"Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty…"
Diana and Grey Worm arrived, delighted and respectful.
"No need to be so polite," Aemon smiled, ascending the stairs and instructing Gaemon: "Take your uncles and aunts to wash and change clothes."
"Yes, father!" Gaemon replied earnestly.
Without his followers, Aemon sought out Johanna's room.
Knock, knock, knock—
He raised his hand to knock on the door, and immediately a soft, charming voice rang out from within.
"Come in."
Creak!
The door swung open, revealing a scene that was breathtaking.
Johanna, clad in a soft black lace dress, sat slenderly on a cashmere blanket beside a long, low table. Her white fingers grasped a quill, her eyes cast down as she worked intently. Her intelligence and allure blended, her every move exuding a graceful, indolent air.
"Busy?" Aemon leaned against the doorframe, his eyes filled with scrutiny.
This woman was truly wicked.
I can't say for sure if she knew I was coming and deliberately put on this display.
"Come in." Johanna looked up, her delicate face still radiant. Her seemingly ordinary words seemed to carry a hint.
Aemon's eyelids twitched, and he stepped inside.
A bad woman's allure is inherent, unfathomable, hidden…
"Just right, there's a letter for you." Johanna put down her quill, her fingertips gently brushing against the white ankle exposed beneath the black veil of her dress, finding a piece of mail.
"Whose is it from?"
"The king's raven, it just arrived from Dragonstone this morning," Johanna's voice was soft.
Aemon murmured, "Oh," and thoughtfully opened the letter. It contained little.
The black wild dragon, Cannibal, had suddenly disappeared. Laena and Aunt Rhaenys had searched for two days, but were certain it wasn't on Dragonstone. The maester speculated that it had fled its lair after being seriously injured.
"In that case, the little wild dragon must be quite intelligent," Aemon wondered.
The wild dragon Cannibal is most likely a descendant of a glutton, inheriting the brutality and greed of its predecessor. Shortly after birth, it began stealing dragon eggs and hunting its brethren. Indeed, the wild dragon Uragas is also a descendant of a glutton. A dragon handler climbed to a wild dragon lair in the Dragonmount crater and found two broken egg fragments in the same nest. One black, one red, corresponding to Cannibal and Uragas. Furthermore, a dragon lays between three and five eggs at a time, usually no fewer than three. Since no other eggs or fragments were found in the wild dragon's lair, they likely were consumed by a hungry Cannibal as a snack.
After devouring its unhatched brethren, it set its sights on its hatched brethren.
"With such injuries, where can it fly?" Aemon stroked his chin.
Dragons are highly territorial creatures. Unless there are any accidents, they typically stay within their habitat. Few dragons yearn for freedom and actively seek out new locations. Cannibal was struck by three arrows, the wound in the neck being the most severe, potentially tearing it apart.
"At least the dragons of Dragonstone won't be harmed for a while," Aemon said, relieved, no longer dwelling on the issue.
It wouldn't be too late to round up and destroy Cannibal the next time it showed up. If it didn't show up, it meant it had died somewhere or migrated far from Dragonstone. Either way, the outcome was acceptable. If Cannibal survived, and flew off somewhere like the Glutton, laying a clutch of eggs and hatching them, it would still be a win.
Dragon-eating species, after all, are rare, and their appearance is incredibly rare. For a dragon-eating species like Cannibal, inherited through a bloodline, the odds are even closer. If they don't grow up, they'll ultimately be little wild dragons at the mercy of others.
"I've ordered a dinner, why don't you clean it up?" Johanna rested her chin on one hand, gazing into Aemon's eyes.
Aemon shuddered, said hurriedly, "I'll be there," and quickly slipped out the door.
There are no plowed fields, only cows that die from exhaustion.
Even with a physique several times stronger than an average person, he couldn't withstand the abuse of being eaten and taken.
I can't afford to offend him, I can't afford to offend him…
"Hehe~~"
Johanna giggled, covering her mouth. Tonight was another feast.
At the banquet, by the time Aemon arrived, the others had already gathered.
"Father, sit down."
Gaemon hopped off his chair, grabbed a chair with both hands, lifted it above his head, and placed it around the table.
"Huh!?" Aegon, bored out of his mind, sat up straight, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.
A five-year-old could just pick up a solid wooden chair weighing over ten pounds and run with it?
Aemond's mouth opened wide, a whole sausage shoved in it.
