The Council Hall:
When Aemon and Rhaenyra arrived hand in hand, all of the royal ministers had already taken their seats. The meeting began with the usual discussion of government affairs.
Viserys leaned back in his chair, silently turning the emerald ring. When encountering troubles, distract your attention appropriately. It was a habit formed over time.
Aemon took the last seat on the left side of the council table. King's Hand Lyonel Strong sat at the front, and Rhaenyra sat in the middle. Uncle Viserys and the young Tyland Lannister were at the two ends of the conference table.
"Your Highness." Seeing Aemon looking over, Tyland smiled ingratiatingly. He seemed too humble and a little meek.
"Lord Tyland." Aemon smiled back. Then, he picked up his cyan stone ball and placed it in the punch card tray. He called this tray the "identity stone ball tray." Those in power always have a stone ball in their tray. Those squeezed out of the center of power disappear along with their stone ball.
Tyland breathed a sigh of relief when no one spoke. He had little seniority or influence on the royal council and often slacked off. The Prince Regent was not a pleasant person to deal with. When he was eight years old, he had extorted a large sum of gold royals from his brother, Lord Jason. It was best not to provoke him.
"Everyone is here," Viserys said suddenly. Aemon noticed his gaze flickering between Viserys and Rhaenyra.
"Why are you looking at us?" The impromptu meeting must have been planned. He soon noticed his uncle's second glance sweep to Otto Hightower, who sat on the right. Otto remained silent with his head bowed.
"The Triarchy has been conquered. How should we reward our meritorious officials?" Viserys got straight to the point.
"Your Majesty, the Sea Serpent and Daemon have ulterior motives and should not be easily forgiven," Grand Maester Mellos said.
"They want to rule the Iron Throne. I cannot turn them away." Viserys smiled. Mellos fell silent and glanced to his right.
"Your Majesty, any Free City is a priceless treasure. I propose establishing an independent fiefdom designated as a vassal state under the Iron Throne." Otto said calmly, rising. He then explained the specifics and procedures.
Viserys listened, nodding and occasionally offering praise. No one else had the opportunity to interrupt. Watching the two men work together, Aemon chuckled helplessly and squeezed Rhaenyra's hand. This wasn't a royal council! It was a classic case of "small matters have a big meeting, big matters have a small meeting." What Otto and his uncle had planned privately was now being brought to the table for a mere formality.
Rhaenyra felt a little depressed. She rested her hand on her cheek and felt sleepy. She didn't need to hear anything more. She could only wait for the outcome.
About a quarter of an hour later, Viserys made the final decision, setting the general direction. The three Free Cities would naturally belong to whomever conquered them. Aemon would be their representative and be crowned "Prince of Myr." The Sea Serpent was not a member of the royal family. His title of "Grand Lord of Tyrosh" gave him the same status as a duke of a realm. With this title, he deserved compensation. City-state taxes and port dues must be paid according to Oldtown's standards. Under the glory of the Seven, the slave trade is forbidden. Tyrosh and Lys must swiftly free their slaves and abolish slavery. As vassal city-states that do not border Westeros territories, the three city-states' military strength is limited. No city-state can exceed 30,000 troops.
At first glance, everything seems normal. Aemon's head tilted as he realized his blind spot. Equating the Sea Serpent and Daemon's actions with rebellion shouldn't be dismissed lightly. That would only embolden their arrogance. His uncle must be secretly involved in something else, something he's keeping from even Aemon and Rhaenyra. The same doubts crossed the minds of every minister present.
Grand Maester Mellos was stunned by what he had heard. He asked, "The Sea Serpent and Daemon started a war, yet they were not punished. How should we show the people of the Seven Kingdoms?" Translation: "You've called back these two troublemakers and given them sweet treats without wielding a big stick. Where can we face them?"
"I can answer that," Otto said calmly, his gaze fixed straight ahead. "The Sea Serpent and Daemon have repented. When they free the slaves, the Seven Gods will naturally forgive them." Mellos was speechless. Assuming that the king and his financial sponsor had already discussed the matter, he sat down dejectedly.
Aemon watched with interest. Suddenly, he noticed Otto glance at him. It was a subtle movement. But Aemon's senses were heightened, making him particularly sensitive to his surroundings. Looking at me again? His uncle finished his glance, and Otto did the same. Were they targeting him? Aemon reviewed the situation over and over, looking for potential vulnerabilities. The engagement to Laena was one such point. It would win over the Sea Serpent and strengthen the family. As for Daemon... Aemon felt that no one could restrain him except his uncle.
