King Jaehaerys was currently enjoying desserts together with Daniella and the others while casually observing Ser Samwell enthusiastically promoting Dragonflame Wine among the assembled nobles.
Watching the scene, the old king leaned slightly closer to Daniella and whispered with amusement,
“Little Daniella, you are allowing your people to conduct business during a royal funeral banquet.”
“Shouldn’t the taxes be paid to the Crown first?”
Daniella immediately smiled innocently.
“Dragonflame Wine is merely something prepared for the noble lords.”
“But should not the royal family possess something even finer?”
She lowered her voice mysteriously.
“I can provide it exclusively to House Targaryen, and the production cost is almost identical to ordinary Dragonflame Wine.”
“What do you think, Great-Grandfather?”
Jaehaerys instantly became interested.
“Oh?”
“There is something even better?”
“Then this old man must certainly try it.”
Daniella immediately raised her hand toward Anna.
The maid, who had clearly prepared for this moment in advance, quickly approached carrying an exquisitely decorated tray covered with fine silk cloth.
Resting upon the tray were several elegant transparent glass bottles crafted in the shape of dragons.
Inside the bottles flowed rich golden liquor glowing beneath the candlelight.
The drinking cups themselves were equally luxurious.
Each cup was made from polished glass reinforced with dragon bone decorations, while dragonfire patterns had been engraved into the base.
Anna carefully poured a cup for King Jaehaerys.
“This wine is called Targaryen Dragonflame.”
“Please enjoy it, Your Grace.”
Jaehaerys first took a small sip cautiously.
The next instant, a powerful burning warmth exploded from his mouth down into his stomach.
The sensation was fierce and intense, almost like swallowing fire itself.
Yet strangely, the heat also filled his aging body with vitality.
For a brief moment, the old king felt as though some of his youth had returned.
Without hesitation, he immediately drained the entire cup.
Sweat instantly formed across Jaehaerys’s forehead, but his expression brightened considerably.
While gently wiping the king’s forehead with a handkerchief, Daniella smiled confidently.
“How is it, Your Grace?”
“This is House Targaryen’s true Dragonflame.”
“Excellent!”
Jaehaerys laughed heartily.
“The wine is excellent, and the name is even better.”
“Only House Targaryen deserves such a name.”
The surrounding nobles quickly noticed the commotion and gradually gathered closer.
Lord Corlys Velaryon and Princess Rhaenys approached first.
“What has pleased His Grace so greatly?” Corlys asked curiously.
“Judging by your expression, this must be remarkable news.”
Jaehaerys immediately gestured toward Anna.
“Pour Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys each a cup of Targaryen Dragonflame.”
“Targaryen Dragonflame?” Corlys repeated with interest.
Although curious, the Sea Snake and Princess Rhaenys both accepted the golden liquor.
The moment they drank it, their expressions changed immediately.
Even Corlys Velaryon, famous throughout the world for his love of strong drink and exotic luxuries, appeared genuinely astonished.
“This wine is powerful and fierce,” Corlys admitted sincerely.
“But after drinking it, the body feels unusually refreshed.”
“I have sailed across the known world six times, yet I have never encountered any liquor capable of comparing to this.” Find the original chapter at novelping.com.
Princess Rhaenys nodded in agreement.
“The earlier Dragonflame Wine was already exceptional.”
“But compared to this…”
She glanced toward her goblet thoughtfully.
“Ordinary wine suddenly tastes unbearably dull.”
Rhaenys gently touched her chest.
“I have not felt particularly well lately, yet after drinking this, my body feels considerably lighter.”
Jaehaerys proudly pointed toward the dragon-shaped bottles.
“Naturally.”
“This is an imperial wine supplied exclusively to House Targaryen.”
“One bottle costs ten golden dragons.”
“Ten golden dragons?!”
Even Lord Corlys, widely regarded as the richest man in Westeros, could not completely hide his shock.
Still, after a moment, he quietly finished every remaining drop before extending his empty goblet toward Anna again.
Unfortunately, Anna merely smiled apologetically.