"Stop looking, eat," Aemon said, unfazed, and invited everyone to eat.
My son is born with supernatural strength!
"Yes, Father."
Gaemon put down the chair and sat down between his father and mother. He didn't think his great strength was anything special. His father had said he was a natural warrior.
Possessing an impenetrable thick skin and a physique of endless strength, no one could hope to defeat him in a direct battle.
"Don't show off, Gaimon," Johanna said, her gentle eyes slightly terrifying as she gripped the silver fork.
Gaemon straightened his back, bent over, and ate his meal intently.
Father was right. Mother is a thoroughly evil woman. Such evil women must not be offended; they'll poison your food.
"My son is clever," Aemon laughed heartily. He hadn't imagined a child would inherit his talents. Even though these talents stemmed from the [Magic Essence Panel], Gaemon had been displaying the effects of [Strong Body] and [Rock Solid] since the age of three, like a little superman.
It was all in Johanna's belly.
Not to mention Rhaenyra and Laena, even if Jeyne and Jansfer had given birth to a child like this, a host of nobles would have secretly gathered around them before they even reached adulthood.
"Chew, chew, chew."
Gaemon ate elegantly, picking up food and chewing at a steady clip. Hearing his father's laughter, he couldn't help but observe.
"It's okay, I'm just happy." Aemon stroked his dark-haired miniature self.
The differences in appearance, surname, and talents meant this little one was confined to Myr, making it difficult for him to return to Westeros.
Wait another two years. The children were a little older, and had a more intuitive understanding of blood ties.
Johanna watched quietly, her beautiful lips curled up. She wasn't worried about her son's future. Aemon didn't accept the Andal faith of the Seven, and acted like the dragonlords of old Valyria. The dragonlords' family practiced multiple marriages and concubines. With the exception of the heir, the attitude towards legitimate and illegitimate children was almost the same.
Besides, Gaemon wasn't a bastard, so there was no need to worry about being looked down upon by the world. Anyone who didn't want eyes could wait until Gaemon was old enough to pick up a sword and have a sacred duel witnessed by the gods.
Winning was a feat.
"Chew, chew, chew."
Father and son focused on their meal, their expressions equally serious. Johanna's smile widened, as if she were back in Runestone City. Having raised a little glutton, now there was another little glutton.
Aegon glanced around, kicked Aemond on the table, and sneered, "I bet the little swan could knock you down with one punch."
Aemond, irritated, tried to defend himself, "He's my cousin's son, a true dragon."
"Come on," Aegon muttered, curling his lips. "I've never seen a black dragon."
Aemond's face darkened instantly. Sensitive as he was, he thought of the Cannibal who had nearly killed him.
Shamelessly, Aegon swung his fork back and forth, smirking to himself. He found it delightful to tease his little brother.
"Aegon, I have a mission for you!" Aemon's voice interrupted his self-absorption.
"W-what?" Aegon paused, not quite understanding.
Patiently, Aemon repeated, "A mission, and you must be there."
Aegon, sensing a foreboding, questioned, "You didn't mention anything else when you came here."
Aemon turned his head away.
Of course not. You were drunk and thrown onto the dragon's back.
"The remnants of the Three Daughter's have returned, with the involvement of the Ironborn and Dornish, causing considerable unrest in the Disputed Lands." Aemon declared, his tone unyielding, "You will ride Sunfyre and patrol the Stepstones with the Myr navy."
"Why me?" Aegon reluctantly pointed at Helena, who was nibbling at her meal, and said indignantly, "Helena is also a dragon rider, and her dragons are even larger than Sunfyre's."
Helena set down her cutlery delicately, her violet eyes filled with confusion.
"Are you sure?" Aemon glanced at him.
"This, that..." Aegon's heart skipped a beat, and he faltered. Suddenly, he felt unsure.
"That means it's a promise," Aemon said calmly, explaining the details. "It won't be long. We might encounter small groups of rebellious pirates. No matter how hard or tiring it is, you must persevere."
In that moment, the aura of a king who had been king for a long time emanated, making it difficult to cross the invisible chasm.
Aegon suddenly wilted. "Yes, I understand."
"Not that I understand, but I have a clear goal and want to get it done," Aemon's voice deepened.
"Yes!" Aegon was completely honest.
Aemon watched from the side, feeling a sense of relief, and took a long sip from his wine glass.
"Ahem..." The wine immediately hit his throat, and he immediately coughed up tears.
