After Daenerys had emptied Earl Hightower's study of all valuable items, she returned to Dreamfire's back and took down her valyrian steel sword, Dawn.
Then, holding Dawn, she began to search for Earl Hightower's traces.
After all, things had developed to this point, and Daenerys should demand an explanation and justice from the Hightower Family.
Normally, within the Hightower Family's Hightower, the combined number of Hightower Family members, all knights, soldiers, and servants was no less than a thousand.
Otto Hightower had taken more than 200 people with him when he went to King's Landing to serve as Hand of the King, so the current permanent population in the Hightower was still over 800.
Previously, Daenerys had eliminated more than 300 knights and warriors, and over 200 more were performing tasks in Oldtown, so at this time, there were still at least four or five hundred people in the Hightower.
However, Daenerys had already searched for several minutes, yet she hadn't seen a single person, so she quickly headed towards the Seven Gods Church.
Because in Westeros, especially in the South, whenever there was a natural disaster or calamity, these noblewomen loved to pray in the Seven Gods Church.
Now that such a big incident had occurred in Oldtown, Earl Hightower's wife must have taken the family's female relatives to pray in the Seven Gods Church.
So no matter where Earl Hightower was hiding, as long as Daenerys found his wife and children, she wouldn't have to worry about him not coming out obediently, would she?!
Miraxis, who shared Daenerys's thoughts, had already flown towards the Seven Gods Church a step ahead.
To prevent the Hightower Family from jumping the gun, it was more reassuring for Daenerys to have a dragon guarding her, after all, a gentleman does not stand under a tottering wall.
The Seven Gods Church was not located on a high floor, and it occupied a very large space on its own.
Outside the Seven Gods Church, there was also a sizable garden where various rare flowers and plants could be seen.
At this moment, Miraxis descended from the sky, and whether intentionally or not, her thick tail quickly ruined the exquisitely trimmed and beautiful small garden beyond recognition.
Hearing the commotion outside, the female relatives who were praying inside immediately let out exclamations of surprise.
Daenerys and Miraxis then walked side by side towards the Seven Gods Church, and Miraxis smashed the Seven Gods Church's main door to pieces with one swipe of her tail.
"Ah~"
Accompanied by the maids' exclamations, the remaining dozen or so guards and soldiers around Earl Hightower quickly blocked the entrance to the Seven Gods Church.
"What? Earl Hightower, are you not even pretending anymore?
Are you so confident that a few cunning monks' words could incite foolish commoners to attack a dragon, and that they could keep me and my dragons in Oldtown?"
Daenerys drew Dawn, pointing the sword tip directly in the direction of Earl Hightower.
"Earl Hightower, your foolish actions today will lead the entire Hightower Family to its demise!"
As Daenerys's cold questioning voice rang out, Miraxis also opened her massive mouth and let out a high-pitched dragon roar at the people in the Seven Gods Church, and the warm airflow immediately sent the ladies' skirts inside the Seven Gods Church flying wildly.
The maids and servants of the Hightower Family had all knelt down as soon as Daenerys entered.
Earl Hightower's wife and his two daughters, Emily and Alesha, firmly protected the Hightower Family's children behind them.
Earl Hightower's eldest daughter, Emily, even knelt directly in front of Daenerys, crying and pleading,
"Princess, I swear by the Seven Gods and the glory of the Hightower Family, what happened tonight truly has nothing to do with our Hightower Family."
"We really don't know what happened? You see, we only have these few knights and guards left by our side; we had already dispatched the rest to search for the Princess, so as to be able to protect the Princess's safety in a timely manner!"
"Princess, please, you must believe us! Our Hightower Family is not so foolish or insane as to dare to lay hands on a Royal Princess and your dragons."
"I swear by the Seven Gods, if the Hightower Family harbored such intentions, our entire family shall be annihilated!"
"Princess, everything that happened is truly too bizarre; there must be a huge hand secretly manipulating everything behind this. Princess, we must not let the person hidden behind this succeed in their conspiracy!"
"Moreover, the person capable of instigating such an incident must control immense power; if we fall into their trap, then they will certainly have an even greater conspiracy awaiting you!"
"Princess, please do not get agitated. Think carefully about today's events; with your wisdom, you will surely discover the unusualness within this!"
Daenerys looked at Emily in front of her, and indeed, a hint of admiration arose within her.
Intelligent, humble, brave, knowing when to advance and retreat, and possessing a clever tongue—this was the essential quality a qualified Hightower Family member should possess.
Alesha, who felt she was getting along well with Daenerys, also rushed to Daenerys's front and pleaded,
"Princess, Emily sister is absolutely right! The Hightower Family will investigate the truth as quickly as possible and give you an explanation and an account!"
At this moment, Earl Hightower also recovered from his apprehension and shock, and quickly knelt on one knee at Daenerys's feet, pressing his forehead against Daenerys's right foot as he swore,
"Princess, I, Otto Hightower, swear by the Seven Gods and the thousand-year glory of the Hightower Family, that the Hightower Family absolutely has no slightest intention of targeting the Royal Family.
Tonight's events are completely unrelated to our Hightower Family."
Looking at the Hightower father and daughter, who had adopted a subservient posture, Daenerys coldly withdrew her right foot and spoke with an icy tone,
"Sincere vows, deceitful tongues!"
"I believe the turn of events certainly caught Earl Hightower by surprise, but you cannot deny that you allowed those monks of the Seven Gods Church to stir up public opinion among the poor, attempting to pressure the Royal Family to protect your Hightower family, can you?!"
Earl Hightower was speechless for a moment, and could only stammer,
"Princess, our doing so was merely for self-preservation. We never imagined it would be exploited by someone with ulterior motives, pushing the situation to such a state! And…"
At this moment, Emily directly interrupted her father, interjecting,
"Princess, this was indeed a lack of consideration on the Hightower Family's part. However, we were merely acting for self-preservation; if no accident had occurred, this would not have caused any loss to the Royal Family, would it? But since things have happened, we naturally will not shirk responsibility, and the Hightower Family is willing to accept all your punishments!"
At this moment, Earl Hightower also reacted and quickly echoed his daughter, pleading bitterly with Daenerys.
"Yes, Princess! As long as the Princess is willing to believe in our innocence, the Hightower Family is willing to pay any price!"
Hearing them say this, Daenerys's lips curled into a slight smile,
"Since you are so sincere, then let's find a place to discuss this thoroughly!"
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