69 Chapter 68: The Prince of Dorne
Soon after, Viserys and his entourage were arranged to rest in the Sea King's Palace.
Viserys had a separate luxurious bedroom, his two guards were stationed in a room outside the suite to protect him, and the shackled priestess with her child also had a separate room.
Out of respect for their privacy, Viserys never asked who the child's father was. Men dying in accidents or leaving pregnant women behind were all too common in these times.
Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many orphans on the streets of King's Landing, only to be exploited by those with ulterior motives, trained to become their eyes and ears. Their lives were truly tragic.
After returning to his bedroom, Viserys couldn't wait to take a hot bath. Due to his disguise and the scarcity of fresh water on the ship, he hadn't bathed in a long time.
The Sea King's Palace had a huge hot spring pool, where the Sea King and his guests could soak on ordinary days.
Viserys washed the filth off his body in a wooden barrel in his bedroom. His dyed blue hair returned to its original color during the cleaning, and his dirty face became fair and rosy.
Following the guidance of a maid, Viserys, wearing a golden velvet robe and slippers, came to the giant hot spring pool in the Sea King's Palace. As soon as he entered the hall, the hot steam hit him, causing his fair face to warm up slightly.
The hot spring pool in the Sea King's Palace, though large, was incredibly serene. The water was crystal clear and empty, waiting only for Viserys.
Splash—
The boy changed his clothes and slowly immersed himself in the water, leaving only his head exposed. His silver-gold hair spread out, completely soaked by the water, clinging to his fair and smooth skin. In the misty white steam, it looked like melted silver slowly flowing down.
"How enjoyable."
Viserys soaked in the hot spring, gently leaning against the edge of the rock wall, closing his eyes slightly to enjoy the peace of the moment. It seemed as if all the fatigue from his month-long journey at sea was released at this time.
Including the upcoming pressure that could be foreseen.
About the envoys from Dorne.
About convincing Braavos to support the Targaryens' survival on this land.
About the future...
White mist swirled in the hot spring pool, and before he knew it, the boy fell asleep at the edge of the pool, perhaps truly exhausted.
After an unknown amount of time passed, the sound of messy footsteps came from the corridor outside the hot spring pool, along with a soft whispering female voice.
A tall, broad-shouldered man with a narrow waist gently held a maid in his arms and entered the hot spring hall. Before he could fully enter, the man's hand had already reached under the maid's clothes.
Only then did he notice the silver-haired boy in the hot spring pool, who had already fallen into a deep sleep due to exhaustion.
"Hmm?"
The man had a few fine wrinkles on his face and thin eyebrows, with pitch-black snake-like eyes, a flat forehead, and a sharp nose.
His black hair was glossy, with streaks of silver in it. His hair formed a widow's peak above his brow, slightly messy. Below his nose were two small mustaches, and his cheeks and chin had a circle of soft sideburns.
He stopped in his tracks, looking at Viserys's silhouette, especially his silver hair that looked like molten metal. He then narrowed his eyes slightly.
...
The serving girl collapsed softly into his arms, held firmly by his strong, muscular limbs. Her fingers clenched the fabric of his shirt, her chest heaving as she panted lightly.
Realizing that the man's movements had ceased, she lifted her head curiously.
"Your Highness, what's wrong?"
However, the man known as the prince did not answer her question. Instead, a faint smile appeared on his weathered cheeks.
He then turned away from Viserys, kissed the girl's cheek, and with his other hand skillfully untied her garments from behind while she remained unresponsive.
Caught off guard by his sudden advance, the serving girl let out a soft gasp, covering her mouth with her hand. The man undressed himself, then, without concern for whether the slumbering Viserys might awaken, embraced the girl and submerged with her into the water.
"My lord..."
The man and woman entwined themselves in the water, seemingly oblivious to the world around them.
...
In truth, Viserys was a light sleeper, but the constant fatigue from over a month of life aboard a ship had worn him down, causing him to fall asleep in the hot spring.
After some time had passed, he awoke to the sound of faint whispers and rippling water.
"Cough."
Viserys, caught off guard by his sudden awakening, choked on some water before grabbing onto the edge of the hot spring pool.
Through the hazy mist, he saw a scene that made his eyes widen and his remaining drowsiness vanish in an instant.
"Pfft—"
The water Viserys had choked on sprayed out of his mouth, and his eyes widened further. He never expected to fall asleep in the hot spring pool, only to open his eyes to such a sight.
The couple entwined in the water, previously oblivious to their surroundings, noticed the boy who had been sleeping at the edge of the pool, now wide-eyed and shocked as he stared at the two of them.
"Hey, what's the big deal?"
"Little guy."
The serving girl, blushing, quickly hid her face, while the curly-haired, bearded man merely shrugged nonchalantly.
"It's just a bit of exercise. You'll come to love this activity one day too."
With a gentle smack on the girl's shapely bottom, he sent her away, then spoke.
Viserys, sitting in the hot spring pool, was initially startled by the scene that greeted him upon awakening but soon regained his composure.
Knowing that this was deep within the Sea King's palace, ordinary people could not have access. Taking a deep breath, Viserys looked at the man and asked directly.
"Who are you?"
At that moment, footsteps echoed from the hallway outside the hot spring pool.
"Your Majesty, Prince Oberyn, are you both in there?"
"An invitation from the Sea King."
