"Who is behind the Mermaid Queen?" Viserys asked curiously.
"The Prestayn family," the Black Pearl whispered. "Braavos is full of secrets; you shouldn't ask too many questions."
Viserys had heard of this noble house. They were quite famous in Braavos.
The Prestayns were one of the ancient families that had produced Sealords in the past, though their power and prestige had since been eclipsed by the three great houses: Antaryon, Ferrego, and Zalyne.
Even so, they were easily one of the top ten families in the city.
They owned tall square towers built on the western bank of the Long Canal, stretching from the Palace of Truth all the way to the north of the Sweetwater Canal.
The Nightingale, the Daughter of the Dusk, and Moonshadow followed closely behind Viserys, not seeking partners for themselves. It seemed they intended to watch the Black Pearl and Viserys dance.
Viserys and the Black Pearl strode into the center of the dance floor. The other dancers couldn't help but turn their gaze toward them.
Viserys wore a black doublet, his silver half-mask and silver-gold hair shimmering under the lights.
Beside him, the Black Pearl wore a low-cut gown of dark yellow silk that perfectly complemented her lustrous brown skin. Her black hair was caught in a net of spun gold, and a necklace of black jade and gold rested against her full bosom.
The young gallants of Braavos, who had been eager to see who would claim the Black Pearl's first dance, discovered that someone had beaten them to the punch.
They wondered who this silver-haired young man was to be so bold.
"Noble Lady Bellegere, I would be honored to have this dance."
"The honor is mine, mysterious knight, Silver Traveler."
Viserys and the Black Pearl began to dance, their movements slow and understated at first.
Viserys took her hand and placed his other on her waist—the standard starting position for a ballroom dance, though this one would involve some high difficulty.
The tempo would only increase.
"Your dancing skills are a little rusty," the Black Pearl noted.
"Practice makes perfect," Viserys smiled. His strength and constitution were far better than before; he only needed to recall the techniques and rhythm of his past lessons.
Besides, the Black Pearl was patient. Their movements grew increasingly graceful and captivating.
"You're practically a jack-of-all-trades. For most men, mastering one skill makes them a genius, yet you seem multi-talented," the Black Pearl said curiously.
"I paid a price far greater than you can imagine for that compliment."
"You never tell me the whole truth," the Black Pearl complained, though without heat.
Although onlookers couldn't see Viserys's face clearly, they could see his tall, athletic build. His movements were elegant and fluid; together, they looked like a perfect match.
The Black Pearl was undeniably the center of attention. Under the lights, she was breathtaking—her figure curvaceous, her steps light and elegant.
Viserys and the Black Pearl hit their stride, spinning and swaying. At one point, Viserys spun her out and pulled her back into his embrace—a flourish that drew a wave of cheers from the crowd.
"Do you have any more lyrics? A gourmet meal would suffice as payment," the Black Pearl asked.
"I do. But I want gold and dragon bone. Aside from dragon bone, Sealord's Crabs and those big purple lobsters will do."
"You're certainly greedy. But I like your frankness—you know what you want and you ask for it. I'll do my best to find them, but be ready to trade."
"Rest assured."
Who wins the favor of a top courtesan is always the hot topic at these balls.
Sparks seemed to fly from the eyes of many young Braavosi nobles. This was supposed to be their moment to shine, but the Black Pearl had been snatched right out from under their noses.
The Mermaid Queen had also entered the dance floor. Her partner was a young man in brown clothing with brown hair and venomous eyes.
Viserys noticed the young man glancing their way occasionally.
"Why do I feel like someone is watching me?" Viserys asked.
"You're not imagining it," the Black Pearl said. "That's the young master of House Prestayn. It seems he intended to ask me for the first dance, but lost his chance. He's a petty man who takes his face and family pride very seriously."
"So he hates me now?" Viserys was speechless. As they say, there's a blade hanging over the head of desire.
"Are you scared?" the Black Pearl asked teasingly.
"Not really," Viserys replied.
"In the arena of power, everyone is stuck in the mud, unable to pull themselves free." The Black Pearl looked into Viserys's eyes. They were violet, specifically a shade of lilac.
Whether ruler, warrior, singer, merchant, or courtesan—anyone who wants to rise must step over the bones of others.
"I'm sorry," the Black Pearl whispered, a faint fragrance drifting from her. "You've made a name for yourself, but it seems it's not entirely a good thing."
"Trouble is always around. I'll never be short of trouble in this life." Viserys tightened his grip on her waist, pulling her slightly closer.
"You really are a little madman," the Black Pearl complained, her chest trembling slightly.
"Very smooth," Viserys commented dryly.
He couldn't blame the Black Pearl. This was a dog-eat-dog world.
An innocent man gets into trouble just for possessing something valuable.
Viserys himself had immense value just by being alive, not to mention he had two little beauties—exiled dragonseeds—under his care.
"Since I can't avoid it, I might as well fight. The world is cruel; good things are always snatched from the weak." Viserys had already made up his mind.
The Black Pearl's beauty had already caused big trouble. Rhaenys and Daenerys would only bring more in the future.
Only by becoming strong could he protect them.
Viserys glanced again at the young scion of House Prestayn. He was dancing cheerfully with the Mermaid Queen, as if nothing had happened.
But Viserys remembered that venomous look clearly. Trouble would come knocking.
When the song ended, the Black Pearl went to rest.
However, Viserys found the Daughter of the Dusk approaching him.
"You're inviting me?" Viserys asked.
"Come," she answered simply.
Viserys began to dance with the Daughter of the Dusk.
"'The End of the World' is a beautiful song," she said. "Did you write it?"
"I did," Viserys admitted shamelessly.
The Daughter of the Dusk was something of an ice queen; her skin even felt cool to the touch.
"Why do you like 'The End of the World'?" Viserys asked her.
"Because like the song, I am a wanderer," she confessed.
Viserys and the Daughter of the Dusk danced like scattered stars. Her movements were fast, light, and elegant—so much so that Viserys suspected she, too, had martial training.
After the second dance ended, to everyone's surprise, Moonshadow stepped up for the third.
"How can he dance with three courtesans?" dissatisfied young Braavosi whispered among themselves.
"The Silver Traveler. He's the one who wrote those brilliant lyrics," someone guessed Viserys's alias.
Tonight's banquet was a massive success for Viserys's persona, cementing the "Silver Traveler" as the author of three hit songs and the Black Pearl's first dance partner.
His fame had exploded overnight. But surrounded by such beauty, trouble was inevitable.