Vale, Seagull Town, Grafton Family Manor
Facing Littlefinger's question, Count Jero Grafton shook his head and laughed. Then, he spoke directly:
"Tyrell, I always thought you were omnipotent. Everything you did in Seagull Town, in my opinion, no one in the Seven Kingdoms could compare to you.
Moreover, I always believed that you were the one who could laugh last, but then I realized I was wrong. Although you are the one who breaks the rules, you will eventually have to bear the consequences of breaking those rules, just like now.
I can kill you at any time, but you cannot change any of this. And if this Kingdom had never changed, I really couldn't directly kill you, who holds so many titles. But now, looking at you, I also feel my own weakness.
This era is different. We all need to make changes, Tyrell, or we will eventually be eliminated by this world."
After hearing Count Jero Grafton's words, Littlefinger Tyrell Baelish was speechless for a long time. Sometimes, he just trusted his own judgment too much, which led to all of this today.
Then, Count Jero Grafton ordered his soldiers to take everyone away. He himself ordered his Maester to send a Raven Letter to Marco.
After finishing all this, Count Jero Grafton slowly walked to his Throne and said to the butler and heir below:
"I have to say, Tyrell's plan does sound exciting. It's a pity he doesn't know who we're dealing with."
"Father! Can't we deal with that heretic king with our current military strength and deployment? After all, this isn't the era of over 300 years ago. The crossbows from Myr and the Citadel can definitely shoot down those three Dragons."
Arthur Grafton said with some surprise. In his eyes, or rather in the eyes of all the people of Westeros, magic was just a bunch of mumbo jumbo spells. Except for magical creatures like Dragons, swords and warhorses were the true representation of power.
"No, child, you don't understand. In fact, Dragons are just a product of magic. After coming to Westeros from Essos, the Targaryen Family lost the magic they were once so proud of. However, His Majesty Marco is completely different. His power is a strength that comes from the depths of his soul. I used to think omniscience and omnipotence only existed in myths, but I met a true myth that day!
Arthur, you must remember to always have a humble heart; this is how you manage the family well. If our family wants to continue, we must learn to change. I've already thought it through; I will send your two younger brothers to Winterfell. In the future, they will have the opportunity to become wizards and become the future of this new Kingdom."
Count Jero Grafton's words echoed in the hall, making Arthur Grafton feel as if he shouldn't have chosen to become a knight.
Time flew by, and more than a month had passed since the "Seagull Town Incident". The flag flying on the walls of Seagull Town had also been changed to the "Sacred Sun" flag of the Valyrian Empire.
At this moment, Marco's Valyrian Imperial Army had already set up camp outside the town. Marco, along with over a thousand Defenders and five others including Godric, led the way inside as a guard.
Aegon and his companions were circling above Seagull Town on their Dragons, declaring their sovereignty over the area. It had been a hundred years, and now, once again, the silhouettes of Dragons appeared in the sky above Seagull Town.
Marco rode on the Unicorn, Silverflash, while the three who couldn't fly, including Moonshadow, rode on the White Tiger and Shadow Lynx. This was Seagull Town's Golden Road, the widest road in the town.
The surrounding civilians watched Marco and his group with mixed expressions. Although they already knew about their Count's surrender, many of them were still afraid.
They were worried about their future, especially the devout believers. They knew that their new king didn't believe in the Seven Gods, but was instead a follower of the Old Gods from the North.
Some of them feared they would be forced to worship the Old Gods, and this fear reached its peak when they saw the four Elementals around Marco.
These four Elementals were summoned by Marco from the elemental convergence point. They didn't require mana to summon and could remain here indefinitely.
These four were split from two Elementals. Marco had now accumulated twenty-four different elemental creatures, but the drop rates of Light Elementals and Dark Elementals were very low.
Three Light Elementals were assigned as Medics by Marco and remained with the medical team. The four Fire Elementals were designated as guards. The Earth Elementals and Water Elementals, due to their unique properties, were stationed in the vast Northern Plains to contribute to Marco's agricultural endeavors.
Soon, Marco and his party arrived at the gate of the Grafton Family's castle, where they were greeted by Count Jero Grafton. Upon seeing Marco dismount, the Grafton Family members knelt in respect.
