The news of the Lysene delegation's arrival in Valyria came along with a magnificent sailing ship flying a banner of pearls and teardrops.
Vines and roses were carved into the hull of the ship, a typical Lysene style that appeared extravagant and exquisite.
The delegation was not large, consisting of only about twenty people.
The leader was a Lysene nobleman calling himself Tolmo, around fifty years old, wearing a gold-embroidered coat with an overly enthusiastic smile on his face.
However, the most eye-catching person was the young woman following at his side.
She looked to be about eighteen years old, tall and slender, wearing a moon-white gown with a hem that brushed against the black stone floor. With silver hair, purple eyes, delicate features, and snow-white skin, her presence evoked a sense of pity and endearment.
As soon as he disembarked, Tolmo bowed deeply to Earl Alliser, who was there to receive them, his posture so low it almost touched the ground.
"Noble Earl, please be sure to convey our most devout greetings and blessings to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Valyria. We Lysene have always wished to admire the glory of the true dragon. If we could see His Majesty with our own eyes, it would truly be a supreme honor." Every word of his was like it was coated in honey.
He saw Alliser look at his side and introduced, "This is Lady Liana, mentioned in the previous correspondence, the daughter of our Magister and the most precious Pearl of Lys. Her mother was a descendant of Valyrian nobility who drifted to Lys, but she unfortunately passed away early, leaving only our little pearl. However, she inherited her mother's pure Valyrian appearance and is also proficient in music and poetry."
He paused, his tone somewhat ambiguous as he continued, "Of course, her greatest wish is to see His Majesty Viserys with her own eyes and offer the friendship of Lys along with her most sincere admiration."
Liana stepped forward at the right moment, curtsied, and said in a soft voice, "Liana greets the Earl. May His Majesty be well."
Earl Alliser nodded and responded professionally, "His Majesty is already aware of your intent. Please follow me, you two. As for the others, we have prepared accommodations for everyone, and you may all attend the banquet later."
In the carriage to Dragonwing Fortress, Tolmo continued to chatter about Lys's sincerity and desire for peace, emphasizing that they offered Liana in hopes of forming a permanent alliance with the powerful Valyrian Empire through the ancient method of marriage.
"We Lysene are the people who best appreciate beauty and power, and we are also those who long for peace most," he said with a face full of smiles. "His Majesty and Liana are a match made in heaven. Moreover, if there is a marital connection, Lys will certainly provide full assistance for the Empire's trade in Essos."
Liana sat quietly to the side, her eyes fixed on the black rocks and buildings passing outside the carriage. Only in the moments when she thought no one was watching did an extremely cold light flash deep within those purple eyes.
In the council chamber.
Viserys listened to Alliser's report, playing with a gold coin from Lys in his hand—one side carved with an entwined man and woman, the other with a rose in full bloom.
"A Valyrian descendant?" He chuckled softly. "They've spun quite a good tale. But for a Magister of Lys to suddenly have a daughter with a Valyrian appearance at a time like this is a bit too much of a coincidence. After all, I've never heard of her before. Do they take everyone for fools?"
Alliser was somewhat puzzled. "Your Majesty, what do you mean?"
"The Lysene," Viserys gripped the gold coin tightly in his hand. "They have a 'glorious history.' When the Valyrian Freehold suffered The Doom, there were at least a dozen Dragonlords who escaped because they were vacationing in Lys. But besides Volantis, have you heard of any other city-state having anything to do with Dragonlords?"
"Indeed not, but how did they defeat a dozen Dragonlords with dragons?"
"Have you forgotten Lys's other specialties? For instance, the 'Tears of Lys.' Plus, the Dragonlords at that time likely trusted them, so it would have been very easy for them to succeed."
A cold light flashed in Alliser's eyes. "Your Majesty, then your subordinate will arrest them immediately."
"No," Viserys interrupted him with a cold smile. "Since they have sent a 'gift,' we naturally must 'accept' it. Otherwise, wouldn't we be wasting the fine opportunity they've brought to our door? You only need to arrange for people to keep a close eye on the Lysene who came along. As for this gift, you don't need to worry about it."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Earl Alliser took his orders and went to make arrangements.
Viserys, meanwhile, controlled the small animals in Liana's room to monitor her every move.
Liana's "performance" was exquisite. For the first few days, there was no abnormal behavior; instead, she slowly integrated into life at Dragonwing Fortress.
She would appear in the castle's small library in the afternoon, leafing through scrolls of Valyrian poetry. When Viserys happened to pass by, she would rise in alarm to salute, then ask him about the meaning of a certain word in Old Valyrian with a tone of slight shyness and admiration.
The thirst for knowledge in her eyes was hard to refuse.
At the banquet, she would also play tunes in the Lysene style at everyone's request, but the music carried a lingering sorrow, as if expressing some kind of longing. She would also look toward Viserys from time to time, and after he looked back, she would lower her head shyly, making many who saw this scene feel sympathy for her.
Margaery Tyrell watched all this with a cold eye.
She could see Liana's every careful design, seeing the calculation deep in her eyes that didn't match her appearance. Of course, she also saw Viserys's performance; it didn't look like infatuation, but more like a scrutinizing gaze full of interest.
This made her certain that Viserys was not seduced by her beauty as he appeared on the surface. After all, how could a man who remained indifferent to her and the three Sand Snakes fall so easily into such a honey trap? Though she had to admit that Liana was indeed very beautiful.
She suppressed the doubt in her heart and chose to continue observing, even occasionally conversing "naively" with Liana, as if two noble ladies also staying here were comforting each other.
Oberyn was much more direct.
Once, after meeting Viserys, he chuckled with a lewd expression, "Your Majesty, how does that Pearl of Lys taste? She looks quite delicious, but I wonder if she's as'sweet' inside as she is on the outside."
He himself went to Lys often and was quite familiar with it, though he spent most of his time there enjoying himself.
It wasn't until a few nights later that Liana's offensive began to escalate.
Viserys was just about to rest when there was a soft knock at the door. After receiving permission, Liana walked in. She wore only a thin silk nightgown, her silver hair loose and her feet bare, with a faint flush of lingering alarm on her face.
"Your Majesty, I'm sorry to disturb you. I just had a nightmare and heard sounds coming from your room, so I took the liberty of coming over. May I stay here for a while?" Her voice trembled slightly, and her purple eyes shimmered with tears, looking pitifully charming.
Viserys looked at her for a moment, then stepped aside to let her in.
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