"The King's wife cannot be doubted." Oberyn Martell listened to Viserys's words. Viserys was not Rhaegar, but more like a typical Targaryen.
Fiery-tempered, bright and sharp, a true dragon.
If Arianne Martell, as the heir and ruling Princess of Dorne, attracted many suitors and lived a dissolute life, that was her freedom; those men were merely her accessories.
But if Arianne were a candidate for queen through marriage, such rumors would make her a laughingstock.
Even whispers would affect the image of the King's fiancée, and Arianne's life was not exactly discreet.
To press further and try to match Arianne with Viserys would be self-humiliation. A power beast like Viserys would not want another's leftovers, nor was he a beggar king without a crown now.
Even if Dornish people were naturally passionate and unrestrained, they understood that chastity was a quality a noble lady should possess.
To put it bluntly, marriage alliances between lords were like buying and selling goods in a market; the price depended on the quality of the goods.
The miscarriage of Lysa Tully might be an exception, but that was because of the fierce warfare of The Usurper's War, and Hoster Tully, in a critical position, forcibly married his daughter to old Jon.
Hoster threatened his daughter that if she refused, she would be cast out like the Blackfish.
Even Hoster himself said that Lysa should thank the heavens that a prominent lord like Jon Arryn would marry a woman who had been deflowered and had a miscarriage. In reality, Arryn only wanted Tully's army.
Moreover, the heir of House Arryn had died, and Jon needed a new heir.
"I understand. We will have a new alliance between us," The Red Viper said, taking a deep breath.
For the lords, dalliances were dalliances, and husband and wife were husband and wife; these should not be confused.
A typical example was Brandon the Wild Wolf, who dallied with other women while eagerly courting Catelyn, who was of equal status.
"A new alliance. Besides the marriage, I still trust Dorne as my loyal ally," Viserys said, raising his cup.
Mainly, times had changed. Dorne had transitioned from its leading position during the Braavos alliance to being Viserys's auxiliary force now.
Viserys's resurgence relied on his andal and Loynans armies, not waiting for the Dornish army to embark.
"But it's not too late. At most, we're still after William Dary and Roland Lake," The Red Viper said, putting down his cup and smiling self-deprecatingly.
Viserys was noncommittal. According to the timing of their support and past favors, the Martells could indeed only rank behind House Dayne and House Lykke.
William Dary had sheltered Viserys for six years, and Roland Lake was his new drillmaster and subordinate.
They could only be considered second or third-rate talents, but these people had protected Viserys.
In times of hardship, loyalty trumps everything.
Investment and return are always directly proportional; adding flowers to embroidery will never be as valuable as sending charcoal in the snow.
"How will you repay them?" The Red Viper asked tentatively.
"I haven't thought of the specifics yet, but I think Trident River River basin doesn't need a governor or guardian. I will severely punish the Tullys, and I will restore the wealth and honor of House Dayne and House Lykke," Viserys replied coldly.
The Royalists' old supporters had already had their fiefs reduced and paid high fines under the new power.
As for the fence-sitting Tullys, it would be an outrage not to severely hammer them.
"Hoster Tully, what a shrewd old man, allied with two ancient royal houses." The Red Viper's smile also held a dark malice. "I hope that day comes soon, the Dragon King's punishment."
"Back then, we deliberately concealed this alliance, primarily for protection, and also because we didn't trust you two young children with such a secret. But this deliberate forbearance also made the alliance backfire," The Red Viper sighed, the marriage alliance now null and void.
This alliance had a very big loophole: it ignored the power of time. They underestimated Viserys and overestimated Arianne.
No one would be a blank slate, waiting for this empty alliance to materialize; young people would live their lives as they pleased.
The wandering Viserys, and Arianne, who was single-mindedly plotting for the Dornish heir's position.
"As the envoy of my brother, Prince Doran, and the signatory of the previous alliance, I have the right to supplement and abolish the original alliance," The Red Viper emphasized.
"Then we can terminate this alliance, in the presence of the gods," Viserys said.
Viserys still felt relieved, certain he had little interest in Arianne, who used her body as a weapon.
If she were his subordinate, it would be one thing, but to make her queen would be too much to bear.
Inside the White Hall, there were now only The Red Viper, Viserys, and Bishop Umber.
"Father!"
"Mother!"
"Warrior!"
"Stranger!"
