Chapter 137: The Red Viper and His Sand Snakes
The Stormlands, Estermont, Greenstone
The welcoming banquet Jon arranged for Stannis and the Dornish envoy, Oberyn Martell, was not particularly lavish, but it was refined and elegant, because many of the dishes had been personally prepared by Jon's royal chef.
Although Jon had lived in this world for nearly two years, there were still many foods he could not get used to. Stannis and Oberyn, meanwhile, found Jon's unusual culinary tastes quite novel and ended up eating far more than expected.
"Hahaha! Your firewine truly tastes incredible. It's even stronger than Dornish red!"
Jon's banquet style differed greatly from the feasts of Westeros. Rather than the traditional noble arrangement, it resembled a buffet, preventing guests from feeling overly distant from one another.
In Westeros, lords and nobles usually sat high above everyone else while watching those beneath them eat and drink, using the arrangement to emphasize their superiority.
"Hahaha! If you enjoy it, I can send some back with you when you leave."
Today, Jon wore only a simple leather outfit. Aside from a few modest decorations, he did not appear particularly extravagant.
The "Red Viper," Oberyn Martell, also behaved far more politely than Jon and Jeyne Arryn had expected. Rather than acting wildly, he appeared refined and courteous. Had Jon not already known the man's true personality, he might actually have been deceived by the appearance.
"Then I must thank you, Prince Aegon Targaryen!"
Perhaps because of the alcohol, Oberyn was already beginning to lose control. By the time he spoke those final words, his voice already carried a noticeable slur.
"A name is merely a title. My poor mother spoke that name before she died, and naturally my uncle passed it on to me. Whether it is 'Prince' or 'King,' isn't simply being alive enough?"
"Hic... hahaha..."
Oberyn had clearly underestimated the strength of Jon's distilled liquor. Even though Jon had warned him beforehand, he still drank it as if it were ordinary Dornish wine.
"Then... what about the dead? Even now, I can still hear the cries of those souls!"
After letting out a heavy breath reeking of alcohol, the flushed Oberyn suddenly lost all restraint and shouted loudly.
"That is precisely why we must understand who the true enemy is. In the end, the three of us are all victims."
"My grandfather, whom I never met, died at the hands of the lions. His Majesty Stannis lost his brother because of the Lannisters' schemes. And as for your family... there is no need to say more. Those were three bloody lives."
Since Oberyn had already laid everything bare, Jon naturally stopped holding back and directly stated the foundation of their alliance.
Meanwhile, Stannis maintained his usual indifferent expression throughout the conversation.
Although his personality had softened somewhat recently, his naturally cold temperament made him completely incapable of handling diplomatic situations properly.
If Davos had not been constantly assisting him, Jon might have assumed Stannis had come here solely to offend everyone present.
"Oh! My prince, are you alright?"
Ellaria Sand, dressed in a sheer gown, hurried forward to support Oberyn after seeing his condition.
By now, Oberyn had been completely overwhelmed by Jon's distilled liquor. That sudden outburst had likely exhausted the last of his remaining consciousness.
"Lady Ellaria, please take Prince Oberyn to rest. My servants will bring some plum soup to help sober him up. Please take good care of him, since we still have important matters to discuss tomorrow."
"Y-Yes!"
After bowing politely to Jon, Ellaria Sand helped Oberyn leave the hall.
Without the talkative Oberyn present, Jon and Stannis had little left to discuss. After excusing himself, Jon walked over toward Jeyne Arryn.
Meanwhile, Oberyn's bastard daughters, who had been quietly observing everything, began discussing Jon among themselves while surrounding Sarella Sand.
"Hey, Sarella, have you taken him yet?"
The speaker was Nymeria Sand.
In Jon's memories of that unfinished television series from his previous life, Nymeria Sand had been the most beautiful among the Sand Snakes who appeared onscreen. As she spoke, her gaze constantly drifted toward Jon, as though she were deep in thought.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Judging from your expression, you probably haven't even touched a man yet! I already told you not to spend all your time studying. Now you haven't even experienced what a man feels like."
The speaker this time was the eldest sister, Obara Sand.
She had inherited her father's martial talent, and her spearsmanship was exceptionally powerful. Once, near the Brimstone River in Dorne, she had personally killed five bandits who attempted to assault her.
"Alright, alright. Sister Sarella, are you afraid to make a move? I have something wonderful here. Just a tiny amount will turn him into a beast. I guarantee you won't be disappointed."
