The sea breeze of Lys carried a scent of salt and decadence all year round.
In this city-state that once worshiped the Goddess of Love, old customs ran deep.
Frivolous, lax, and indulgent; in earlier years, couples could even be seen copulating openly on the streets without restraint, with luxury and chaos etched into its very marrow.
Even after Prince Aegon's iron-fisted reforms, though the city's atmosphere had become much more restrained, the inherent laxity remained.
Arianne Martell walked along the long street, her pace leisurely and composed, her gaze drifting calmly over the alleys on either side.
Having stayed in Lys for quite some time, she had already seen through the city-state's inner workings, thanks to her status as a Princess of Dorne and her keen mind.
The framework of order left by Aegon was still functioning, and Luciana was managing administrative affairs effectively as Triarch. However, ever since Daenerys Targaryen opposed the slave trade—touching the fundamental interests of the city-state's nobility—those lords who had chosen to endure under Aegon's iron fist began to stir in the shadows again.
Obedient to the law on the surface, they secretly tripped things up at every turn, feigning compliance while being obstructive and evasive, refusing to cooperate in the slightest.
Even some middle- and lower-class freedmen were strongly resistant; they might own a few slaves and viewed them as vital property.
A faint trace of mockery flickered at the corners of the Princess of Dorne's lips.
That little Targaryen princess certainly had the heart for reform and dared to touch the bottomless murky waters of slavery, showing she had shed some of her former timidity.
Unfortunately, she was far too naive.
Her methods weren't firm enough, and she had no foundation in the Narrow Sea. Relying solely on a burst of goodwill and her status as a princess of the House of the Dragon, she simply couldn't suppress these old foxes who had been entrenched in Lys for years, nor could she shake the slave trade pattern that had lasted for millennia.
She had the will to grow, yet remained green.
This was Arianne's most blunt assessment of Daenerys, devoid of any pleasantries.
Precisely because she saw through this, she didn't want to waste a moment in Lys. Neither the disputes in Lys nor Daenerys's predicament would determine the future of Dorne; there was no need for her to linger here.
Arianne wore a bright, flamboyant Dornish gown; its vivid colors were exceptionally eye-catching among the crowd dressed in the loose-fitting garments of the city-state.
Passersby frequently cast glances her way—some with admiration, some with curiosity, and some with a veiled, calculating look.
She paid them no mind, followed by her elite Dornish Personal Guard and her personal maid, Laila. She walked straight toward the Princes Residence, the symbol of Aegon's authority.
"Your Highness," Laila hurried to keep up, her voice lowered in concern. "Prince Doran's letter repeatedly instructed that if Prince Aegon cannot be found, we should return to Dorne first to plan further, rather than wasting time in Lys."
Arianne didn't stop, not even sparing a glance for Laila. Her tone was cold, carrying disdain for her father: "Father has been trapped in a wheelchair for years. His body is locked away, and his vision and news are confined within the high towers of Sunspear along with it."
"He only understands old pacts and old rules, failing to see the current turbulent situation. If we wait for his 'further planning,' Dorne will miss every opportunity."
Laila was left speechless. After a moment of hesitation, she summoned her courage to probe softly: "The Prince also mentioned that Viserys and Daenerys are both in the Narrow Sea. Could it be... you are going to see Viserys?"
"After all, you are betrothed to him."
Arianne stopped abruptly and turned to face Laila, her deep eyes filled with unmasked contempt.
"See him? That useless prisoner who tried to seize power only to be easily placed under house arrest by Aegon?"
"He has the name of a true dragon but none of the ability. He can't even protect himself—how is he worthy of an alliance with me, or the Sun-piercing Spear of Dorne?"
She began walking again, her voice cold and clear: "That betrothal is void as of today. If Dorne is to ally, it will only be with a true dragon like Aegon. No one else is worthy."
"Today, I am going to see Triarch Luciana to obtain a travel permit for Dragonstone. Staying in Lys to watch a naive dragon princess struggle to maintain order is utterly pointless."
The group soon arrived at the entrance of the Princes Residence. After the guards verified Arianne's family crest, they did not block her way.
The council chamber of the residence was spacious and tidy, devoid of excessive luxury. Scrolls and documents were neatly categorized and arranged, starkly contrasting with the laxity and laziness of Lys.
Luciana sat at the desk, head down as she reviewed city-state documents. Hearing footsteps, she slowly set down her quill and rose to offer a greeting, her posture dignified and appropriate.
She maintained the proper etiquette for a Princess of Dorne without being overly familiar, always keeping the professional distance of an official.
"Good day, Princess Arianne."
Arianne walked straight into the hall without sitting. She tilted her chin slightly, her gaze meeting Luciana's.
"I have decided to leave Lys for Dragonstone to meet Prince Aegon in person and discuss an alliance between Dorne and the Targaryens. I have come today to request that the Triarch prepare a travel permit for me."
