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

Chapter 152: Chapter 151 – Before the Great Council of King’s Landing (VIII)

“Welcome back, my lord husband.” On the other side of the Red Keep, Aemma greeted her husband with a happy smile. Beside her stood the lovely Rhaenyra, looking at her uncle and father with admiration in her adorable eyes.

“I missed you so much, Papa!” Rhaenyra ran to her father, who scooped her up in his arms with a broad smile as he spun her around.

“I missed you too, my sweet princess.” Viserys said with a smile, showing his impeccably white teeth. He felt all his exhaustion melt away with his daughter in his arms.

“I missed you too, dear.” Holding Rhaenyra in his arms, Viserys stepped closer to his wife and kissed her on the lips, making Rhaenyra pull a disgusted face.

The little princess’s reaction made everyone laugh, including Daemon, who sat down on the couch with an exhausted expression. They had flown to King’s Landing as quickly as possible, stopping only a few times to rest. His poor dragon was even panting for breath after arriving in King’s Landing.

“Aemma, has High Septon Justin sent any letter?” Daemon did not want to waste time on frivolities and asked in a calm tone. There was a touch of sarcasm and contempt in the Rogue Prince’s voice.

“Daemon, don’t say the High Septon’s name. ” Viserys could not help but speak with a note of displeasure, hearing Daemon use the High Septon’s name.

Even septons of noble blood use only their given names before taking their vows. When one of them is elevated to High Septon, he abandons that name as well. The faith holds that he no longer needs a man’s name, for he has become the avatar of the gods.

You can always leave out their given names if you like, but they take offense if you use them. It reminds them that they were born common men, and they don’t care for that.

Daemon merely curled his lips into a cold smile. He knew, of course, that High Septons hated being called by their names, for it stripped them of being divine beings and turned them back into mere humans who bled just like any beggar.

“We received one, but it only said the High Septon is arriving in King’s Landing within the next few weeks.” Aemma looked at Daemon and answered in a soft, gracious tone. The woman was every bit worthy of being a queen; she truly had a queen’s manners.

Daemon narrowed his eyes. He had not expected that fat old pig to be capable of making his way to King’s Landing. It seemed he cared more about the Great Council than expected. That was unexpected, almost as if he were desperate for Viserys to win.

Daemon’s sharp, clever mind began working at full force. He considered countless possibilities, including the idea that the High Septon himself was sensing danger of losing his position because of enemies within the Faith of the Seven.

Daemon did not even consider the possibility that Maekar might be the source of the High Septon’s fear, especially after the events of the Festival of Ashes and Fire. There was practically no chance of reconciliation between the two sides.

Neither Maekar, Jaehaerys, nor Gael had spread the truth about what happened. Everyone simply believed that House Frey and other noble Houses of the Riverlands had tried to fight Maekar and lost miserably, being destroyed in the process.

“That’s rare; a High Septon hasn’t come to King’s Landing in a long time.” Viserys was also surprised at the High Septon’s coming to King’s Landing. It could be said to be a very rare event, since the Faith of the Seven and Jaehaerys were not exactly friends; one could even say they were enemies.

Though that feud had existed forever, even back when the Conqueror was still alive. After all, House Targaryen’s incestuous marriages had always been a great source of offense in the eyes of the Faith of the Seven and the faithful scattered across the continent, even after all this time.

(Note: You can marry your aunt, but you can’t marry your sisters. I find that so funny.)

“And the bastard?” Daemon asked again, his eyes narrowing, remembering the giant platinum dragon in the outer area of the Dragonpit. Wherever Bahamut was, Maekar was there too.

“He hasn’t left his room in a few days now…” Aemma said, a shy blush on her cheeks. She had heard the rumors from the maids who had changed the sheets in Maekar and Gael’s room.

Daemon and Viserys were no fools and understood the implications of Aemma’s words, especially her blushing cheeks.

At that moment, the two brothers exchanged a glance and saw admiration reflected in each other’s eyes. Daemon might look down on Maekar, but he still felt a measure of admiration upon learning the bastard had gone five days without leaving his room.

“Sounds like the second coming of Maegor; the boy can’t control his own lust.” Daemon said in a sarcastic tone, masking the admiration in his words. Maegor had six wives, and Daemon did not believe his great-uncle had only been after heirs.

“Daemon, don’t speak of our brother that way,” Viserys scolded Daemon again. His brother simply could not control his own tongue. That had always brought a great headache to Baelon, and now to Viserys himself.

Daemon ignored his brother’s words and looked at him with a solemn gaze. “Viserys, work your charm and start throwing your feasts and banquets. We need to secure as many votes as possible. Don’t hesitate to promise titles or even castles.”

Viserys looked stunned. Titles and fiefs? That was House Targaryen’s second greatest weapon. The power to win over and control the noble houses, and even the smallfolk. But it was exactly because of that no amount of gold or tourneys could ever buy a fief and a title.

You think money is everything? No, money in a medieval society is only a lesser form of power, one that could easily be seized by powerful kings and nobles.

In Maekar’s past life, Jews had plenty of money, even in the Middle Ages, since theirs was almost the only faith allowed to lend money and charge interest. Yet, even holding more money than some kings, Jews were never able to build anything of their own.

The reason for that was that no king ever granted them leave to build a castle or a city. That showed that money could be important, but, compared to the true power that was control over the land itself, money was merely a matter of a few more months’ wait.

The power to grant castles was extraordinary; it could not be used lightly. That was why Viserys was so taken aback when Daemon spoke of promising fiefs and titles to the nobles who would support him.

“We only need their votes at the Great Council; after that, they become useless to us again. We don’t have to honor what we promised.” Daemon said with a smile full of malice and sarcasm.

As for the damage this could do to Viserys’s reputation, Daemon did not care in the slightest. At such a decisive moment as the Great Council, everyone had to sacrifice something to win. What was mere reputation compared to the Iron Throne?

Viserys hesitated. He understood perfectly well what Daemon meant. Still, the idea of lying to his friends left him quite uncomfortable.

“Viserys, there’s no room for hesitation right now.” Daemon said in a calm tone. “Either you become king, or we’re exiled to Essos.”

“Or do you think Maekar will let his rival live comfortably right under his nose? There will always be those unhappy with Maekar’s rule, and they will try to use you to undermine his reign. You don’t have the shield of being a woman, like Rhaenys, to escape these court intrigues.”

Daemon was not exaggerating his words. Assuming Maekar won, Viserys’s life would likely amount to staying inside a castle while being watched like a caged bird by everyone’s spies.

That was no life, in Daemon’s eyes. He would rather live in exile than be toyed with at Maekar’s whim, like some animal.

Viserys’s hesitation faded with Daemon’s words. Even though he felt Maekar would tolerate him, he chose not to risk his life, his wife’s, and his daughter’s, simply because he trusted Maekar. People change, and that change would not necessarily be for the better.

———-

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