After spending nearly two hours quietly contemplating matters within the Painted Table Chamber, Daniella finally felt somewhat exhausted.
Obediently, she allowed her maids to escort her back toward Holy Flame Tower to rest.
Ever since forming a bond with Dreamfyre, Daniella had noticed obvious changes within herself.
Her vitality became far stronger than before, her body healthier, and even her courage seemed to grow more vigorous with each passing year.
Holy Flame Tower stood near the gardens of Dragonstone Castle.
Originally, the tower possessed no official name.
After moving into it, Daniella personally named it Holy Flame Tower.
The reason was simple.
A gigantic dragon-claw torch holder extended from the inner wall of the tower, supporting an enormous iron furnace.
During winter, the blazing fire kept the entire tower comfortably warm.
As someone who loved flowers and plants, Daniella naturally transformed the tower into a garden-like residence filled with blooming flowers throughout all four seasons.
The fragrance of flowers also helped suppress Dragonstone’s ever-present smell of sulfur and seawater.
Behind the tower stretched a broad sloping field ideal for dragons to land upon.
Dreamfyre often rested there during the daytime.
At night, however, the blue she-dragon usually flew toward the volcanic region of New Dragonstone Island.
There, near the crater of the active volcano, Dreamfyre had built a nest within a naturally formed cavern.
Ever since Daniella rescued her from the cramped confinement of the Dragonpit in King’s Landing, Dreamfyre’s appetite and temperament had both improved greatly.
Now the dragon could easily devour more than a dozen roasted goats each day.
Occasionally, Daniella also rode Dreamfyre out across the Narrow Sea to hunt massive sea creatures.
Whenever fortune favored them, they could even capture whales or giant sharks.
A single whale not only filled Dreamfyre’s stomach for days, but also added several hundred golden dragons to Daniella’s private treasury.
Holy Flame Tower itself was not particularly large.
The tower consisted of only three floors totaling slightly over three hundred square meters.
The first floor served as kennels for Daniella’s four massive mastiffs and sleeping quarters for the twelve boys jokingly known throughout the realm as the Sheepskinner Knights.
The second floor contained reception chambers, living rooms, and the quarters of Bronn alongside Daniella’s two sworn shields.
The third floor held Daniella’s personal bedchamber, study, and the rooms of her maids.
At present, Daniella had four close attendants.
The eldest was sixteen-year-old Anna from House Stokeworth, a crownland noble house directly sworn to the Iron Throne.
The second was thirteen-year-old Laila from House Royce of Runestone in the Vale.
The third was twelve-year-old Gariel, second daughter of House Mooton of Maidenpool.
The youngest was ten-year-old Besani, eldest daughter of House Rosby near King’s Landing.
Under the careful service of the girls, Daniella simply washed herself before climbing into bed while embracing her dragon egg.
The pale white egg streaked with pink patterns had accompanied her for many years.
Because it remained near the furnace throughout the day, its surface temperature was noticeably warm.
Aside from Daniella herself, few people could comfortably hold it for long.
Soon afterward, Daniella drifted into sleep.
Within her dream, her consciousness arrived in an incomparably strange world.
At first glance, it appeared to be a sea of clouds.
Yet upon closer inspection, those clouds resembled blazing fire more than mist.
Daniella felt her body become unbelievably light as she floated involuntarily through the endless burning sky.
Suddenly, a massive cluster of blue-black fire clouds blocked her path.
But after carefully observing it, Daniella quickly realized the truth.
Those were not clouds at all.
It was Dreamfyre.
An enormous dragon formed entirely from flame.
Because she had already bonded deeply with the blue she-dragon, Daniella felt no fear whatsoever before the gigantic creature.
Dreamfyre slowly lowered her massive head and stared directly at Daniella with enormous pale golden eyes.
Then the dragon lowered her body.
Without hesitation, Daniella climbed onto Dreamfyre’s back and firmly patted the dragon’s scales, which seemed to exist somewhere between illusion and reality.
Instantly understanding her intentions, Dreamfyre excitedly opened her jaws as if releasing a silent roar before surging upward into the fiery heavens.
Although no actual sound existed within the dream, Daniella could clearly sense Dreamfyre’s emotions.
Joy.
Excitement.
Freedom.
The sensation was indescribably strange.
Their thoughts and feelings seemed directly connected.
At this moment, Daniella felt her bond with Dreamfyre become incomparably clearer than ever before.
It was as though the dragon had become an extension of her own body.
“Rise higher, Dreamfyre.”
Daniella instinctively attempted issuing commands through her thoughts.
To her astonishment, Dreamfyre responded immediately and climbed rapidly upward.
