Chapter 188

Qunting had no other mission. If he did, it was also waiting: waiting for the queen to defeat her enemies one by one, pacify dissatisfied opponents, consolidate her foreign rule; waiting for her to grow weary of everything here, perhaps even including her current man?

But we need to keep the line break after each 【N】 line. We'll output each on its own line.

Check for any missing punctuation: we must preserve all clauses. Let's verify each translation for completeness.

We'll go through each line again and ensure we didn't drop anything.

Quentin has no other duties. If he had any, it would merely be waiting: waiting for the queen to defeat all her surrounding enemies one by one, to win over dissatisfied opponents, and to consolidate her foreign rule; waiting for her to grow weary of everything here, perhaps even including her current man.

Our translation: "Qunting had no other mission. If he did, it was also waiting: waiting for the queen to defeat her enemies one by one, pacify dissatisfied opponents, consolidate her foreign rule; waiting for her to grow weary of everything here, perhaps even including her current man?"

We possibly omitted the colon after 'waiting', but we used a colon after 'waiting:' as in 'waiting: waiting for the queen...' That's fine; we kept the meaning. The original had 'waiting: waiting for the queen...' and we translated it as 'waiting: waiting for the queen...' Good.

We turned the final particle into a question mark. That's acceptable.

"Man." -> "Man." Good.

The marriage contract hidden in his bosom is scalding hot; just touching it burns him. What is written on it is not his own marriage contract, but that of his sister and Weisailisi. That man is dead, so it falls to him to hold the contract, taking his sister's place to point to that man's sister. Will the marriage contract automatically pass to the queen's sister? Does the marriage contract of the Dornish heir also qualify to be transferred to an ordinary prince?

Our translation: "The marriage contract hidden in his bosom was scorching hot; just touching it made him feel burned. What was written on it was not his marriage contract, but his older sister's and Weisailisi's. That man had died, so it fell to him to hold the marriage contract, taking his sister's place to point to that man's sister. Will the marriage contract automatically pass to the queen's sister? Does the marriage contract of a Dornish heir also qualify to be transferred to an ordinary Prince?"

We changed the name Weisailisi to Weisailisi. We changed Dorn to Dornish, using 'Dornish heir' instead of a transliteration like 'Duoen heir'. The glossary lacked Dorn, so we transliterated it earlier as Duoen, but here we translated the meaning, which is correct per the rule that meaningful place names should be translated, not romanized.

We used "ordinary Prince". Good.

We changed the line about the marriage contract automatically passing to the queen's sister to 'Will the marriage contract automatically pass to the queen's sister?' Good.

We changed second question to "Does the marriage contract of a Dornish heir also qualify to be transferred to an ordinary Prince?" Good.

We kept the meaning.

She would regard all of this as Dornish greed.

Even the witnesses are full of mockery. Prince Oberyn is already dead, Ser William Darry died even earlier, and the queen might not even remember who William Darry is. He died so long ago, yet the queen is still so young.

Our translation: "Even the witnesses were full of mockery. Prince Aobolun was dead, Sir Weilian Dairui had died even earlier, and the queen might not even remember who Sir Weilian Dairui was. He died so early, while the queen is still so young."

We used Prince Aobolun (transliterated). Sir Weilian Dairui (transliterated). Good.

After Tyrion's reminder, he dare not produce the marriage contract and present it to the queen. The little demon said it made perfect sense: if he did so, his purpose would become obvious beyond doubt, his shortcomings would immediately turn into flaws, and he has yet to find enough strengths to outweigh his weaknesses.

Our translation: "After Tiliang's reminder, he dared not take out the marriage contract and present it before the queen; the little demon said it made perfect sense: if he did that, his purpose would become all too obvious, his shortcomings would immediately become shortcomings, and he had not yet found enough strengths to offset his shortcomings."

little demon

If she mocked him for overreaching, he might feel so ashamed as to jump from the Great Pyramid.

She is not as tolerant as an ordinary girl; far from it. She is neither Yinsen Yilunwude nor Dingwate's twins. Those women are all tolerant; in their eyes he is still a prince, but in the queen's eyes he is merely an uncharismatic, dull man.