Aemon couldn't drink.
"You two have a mission too," Aemon said, changing the subject to Helena and Aemond.
"Us?" Aemond looked surprised, pointing at himself.
And... a dazed Helena. Helena looked down at the half-eaten barbecue, feeling her half-full stomach, and hesitated whether to finish it.
The food at her cousin's house was terrible. He hadn't even finished yet, and he was already working.
"I'll give you two choices." Aemon's heart had long since turned black, and he didn't care. He said, "Either you and Aegon will patrol the Stepstones, or the lands of Myrland."
"I choose Myrland!" Aegon raised his hand quickly.
Myr was great. Safe, and no need to travel far; he could just find a brothel and get there.
"You have no choice," Aemon sternly refused.
Leaving Aegon in Myr was like a rat falling into a rice jar.
"Then we..." Aemond weighed the pros and cons for a moment, his gaze questioning his sister.
Aemon gave them plenty of time. This trip to Myr was meant to hone the three siblings' personal qualities. No matter how mischievous Aegon was, he always had his Sunfyre to support him. He was also quite courageous, just prone to playing it down.
He valued Helena and Aemond more than anything else. Both siblings had serious psychological problems. Aegon's courage to go to war was like taking a test and only writing down a solution to the difficult part; at least you'd get a guaranteed score. A low score was fine, but the worry was that someone would leave the paper blank.
For example,
"I can't go." Helena frowned.
"Why?" Aemon said patiently.
Helena's expression was hesitant, but she spoke decisively: "I won't go to war, riding a dragon and burning people."
She had never imagined such a thing.
"Sister," Aemond was stunned. How could he not use his dragon?
Aemon pressed the issue even harder: "You tamed the Dreamfyre. The family needs you to mobilize its power now. Are you going to refuse?"
"No!" Helena shook her head again. "The family has you, Aegon, and many more."
"So you can shirk responsibility?" Aemon's face grew serious.
Helena was at a loss for words and stammered, "No, I don't want that..."
"The pirates of the Three Kingdoms threaten the family's rule. Personal wishes are no longer important. You must ride your dragon and join the battle," Aemon pressed.
"…" Helena's face wrinkled, her hesitation lingering.
"Aemon, Helena is a girl. Mother says women need protection." Unexpectedly, Aemond, who cared most about Helena, didn't speak before Aegon, the ever-bullying Aegon, spoke first.
"Do you think she needs protection?" Aemon looked straight ahead.
Aegon's coolness lasted only three seconds as he made up a random excuse: "She has never been on a battlefield, nor is she a man who has received knight training..."
"If she can't protect herself, who can protect her?" Aemon interrupted, posing a soul-searching question.
Aegon was speechless.
"Hmm?" Aemon's face sank, his gaze darting back and forth between the three siblings.
A dragon rider needing protection? Isn't that a joke? And he was riding a massive, nearly a hundred-year-old dragon? Even underestimating Dreamfyre's power was no less powerful than their direct descendants, Meleys the Red Queen and Caraxes, the Bloodworm.
Helena, riding Dreamfyre, had instantly become one of the most powerful individuals in the world.
"Gurgle~~" Aemond swallowed, tugging at Helena's sleeve, as if urging, perhaps encouraging, "Sister."
Helena, unable to refuse, clenched her fists to her chest and gritted her teeth. "Yes, I will ride Dreamfyre."
Her entire body trembled as she spoke these words. She was incredibly nervous.
"Relax, this is something every dragon rider has to go through." Aemon saw that she had a psychological barrier and softened his attitude: "You are a dragon rider, you must learn what protection means, and don't let your dragon down."
"Yeah." Helena's mind was in a daze, she didn't hear a word, just nodded.
"Aemond, you stay with her."
Aemon didn't soften his heart, but put the burden on Aemond.
Aemond had seen his fragile sister, and a sense of unwillingness to admit defeat rose in his heart. He nodded vigorously: "Leave it to me."
"Good job, you didn't lose face." Aemon couldn't help but laugh.
In fact, the one who worried him the most was Aemond. This kid is unlucky, but he is very brave. In the original world, he dared to tame Vhagar, who had just lost his rider, and now he dared to go to the dragon cave and Dragonmount alone. For the sake of the dragon, he would even give up his life.
What if he was sent to the battlefield and gave himself up in a fit of passion?
He really couldn't explain to Alicent.
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