“My apologies, Lord Corlys.”
“Targaryen Dragonflame is considered medicinal wine with powerful effects.”
“Each person may only drink one cup at a time.”
Although disappointed, Corlys eventually lowered the cup.
Nearby, a loud scoff suddenly interrupted the atmosphere.
“It’s just strong liquor.”
“I don’t believe a few cups could truly harm anyone.”
The speaker forcefully pushed through the gathered crowd.
It was Borros Baratheon, fourteen-year-old heir to Storm’s End.
Princess Rhaenys immediately frowned and grabbed his arm.
“Borros, have you already become drunk?”
“Mind your tongue before His Grace.”
“Otherwise your father will beat you senseless later.”
Daniella, however, immediately recognized an opportunity.
Smiling sweetly, she said,
“Young Lord Borros likely does not understand.”
“Medicinal wine nourishes the weak and ill.”
“But healthy people who drink excessively may instead harm themselves.”
Borros instantly glared at her.
“You think I fear a little strong wine?”
“How about we make a wager?”
At that moment, Lord Boremund Baratheon himself finally arrived nearby.
Without hesitation, he kicked Borros hard enough to make the boy stumble.
“Do you think this is Storm’s End?”
“Mind your manners before the king.”
Still, Borros stubbornly protested.
“It’s only wine.”
“I refuse to believe a few cups could truly do anything.”
Not far away, Prince Daemon Targaryen had been complaining bitterly to his brother Viserys moments earlier.
“The goats of the Vale inspire more desire in me than that bronze bitch from Runestone.”
“How exactly am I expected to father children with her?”
“Daemon!”
“That is your lawful wife and Lady of House Royce.”
“How dare you insult her so openly?”
His expression hardened sharply.
“Control your tongue.”
“Otherwise I may remove it myself.”
Daemon merely laughed carelessly.
“If you help me annul the marriage, you may cut off whatever you like afterward.”
He leaned closer mischievously.
“How about this, brother?”
“I help secure your claim to the Iron Throne.”
“And once you become king, you free me from that miserable marriage.”
Viserys finally lost patience and punched him directly.
“You will treat Lady Royce properly.”
“Do you understand?”
“Otherwise I shall never forgive you.”
He looked ready to strike Daemon again when sudden shouting nearby drew everyone’s attention.
“A wager is a wager!”
Borros loudly challenged Daniella.
Seeing the young Baratheon fully provoked, Daniella calmly continued,
“If you truly insist upon proving yourself, then fine.”
“So long as you can drink an entire jug of Targaryen Dragonflame without incident, I shall provide Dragonflame Wine to Storm’s End free of charge in the future.”
“But if you fail…”
She smiled slightly.
“You must provide me with ten fully equipped three-masted merchant ships loaded with supplies.”
Borros nearly jumped in outrage.
“Do you even understand how much ten ships cost?”
“That is worth a fortune!”
Daniella immediately curled her lips disdainfully.
“If Storm’s End cannot afford it, then forget the wager.”
“After all, your judgment already seems somewhat lacking.”
“If you drink yourself into trouble, your loyal father would suffer greatly.”
The moment a younger girl openly mocked him before the gathered nobles, Borros completely exploded.
“Who are you calling stupid?!”
“A wager is a wager!”
Daniella ignored him entirely and instead looked toward Lord Boremund Baratheon.
“Lord Boremund, do you support this wager?”
“If you refuse, then I cannot trust Lord Borros to fulfill his promises.”
She deliberately sighed.
“Besides, the Stormlands are not as wealthy as they once were.”
“It would be unfortunate if young Lord Borros continued wasting what little remains.”
Lord Boremund immediately felt his blood pressure rise.
Objectively speaking, he knew perfectly well that Daniella was provoking them intentionally.
Yet being looked down upon publicly by a young Targaryen princess still infuriated him.
House Baratheon had declined politically compared to earlier generations, but Storm’s End had never lacked wealth or pride.
Without fully thinking, Boremund blurted out,
“I support the wager.”