By the time the evening banquet officially began, the noble lords and ladies of Westeros had completely transformed their appearance and demeanor.
Although most still wore dark colors appropriate for mourning, their garments were far more elaborate and luxurious than those worn during Prince Baelon’s funeral ceremony.
Groups of nobles gathered throughout the Painted Table Chamber and Aegon’s Garden, effortlessly displaying the polished conversational skills expected of highborn society.
Politics.
Marriage alliances.
Trade.
Dragons.
Tournament victories.
Court gossip.
Every topic naturally flowed into another as the nobles entered full banquet social mode.
Under Lady Aemma’s guidance, Daniella and Rhaenyra moved gracefully among the guests, greeting important lords, members of the Small Council, and powerful court families one after another.
Among the gathered nobles, two young men from House Lannister repeatedly drew Daniella’s attention.
The thirteen-year-old twins, Jason and Tyland Lannister, possessed the classic appearance of their house.
Golden hair.
Blue-green eyes.
Tall and elegant figures.
Although they lacked the overwhelming beauty commonly associated with House Targaryen, they still stood out easily among the young nobles present.
Meanwhile, the Lannister twins themselves were equally captivated by the astonishing beauty of Daniella and Rhaenyra.
Unfortunately, the distance between the noble groups prevented any proper introductions for the moment.
Soon afterward, Rhaenyra enthusiastically dragged Daniella toward another gathering.
“Aunt Daniella, come meet Laena.”
The girl standing nearby was Laena Velaryon, ten-year-old daughter of Lord Corlys Velaryon and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen.
Unlike certain exaggerated tales Daniella vaguely remembered from another world, Laena possessed unmistakable Valyrian features.
Silver hair.
Purple eyes.
Pale skin.
She was an exceptionally lively and beautiful child.
Beside her stood eight-year-old Laenor Velaryon, whose attention remained strangely fixed upon the handsome Lannister twins in the distance.
“Hello, Laenor,” Rhaenyra greeted.
Laenor finally snapped out of his distraction.
“Oh…
hello, Cousin Rhaenyra.
Aunt Daniella.”
Then his gaze immediately shifted toward the tiny pink dragon resting near Daniella.
“Daniella, your Meraxes is truly beautiful.”
Daniella smiled gently and offered a slight curtsy.
“Thank you, Laenor.
Your dragon Seasmoke is also very handsome and fierce.”
The mention of dragons immediately brightened Laenor’s mood.
“Yes!
Seasmoke is already two years old and growing quickly.
He’s almost as large as a calf now, though still too young to ride properly.”
As expected, dragons instantly became the center of conversation among young Targaryens and Velaryons.
However, Rhaenyra quickly interrupted proudly.
“My Syrax is much larger than Seasmoke already.”
She raised her chin smugly.
“And they came from the same clutch of dragon eggs.”
Laenor immediately protested.
“That only happened because Syrax hatched two years earlier!”
Laena sighed helplessly before pulling her younger brother aside.
Only my dragon egg still refuses to hatch.”
She looked toward Daniella with envy.
“Aunt Daniella already rides Dreamfyre, and now she has Meraxes too.
It’s truly discouraging.”
Laena’s words instantly caused a trace of discomfort to flash across Rhaenyra’s face.
Daniella quickly smiled and eased the atmosphere.
“Perhaps you should try another dragon egg someday, Laena.”
“Or perhaps attempt bonding with one of Dragonstone’s adult dragons directly.”
“That way you could ride immediately.”
Then Daniella affectionately took Rhaenyra’s hand.
“Rhaenyra, I had the kitchens prepare several entirely new desserts specially for you tonight.”
“Quickly, go taste them.”
Rhaenyra’s eyes instantly brightened.
“Really?”
She became visibly excited.
“I love sweets most of all, but the Red Keep only serves the same pastries over and over.
I’ve already tried nearly every dessert shop in King’s Landing.”
Naturally, the desserts developed by Daniella drew inspiration from recipes and ideas originating from her previous life.
Compared to Westerosi sweets, they possessed entirely new flavors and styles.
As expected, they immediately conquered Rhaenyra’s appetite.
“Mmm…
this is delicious!”
Rhaenyra happily sampled another bite.
“And the style is completely different too.
Thank you, Auntie.”
The two princesses soon drifted into private conversation while tasting desserts together.
Meanwhile, elsewhere within the hall, Ser Otto Hightower, newly appointed Hand of the King, was introducing his daughter to King Jaehaerys.