Marco stepped forward and helped Count Jero Grafton to his feet. Then, Marco chuckled and said:
"How's it going, my dear Count? Your old friend didn't let you down, did he? The first thing I thought of when I came to the Vale was you, and I knew you'd make the right choice."
Count Jero Grafton replied, somewhat flattered:
"I've always known that Your Majesty is an extraordinary person. I just didn't expect you to come here personally and meet with a small figure like me."
Later, Marco followed Count Jero Grafton into the family hall. Several people had already gathered there, and Marco immediately recognized "Littlefinger" Tyrell Baelish.
This guy looked exactly like he did in the TV series. However, his eyes held a hint of confusion and uncertainty about the future.
Then, Marco saw a beautiful figure, Sansa Stark, the elder of the Stark sisters. She looked a bit green, as this was the real world, and she was just a girl, not even eighteen.
"Sister Alian, those big sisters, can come over...woo woo..."
The Vale's infamous "milk-loving" Duke, Robin Arryn, suddenly said to Sansa Stark beside him. Before he could finish, he was silenced by several Vale nobles, who were desperate to survive.
But the next moment, these people felt a terrifying pressure, as if something was pressing down on them. Little Robin looked as if he had seen a terrifying monster and hid directly in Sansa's arms.
After slightly punishing them, Marco walked to the Throne that Count Jero Grafton had prepared in advance, and Moonshadow and the others sat behind Marco.
Dany had originally wanted to punish the child, but Moonshadow stopped her. Dany didn't know her limits, and a bit of dark energy could make the child's life a living hell, weakening his body further, or even killing him.
After Marco sat down, the Defenders outside brought in the Vale nobles captured during the last "Battle of Seven Stars." Seeing Robin and his group, Yohn Royce breathed a sigh of relief.
After the two groups converged, they all turned their eyes to Marco on the Throne, seemingly waiting for his final judgment. They were all losers, and they didn't know what they were about to face.
Marco looked at the Vale nobles and shook his head, saying,
"To be honest, you lot aren't worth much in my eyes. My empire doesn't need a bunch of flawed individuals. However, I'm not a murderer. As long as you're willing to accept my system and continue to rule the Vale for me, I might consider sparing your lives."
Just then, the doors to the hall suddenly opened. Aegon Targaryen, in full battle armor, and Brynden Rivers strode in from outside. Their distinctive hair color gave many of the Vale nobles a feeling of being transported back in time.
They never expected that after so many years, individuals with Valyrian blood would once again ride Dragons to Westeros.
At that moment, a light burst forth from the necklace around Aegon Targaryen's neck, and Lyanna Stark appeared beside him.
After the three of them bowed to Marco, Lyanna and her son walked directly towards the Vale nobles in the center of the hall. Many of the timid ones, seeing Lyanna floating towards them, were so frightened that they retreated repeatedly.
Meanwhile, Brynden Rivers strode to Marco's Throne. They had come in after receiving Marco's notification, their purpose being to understand the current situation in Seagull Town.
Sansa, upon realizing that Aegon's target was herself, instinctively took a step back. But she quickly realized something was off. Although Aegon's hair color had changed, Sansa still recognized his identity from his features.
"You...you are..."
Before Sansa could finish speaking, Aegon pulled her into his arms. He then said excitedly:
"It's wonderful, Sansa, we were so worried about you. It's so good that you're alright, really!"
Lyanna also floated over and said to Sansa:
"Your eyes are very similar to your father's, Sansa. Although I've seen you many times before, today is the first time we've truly met. Hello! I'm Lyanna, your aunt. You're as beautiful as ever!"
Afterward, Aegon pulled Sansa aside. Robin Arryn wanted to follow, but Yohn Royce held him back. He watched Sansa's departing figure with a complex expression.
Yohn Royce had already recognized her identity when he first met Sansa. Since she was using a false name, Yohn Royce didn't immediately reveal his knowledge.
"Alright, everyone present, our Emperor is merciful. I hope you all think carefully. After all, joining us is a tremendous opportunity for you all.