"Your Majesty, such an explanation may not be enough to convince the public." Lyonel, who had been silent for most of the meeting, finally couldn't help but speak up. After all, he was the Prime Minister, and he had been too uninvolved. Viserys avoided his gaze and didn't respond. Otto was ready to fight for the king. He acted as if to say, "We've already discussed this. Why are you, an outsider, butting in?"
"Wait a minute!" Aemon interrupted suddenly.
"What's the matter?" Viserys was surprised. The other ministers turned their heads and looked over.
"Before we reach a conclusion, I have a suggestion and would like to consult with you, Uncle." Aemon smiled slightly. He had seen through it. Viserys and Otto were in cahoots, doing bad things behind everyone's back. Lyonel and Mellos weren't concerned with the black and green parties; they were royalists first. If they continued to argue, the royal meeting would have to be adjourned.
"Go ahead. I always encourage my ministers to speak frankly." Viserys was curious.
Aemon stood up and said, "I propose forming a Dragon Council." He laid out his vision for a Dragon Council. It would be composed of a king and his dragon riders. In-laws like the Sea Serpent, whose families were powerful, would also be given a seat. Members of the Dragon Council would be entitled to attend meetings regarding clan affairs and matters of state. "Certified Dragon Riders," who had mastered the fourteen ancient dragon-riding techniques, would have military power and assist the kingdom in internal and external wars. Consider, for example, House Blackwood and House Bracken, age-old enemies. A dispute arose over the relocation of a boundary marker, sparked by cattle eating grass from one another's territory. The members of the Dragon Council would not have the power to intervene. If a conflict erupted between the two families, House Tully, the feudal lords of Riverrun, would be unable to control it, and royal mediation would be ineffective. Then, the Dragon Riders would be given the right to vote. One or more Dragon Riders would be dispatched to the Riverlands to quell the rebellion. The manner in which the rebellion was quelled was irrelevant. It was quelled anyway!
"No!" Viserys shouted in shock, "You are dragging your family back to the old ways of Old Valyria, turning Dragon Riders and dragons into war machines." Especially the voting system of the Dragon Council. There can only be one king, but many dragon riders. What if a dragon rider incited rebellion among the nobles? The king's power would eventually be undermined.
Aemon said sincerely, "You can give the king a veto power."
Viserys was speechless for a moment. Then he vigorously shook his head. "That won't do either. A kingdom is ruled by kindness and honor, not dragonfire." He opposed the "weaponization" of dragons more than anyone else. He firmly believed that Old Valyria's downfall was due to the House of the Forty Dragonlords' rampant expansion and countless crimes. His nephew's proposed Council of Dragons was clearly inspired by Old Valyria's parliamentary system. However, the council's power was reduced, and its membership was more selective. The council would only participate in military affairs, and only Targaryen dragonriders would be involved.
"Uncle, the kingdom must have a sharp sword to uphold unshakable authority," Aemon said earnestly.
Viserys ignored him, simply shaking his head. Despite the "King's veto," he was deeply resentful of the idea of wielding the "sharp sword." A sword is a sharp weapon, but if used improperly, it can hurt others and oneself. He felt that the current situation was good. He was the king and consulted with his councilors when problems arose. He governed the kingdom with ever-increasing success. Furthermore, neither Aegon the Conqueror nor his grandfather, Jaehaerys, had ever established a Council of Dragons. He ruled according to his grandfather's will. Ancestral laws cannot be changed!
Seeing this, Aemon wasted no more words. The internal dissension within the Targaryen clan was beginning to become apparent. But you can't wake someone who's pretending to be asleep. There was Maegor's murder of his nephew, the Dance of the Dragons, and the Blackfyre Rebellion. Each incident was a struggle for power within the family. Those born earlier leverage their birthright to sit on iron thrones and boss people around. Family members born later are bound to serve them for life. Kings like Aegon the Conqueror and Jaehaerys the Elder were fine. A mediocre or mad king, however, would be a real problem. Uncle Viserys had a quirky personality. Although he clearly valued family affection, he spoiled his children and constantly pushed away his younger brother, Daemon, and his cousin, Rhaenys. He was used to playing dumb. Ultimately, his pretense made him truly dumb. He shouldered at least half the blame for the Dance of the Dragons.
"Father, the War of the Narrow Sea proved the royal family's weakness in external wars. The Dragon Council can recruit young dragonriders," Rhaenyra said, shaking off Aemon's hand and leaping to her feet.
"You think so?" Viserys exclaimed in surprise.
"The Sea Serpent and Daemon would behave themselves if they joined the Dragon Council," Rhaenyra said sternly.
"They would only turn the council into a military camp." Viserys sneered.
Aemon could only watch as the father and daughter argued.
