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

Chapter 132: Chapter 131 – Feelings (II)

However, Jaehaerys had to admit that it was blackmail he could not refuse. The idea of being called a child killer once he eventually died made the king’s face twist slightly.

“My king, an accident is better than causing even more chaos,” Maekar spoke softly. The only reason he was helping Rhaenys was because of Corlys, who was supporting his claim to the throne. Otherwise, he would not have bothered helping someone like Rhaenys.

The woman had a terrible flaw, not knowing how to use the means she possessed. She had the support of House Baratheon, and instead of bringing the two houses closer together, she simply cast it aside. In the future, Borros would no longer care about her at all, which was completely different from Borros’s father, Boremund.

Hearing Maekar’s words, Jaehaerys knew the brat was creating a door for him to leave this conversation with dignity, but the boy had forgotten something very important.

“Go ahead, say I was.” Jaehaerys spoke in a calm, indifferent tone. “I’ll destroy House Velaryon and kill Corlys and his descendants.”

When Jaehaerys finished speaking, a frightening silence hung in the air. Maekar rolled his eyes but was not surprised. What he wanted was a middle ground, not a victory over Jaehaerys. As long as the king chose a lighter punishment, he did not care about Rhaenys.

Rhaenys panicked at that moment. If it had been before, perhaps she would not have believed Jaehaerys capable of such cruelty, but now she had not the slightest shadow of doubt that the king was capable of such barbarity.

Looking at Maekar, seeking help, Rhaenys saw that Maekar was still calm. Which put her more at ease.

“My king, you must already know that this mutual destruction is not pleasant. Let’s get straight to the point; tell me what Corlys has to pay.” Maekar spoke in a calm tone. Sometimes he felt Jaehaerys liked to drag out a conversation, perhaps because old men love to talk.

“Five million gold dragons, a dozen warships, and the sea routes Corlys discovered. ” Jaehaerys said with a smile.

Maekar could not help but take a deep breath upon hearing Jaehaerys’s terms. He knew the king would open his mouth and take a large piece of the cake, but he did not expect Jaehaerys to want almost the entire cake that was House Velaryon.

The money and the ships were the least precious; the sea routes were the true treasure. With those sea routes, one could say there would be no shortage of gold in the crown’s coffers. Honestly, Maekar was more eager than Jaehaerys to obtain those sea routes.

After all, what was Jaehaerys’s would also be his in the future, so he was quite satisfied with the king’s terms. However, he also knew it was nearly impossible for Corlys to accept such terms, or rather, to hand over his sea routes.

Would you hand over your gold mine that could strengthen your family for centuries?

‘He wants to raise the price so he can lower it in future negotiations.’ In an instant, Maekar concluded that this was Jaehaerys’s purpose in asking such an exorbitant price.

“Rhaenys has no way to answer for her husband, so Your Grace should wait until Corlys arrives at court.” Maekar spoke with a smile. Grandson and grandfather looked at each other and saw each other’s intentions.

“Until Corlys appears at court, Princess Rhaenys is not to leave her chambers until further orders.” Jaehaerys said, looking at Rhaenys with a cold gaze. He was essentially imprisoning Rhaenys, though it was house arrest.

The princess looked at Jaehaerys with a cold gaze and merely lowered her head, accepting the sentence. Either way, she could not die. Not when she was one of the few Dragonriders of House Targaryen.

Jaehaerys would never kill her, even after this tremendous mistake that had resulted in a war between two continents. That was exactly why she had come to King’s Landing without fear. Otherwise, she would not have dared defy Jaehaerys and Vermithor.

Meleys might be fast, but speed means nothing if the dragon is weaker than the other.

“Ser Ryam, take Princess Rhaenys to her chambers.” Jaehaerys ordered, looking at the woman kneeling before him with a cold gaze.

Ryam, wearing his gleaming white armor, gestured politely to the princess and helped her rise. Rhaenys accepted the help and walked toward the exit without looking back. Just as she had entered, her head was held high, almost like a queen.

When Maekar was about to leave with Gael, he heard Jaehaerys’s voice and stopped in his tracks. “How would you handle Rhaenys?”

“I would kill her.” Maekar did not hesitate to answer the king’s question. Yes, he would kill Rhaenys without a second thought. Since Jaehaerys had made Rhaenys an enemy, it was better to kill the woman at once rather than wait for another problem to arise.

“But there are so few of us.” Jaehaerys whispered in a calm tone, but the whisper reached Maekar, who only smiled. He looked at the king on the Iron Throne and said, “You’re indecisive, my dear king. Perhaps it’s age, but remember that problems must be solved with determination and firmness.”

Jaehaerys looked at Maekar with a complex expression. He did not like Maekar, but he appreciated how decisive the boy was. If he had had such determination when young, Rogar’s head should have ended up on a spear.

“What Gael just did was no different from Rhaenys. Would you kill her too?” Jaehaerys asked, looking at his daughter with a complex expression. Only the pain of losing a child could make a girl so sweet and gentle do something so cruel.

“Of course not, it’s only others who are wrong; my family is always right. If Gael burns down a castle, it was the castle’s fault for being in the middle of the crossfire.” Maekar answered with a laugh.

Gael took Maekar’s hand and smiled gently. This was her husband, not a man like Corlys, who had not even dared to avenge his son.

Jaehaerys was left speechless at Maekar’s incredibly hypocritical words, but, just as he had said, the king would have done the same if it were Alysanne.

Gesturing with his hand for Maekar and Gael to leave the Great Hall, Jaehaerys spoke in an impatient tone, “Try not to burn down any more castles; the amount of work you’ve made me do is terrible.”

“By the way, leave for White Harbor as soon as possible.” Remembering something, Jaehaerys added in an annoyed tone. White Harbor still being unsecured left him rather upset.

Maekar nodded and left the Great Throne Hall with Gael.

Now alone, Jaehaerys looked at the empty hall and murmured with a complex expression.

“I really am indecisive; perhaps it’s like Maekar said, I’m too old.”

However, he could not do what Maekar had said. He did not want to kill the last remnant of his son in the world. Without Rhaenys, Aemon would truly die once and for all. That was something he could not accept.

That was why, even after causing such a great problem on top of the previous ones, he still hesitated to kill Rhaenys.

On the other side of the gates, Maekar and Gael walked side by side.

“I will go to White Harbor; you will stay in King’s Landing and meet with Lord Ellard Stark.” Maekar spoke in a calm tone, looking at the landscape passing by the windows as he walked. “Tell him I will return the Gift to House Stark. I ask only for his vote and the North’s, nothing more and nothing less.”

Gael nodded but looked at Maekar with reluctance. She did not want to be apart from Maekar at that moment. The bed at night was too cold and lonely, without Maekar beside her. However, Gael was a woman who understood the importance of Maekar’s actions.

“Come back soon; my bed gets too cold without you.” Gael spoke in a tone already full of longing.

“I know, I’ll come back as soon as I can.” Maekar spoke in a gentler tone as he firmly squeezed his wife’s hand. He also knew this was a delicate moment for both of them; he himself did not want to be away from Gael, but they both had responsibilities.

“I love you, Maekar,” Gael said in a gentle tone.

“I love you too, Gael,” Maekar replied in an equally gentle tone.

—-

Read my other books:

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

Game Of Thrones: The God-Emperor of Planetos

Percy Jackson: Godwyn the Golden.

Game Of Thrones: The King’s Court Wizard