After briefly treating Asha's injuries, Viserys began to talk to Falia about the workshop. He explained everything that had transpired and also mentioned Dany, making Falia feel like they were now "in the same boat." Despite the dire situation, Falia felt safer than ever.
Her sense of security wasn't unfounded. Viserys shared some great news. "The workshop is gone, but the production of Moonshadow soaps will continue. Don't worry about how it will be produced. All orders will be delivered on time after a month. But you mustn't show any signs of abnormality. We still need to keep House Fregar people in the dark."
Falia knew it must have been very difficult for Viserys to accomplish this, but since he didn't want to elaborate, she didn't press him. She had been taught since childhood that "what you cannot hold in your hands is not real. But if she couldn't trust the man who had defeated an entire guard unit to save her, who could she trust?
Viserys had been talking since they arrived, and now that he was finished, the cabin fell silent.
"I heard from Morel that you're going to participate in the tournament?" Falia asked.
"Yes."
"Is it for the Valyrian steel sword?"
"No, I have other considerations."
"Do you have to participate?" Falia seemed to be trying to persuade him.
"I have to participate," Viserys said calmly but firmly.
"Generally, the participants in the tournament are the swordsmen of the three great houses or sellswords," Falia began to explain. "In fact, the tournament is also a way for the three great houses to resolve conflicts and grievances without bloodshed among the participating swordsmen, so..."
Falia was referring to the incident with Andersen, implying that if Viserys insisted on participating, he would definitely be targeted.
"Thank you for your concern. I have anticipated this situation," Viserys replied with a confident smile.
His master-level swordsmanship and over 90 Constitution gave him confidence. Those with better swordsmanship were not as physically fit due to age, and those with better physical fitness, like the Mountain or a Horselord, were rare.
Falia considered this and realized it was true. The young man before her had just defeated a guard unit by himself. It seemed no one could persuade him otherwise.
"If that's the case, then you must be careful. It is said that House Fregar is determined to win the championship of the celebration tournament."
"Thank you, Lady Moonshadow, for your reminder."
Hearing Viserys call her "Moonshadow" made Falia a bit dissatisfied, but she quickly composed herself and continued, "Because of recent events, you are the only one participating in the poetry competition in my name."
Falia's "flower-protecting swordsmen" had all fled, and those who sought only to play a few songs and indulge in pleasures had long since disappeared. They wouldn't dare participate in the poetry competition under Falia's name, fearing the wrath of House Fregar, which would jeopardize Falia's chances of winning the beauty pageant. Without a 'propaganda' campaign, she would be at a great disadvantage.
"Don't worry, I'm quite accomplished in poetry and music," Viserys reassured.
Falia shook her head. "No, that's not what I meant. I meant that you can't do two things at once. I hope you can focus on the competition."
Asha, standing nearby, shared similar concerns. On one side was Falia, whom she had grown up with and held deep feelings for. On the other was Viserys, who made her heart flutter. It was really hard to choose.
Viserys didn't know how to comfort her. He had at least a hundred classics in his head, covering a wide range of themes and styles, including pop songs. While there was no need to perform them live, it was a good opportunity to gauge the market. As a courtesan, Falia would be very familiar with this.
Seeing Viserys still interested in the poetry competition, Falia didn't protest but patiently answered his questions. "The upper class in Braavos always prefers soothing and elegant music, while the lower class enjoys something more cheerful. In fact, I find that the so-called upper class isn't genuinely interested in elegant music, but they have to pretend they like it."
Viserys nodded, understanding. This was a common issue among the wealthy. In theory, the judges were all Braavosi nobles, but they also had to consider the preferences of the lower classes. If the winning piece wasn't conducive to singing, it would go against the festival's original intention. So, Viserys needed to choose music that appealed to both refined and common tastes. This meant excluding some highly artistic classics in favor of timeless old songs.
Just as Falia and Viserys were discussing Braavos' past works, Ranche's voice called from outside. "Lady Falia, are you... alright?"
Ranche had set out with Viserys, but due to restrictions on carriages imposed by Andersen, they had to continue on foot after landing. Ranche felt like he was accompanying a monster—Viserys, despite having only two legs, ran faster than a horse. He could only watch as Viserys sped off into the distance, shouting at him not to rush.
When Ranche arrived, all of Andersen's guards had retreated, leaving him feeling uneasy. 'Did Andersen succeed?' he wondered, his heart sinking. Already out of breath, the news of an assassin chilled him to the core. However, hearing Falia's voice brought him a sigh of relief.
Viserys, dressed in white and still wet, emerged from the cabin. "Ranche, don't worry. Lady Moonshadow is fine. Please take me there."
'He... swam here?' Ranche marveled.
At House Fregar fortress, in the Flower and Bird Garden, Tormo, the head of the family, sat in a small pavilion sipping sweet wine. The current Sealord had established a "Beast Garden" in the Sealord's Palace, while Tormo had created a "Bird Garden" for himself. This forest covered several acres, with birdcages of various colors hanging from the trees. The birdcages housed birds with colorful feathers and beautiful songs.
Despite the few white hairs on the sides of his head, Tormo's spirit was strong, and his gray eyes seemed capable of seeing through people's hearts. A guard with a black scarf brought Andersen to him. As Tormo's second son, Andersen was not highly regarded, and his recent failure left his future uncertain.
Andersen looked at his father's back, waiting for him to turn around, but Tormo remained facing away. This made Andersen's heart even more uneasy.