“Your Grace, this is my daughter Alicent.”
Otto smiled politely.
“She is gentle, intelligent, and the pride of House Hightower.”
A twelve-year-old girl with delicate features stepped forward and curtsied elegantly.
“Greetings, Your Grace.”
Alicent Hightower possessed a soft and graceful voice alongside refined beauty uncommon even among noble girls.
King Jaehaerys studied her briefly before nodding in satisfaction.
“I grow old,” the king said calmly.
“Even reading becomes tiresome for these old eyes.”
He smiled faintly.
“Your voice is clear and pleasant, child.
Remain nearby and assist this old man with reading from time to time.”
Otto immediately bowed respectfully.
“It would be a tremendous honor for House Hightower, Your Grace.”
Alicent also lowered her head politely.
“Alicent thanks Your Grace.”
Afterward, she personally poured wine into the king’s goblet using a pale golden liquor served by nearby attendants.
Jaehaerys raised the cup and tasted a small sip.
Instantly, warmth spread throughout his body.
The old king’s eyes widened slightly.
“This is excellent wine.”
“Why have I never tasted it before?”
At that moment, Daniella and Rhaenyra approached carrying elegant silver dessert trays.
“Your Grace,” Daniella explained brightly, “this is Dragonflame Wine from White Sheep Town.”
“It is delicious, and also beneficial to the body.” This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
“The shepherds there rely upon it to endure the cold sea winds of Dragonstone.”
Jaehaerys immediately remembered the newly developed settlement belonging to Daniella.
“White Sheep Town…” the king murmured thoughtfully.
“That is your territory, is it not, little Daniella?”
“You’ve already begun producing such excellent wine there?”
Daniella smiled brilliantly.
“Not only wine, Your Grace.”
She lifted a small silver spoon and scooped up a piece of dessert.
“Please try this as well.”
The old king accepted the offering with visible amusement before tasting it.
“Hm?”
His expression brightened immediately.
“This flavor is excellent.”
“Is there lemon within it?”
“Yes,” Daniella answered happily.
“The lemons come directly from the trees growing in Aegon’s Garden.”
Then she pointed toward Rhaenyra.
“You should also try Rhaenyra’s dessert.
Hers is even sweeter.”
Rhaenyra quickly offered her own dessert proudly.
Jaehaerys sampled another spoonful.
“Very good.”
“I like this one as well.”
He glanced curiously toward the pastry.
“Pear flavor?”
Rhaenyra immediately nodded excitedly.
“Yes.
It’s my favorite too.”
The two young princesses quickly surrounded the old king with cheerful conversation, making Jaehaerys momentarily forget both Otto and Alicent entirely.
Soon afterward, Daniella happily dragged him away to inspect several other small inventions and curiosities she had prepared.
Watching the king depart, Alicent quietly looked toward her father.
“The princesses are truly beautiful,” she whispered softly.
“And His Grace clearly adores them.”
Otto stared thoughtfully toward the departing group.
“Then become close to them.”
“Treat them kindly, just as you care for your younger brother.”
He gently rested a hand upon Alicent’s shoulder.
“They are among the youngest dragonriders House Targaryen has ever produced.”
Meanwhile, Dragonflame Wine rapidly became one of the banquet’s greatest sensations.
Not only King Jaehaerys, but countless nobles praised its extraordinary taste and warming effects.
Taking advantage of the excitement, Ser Samwell, acting tax collector and merchant representative of White Sheep Town, immediately began aggressively promoting the wine.
“My lords,” he declared dramatically, “the special yeast used in brewing Dragonflame Wine exists only near Dragonstone itself.”
“Even the barley fields are nourished using fertilizer created from sheep bones reduced to ash by dragonfire.”
“The brewing process also includes several secret ingredients connected directly to dragons themselves.”
Naturally, Samwell intentionally avoided explaining exactly what those ingredients actually were.
After listening to his theatrical descriptions, many nobles became completely fascinated.
Originally, Dragonflame Wine was little more than enhanced barley liquor with relatively low production cost.
Yet through clever marketing, Samwell successfully priced it at one golden dragon per barrel.
Fifty catties of wine for the price of a quality warhorse.
Even so, the gathered nobles still competed fiercely to place orders.
By the end of the banquet alone, White Sheep Town had already received advance orders totaling nearly two hundred thousand golden dragons.
And that was already close to the settlement’s maximum annual production capacity.