Chapter 1 Illegitimate Child

In the year 276 of Aegon's calendar, the sun sets in the south of Westeros.

A merchant ship was trudging forward on rough seas. In the cabin, a man was lying weakly on the bed.

His complexion was ashen, so pale that it was almost transparent. The torture of illness and the persistent high fever had long deprived him of the ability to speak.

His name is Morton Cotoin, he is the eldest son of Count Horton Cotoin and the heir to the Cotoin family in the Three Towers of the River Bend.

Eight months ago, he took two personal guards and servants to travel to the continent of Essos.

After his travels, he boarded a merchant ship bound for Old Town, but unfortunately fell ill on the ship toward the end of the voyage.

Due to his serious condition and the storm that lasted for five days, he was already seasick and could not get up after lying in bed.

No matter how attentively his fiancée and servants took care of him, they still couldn't stop the flame of life from gradually fading in his eyes despite the lack of medical care and medicine on the ship.

Alice knelt beside his bed, tears pouring out like a torrent, holding Morton's increasingly cold hand tightly with both hands.

She has long silver-gold hair that falls smoothly down her slender back like a waterfall. Her eyes were a mysterious purple, like violets blooming in a deep valley, exuding a charming and noble aura. At this time, her abdomen was slightly bulging, and she was obviously pregnant.

Morton looked at his lover tenderly, looking into her silver hair and purple eyes. This was his biggest gain during his travels, the legacy of a dragon king.

The silver-haired and purple-eyed Targaryen family has used dragons to rule the continent of Westeros for three hundred years. Countless nobles and scholars believe that they are the beings closest to gods. This situation has led to the For a hundred years, countless families have been eager to obtain Targaryen's blood, especially the women of this family. This is still the case even though the dragon has been extinct for nearly a hundred years.

However, the Targaryen family protects their own blood very well, and even illegitimate children are controlled by them on Dragonstone. So far, few families have obtained it.

Morton's Cotoin family is a small family in Westeros in the River Bend. They never have the courage to even think about such a good thing.

Until he met Alice, a lowly hotel maid, during his travels. At first he was attracted by her appearance, but he did not want to fall in love with her as they gradually got along. In the end, the secret she revealed to him was even more... It was a great surprise to him.

But at this time, his body was no longer able to insist on letting him return to the family. Just relying on the exchange of letters could not convince his stubborn and cold father. He knew that this bloodline might not be able to integrate into his family after all.

Morton looked at Alice's slightly bulging belly. He felt that he should do something, so he forced himself to say: "Alice, our child is about to come to this world, but I'm afraid I won't be able to wait for that moment. "If it's a boy, let's call him Gavin. This name will give him courage and strength to face everything in the future." Morton breathed heavily with every word. They all seemed to be squeezed out from the depths of the soul.

Alice suppressed her grief and was already crying, but she still nodded and said with a trembling voice: "Okay, Morton, our child's name will be Gavin."

Morton forced a smile on his lips, which seemed to be a deep expectation for the future, and then he slowly closed his eyes. The boat was still rocking, but it could no longer wake up the departing father.

After several days of turbulence, the merchant ship finally arrived at the port of Old Town. The guards immediately found the Silent Sisters and asked the Hightower family for help and sent a raven to the Three Towers Castle.

In the castle, Count Horton Cotoin was sitting on a high seat, reading the letter, his face as gloomy as the sky before a storm, his eyes cold and sharp.

"This is a disgrace to the family!" Holden shouted angrily, his voice echoing like thunder in the hall. "The child in her belly has tarnished the honor of my family. What's more, I will never let my eldest son marry a man from Valencia. Lantis woman!”

The earl's roar caused silence in the hall. Bachelor Edric looked around at the retainers who were bowing their heads silently, hesitated for a moment, and then admonished the earl:

"Sir, please forgive me for being blunt. The Cotoyin family is currently very thin. How to consider the continuation of the bloodline? Why not..."

"No, this child is an illegitimate child and cannot become a member of my family. I don't know what dirty tricks that Volantis woman used to seduce my eldest son, but I will never admit it."

Maester Edric was about to say something but was interrupted by the person on the high seat waving his hand.

Earl Horton looked at the guard on the side and ordered: "Go and bring my son's body back and protect it from damage." He hesitated and then said: "Bring that woman back too and let her stay in the castle to give birth. But after giving birth to the child, you have to leave.”

Then he ordered to the bachelor on the opposite side: "Edric goes and sends a raven to Highgarden and tells the Tyrell family that my heir has passed away. I want to make Edmund my new heir. In addition, let Edmund resign." Drop your position and come back quickly.”

"Yes, sir." Edric had no choice but to bow his head and obey.

Three Towers Fort.

In a dimly lit guest room, Alice sat paralyzed on the edge of the bed, tears flowing freely like a torrent. Morton had vowed to marry her and hold a wedding with her when he returned to Westeros.

Although Morton had left, she thought that she and her unborn child would always have a status. But when she came to Three Towers Castle with full expectations, the cruel reality was beyond her expectation.

She tried her best, but she couldn't even see the earl, and every request was ruthlessly rejected. This made her heart feel as if she had fallen into an abyss, and sadness and despair almost swallowed her up.

Year 277 of Aegon's Calendar, 6 months later.

It was still the dark guest room. Alice's heart-rending screams echoed in the room, and the severe pain made her almost faint.

Finally, with the full help of the bachelor and the maids, and with a clear cry, the child was born.

Although the baby's hair was very sparse, it could still be seen that it was silver. Bachelor Edric picked up the baby and observed it carefully for a long time, then handed the baby to the weak Alice and said, "Congratulations, it's a boy."

Then he ordered the servants to help take care of him, and left in a hurry. After several twists and turns, he finally climbed up to a tower exhausted, raised his trembling hand, and knocked on the door.

"Dong dong dong"

"Come in" the voice came from inside the house.