Bishop Umber devoutly recited to the statues of the Seven Gods. "Under the glory of the Seven Gods, the incomplete contract will be rectified, like completing a puzzle."
The statue of the Father, holding scales in his hand, also represented a divine judgment.
"The marriage contract from six years ago is no longer feasible. The faithful Arianne and the faithful Viserys were unaware of each other, unfamiliar with each other, and never consummated their marriage. The changed circumstances are the reason for the termination of the agreement, which does not violate morality and is a sacred reason specially permitted by the Father. Do you confirm the termination of the agreement?"
"I confirm!" The Red Viper placed his hand on the holy scripture of the seven stars... "I confirm!" Viserys also pressed his palm on the scripture.
"Father, justice."
"Mother, mercy."
"Under the shining glory of the Father, Viserys Targaryen, Oberyn Martell, are you willing to terminate this Braavos alliance, without ill will towards each other, and with mutual understanding? Do you still hold affection for each other, and guarantee no further disputes between the two parties?"
"I do!"
"I do!"
"The gods have heard your voices. Please sign your names, and I declare that under the witness of the gods, the alliance is officially terminated." Bishop Umber took out a white parchment with a seven-pointed star symbol.
Viserys and The Red Viper each signed their names, and the bishop signed in the witness section.
Finally, this alliance was officially terminated.
Viserys breathed a sigh of relief; breaking an oath would sound very bad, and he had finally gotten rid of the thorny Arianne.
"One day, Arianne will understand that she only saw the grass before her, and ignored the distant mountains," The Red Viper said with slight regret, but also resignation.
Who could blame Arianne for her nature, a hedonist?
The Red Viper could only believe that the world was full of regrets, but even without Arianne, they still had Rhaenys.
"No one is an island, Prince Oberyn. You educated Arianne in the Dornish way, but you didn't tell her about the potential dangers and glories of the future."
Viserys was too lazy to criticize Arianne, after all, Arianne's antics were not unrelated to Prince Doran's machinations.
That night, in the council chambers of the White Fort.
Viserys sat on the oak throne, looking at his visitor, the maritime smuggling magnate.
"Great King of the Andals and the Rhoyne River, His Majesty Viserys, your renown spreads from the Narrow Sea to the Summer Sea," said Moros, the commander of the mercenary fleet from Myr.
These smugglers mainly engaged in smuggling, and if they were idle, they could also engage in piracy.
Moros had a somewhat Loynans appearance, a smooth middle-aged Myrman, dressed in splendid clothes, with Myrish lens ornaments at his waist.
Most of Myr's indigenous inhabitants had olive skin, black hair, and black eyes.
Maesters speculated from this observation that they were close relatives of the Loynans, but since Myr had settlements and inhabitants very early on, this speculation might not be accurate.
"Have the trinkets I requested arrived, Commander?" Viserys asked.
Viserys had obtained smuggling channels from Illyrio and had imported a batch of Myrish crossbows and other military equipment.
"Brand new Myrish crossbows, Myrish lenses!" Moros exaggeratedly thumped his chest, guaranteeing their quality.
Moros had his servants assemble the new Myrish crossbows, perfect two-shot models, brand new crossbows.
"Very good, are there no three-shot ones?" Viserys asked.
"I'm very sorry, Your Majesty. Three-shot crossbows are very expensive and prohibited from export; they would cause trouble," the Myrman apologized.
"Very well, besides the lenses and crossbows, I think you could also smuggle a set of distilling equipment for me," Viserys requested.
The Greenvine Family's stills were a bit crude; the best brewing vessels were copper, which allowed for complex flavors.
"As you wish, Your Majesty, the craftsmen of Myr are very professional, and their handicrafts are exquisitely made," Moros said.
"Do it well, I hope our cooperation is pleasant," Viserys said, looking at the smuggler.
"This is the greatest honor," Moros also smiled broadly; this was a kingdom's smuggling channel, he was going to make a fortune. "It's a pity my old friend the Onion Knight is no longer working with us; that fellow climbed high, but I've climbed to a King."
Viserys knew that these smugglers were interconnected like a network; the Onion Knight, Moros, Salladhor, the best smugglers at sea, were all acquaintances.
In the past, their smuggling involved quietly sneaking into Braavos, Myr, or Volantis in the dead of night, undetected, and then quietly carrying out silk and spices, avoiding customs duties.
Now, they openly procured goods and delivered them to this newly risen andal Dragon King.
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