"Cousin, after grandfather passed away, Vhagar became a dragon without an owner."
"These days, she cries mournfully over the Narrow Sea every day, she must be mourning for uncle too!"
Daenerys carefully observed Viserys's expression and tentatively said, "She is currently the largest dragon of the Targaryen Family, I wonder who will tame her next."
"Cousin Rhaenelle now wants to tame an adult dragon! I wonder if she has any hope of taming Vhagar."
"If she tames her, then House Velaryon's dragon strength will surpass our House Targaryen."
Daenerys's seemingly casual words made Viserys's expression freeze, but he didn't say anything.
Daenerys continued to smile and said, "Cousin is a Dragonrider who tamed Black Dread Balerion, so if anyone has the most hope of taming Vhagar, it must be father!"
"Won't you try?"
Viserys smiled and shook his head, "Ever since Balerion passed away, I haven't had any plans to tame a dragon!"
As Viserys said this, there was pride, regret, and even a hint of 'if it's not mine, I don't want it' kind of detachment in his eyes.
Daenerys didn't expect that her father Viserys, who had always been labeled as a good-natured person, was actually such an emotional person.
And Daenerys was able to glimpse a few reasons why Viserys no longer rode dragons.
First, having experienced the peak moment, once people experience the best things, it is difficult for them to be satisfied with a suboptimal choice.
This psychological phenomenon is common in various fields. For example, people who have drunk good tea find it difficult to get used to ordinary tea, and people who have drunk good wine also find it difficult to accept ordinary wine.
So, did Viserys, who had ridden Black Dread Balerion, even disdain Vhagar?
Second, the difference between high and low positions. People in high positions often find it difficult to be backward incompatible, while people in low positions are very easy to be upward compatible.
This means that people in high positions find it difficult to accept things that are below their behavioral standards, while people in low positions easily accept things of various levels.
Does Viserys still have no intention of contending for the throne even now?
Given his background, the throne is quite a distant prospect for him, yet he rode the Black Dread.
So, as his status improves in the future, he would rather not ride dragons anymore?
Third, opportunity cost and trade-offs. The principle of opportunity cost in economics states that to get one thing, you must give up another.
Once the best has been experienced, one realizes how inadequate previous choices were. This trade-off mentality makes people unwilling to settle.
The pride of the Targaryen Family seems to be unrelated to personality and has been branded into their blood.
Fourth, personal experience and psychological impact. Personal experiences also affect this psychology.
For example, some people achieve their goals through effort and persistence. This sense of accomplishment and satisfaction makes them unwilling to return to their previous state.
This psychological change makes it difficult for them to accept suboptimal choices.
The Targaryen Family is called the people closest to gods, and Black Dread is undoubtedly the head of all dragon.
So, did these things fully stack Viserys's pride buff?
Fifth, self-cognition and self-improvement. Some people reach a new height through self-cognition and continuous self-improvement.
This self-improvement makes their demands on themselves higher, making it difficult for them to accept choices below their current level.
In summary, the psychological logic of no longer settling after having the best is mainly the result of the combined action of various factors such as experiencing peak moments, the difference between high and low positions, opportunity cost and trade-offs, personal experience and psychological impact, and self-cognition and self-improvement.
However, even knowing these reasons, Daenerys still secretly complained, "You are such a fool! You deserve every bit of suffering you'll experience later!"
"Cousin? After grandfather passed away, according to tradition, you should inherit the throne, right? Can you do that without a dragon?"
Daenerys directly dropped a bombshell on the daydreaming Viserys.
Viserys immediately snapped back to reality, looking at Daenerys with an incredulous expression, saying, "Daenerys, has someone been saying something to you?"
Daenerys shook her head and said, "No! Isn't this obvious?"
"Aren't you the oldest male in the Targaryen Royal Family right now? For you to inherit the throne, isn't this the tradition of the Seven Kingdoms?"
"Isn't it? Also..."
Viserys quickly interrupted Daenerys, "Daenerys, don't say such things again! You are still young, there are some things you don't understand!"
"If someone hears it, who knows what trouble it will cause!"
"Oh! I know!"
Daenerys pouted and said, "So you still insist on not trying to tame Vhagar? I think it's always good to be prepared!"
"What if, and I mean what if, it really is you!"
"The Targaryen Family has never had a king without a dragon! You must consider it carefully."
"I may not understand the matter of succession to the throne! But I know that to get what you expect, you must hold power and initiative in your own hands to be safe."
"I can choose not to have it myself, but I cannot be forced to give it up by others!"
Viserys felt that he understood his cousin less and less. She was still a child, but her words and actions always surprised people.
He was about to say something when Emma and Rhaenyra walked over.
"What are you two, father and daughter, talking about? For so long?"
Viserys gently took Emma's hand and softly said, "Nothing, haven't seen each other in a long time, just chatting!"
Rhaenyra teased Daenerys, "Aunt Daenerys, I heard you won ten three-masted ships from Boros in a bet?"
"What? Do you want to be a navigator like Lord Sea Snake? "
"But we are Targaryen, you know, why bother taking a boat when you can just ride a dragon wherever you want to go!"
Daenerys, with an innocent expression, retorted, "Rhaenyra, why can't I travel by both ship and dragon? Why should I make myself uncomfortable?"
Before Rhaenyra could respond, Daenerys turned to Viserys with concern, "Traveling by boat is quite troublesome, cousin, you get very seasick, don't you?"
"So it's better to choose another dragon to tame! That way you can choose not to take a boat!"
Daenerys's words immediately amused Viserys,
"It seems my cousin really wants me to tame another dragon!"
Daenerys said as if it were a matter of course, "Of course! Is a Targaryen without a dragon still a true Targaryen?"
"And I found that contracting with a dragon is good for the body. Ever since I rode Dreamfire, I feel much stronger!"
"Perhaps sister-in-law should also go and tame a dragon, perhaps that way she can give birth to a healthier nephew!"
Hearing Daenerys say this, Viserys felt that he had overthought things. His cousin was just more opinionated, strong-willed, and realistic, and wasn't developing any crazy ideas.