Chapter 8: Dany's Abnormality

The steward quickly returned with a maid, who began to clean Daenerys' swollen ankle and apply ointment.

Viserys acted indifferent, not sparing a glance in their direction. Instead, he walked to the window, seemingly gazing at the Narrow Sea outside.

No one could tell what expression he wore; he wasn't looking at the sea. His face was dark, eyes slightly narrowed, lost in thought.

The sea breeze swayed the thin silk curtains by the window.

When the sound of the maid tending to Daenerys' ankle ceased, Viserys turned around.

His face was expressionless, and he said nothing, merely gazing quietly in Daenerys' direction—a change of plans was necessary due to an unexpected occurrence, and he had to adapt swiftly.

The maid packed up her things. "You should rest more and avoid walking, esteemed lady."

Daenerys thanked her softly. "Thank you."

The maid smiled slightly and left with her things.

Viserys' gaze followed the maid until it rested on the steward standing at the door.

The maid exited the room.

The steward naturally noticed Viserys' gaze. He paused for a moment and nodded to both Viserys and Daenerys. "Honored guests, miss, if you need anything, just call for me. I won't disturb you further." With that, he left and closed the door behind him.

Viserys didn't speak immediately. He began to pace around the room, then approached the table, picked up an overturned cup, and filled it—the jug in Daenerys' room contained lemon water.

Holding the cup, Viserys walked over to Daenerys and handed it to her. After a long pause, he finally asked, "How do you feel, Daenerys?"

Viserys' sudden concern puzzled Daenerys. She responded in a timid voice, "It doesn't hurt anymore."

"Oh," Viserys replied ambiguously, then continued, "Daenerys, tell me, do you feel anything else?" Kneeling down and looking intently at her face, he added, "Do you have any, um, strange feelings?"

Daenerys had no idea what Viserys was talking about but sensed he wasn't asking about her ankle pain. She felt an inexplicable fear and softly asked, "What?"

Seeing only fear and confusion in her expression, Viserys seemed to be confirming something. "I'm asking," he extended his hand and pointed to her arm, "do you feel anything here?"

That was the spot where Viserys had grabbed her arm earlier.

Even though Viserys hadn't done anything and his attitude was significantly better than before, Daenerys' inexplicable fear grew. Cold sweat formed on the back of her neck, and her body began to tremble slightly. She could only swallow hard, unable to speak.

Viserys, aware of her fear, silently cursed the previous him for traumatizing Daenerys. He then continued his unsettling actions.

He abruptly grabbed Daenerys' hand that wasn't holding the cup, spread her fingers, and took hold of one. Swiftly and lightly, he drew a small cut with his dagger.

Under Daenerys' bewildered and terrified gaze, he scraped up the blood oozing from her finger and unhesitatingly put it in his mouth.

There was a thud.

The cup of lemon water fell from Daenerys' other hand.

The water soaked the bed. The cup rolled a few times on the floor.

Daenerys recoiled her hand quickly, pulling her body back, her mind blank with shock.

Viserys wanted to step forward again.

A knock sounded at the door.

No one answered.

The knocking ceased, and the maid's voice came from outside the door. "Honored guest, pardon my intrusion, but I left something in the room. May I come in to retrieve it?"

"Yes," Viserys replied.

A distorted voice of a girl echoed.

It was Daenerys who had spoken. Overwhelmed with fear towards Viserys, she was entirely consumed by the need to distance herself from him, to avoid being alone with him in the same room.

The maid entered the room.

"Oh dear, Miss, your bed is soaked." The maid quickly approached, positioning herself between Viserys and Daenerys. She began to wipe the wet bedding and then noticed Daenerys' expression. "You don't look well, honored Miss." She reached out to touch Daenerys' forehead. "Are you ill?"

Viserys' voice cut in, harsh and displeased. "Is she ill?"

"Oh my!" The maid turned, as if only now noticing the dagger in Viserys' hand. She became alarmed. "Honored guest, what are you doing?"

Viserys didn't respond, his expression dark.

"What's going on? What happened?" The steward appeared at the doorway, slightly easing the tense atmosphere.

Viserys' face was still dark. "My sister is unwell."

The steward responded, "Shall I fetch a healer?"

"No," Daenerys interjected, her face pale and filled with terror. She trembled as she spoke, "I just need to rest. Rest for a while and I'll be fine."

