Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Chapter 208 The Wrong Spring

"The Wrong Spring"—a warning repeatedly mentioned in the annals of Westeros—was something Euron could never forget. He was far more clear-headed than the world imagined, and he had begun planning for it much earlier.

For the past two years, whenever the Ironborn's longships set sail, whether to the Free Cities or the ports of the Seven Kingdoms, there has always been one unchanging order upon their return: half of the cargo holds must be filled with food. Grains, beans, cured meats—all kinds of storable foods are continuously transported back to the Iron Islands, piling up like mountains in the underground granaries of Pike, Great Wick, and Old Wick.

Euron stood atop the watchtower of Pike City, gazing intently at the ships still bustling in the harbor. His gaze was deep and thoughtful. He had prepared not only enough food for all the Ironborn to survive three years of harsh winter, but also military supplies for future battles. The sea breeze, carrying the salty scent of the ocean, brushed against his dark robes, bringing with it the approaching winter and the chill of war.

"Winter is coming," Euron murmured to himself, a sharp smile playing on his lips, and said in a voice almost inaudible, "and war is not far off."

Although the dinner was simple, it was filled with a rare warmth in the Greyjoy family.

The long table held no exquisite silverware or delicacies, only roasted fish, dark bread, and Dornish oranges, yet the family sat around, chatting and laughing, enjoying themselves immensely. King Corinth, unusually, relaxed his brow; Balon raised a toast with Victalion; even the usually silent Lisa wore a smile. This joyful atmosphere was far more comforting than any sumptuous feast.

Late at night, as the sound of the tide began to rise, Euron, accompanied by Lisa, his father King Coron, and Balon, entered the study alone. The heavy oak door closed, shutting out all outside sounds.

"There's been a rather unsavory incident—I need to give you an explanation!"

In the flickering candlelight, Euron slowly recounted the hidden secrets that had taken place in Dorne—his fleeting affair with Arianne and his unexpected entanglement with Princess Elia. When he finally uttered the words, "Elia is pregnant, and the child is mine," the air seemed to freeze instantly.

King Coron's wine glass froze in mid-air, while Baron abruptly stood up, his chair scraping loudly on the stone floor. Lisa instinctively covered her mouth, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Outside the window, the waves crashed against the cliffs, each sound like a blow to the heart.

A long, deathly silence fell over the room, broken only by the crackling of the burning wood in the fireplace and the low echo of waves crashing against the cliff. King Coron's aged face was etched with shock, his fingers unconsciously tracing the rim of his wine glass; Baron's eyes gleamed with disbelief...admiration; Lisa frowned slightly, seemingly pondering the various connections between the events.

"Are you sure," King Koren finally spoke, his voice hoarse, "that the child is indeed yours?"

Euron met his father's scrutinizing gaze, his expression calm yet resolute: "This is not something to joke about, Father."

Just then, Lisa suddenly interrupted softly, breaking the tense atmosphere: "I did go to your room the next morning." Her voice was soft, like a pebble thrown into calm water. "Princess Ilya was indeed there."

These words seemed to stamp confirmation on this astonishing news. The candlelight flickered on everyone's faces, casting dappled shadows that would forever etch this night into the Greyjoy family's memory.

Euron's gaze sharpened as he turned to Lisa: "Then why didn't you—"

"I'll tell you, and then what?" Lisa interrupted softly, looking back at him with a complicated expression. "Wouldn't it be better for everyone if we just pretended it never happened, treated it as a harmless romantic encounter?" Her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her dress. "That's what I thought at the time, so I chose to remain silent. But who could have predicted that Princess Ilya would actually—"

'

"Lisa, you did the right thing." King Coron suddenly spoke, then turned to Euron, his gaze as cold and heavy as the waves of the Iron Islands. "You bastard!" His voice was filled with suppressed anger. "Isn't he always the most calm and rational one? How could he have caused such a mess?"

66

The old king slammed his fingers heavily on the armrest of his wheelchair: "Now how do you plan to clean this up? A former prince and queen—no, back when she was Rhaegar's wife, now the princess of Dorne—is pregnant out of wedlock. This isn't some random affair in a port brothel!"

The candlelight flickered on King Coron's aged face, reflecting the anger and worry swirling in his eyes. A sea breeze drifted in through the window cracks, but it couldn't dispel the heavy atmosphere in the study.

Baron couldn't help but let out a series of rough laughs, patting Euron's shoulder repeatedly and laughing loudly, "Impressive, bro! Didn't see that coming, bro! You've got guts, bro! One shot, one kill, bro!"

'

"Damn it, shut up! Baron!" King Coron slammed his hand on the table, making his wine glass rattle. "Aren't you troublesome enough? Isn't it chaotic enough?!"

Euron took a deep breath and met his father's angry gaze: "I have promised Prince Dorne that I will take full responsibility for them, mother and son."

"Take responsibility? How can you take responsibility?!" King Coron practically sat up from his chair, his aged face flushed with rage. "You're already engaged to Ashara Dayne! After Holenberg, this is common knowledge throughout the Seven Kingdoms!"

Now how will you explain this to Starfall City? How will you explain this to the whole of Dorne? "The flames in the fireplace flickered violently, casting the enraged figure of King Coron onto the stone wall, like a sea monster that had been provoked."

Euron solemnly declared, "I promise to give the Stepstone Islands as a gift to Ilya, and to bestow upon my son the title of King of the Stepstone Islands."

King Koren asked, "The Stone Steps Islands?"

“Exactly.” Euron’s lips curled into a sharp smile. “I’ve coveted that sea for a long time. Now that pirates are entrenched and various forces are mixed together, it’s the perfect time to seize it.” He stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over his father and brother. “With our Iron Islands fleet and Dorne’s army joining forces, taking the Stone Steps will be no difficult task.”

A belligerent glint flashed in Baron's eyes; he was clearly drawn to this audacious plan. Lisa stood quietly to the side, her eyes gleaming as she weighed the pros and cons of the scheme.

The sea breeze rushed in through the window, ruffling Euron's dark hair and bringing with it the scent of the distant ocean. Behind this seemingly crazy plan lies a father's promise to his unborn child and a captain's ambition for the sea.

Euron's eyes burned with the flames of ambition, his voice deep and powerful like the sea breeze: "The Stone Steps Islands are merely a springboard, just the first step in a grand blueprint. My ambition extends far beyond those islands!"

King Coron paused for a moment, his rough fingers stroking the armrest of his wheelchair: "Let's leave aside the distant past for now. What is Prince Doran of Dorne's opinion on this?"

'

"Silence!" Euron's lips curled into a meaningful smile. "Prince Doran's silence is itself a form of acquiescence. He is watching and waiting to see my next move." The candlelight flickered in his deep eyes. "This ruler of Dorne never makes pronouncements lightly, but his acquiescence has given us ample room to maneuver."

6

The sea breeze howled in through the window, swirling the maps and scrolls in the study. Euron's figure appeared exceptionally tall in the candlelight, as if he could already see a vast ocean and territory in the distance. "He will see it," Euron's voice held an undeniable confidence, "not just a series of islands, but a whole new era."