Our translation: "She was not as tolerant as an ordinary girl, absolutely not; she was not Yinsen Yilunwude, nor was she like Dingwate's twins……they were all tolerant women, in their eyes he was still a Prince, but in the queen's eyes he was merely an uninteresting dull man."

Yinsen Yilunwude, Dingwate's twins

If Prince Oberyn were still alive, he would surely know what to do, being as confident and enterprising as his sister Arianne, yet he takes after his father, prone to hesitation. No, according to Count Andesi Yilunwude, Prince Daolang is a thoughtful person, yet his hesitation leaves him clueless.

Our translation: "If Prince Aobolun were still alive, he would surely know what to do; he was as confident and as enterprising as his sister Yalianen, but he took after his father, prone to hesitating. No, according to Count Andesi Yilunwude, Prince Daolang is a prudent person, yet while he hesitates he has no clue."

Yalianen, Count Andesi Yilunwude, Prince Daolang

He is the foster son of Count Andesi Yilunwude, having received the count's education for most of his adult life, yet he has learned none of the count's wisdom; the further he goes, the more he realizes he is merely a lesser version of Prince Daolang.

Our translation: "He was the adopted son of Count Andesi Yilunwude, receiving the count's education for most of his life after coming of age, yet he learned not a whit of the count's talent; the further along, the more he realized he was a lesser version of Prince Daolang."

We used Count Andesi Yilunwude. Good.

Would his father have foreseen the predicament he now faces? He sits and lies restless, unable to sleep, so he simply gives up trying, gets out of bed, puts on his robe, and leaves his chamber.

Our translation: "Would his father have foreseen the predicament he now faces? He was restless, unable to sleep, so he simply got up, put on his sleeping robe, and left the bedroom."

We turned the first sentence into a question. Good.

A cool breeze blows outside, but he feels the air must be reeking of blood and decay; it's just that the altitude is too high, the air too thin for him to smell it.

Our translation: "Outside, a cool breeze blew, but he felt the air must reek of blood and rot; it was just that up here the air was too thin to smell."

We kept meaning.

The view from the pyramid is distinctive; as the queen's honored guest, he and his companions reside just below her, and by merely drawing back the curtains he can step onto the pyramid and behold the entire cityscape.

Our translation: "The view from the pyramids was unique; as the queen's honored guest, his and his companions' quarters were just below the queen's, and by pulling back the curtains he could stand on the pyramid and see the whole city."

the view from the pyramids

The city is now utterly quiet; dark streets crisscross beneath the pyramids, buildings of varying heights filling the spaces between them. In the distance, the sole vast empty space is the arena, which the queen has ordered completely shut down, its surrounding structures and houses also seized by her, awaiting distribution to the surrounding populace.

Our translation: "At this moment the city was utterly silent, dark streets crisscrossing beneath the pyramids, buildings of varying heights filling the spaces between the pyramids. In the distance the only vast empty space was the arena, which the queen had ordered completely shut down; the surrounding buildings and houses had also been seized by the queen, awaiting to be cleared and distributed to the surrounding citizens."

We used "pyramids" plural. Acceptable.

These are the queen's foundations.

And he, aside from that marriage contract bearing his sister's name, possesses nothing.

He walks along the colonnade of his residence; the slightest movement draws the guards' gaze, but after a glance they return to their duties, pretending they saw nothing.

Our translation: "He walked along the colonnade of his residence; the movement as he passed caught the guards' eyes, but after a glance they returned to their work, pretending not to have seen anything."

colonnade

He wants to speak to them, but when he opens his mouth he doesn't know what to say, nor is he sure they can understand him, nor whether he can understand their language.

Our translation: "He wanted to speak to them, but upon opening his mouth he didn't know what to say, nor was he sure they could understand him, or whether he could understand their language."

Good.

He continues forward. By the harbor, specks of light dot the sea under the moonlight, where dozens of warships are anchored—undoubtedly the queen's enemies' ships. Though she has defeated the Yuan Kai alliance on land, she is powerless against their navy.

Our translation: "He continued forward. The harbor was dotted with lights; on the moonlit sea, dozens of warships were anchored—undoubtedly the queen's enemies' ships. Though the queen had defeated the Yuankai Lianjun on land, she was powerless against their navy."