"Your bedding and clothes are soaked, honored Miss," the maid replied. "Please allow me to change your clothes and bedding."

Daenerys nodded weakly. "Yes." Then, as if all her strength had left her, she collapsed onto the bed.

Although the maid was not someone to be trusted, Daenerys was utterly terrified of Viserys at that moment.

The maid supported Daenerys and looked at Viserys. "Will you be staying here, honored guest?"

With a stern face, Viserys sheathed his dagger without responding. He turned and walked out of the room, ignoring the steward who seemed to have something to say.

Once he had walked some distance, Viserys called out loudly, "Take good care of my sister!"

He then returned to his own room.

Entering his room, Viserys shut the door behind him. His face remained grim as he stomped towards the bathroom.

After closing the bathroom door, he sat on the toilet and rubbed his tense facial muscles with both hands. Only then did he begin to ponder Daenerys' strange behavior.

There was no need to look. Viserys could clearly feel that the dragonbone pendant wrapped around his wrist had turned into an ordinary object.

All of this was because the pendant had come into contact with Daenerys.

That's why he had impulsively conducted the investigation.

He hadn't expected such a strong reaction from Daenerys.

It could be surmised that Daenerys truly had the constitution of the 'Mother of Dragons.' The dragonbone pendant, which seemed to contain the essence of a dragon, had transferred something to her, and her unusual behavior might be connected to this 'dragon essence,' rather than solely being fear of Viserys himself.

However, her blood seemed to have no effect on Viserys.

Viserys initially thought of blood because it is the most likely medium for transmitting magical elements within the human body. If the dragon essence was in Daenerys, how else was he supposed to extract it?

He certainly couldn't eat her.

This approach was also supported by the original lore. The Red Priestess Melisandre used 'king's blood' to perform magic.

Viserys began to feel a headache. With the situation as it was, Daenerys was now more terrified of him than ever before, even more than she had been of his original self. How could he get close to her in this state to study how to extract the dragon essence?

Today had been a bit of a loss. He had intended to use the opportunity to show some kindness, slightly change his attitude, and coax Daenerys into cooperating with his research. But it hadn't turned out that way at all.

However, this also confirmed a few things: Daenerys was just as important in Illyrio's plans. Otherwise, in that situation, the steward and maid wouldn't have interfered in what seemed like a 'private matter' between him and his 'sister.'

'Wait!'

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Viserys' mind, causing him to break into a cold sweat.

This world might have gods!

Daenerys, as the world's protagonist with various buffs, might draw the attention of some divine being due to his impulsive actions. The gods in the world of Ice and Fire weren't benevolent like the Goddess Hylia; they were all rather sinister.

Viserys' forehead was slick with cold sweat, and his eyes flickered with anxiety. 

When he walked out of the restroom, his expression was still dark and brooding, his anger simmering without an outlet.

Then, he began—

Exercising.

He pulled out his dagger, stood straight, and started angrily slashing at the air as if wielding a sword.

Regardless of whether it was anger, fear, or helplessness, when there was no solution in sight, this was the only way to cope.

At least he was making an effort.

While Viserys was in his room slashing the air, the maid had already changed the bedding and settled Daenerys in.

Throughout the entire process, Daenerys didn't say a word. She just huddled in a corner of the bed, lost in thought.

The maid wanted to say something comforting, so she said, "Honorable Miss, please rest well. If you need anything, just call my name. I'm Annie." Annie was the one Illyrio had assigned to take care of Daenerys' daily needs. She wasn't much older than Daenerys, with blonde hair and blue eyes, and despite wearing simple clothes, her beauty and reliability were evident.

But Annie's attempt to show kindness to the girl, who looked like a frightened little rabbit, didn't get any response. So, she left awkwardly.

Daenerys was bewildered by the sudden surge of fear. Her mind was full of doubts and unease.

Viserys was her only relative in this world.

She thought she had long since become capable of enduring all his actions and being at his mercy.

But today, what happened?

The whole afternoon passed in a flash, and Illyrio did not show up at dinner time.

So in this luxurious courtyard, Viserys was the only one having dinner in the dining room - Daenerys's portion was delivered to her room by the maid Arnie.

Until nightfall, Illyrio did not appear in Viserys's sight. He did not know whether he did not return to the courtyard or the other party had no intention of seeing him.

But there is no doubt that Illyrio will know what happened today.

_____