House of The Dragon:The Rise of the Emperor of the Seven Kingdoms

A week after Baelon’s death, rumors spread that Corlys Velaryon had gathered a fleet of ships to defend his wife’s claim and, most importantly, that of their son, Laenor Velaryon.

The following day, Prince Daemon, who was partially recovered, also gathered a small army of sworn swords and men-at-arms in case of conflict.

Fearing a civil war, Jaehaerys stayed busy resolving the disputes; the Red Keep was never silent again after that day.

The realm entered a succession crisis. The reason for this was that Baelon was not supposed to be the prince of Dragonstone but Rhaenys. However, Jaehaerys did not like the idea of a woman on the throne and chose Baelon, ignoring the line of succession.

However, Rhaenys was Aemon’s daughter. And if there was one thing Aemon was, it was loved by all. Jaehaerys had trained Aemon to be the perfect heir, and he was. So much so that even after his death, his supporters did not forget his daughter and wanted her as queen.

This faction was led by none other than Borros’s father, the Lord of Storm’s End and Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, Boremund Baratheon.

Now that Baelon had died, Boremund began to pressure the king regarding the choice of the new heir to the Iron Throne. Not only them, but Aemon’s supporters also rose at this time and backed Rhaenys for the Iron Throne.

Honestly, for the first time, Jaehaerys regretted training an heir as good as Aemon. His son was so loved that he made these lords, known for their disdain for women, accept Rhaenys, a woman, as queen.

However, the realm wanted Rhaenys; Jaehaerys wanted Viserys. What followed was a long discussion; the court was more tumultuous than ever. This had been going on for nearly a month, and the matter was far from over; on the contrary, more and more nobles arrived in King’s Landing.

In court, Boremund, who was Jaehaerys’s half-brother, wore a solemn expression. "My King, Princess Rhaenys will be a good queen; what she has between her legs will not change who she is or whether she will allow herself to be influenced."

"If you won’t choose her, we can choose Laenor."

Boremund had a headache; Jaehaerys would not accept Rhaenys under any circumstances. This left him feeling helpless. However, he understood Jaehaerys’s fears. Rhaenys was married to Corlys. If she were single, she could marry Viserys and things would be much easier, even if Viserys had to divorce Aemma.

But Rhaenys was married, and to Corlys no less, whom the king did not like at all, especially with the growing power of House Velaryon in recent years.

"That is impossible, Boremund. Rhaenys will not sit on the Iron Throne, and her son even less so. Only a Targaryen will sit on the Iron Throne." Jaehaerys was determined to refuse Rhaenys and Laenor with all his might, regardless of how much pressure was put on him.

"Father, if you allow me, may I say something?" At that moment, a middle-aged man in Archmaester’s robes spoke, catching the attention of Boremund and Jaehaerys.

This was none other than the seventh child of Jaehaerys and Alysanne, Vaegon Targaryen. Already in middle age, he was an archmaester, having specialized in mathematics and economics at the Citadel.

Vaegon had the silver-gold hair and violet eyes of the Targaryens. However, he could not be described as "handsome": he had a long face and broad shoulders, even from a young age. He always had a sour and pinched expression around his mouth.

"Speak, Vaegon." Jaehaerys calmed down and spoke in a steady tone.

"Why not leave this in the hands of the nobles, maesters, and the Faith? Let them vote on whom they prefer on the Iron Throne," Vaegon said in an expressionless and indifferent tone.

Boremund looked at Vaegon with a bright gaze; in his eyes, this was a great idea. However, Jaehaerys was not happy. If he did this, it would set a precedent that he himself did not want to see happen. It was giving power to the nobles and the Faith, a power that should never be in their hands.

However, when Jaehaerys thought about it from another angle, he also thought it was an opportunity to once and for all erase the prejudices of the noble houses against House Targaryen. Even now, after nearly a hundred years, some nobles still harbored rebellious thoughts.

Giving this kind of power to the nobles could eradicate the idea that House Targaryen was still foreign and firmly consolidate House Targaryen’s rule over the Seven Kingdoms. In any case, as long as House Targaryen had dragons, the lords could never truly interfere in the succession. This was just an atypical situation.