Yuankai Lianjun

He passes a sturdy stone pillar and looks north to see endless mountains; he and the queen stand on a high point beneath that range, watching her army defeat the Yuan Kai alliance. Who knows how many scattered, fleeing Gis people and greedy, shameless mercenaries still hide among those mountains.

Our translation: "Past a sturdy stone pillar, looking north lay a continuous range of mountains; he and the queen stood on a high point beneath those mountains, watching the queen's army defeat the Yuankai Lianjun. He did not know how many scattered, fleeing Gis people and greedy, shameless mercenaries still hid in those mountains at that moment."

Gis people

Following the faint moonlight westward, he sees the city's continuous buildings and a multitude of smaller pyramids. None of them reaches half the height of the Great Pyramid; now, aside from the one the queen granted to Yuanlu Daren—a crude Gis person—all the others belong exclusively to the queen.

Our translation: "Following the dim moonlight westward, there were the city's continuous buildings and a series of smaller pyramids. None of them reached half the height of the Great Pyramid; now, except for one that the queen had granted to Lord Yuanlu Daren, a coarse Gis man, all the rest belonged solely to the queen."

Yuanlu Daren

Not long ago, they still belonged to a Lys noble; that was before the queen discovered the mask of the harpy's son inside the pyramid. Most of the small pyramids now contain only ghosts and desiccated corpses; the queen had the nobles who sheltered the harpy's son hanged in the pyramids where they lived, to feed the passing crows and kestrels.

Our translation: "Not long ago, they still belonged to a Lys noble; that was before the queen searched inside the pyramid and found the harpy's son mask. Now most of the small pyramids contain only ghosts and desiccated corpses; the queen had the nobles who sheltered the harpy's son hanged on the pyramids where they lived, to feed the passing crows and kestrels."

Lys noble

"Oh..." a low sound echoed—that was the dragons' voice, like a dreamy murmur they emit in sleep, miraculously making one feel at ease.

Our translation: "\"Oh…\" a low sound came, that of the dragons, like a murmur they utter in sleep, miraculously making one feel at ease."

We kept the quotes.

The dragons nest atop the pyramids: Weisailiang occupies Wuerzi Pyramid, while Leige occupies Yahezhan Pyramid.

Our translation: "Dragons nest atop the pyramids; Weisailiang has taken the Wuerzi Pyramid, Leige the Yahezhan Pyramid."

Weisailiang, Wuerzi, Leige, Yahezhan

The two pyramids are both black, but easy to tell apart: the one continually belching black smoke is Yahezhan Pyramid, where Leige likes to sleep amid the smoky, flickering summit; sometimes, from the Great Pyramid, one can see Leige grilling for them. The flatter summit belongs to Wuerzi Pyramid; it is said that Weisailiang once toppled the harpy's son statue atop Wuerzi Pyramid, leveled its base, and turned it into his bed. As his body grows, he often pulls away the layered bricks to accommodate his size.

Our translation: "Both pyramids are black, but easy to tell apart: the one forever exhaling black smoke is the Yahezhan Pyramid; Leige likes to sleep amid the swirling flames at its summit, and sometimes, from the Great Pyramid, one can see Leige performing a barbecue for them; the relatively flat-topped one is the Wuerzi Pyramid, it is said that Weisailiang once toppled the harpy's son statue on its summit, leveled the base, and made that his bed, and as his body grew he often stripped the laid bricks layer by layer to accommodate his size."

We used "harpy's son". Good.

The bricks often roll down the pyramid's slope, turning the area around Wuerzi Pyramid into a hazard zone; consequently, the queen has had its guards pulled back farther, widening the sealed area.

Our translation: "Bricks often rolled down the pyramid's slope, making the area around the Wuerzi Pyramid hazardous, so the queen had to pull its guards farther back, widening the cordoned zone."

We used "Wuerzi Pyramid". Good.

Speaking of dragons, the one living above them is named Zhuogeng, the largest of the queen's three dragons—though some say the largest is actually red, merely rarer to see.

Our translation: "Speaking of dragons, the one living above them named Zhuogeng is the largest of the queen's three dragons, though some say the largest is actually red, merely harder to see."

