Good weather had become more frequent on Dragonstone since March, and today’s sunlight was exceptionally warm.
Moreover, because there was an active volcano on the new island of Dragonstone, the island’s vegetation had been reviving particularly early in recent years, and this year many fruit trees and flowers had already burst into full bloom.
It should have been a rare, fine day of the year, yet Baelon—who was born in the first spring after the end of the Long Winter—had passed away in a new spring; this must be how fate and the gods toyed with mortals!
Yet again, when had this world ever changed for anyone?
After breakfast, Daniella had gone over all the preparation details once more with Maester Tigris, which could also be considered a learning and practical experience for Daniella.
In Maester Tigris’s eyes, Daniella was a thoroughly qualified student.
Not only did she learn things quickly, but she could also infer other things from one instance, displaying a talent far beyond ordinary people at such a tender age.
Daniella also felt that her mind in this lifetime was truly brilliant, reaching a level of almost photographic memory.
Moreover, her body was exceptionally strong.
Especially after successfully mastering her dragon, she felt her strength growing at a rapid pace.
Especially after successfully mastering her dragon, she had also started practicing swordsmanship with Bronn.
Over the years, she could now be considered a minor expert herself.
In this world, funerals—especially those of royal family members—were quite meticulous affairs.
Being able to personally participate in organizing this could also be considered accumulating experience for her future governance of a family or a domain.
After all, in this world, women’s status was respectable enough.
When there was no suitable male heir, women could also inherit titles.
Of course, the Targaryen Royal Family had never had such an example before.
After all, the Seven Kingdoms were still dominated by men, and the vast majority of people were still accustomed to male heirs taking precedence over females.
Compared to the traditions of other families in the Seven Kingdoms, the funeral of the Targaryen Family was relatively simple.
However, the form of cremation ignited by a dragon certainly pushed the grandeur and clout straight to the maximum.
Because aside from the former Ancient Valyria federation, the Targaryen Family was currently the only family with the strength and capability to conduct themselves in such a manner.
Because of Prince Baelon’s noble status, the prominent great lords of the Seven Kingdoms would all attend in person.
Therefore, whether it was the fine food and wine prepared for the ensuing banquet or the resting and chatting areas prepared for the lords and ladies, everything needed to be thoroughly considered.
It had to match the status and position of the royal family, yet it could not be overly extravagant.
The Targaryen Family had always advocated simplicity, so the preparations could only focus heavily on quality.
Maester Tigris had people sent to Spice Town on Tide Head Island—belonging to House Velaryon, the wealthiest family in the Seven Kingdoms—to purchase the freshest marine fish, as well as various precious spices transported from the eastern continent of Essos.
Coupled with Dragonstone’s own reserves, they could put together a feast that ranked near the top among the Seven Kingdoms.
Regarding tableware, aside from those gold, silver, copper, and aluminum items, Daniella had Maester Tigris bring out over a dozen sets of dragonbone tableware that she had commissioned Myr artisans at a heavy cost to forge.
However, these were all Daniella’s private belongings; bringing them out for everyone to use carried her own little schemes.
One set each for the Seven Great Families (the Stark Family of the North, House Tully of the Riverlands, House Arryn of the Vale, House Tyrell of the Reach, Greyjoy of the Iron Islands, House Baratheon of the Stormlands, and the Lannister Family of the West; Martell Family of Dorne was on bad terms and would not come).
Naturally, preparations had to be made for their close relatives, House Velaryon, and every member of the Targaryen Royal Family would have a share.
This dragonbone tableware had everything from bowls, plates, dishes, cups, knives, and forks to barrels, boxes, pots, and trays.
Moreover, they were inlaid with gold and gilded with silver, with quite a few pearls and gemstones embedded as well.
Daniella had hundreds of sets of such tableware made, consuming thousands of kilograms of dragonbone alone.
The cost of each set alone was over a dozen golden dragons, making it the height of luxury.
She intended to ride today’s favorable wind to give the nobility of the Seven Kingdoms a real eye-opener.
Didn’t they love comparing themselves against one another the most?
Daniella did not believe they wouldn’t want to collect a set themselves after using them.
For Daniella to part with them like this, charging them tens of thousands per set wasn’t too much, right?
Whoever couldn’t afford to buy them could just wait to hold their heads low across the Seven Kingdoms!
As for ingredients, the quality of Dragonstone’s reserves certainly couldn’t be bad, and coupled with the whale meat that Dreamfyre had caught a few days ago, it happened to come in handy today.
This could also be considered top-tier ingredients in the Seven Kingdoms.
Daniella had also prepared a type of “dragonflame wine” that she had meticulously brewed.
This wine was made by placing a dragon’s somewhat unspeakable metabolic byproduct into the strongest barley wine to slowly ferment for a month, followed by multiple distillations.
Daniella could responsibly say that this was definitely the strongest wine in this world.
Although this dragonflame wine was fierce, it did not harm the body, and it even had the effect of strengthening the body and bones, to the extent that even pregnant women could drink it.
The one prepared for the banquet this time had been diluted at a ratio of one to ten, yet it remained the fiercest fine wine.
It was just that the health-preserving effects were much diminished.
Daniella also had the herdsmen of White Sheep Town send over a hundred plump and tender goats.
Now that the dragonriders of the Targaryen Family were gathered together, dragon food naturally could not be lacking.
Moreover, the goats roasted personally by her own Skinning Knight Order were extremely delicious.
Because Daniella’s exclusive, secretly crafted barbecue seasoning was added inside.
The ingredients of this barbecue seasoning developed personally by Daniella were not complicated—much like Chinese barbecue seasoning—but after adding the dragon’s metabolic byproduct and mountain salt gathered near the new island of Dragonstone, the flavor truly became exceptionally good.
This low-cost yet exquisitely flavored condiment could definitely rival the top-tier spices.
If managed well, this single condiment business could be used as Daniella’s purse in the future.
Once these nobles of the Seven Kingdoms gathered together, aside from drinking and playing with women, what they loved most was tournaments.
Although funerals were not suitable for large-scale tournaments, a small-scale one to liven up the mood could also be considered a way to commemorate the deceased.
Grandfather Baelon loved hunting and participating in tournaments during his lifetime, and was known as Baelon the Brave.
Therefore, a tournament at his funeral was practically inevitable.
Therefore, Daniella ordered the Captain of the Guard, Alfred, to lead people to clear out the training ground.
Some weapons and armor still gathering dust in the storehouse were also taken out and re-maintained by the knight squires.
She also seized the opportunity to “reward” Bronn, her two personal guard knights, and the twelve Skinning Knights each with a set of plate armor and fine steel swords.
Although they were only worth a little over sixty golden dragons, to ordinary knights, it was still a huge sum of money.
Recently, under Bronn’s guidance, Daniella’s swordsmanship had also achieved a little success.
Even Bronn could not help praising her for having the talent to become a female knight.
For this reason, he even used his bonus to custom-make a compact bastard sword specially for Daniella.
The hilt was crafted using dragonbone, and the blade was very slender, only half a meter long.
The scabbard was also forged from a silver alloy and embedded with seven kinds of gemstones, making it just right for Daniella to use.
After Daniella and the others waited at the main entrance for over half an hour, Harold ran over to report to Daniella:
“Your Grace, they have arrived! His Majesty Jaehaerys has already disembarked and is hurrying toward the castle.”