Jaehaerys did not know it, but this decision led to both advantages and disadvantages. Especially since House Targaryen lost their dragons in the Dance of the Dragons. However, just as Jaehaerys thought, House Targaryen’s rule truly consolidated, and even with a terrible king like Aerys II, the nobles endured a lot before actually rebelling.

And if it weren’t for Robert, it might have taken even longer.

After much discussion, Jaehaerys accepted Vaegon’s proposal and declared that a Great Council be held at Harrenhal. All nobles were to be present to declare their intentions.

-

Maekar was in his room; Alysanne and Gael were with him at that moment.

"There will be about fifteen claims, which will be either discarded or accepted. I predict only three will remain in the end," Alysanne said in a calm tone but one full of wisdom. She knew very well who was a candidate for the throne and who was not.

"Your meetings over these three weeks will be of great help to your claim, but you have no great achievements beyond duels. Duels don’t serve for much at this point."

Maekar listened in silence and agreed with Alysanne’s words. If it were before, he would have had more time to prepare, but now he had six months and a few more days to actually gain enough prestige to be worthy of being king.

"It’s alright, I already know a good reason for me to be considered as king," Maekar said in a calm tone. "I will bring the crown of Dorne to the Iron Throne. Let me finish what Aegon and his wives could not achieve."

When Maekar said this, Alysanne’s eyes lit up while Gael’s eyes widened.

"That is good; no one will question your claim, and with the support of the nobles you’ve gained, there is a strong possibility that the majority of votes will fall to you," Alysanne said with a bright look. "However, the Martells are not easily persuaded, or Rhaenys would have achieved it many years ago."

"I heard that the newly enthroned Princess of Dorne, Mara Martell, is young and not a calm princess," Alysanne added in a calm tone.

"That is exactly why she will want my help," Maekar said with a cold smile. "She is young and has an ambitious uncle coveting her throne. She has no chance against an older, more experienced uncle who has acted as regent since she was young; she will die of poison."

From what Maekar remembered, Mara was eighteen, but instead of attending the Great Council of 101, a princess, the daughter of a Martell prince with an unknown name, and twenty-seven Dornish knights were sent.

This showed that Mara would not survive until the Great Council.

Gael couldn’t help but frown hearing Mara Martell’s age. She knew her man’s beauty well, and with rumors of how hedonistic the Dornish were, she worried that Maekar might fall for some seduction.

Looking at Gael, she understood her daughter’s concerns. Alysanne asked in a calm tone, "And if she wants a marriage alliance?"

Seeing Gael’s beautiful brows furrowed, Maekar almost read her mind in an instant. This greatly amused him; whether it was he or Gael, both were possessive when it came to each other.

"She has no choice, or rather, she has only two options: ally with me or die at her uncle’s hands. As for a marriage alliance, I already have a wife, and she can choose another man," Maekar said in an equally calm tone, but there was a smile on his lips.

A smile appeared on Gael’s lips, her brows stopped furrowing, and she returned to a calm expression.

"When do you leave for Dorne?" Gael asked with a touch of reluctance in her voice. It could be said that she had hardly left Maekar’s side throughout the month. She was already completely used to his presence.

So, knowing that Maekar would be going to Dorne for an indefinite time, she was genuinely sad.

"Today." Maekar did not want to delay his departure any further. Negotiations could last months, and he didn’t want to finish everything at the last minute.

"Come back quickly, and remember not to be seduced by any Dornishwoman," Gael said with a smile, trying not to seem sad about his departure.

Maekar just let out a low laugh and gently kissed Gael’s lips before standing up and leaving the room with a smile.

Seeing her daughter staring fixedly at the door, Alysanne smiled and knew exactly how Gael was feeling. The best days of her life were her marriage, when Dragonstone became her and Jaehaerys’s world.

"I’m going to ride Dreamfyre," Gael said in a sad tone and left the room with quick steps.

Alysanne just rolled her eyes and drank a glass of wine, which was rare, given that she had stopped drinking years ago.

---

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Read my other books:

House of The Dragon: The Pale Prince

Game Of Thrones: The God-Emperor of Planetos

Percy Jackson: Godwyn the Golden.

Game Of Thrones: The King’s Court Wizard