"If there's no Dragon Council, how do you plan to win over the Sea Serpent and Daemon while maintaining the dignity of the royal family?" Rhaenyra demanded.
"I have my own plans. You don't need to worry about it," Viserys replied grumpily.
Just then, Grand Maester Mellos said, "Your Highness, the kingdom already has a Conclave. The Dragon Council is putting the cart before the horse." He implied that they could discuss matters of state.
"Did you quell the pirate rebellion in the Triarchy?" Rhaenyra retorted.
"That was also the result of the Conclave." Otto chimed in.
"The Sea Serpent and Daemon didn't listen to the Conclave's conclusions. They started a war on their own." Rhaenyra continued.
"It's precisely because they're restless that they shouldn't be allowed access to the soil of power." Lyonel muttered.
"If we give grace without punishment, won't the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms follow suit?" Rhaenyra immediately increased her output.
Tyland opened her mouth to interject. Rhaenyra glanced back and glared; the golden lion turned golden in an instant. Aemon patted Tyland on the shoulder and gave him a sympathetic look. Why bother? Tyland lowered his head and silently fiddled with the stone ball.
"Rhaenyra, there is no precedent for this in the family," Viserys advised kindly.
"That's because the family didn't have so many people or dragons before." Rhaenyra spoke the truth.
Viserys sighed deeply and held his forehead in frustration. How could his daughter be so stubborn? She seemed to be cut from the same cloth as his late wife, Aemma.
"Let me think about it, okay?" Viserys said, a headache forming.
Rhaenyra lifted her swan-like neck and said proudly, "Even without the Dragon Council, I have ways to keep Aegon and the others in line. I only want them to have a broader perspective because I'm their elder sister." With that, she grabbed the dazed Aemon and walked away without looking back.
Bang! The door slammed shut, startling Tyland.
"Your Majesty?" He asked cautiously, forcing a smile.
"Adjourn." Viserys waved his hand weakly. He was worried about his daughter growing up. As children develop their own opinions, they often disagree with their parents. But that didn't matter; he'd grown accustomed to his daughter's cold shoulder over the past few years. This time was different. He was mostly relieved, feeling that his daughter was courageous and more expressive than he was.
Moreover, Rhaenyra's words touched him deeply. He and Alicent's four children were growing up strong. In the blink of an eye, they would become strong young men and women. He had rejected the Dragon Council largely because he feared losing control. The king's veto power was ineffective against the two warmongers, the Sea Serpent and Daemon. But don't forget: He still had four children: That included Rhaenyra and his nephew, Laena, who was about to marry his nephew. The royal family had at least three dragon riders and four dragonborn. Rhaenys was devoted to the elderly and had never participated in government. Between the Sea Serpents and Daemon, there were only two dragon riders at most. I had the advantage!
At this thought, Viserys felt a sudden sense of enlightenment, his anger dissipating. A Dragon Council could be established. They could just treat it as a family gathering, a place for conversation and bonding. If war broke out, a veto would be all that mattered.
Viserys stood up and smiled warmly. "Go see Daeron. The little one's almost a year and a half." Although he couldn't match his grandfather, Jaehaerys, in terms of paternity, he was no less capable than his great-grandfather, Aenys I. With five children, he could be called a a "sowing expert."
For the next few days, everything was peaceful. Aemon mostly stayed in the princess's quarters between Rhaenyra and Laena. Whoever was on whose territory stayed in whose room. It was an unspoken agreement between the three of them. For example, at that moment, it was the middle of the day. Aemon lay sideways on the couch, watching Rhaenyra in her nightgown and bare feet pace the red carpet of Lys. Her feet were as white as jade, with visible veins beneath the skin, and each toe was round and smooth. It was a feast for the eyes.
He admired how she silenced the ministers at the royal council. Aemon was moved to tears by her righteous words. "Go through fire and water, Princess!"
Rhaenyra didn't look at him. Her delicate, unmade-up face was solemn, and her brows were slightly furrowed. As she walked around, she muttered something under her breath. She was always talking about her father, Viserys, and his evil intentions. She told Aemon to be careful and not to be tricked. When her father remarried, he tricked her. While ostensibly courting the twelve-year-old Laena, he was secretly having an affair with his best friend, Alicent. Otherwise, she wouldn't have agreed to her father's remarriage.
"Stop spinning! I'm dizzy even if you're not," Aemon said with amusement.
"I'm not kidding." Rhaenyra stopped, slid to the bedside, and said seriously, "My father wouldn't trust the Sea Serpent and Daemon so easily. They must have some hidden secrets."
"Have you grown a brain?" Aemon said exaggeratedly.
Rhaenyra crossed her arms and said proudly, "It's even worse. I'm not easy to fool."
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