Chapter 189: Dangerous Game

"Your Majesty cannot go!"

As Oberyn's words fell, someone immediately spoke up.

"Since Pentos has made contact with the usurpers and intends to trample on guest rights, why go?"

"Wouldn't that be putting the king in danger?"

"Your Majesty's life is too precious to take such a risk."

The conference hall became noisy all at once, and the others nodded in agreement with this person's opinion. If they didn't know, it wouldn't matter, but since they had found out about Pentos's malicious intent, they must not risk their lives.

However, Oberyn did not speak up, holding the intelligence report in his hand and looking up at Viserys.

His thinking was different from the others, and combined with Viserys's recent arrangements, he seemed to have faintly guessed his true intention.

Sure enough.

Oberyn looked at Viserys, and Viserys, with a calm expression, listened to the surrounding commotion and appeared thoughtful, not rushing to speak.

After everyone had closed their mouths and their eyes had fallen on him, he nodded slightly and spoke calmly.

"Go."

"Why not go?"

Viserys's answer surprised everyone present except for Oberyn and Bessie.

"I dared to go alone to Braavos when I was eight, so why not go to Pentos now?"

"Am I regressing with age?"

"But…"

The council members looked at each other, wanting to say that these two situations were not the same, but they couldn't find the words.

"Besides… half of the conservative Magisters are still there. Things may not necessarily take a turn for the worse."

Viserys showed a smile, which slowly faded.

Oberyn, on the other hand, had been confident from the start, marveling at how much the young man had changed over the years.

He thought back to the first time he had met Viserys, when the boy had fallen asleep in the bath due to exhaustion. When he had opened his eyes to see a stranger, panic filled his eyes, yet he still clenched his fists and pretended to be calm.

"He's not reckless…"

"He's just brave—"

For some reason, a line from a song flashed through Oberyn's mind.

It was the story of a wandering knight who set out on a lonely journey.

...

The afternoon meeting ended quickly.

Viserys did not ask them to stay for dinner.

After the meeting, as expected, Oberyn was waiting for him outside the door.

"Shall we take a walk together?"

Oberyn was tall and slender, with a narrow waist and broad shoulders. His appearance was perfect, with messy black curls atop his head and a light goatee framing his face.

He then raised his chin slightly.

"Alright."

Viserys was not surprised to find Oberyn waiting for him at the door and nodded in response.

There was a garden inside Andalos Castle.

Although it did not contain any rare or precious plants, it still offered a splash of viBenjent colors. However, the weather had been getting colder recently, and while the continent of Essos was not connected to the Land of Always Winter, the cold winds from the north were inevitably felt here.

Many of the flowers in the garden had now wilted.

However, the two men were not really here to appreciate the flowers; this was merely an opportunity for a private conversation.

"Your Majesty."

"Prince."

A passing servant saw the two walking side by side in the garden and bowed slightly in respect before hurriedly leaving for the distance, not daring to disturb them.

"This is quite a risky move, Viserys."

"Are you certain Panto will fall for it? And... what if it fails?"

The sun was setting in the west.

The sky was bathed in a blood-red hue, reminiscent of the color of a divine weapon.

The two strolled through the garden, their shadows falling on the smooth marble tiles. Fifteen-year-old Viserys was only slightly shorter than Oberyn.

It was Prince Oberyn of Dorne who broke the silence, turning his head to look at Viserys.

Viserys and Oberyn could be considered ageless friends, with a gap of more than a decade between their ages.

Interestingly, the two found common ground and shared some wild ideas, eventually becoming friends.

In formal settings, Oberyn would address Viserys as Your Grace, while in private he simply called him by his name, and Viserys had no objections.

"A risky move?"

Viserys turned to look at Oberyn.

He knew Oberyn's concerns were not without merit. On the surface, it indeed seemed like a risky endeavor, but...

"This isn't a risky move, Oberyn."

It didn't surprise Viserys that Oberyn could guess his intentions.

After all, they had known each other for so long. From the beginning, Oberyn treated him not as a child but as an adult.

Moreover, this young man's mind was truly sharper than most, worthy of the six maester's chains he had earned. Many times, Oberyn could guess Viserys's thoughts.

However...

It was a pity that this clever fellow met such an unfortunate end in the original timeline.

The Mountain wasn't terrifying; Viserys never considered him a true opponent, even though his hands were stained with Targaryen blood.

For such a brute, Viserys could easily dispose of him by sending a few dozen soldiers or setting a trap.

The real threats in Viserys's eyes were Robert, Stannis, Tywin Lannister, Eddard Stark, Benjendon Tully, and others...

A man who could have relied on his intellect instead chose to face the most wicked man in the Seven Kingdoms in a one-on-one duel.

Viserys looked up at Oberyn, but the look in his eyes sent a chill down the prince's spine.

"What?"

The Prince of Dorne couldn't help but scratch his head, puzzled.

However, Viserys didn't elaborate to Oberyn. He just shook his head.

"Oberyn, I never joke with my own life. I fear death more than most."

"If I dare to do this, it's because I have the means to do so."

He knew that Panto's journey could be dangerous, even feeling a bit anxious about it.

Yet, he was still willing to give it a try.

After all, this was the best way to break the deadlock. If they missed this opportunity, it would become increasingly difficult to make progress in the future.

Winter was coming.

This was the perfect chance.

"Oberyn, trust me."

A cold wind blew through the garden as Viserys flashed a smile.

"Is that so?"

Oberyn was somewhat confused, still immersed in the gaze Viserys had given him moments before...

That feeling... it was as if he was looking at a dead man.

What was going on?

Oberyn stood in the garden, bewildered, watching Viserys's figure gradually disappear into the distance. .