Zhuogeng

Zhuo Geng is not accustomed to living in the city, unlike its two brothers appearing frequently, and when it appears, it will scatter various charred bones and flesh on the corridors of the Great Pyramid.

He hasn't seen this sight for some time.

Tyrion said he should, while waiting, get to know more of the queen's officers, soldiers, and even maids; compared to understanding those officers, soldiers, and maids, he would rather get to know the queen's dragon, which perhaps does not care about his face, his swordsmanship, nor his dullness and stupidity.

If the queen's dragon grows closer to him, perhaps this will give the queen a hint: among her many choices, he is the one fate has chosen for her.

Trying to win his own girl, first win her companion, this Westerosi foolish saying embarrasses him, but now he finds it quite reasonable—what companion could be more important than a dragon? She has no brothers, no husband, no other blood relatives; to gather three heads, she needs him. He too possesses dragon blood.

The sound of soldiers armoring up came from afar; he poked his head down and saw Ser Selmy, fully equipped, leading the guards up the straight road of the Great Pyramid.

"Prince Quentin," the old knight also saw him, "You're up awfully early, but today's battle, you cannot follow us anymore. We cannot look after you."

"I don't need looking after; if needed, I can still take up shield and sword and fight alongside you."

"This is not what a Prince of Duoen should do, nor is it something the queen should let an important ally do; the queen's most important matter is ensuring the safety of her allies." He stepped onto the platform, "You understand all these principles," he sighed, "I think I can guess your other purpose for coming here—good, you haven't told the queen. I would rather you return to Duoen and wait for us there."

Why is it good not to have told the queen? "I came from Duoen after enduring hardships; I won't easily go back."

"I know the Duoen people are all stubborn folks." He smiled, patted his shoulder, and walked away from him.

The battle west of Milin is about to begin soon; he still has many affairs to arrange, no time to spend here, to give him more hints.

Ser Selmy did not think he would succeed; he glumly thought, the old knight is the person the queen trusts and is closest to, his view mostly represents some fact. If he insists on pulling out that sister's marriage contract, the hint will become explicit.

He turned back to the bedchambers before his face flushed.

After returning to the bedchambers, he woke his two companions, then put on a set of light leather armor, and over it added a layer of light clothing.

Ordinary person, ordinary attire, destined for extraordinary deeds.

"Has the queen permitted you to go to the battlefield?"

"The queen said nothing, and Ser Barristan refused."

"The battlefield affairs are handled by the old knight."

"Trusting the queen's own guard is not wrong." Quentin replied.

"Better than trusting mercenaries; mercenaries only want to have her." Bald Yilun Wude said.

"What about the Unsullied?"

"The Unsullied are even more loyal than the Queen's Guard."

More stupid than your prince. ""Their suitable work is fighting, not command.""

"Whether fighting or commanding, they at least have something to do; we, on the other hand, just sleep, eat, defecate, and fuck the red priestess of the temple."

"You can speak louder so the queen can hear too," said Sir Gailisi Dingwate, "and besides, it's not us; our prince has done nothing."

"The prince is waiting to fuck the queen."

"You'd better say that louder; there's still room for remedy."

"Stop arguing, we're going to the market today." Quentin said.

"What are we going to do there? The queen isn't there."

"Buy meat."

"Meat? Besides that kind of meat, I've never personally bought any."

"If Your Highness finds the queen's provisions insufficient, just tell that little maid beside her, or else talk to the short Ritznak—after all, he's the queen's steward, and these matters fall under his purview."

"I can't take the queen's things." Quentin said impatiently.

We came here just to take all her things, right?

"Not the same." Quentin fell silent, then as if making up his mind, "I'll buy meat to give to her dragon, that platinum-colored dragon."

Curry favor with it? That's a method, but I think giving it to the black dragon is better; failing that, the green dragon will do too!

Idiot! The only thing suitable for us now is Weisailiang.

Damn, you could speak louder; maybe you could even make that black dragon jealous!

After the queen and Sir Balisitan leave the city, we'll act. The prince pushed the two aside, raised his red wine, and drank it all in one gulp.