck out from Lady Falia," Ranche admitted, his usual grace replaced with evident worry.

"Alright, here's the situation," Viserys began, still a bit surprised by how quickly House Fregar had acted. The day he returned from Methys, he learned that workers in the workshop had been attacked. By the next day, more than half of them were injured, forcing Morel's workshop to shut down. This abrupt halt derailed Falia and Viserys' original plan.

Their methods were beyond Viserys' expectations. Coming from a world of law and order, he had assumed that House Fregar would apply economic pressure, perhaps cutting off raw materials like whale oil. He hadn't expected them to target the workers directly. Many citizens of Braavos were already on the brink of starvation, relying on their daily labor to survive. Now, injured and unable to work, their situation was dire. The once-bustling workshop had fallen eerily silent, leaving Morel and his son devastated.

Falia, too, was suffering under Andersen's manipulation. She was constantly harassed, unable to meet with anyone, and effectively in "semi-house arrest." Her "protectors" had mostly scattered.

A few tried to seek justice for their "Lady Moonshadow," but they quickly disappeared, as if swallowed by the city itself. The immense pressure made Falia feel genuine fear for the first time. She had believed she could navigate the elite circles of Braavos, but now she saw the true power wielded by her enemies and felt powerless.

Considering Viserys' status, House Fregar wouldn't directly harm him, so they sent Ranche to make contact. As Ranche listened to the details from Viserys, his eyes grew hollow. His body weakened, as if the weight of the news had drained the strength from his bones.

After a long pause, Ranche turned to Viserys and said, "You... how could you... that's House Fregar!"

He knew deep down that Viserys couldn't be blamed for this. Without the workshop, Falia would still face failure. The only difference was that instead of a slow demise, it was a sudden death. If things continued like this, Falia would sooner or later become Andersen's plaything, or even worse, a pawn of House Fregar.

Ranche understood that Viserys had little choice in cooperating with House Fregar. Even if Viserys had chosen to cooperate, it would have meant betraying his allies. Falia's fate would have remained the same, only delayed.

"Lady Falia, I am incompetent..." Ranche muttered in despair, sliding off his chair and falling to his knees.

"Do you think crying and screaming will stop House Fregar?" Viserys said, grabbing Ranche's shoulder and pulling him up. "Can you ride a horse? Let's go find Falia together."

"Kyla, take care of Dany," he instructed.

With that, Viserys and Ranche left swiftly.

...

The situation on Falia's side had deteriorated significantly. To confine her, Andersen brought over a dozen family guards disguised as his entourage and stationed them outside. No one could see Falia, and sending a message out was nearly impossible.

The flower boat was in disarray. Delicate glass vases lay shattered on the floor, creating sharp obstacles. The furnishings were overturned, and an incense burner had been knocked over, releasing dust into the air. Falia's maid, Asha, was on the floor, clutching her stomach and trying to crawl towards her mistress. Andersen, losing patience, had stepped on Asha's hand. Even though his house had given him strict instructions not to use force, mindful of their reputation.

Despite being a form of prostitution, the courtesan profession was highly respected in Braavos, which was famous for it. Ruining the reputation of the courtesans would encourage others to do the same, harming the Courtesan Economy that brought significant revenue to Braavos. Every decade or so, some fool would try to force himself on a courtesan, but they were always executed by the three great houses. This reinforced the importance of courtesan purity—not noble, but expensive.

It was not in the interests of the three great houses to take the courtesans without paying a suitable price. Of course, it was possible to bypass this, provided one could conquer these highly trained women, who had seen countless men. But this was something the houses guarded jealously.

"Lord Andersen, she is only a servant girl. Please don't hurt her," Falia pleaded, her voice trembling with anxiety. Asha, only a year or two younger than Falia, had grown up alongside her, and their bond was deep. Seeing Asha in pain made Falia desperate.

"Oh? Then please, Lady Moonshadow, take my advice. Give me your loyalty, and I will cherish it. I promise you the protection of House Fregar," Andersen replied, making his intentions clear. He was going to take advantage of her!

Asha cried out in pain as Andersen increased the pressure on her hand. Falia closed her eyes, a tear rolling down her cheek. 'That's it. After today, I'll take Asha to another Free City,' she was resigning herself to her fate.

She gently pulled down her veil, revealing a face that seemed sculpted by the gods. Andersen's eyes burned with lust as he finally saw the object of his desire.

His thoughts raced. 'Next is Dany. If I can have both of them, I'll be more powerful than the lord!'

Suddenly, a shout came from outside. "Lady Moonshadow! I'm here to keep our appointment!" It was Viserys' voice.

Falia's hand, which was about to undo the button on her dress, froze. 'He's here! But can he get on the boat with Andersen's men all around?'

From the shore, Viserys called out again, "Lady Falia! I'm coming aboard!"

Almost instinctively, Falia tugged at the rope beside her, causing a silver bell on the flower boat to ring out clearly. This signal meant Viserys was coming for an appointment, not to assassinate her.

Andersen glared at Falia, then looked out to see Viserys fighting the guards he had stationed. He sneered, confident his guards, the best of the family, could handle a sixteen-year-old boy. But before Andersen could finish his thought, he saw his men being easily overpowered. Viserys was a whirlwind, tossing guards aside and even kicking some into the lake.

The elite guards of House Fregar were like paper-mache dolls, torn to pieces by Viserys' onslaught. With a final look at Andersen, Viserys flashed a grin, revealing his dazzling white teeth, and leapt into the lake with a splash.