The short-haired Tyene Sand was an expert in poisons. In Jon's memories from that unfinished television series, the poison that killed Myrcella Baratheon had been personally concocted by her.
"Don't speak nonsense. If those thieves overhear you, you'll be dead before you realize it. I know how dangerous they are, especially that one. He's even more terrifying than the Faceless Men. He can disguise himself and change his appearance at will."
Sarella Sand rubbed her forehead helplessly, clearly exhausted by her sisters' outrageous conversation.
The "Red Viper," Oberyn Martell, had many bastard daughters.
Sarella Sand herself was born from Oberyn's relationship with a dark-skinned female pirate captain during his years studying at the Citadel.
Oberyn was a man who truly "conquered everything"—men, women, young, old. If he found someone attractive, he would sleep with them.
However, unlike many nobles, he was not the sort of man who abandoned his lovers and children afterward. As long as the child could be confirmed as his blood, he would raise them properly.
Yet for some mysterious reason, despite fathering countless bastard daughters over the years, Oberyn had never produced a single bastard son, as if he had somehow been cursed.
The primary reason Oberyn sent Sarella Sand to Jon's side was to establish a relationship with this newly emerged Targaryen prince.
Although Oberyn deeply despised the actions of Rhaegar Targaryen, he was still willing to cooperate with Jon for the sake of avenging his sister.
After receiving the letter Sarella Sand had sent him, Oberyn became convinced that Jon was extraordinary. As a result, he even sent Ellaria Sand and three of his most outstanding daughters along with her.
Oberyn himself had studied magic before, so he was extremely curious about the mysterious powers Jon possessed. If his daughters could also master such powers, their futures would be limitless.
"Oh, come on! You're interested in him too, aren't you? Don't be shy. Shouldn't good things be shared? Didn't Father send us here specifically to help you?"
Tyene Sand spoke teasingly after noticing Sarella's embarrassment.
She feared no thieves because, in Tyene's eyes, she was offering herself willingly, not trying to harm anyone.
"Come on! Introduce us properly, dear sister!"
Under the constant urging and pulling of Obara Sand, Sarella Sand reluctantly brought her three sisters over to Jon and Jeyne Arryn.
"Prince Aegon, good evening. These are my sisters. This is..."
Following Sarella's introductions, Jon met Oberyn's three daughters one after another.
All three Dornish beauties had inherited the exceptional features of their parents and radiated exotic charm.
In Jon's memories, they had always worn leather armor. Now, dressed in traditional Dornish clothing, they appeared far less fierce and far more alluring.
"Prince Aegon is completely different from the rumors. He speaks gently and doesn't have the ugly attitude common among nobles."
Since Jon himself had grown up as a bastard, combined with the influence of his worldview from Earth, he behaved very naturally and kindly around the young Sand Snakes.
Because of this, the girls quickly developed a favorable impression of him and believed he lacked the arrogance typical of nobles.
Although Dorne was far less discriminatory toward bastards than the North, bastards were still looked down upon by many people.
"Since you're already here, stay and enjoy yourselves for a few days. Later, I'll arrange for someone to escort you to the Purple Palace before sending you home."
"Prince Aegon isn't returning yet?"
The sharp-eyed Tyene Sand immediately caught the implication hidden in Jon's words.
"Prince Aegon still has matters to handle in the Stormlands. He won't be returning for the time being."
Sarella Sand already understood much of Jon's current situation, so she immediately explained on his behalf.
"Honored Prince Aegon, may we remain here as well? We haven't seen little Sarella in many years since she left to study in Oldtown. We can take care of ourselves. We simply hope you'll allow us to spend more time with her."
The speaker this time was Nymeria Sand, the youngest among them.
She had already received instructions from her mother and naturally hoped to find a way to remain by Jon's side.
"Uh..."
After hearing the request, Jon subconsciously glanced toward Jeyne Arryn.
Jon himself did not mind the requests of these beautiful women. After all, it would be extremely difficult for anyone to truly take something from him.
His System-granted Class abilities remained entirely under his control. If someone truly betrayed him, he only needed to apply for reclamation through the System, and they would lose everything they had gained.
As for the dragons, betrayal there was even less likely.
These dragons were still in the experimental phase, and after receiving the System's recognition, they had become directly linked to Jon's Class abilities as well.
Therefore, the only thing Jon truly needed to consider now was Jeyne Arryn's feelings.
Although Jeyne Arryn constantly encouraged him verbally to expand the family bloodline, so far, Jon had only ever been intimate with her.
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