"Lord Bran Malko, the port of Old Anchorage must be increasingly dilapidated, right? You essentially have no income now, aside from those two farms! And last year's storm destroyed the fleet you just built, so you must owe Seagull Town's Merchant Guild a lot of money now!"
"Although you've lost your military power and the duty of guarding your territory, our benevolent His Majesty Marco has opened the doors to wealth for you. Do you know why the ale from the North is so famous and delicious now? It's all thanks to His Majesty's accomplishments."
Then, Brynden Rivers began to talk incessantly with everyone about the changes in the North, and also discussed the plans for the Vale. Furthermore, Brynden Rivers directly pointed out that the Valyrian Empire would resolve the issue of the Mountain Clans, allowing the Vale's land routes to be unobstructed from then on.
The reason why the nobles near the Eyrie are so dependent on the Vale of Arryn is, in the final analysis, because the Mountain Clans often rob people on the Vale's roads, causing trouble.
The Bloody Gate is not only a fortress that guards the gate of the Vale, but from another perspective, its existence also guarantees the safety of the noble territories near the Eyrie.
The Mountain Clans, like the wildlings, take everything by force. Anything usable will be robbed by them. Historically, the Arryn family had sent troops to encircle and suppress them many times, but almost all of them ended in failure.
The Mountains of the Moon occupy almost two-thirds of the Vale's land. They are truly too vast, and no one can say for sure how many Mountain Clans there are in them.
When Maester Dr. Anell from the Citadel wrote the Annals of the Vale, he only traveled in the central area of the Mountains of the Moon, and he described more than ten clans in this book. It is imaginable how many unknown clans still exist elsewhere.
Had to be said, Brynden was truly something else. No wonder he managed to protect the Targaryen Dynasty in that tumultuous era, preventing its demise at the hands of rebels and natural disasters.
As Brynden finished his final question, many of the Vale nobles knelt, swearing their allegiance to Marco. Marco, in turn, promised them positions as councilors in the newly established parliament.
"So, in other words, the two of you aren't planning to pledge your loyalty to us. Am I to understand that you intend to remain loyal to the Iron Throne to the very end?"
After Brynden spoke these words, lightning flickered in his hand, as if about to erupt, causing the surrounding nobles to instinctively take several steps back.
"I just want to know how you will treat Lord Robin. If you intend to execute him, then I will protect him with my life until the very last moment. 'We remember', we protect. The Royce Family can surrender, or they can be destroyed. No matter what, we will always protect the weak and value honor."
Yohn Royce looked directly at Marco and spoke, his body instinctively shielding Robin Arryn. He even moved forward slightly, ensuring a certain distance was maintained.
Marco, sensing his thoughts, couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Yohn. Although this world was corrupt and twisted, a glimmer of humanity still shone through in some people.
The Royce Family was one of the few nobles who maintained excellent traditions. In this world, there were very few nobles who could befriend Ned Stark, the epitome of a knight, and Yohn Royce was one of them.
Besides sending his son to the Wall, Yohn Royce had been working to stabilize the Vale, suppressing the Grafton Family, expelling Littlefinger, and establishing the "Alliance of the Just." Ultimately, he did these things to prevent Robin Arryn from becoming a puppet.
"I have no interest in this child's life. He has been poisoned with a chronic toxin. I will have someone treat him later and restore his health. His stepfather is completely incompetent; if this continues, he will become a useless person. From now on, you will be responsible for his education and care. I will keep the Eyrie for him.
After all, it was left by his ancestors, and I don't particularly like the place either. Of course, when he turns 15, I will come to check on him. If he's still like this by then, I'll let him see what it's like to 'fly himself'."
After hearing Marco's arrangements, Yohn Royce also pulled Robin Arryn to his knees. Then, Marco summoned Moonshadow and Maeve to examine the condition of this "little pervert."
Upon seeing Marco's sharp gaze, Yohn Royce held onto Robin Arryn tightly throughout, trying to prevent him from making any idiotic remarks, and also looked at Littlefinger with some dissatisfaction.
Littlefinger, Tyrell Baelish, stood there with a complicated expression. He was somewhat afraid, but also a little excited. He understood that he was now hanging by a thread.
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