Luciana nodded slightly, her tone calm and professional: "Dragonstone is currently a critical location for Prince Aegon, and the ports of the Narrow Sea are under martial law. I can certainly prepare a travel permit for you."
"However, according to the laws established by His Highness, we must register the personnel and the purpose of the visit. Please wait a moment, Princess."
Arianne's eyebrows arched slightly. The innate pride of a Princess of Dorne began to color her tone as she stepped forward, her voice cool and carrying a hint of pressure.
"Procedures and rules are for ordinary merchants and minor nobles. My father, Prince Doran, is Prince Aegon's own uncle. I am his close blood relative. Must I also wait for questioning and registration like a merchant or a minor noble?"
"You guard the Narrow Sea Realm on behalf of Prince Aegon. I won't make things difficult for you, but I expect you to make an exception."
Luciana's fingers at her side curled slightly, but her face remained as calm as still water. Her tone was firm, refusing to yield an inch.
"Princess Arianne, your status is noble, and I respect you. However, I was personally appointed by His Highness to uphold the laws here. I cannot break the order he established because of personal relations or status. I hope you understand."
Their gazes locked in the air—one proud and impatient, the other steady and law-abiding. The atmosphere in the hall gradually grew heavy and tense.
In this frozen moment, light yet somewhat heavy footsteps came from the inner hall, and Daenerys slowly emerged.
She clutched a scroll with crumpled edges tightly in her hand, her fingertips pale from the force. Her former timidity had faded significantly, but her brow was clouded with deep exhaustion and gloom.
Clearly, she had been entangled in the abolition of slavery for a long time, meeting obstacles everywhere, and a sense of stifled frustration was bottled up inside her.
As soon as she entered the hall, she sensed the tension. Her gaze first landed on Arianne, and the gloom in her eyes instantly gained a layer of coldness and subtle displeasure.
Aegon had mentioned to her in passing that the Princess of Dorne before her was betrothed to her brother Viserys. Yet, despite staying in Lys for many days, she had been indifferent to her brother under house arrest, never showing any intention of visiting. This cold-heartedness filled Daenerys with resentment.
Daenerys suppressed the anger in her heart, took a slight breath, and turned to Luciana. Her voice was not loud, carrying a suppressed stagnation and helplessness.
"Luciana, I just heard those rumors outside again. They are still obstructing us in secret. I want to discuss with you what should be done next."
She actually had some ideas, but the Narrow Sea Realm was the foundation Aegon had built. She didn't dare make decisions on her own. Even though their relationship had already been privately established, she only proposed the abolition of slavery. Even so, it had drawn countless criticisms and layers of obstruction.
Arianne took all of this in, her internal mockery deepening. As expected, she was still too green. At the slightest resistance, she was at a loss and full of weariness. Such a person could never uphold the authority of the House of the Dragon, let alone determine the world's fate.
Without waiting for them to deliberate, she spoke up. Her tone was dismissive, yet every word was clear, interrupting their conversation: "In my opinion, there's no need to waste any more energy on this."
Daenerys jerked her head up to look at her, her violet eyes filled with shock and confusion.
Arianne's gaze swept past Daenerys and finally settled on Luciana. Her tone was indifferent, carrying a resolute finality.
"The chronic ailments of Lys will not determine the future of Dorne; nor will a naive dragon princess determine the world's fate."
"My betrothal to Viserys is hereby void."
"The only person Dorne truly intends to rely on, ally with, and entrust itself to, from beginning to end, is Prince Aegon."
As the words fell, Daenerys froze. The grievances accumulated over the days, the heartache for her brother, and the anger of being slighted all erupted instantly. A scorching rage ignited in her eyes.
"Princess Arianne!" She took a step forward, her voice trembling slightly with anger yet exceptionally firm as she glared at Arianne.
"Aegon clearly said that you were betrothed to my brother. That was a pact between the true dragon and Dorne. How can you just declare it void?"
"You have been in Lys for many days, within reach of Viserys, yet you never visited him once. Now you disparage him like this just to turn and cling to Aegon. How can you be so heartless?"
Luciana also stepped forward half a pace, her expression turning cold as she stood firmly by Daenerys's side. Her stance was clear, her voice calm but carrying an inviolable authority.
"Princess Arianne, Lord Viserys was personally settled here by Prince Aegon. The dignity of a true dragon is not to be lightly insulted."
"If Dorne wishes to discuss an alliance, then let us speak of national policy and the grand scheme of things. You should not use a betrothal as a bargaining chip to be changed at will. It lacks dignity."
"I will prepare the travel permit for you according to the law. But in the Narrow Sea, you must obey the rules established by Prince Aegon."
Arianne gave a cold laugh, her tone full of disdain. She glanced calmly at the two of them, her expression proud and unyielding.
She had no desire for a pointless argument with them, but she wouldn't leave either; she wanted that travel permit, and she wanted to make her attitude crystal clear.
Her position would not change one bit because of their accusations. She would wait for Luciana to prepare the document, and before that, she would not leave easily.
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