The dream realm itself resembled an endless sea of burning clouds.
There was no distinction between east and west, north or south, above or below.
Everything blurred together within the fiery sky.
“Faster, Dreamfyre.”
“Dive.”
“Breathe dragonfire.”
In the next instant, Dreamfyre unleashed an enormous torrent of dragonfire.
However, unlike the orange-red flames she breathed in reality, the fire within this dream burned blue-black.
The terrifying inferno seemed hot enough to ignite the entire dream world itself.
The surrounding temperature rose drastically.
Yet when the heat touched Daniella’s body, she felt only warmth and comfort.
All exhaustion vanished instantly.
The sensation was exhilarating beyond words.
Wild.
Unrestrained.
Free.
Even the joy of her first true dragon flight in reality paled before this spiritual ecstasy.
Dreamfyre continued soaring joyfully through the endless fire-cloud world.
At that moment, another gigantic shape approached from the distance.
A massive green dragon composed of emerald flames gradually drew near.
“Vhagar?”
Daniella immediately recognized the enormous dragon.
The ancient she-dragon remained some distance away and did not approach closer, merely following slowly behind Dreamfyre.
The sight filled Daniella with amazement.
Flying freely through this endless realm of fire and clouds brought her indescribable peace and comfort.
Then suddenly, a faint sensation echoed within her consciousness.
It could barely be described as a sound.
Perhaps “perception” would be more accurate.
Following the strange sensation, Daniella urged Dreamfyre downward.
The feeling became stronger and stronger.
“Stop here.
Descend, Dreamfyre.”
After climbing from the dragon’s back, Daniella stared ahead in surprise.
Before her floated a glowing object resembling a pale pink dragon egg formed entirely from burning crystal.
The mysterious sensation originated from it.
Almost unconsciously, Daniella extended her hand toward the glowing object.
The instant her fingers touched it, a violent shock erupted through her mind like thunder exploding directly within her skull.
Daniella jolted awake.
She abruptly sat upright in bed, accidentally knocking her dragon egg onto the floor beside her.
Fortunately, the thick Myrish carpet softened the impact.
Dragon eggs were also extraordinarily durable.
Otherwise, ordinary objects would never survive falling from that height.
“Hm?”
Daniella quickly noticed something strange.
The pale pink patterns across the shell appeared noticeably brighter than before.
Remembering the glowing egg-shaped crystal from her dream, Daniella whispered softly,
“Could it really be preparing to hatch?”
Outside, the sky remained dark.
Yet Daniella no longer felt sleepy at all.
Instead, her entire body felt energetic and refreshed.
“This truly was an incredible dream.”
Outside the chamber, Anna’s voice soon sounded.
“Princess, are you awake?”
“Yes, Anna.”
A moment later, Anna and Besani entered carrying warm water and washing supplies.
After freshening herself, Daniella changed into a midnight-purple dress suitable for mourning.
Today was Prince Baelon’s funeral.
Dark colors were appropriate.
At that moment, Cameron Tarth stepped respectfully into the chamber.
“Princess, Maester Gerardys says today’s lessons are canceled.
After breakfast, everyone will prepare to receive His Grace and the royal family.”
Cameron Tarth was the second son of Lord Tarth of Evenfall Hall.
Together with Harrold Darke, he had been selected as one of Daniella’s sworn shields during the grand tourney held for King Jaehaerys the previous year.
Daniella had even spent one hundred golden dragons bribing the drunken Kingsguard Ser Clement Crabb to knight the pair.
Being knighted by a member of the Kingsguard was considered a tremendous honor.
Fortunately, Ser Clement proved surprisingly responsible after accepting the money.
While in King’s Landing, he personally trained the two young knights for several months.
As a result, Cameron and Harrold were already considered quite skilled among warriors of their age.
“Many members of the royal family and numerous great lords should arrive today,” Daniella said calmly.
“All of you may go prepare yourselves.
I will remain here a little longer.”
After Anna and the others departed, Daniella slowly approached the dragon egg resting near the furnace.
The pale shell now carried a faint rosy glow beneath the firelight.
Gently placing her hand against it, Daniella felt a vibrant pulse of energy deep within the shell.
“Was it truly you that I saw in my dream?”
A strange light gradually appeared within Daniella’s eyes.
“Perhaps…
I can finally try.”
After breakfast, Daniella secretly summoned Cameron Tarth and whispered several instructions into his ear.
At first, Cameron looked utterly stunned.
Then confusion filled his expression.
Yet despite this, he still bowed respectfully.
“As you command, Princess.”
Afterward, Daniella led the castle servants and retainers toward the gates of Dragonstone Castle to await the arrival of King Jaehaerys and the royal procession.