Chapter 142: Aegon Targaryen
"His Grace, he still has room for improvement," Ian said, seemingly reluctantly. "We may have a lot of work to do to make him a wise ruler." At this point, Ian glanced at Illyrio with feigned concern, then quickly added, "Of course, I am prepared to dedicate my life to advising His Grace."
"You needn't be nervous, Ian," Illyrio reassured him. "His Grace has lived with me for so long; I know him better than you do, so I know you are telling the truth. Aegon the Conqueror reborn," Illyrio repeated Ian's assessment of Viserys. "He will never become Aegon the Conqueror—you know that very well, don't you?"
"No," Ian unexpectedly retorted. "He will become one. When we restore the Targaryen dynasty, history will write him as a second Aegon the Conqueror, even greater than Aegon I, because Aegon had a three-headed dragon, while His Grace Viserys had nothing."
"So do you think it's possible for us to restore the Targaryen dynasty under Viserys's leadership?" Illyrio continued.
Ian's face darkened, as if he had been struck where it hurt, and he was speechless for a moment.
Illyrio remained silent, only watching Ian quietly.
Under Illyrio's scrutinizing gaze, cold sweat soon appeared on Ian's forehead, and then he began to become 'irritable and restless,' fidgeting with his hands.
Finally, Ian put down his knife and fork and met Illyrio's gaze.
"I don't know what the point of asking these questions is," Ian said impatiently. "If I could, I would certainly prefer to serve Prince Rhaegar, but we only have Viserys, don't we?" Ian became increasingly agitated as he spoke.
"I must serve a king—either a usurper or a Targaryen. The usurper killed my entire family; what other path do I have besides assisting His Grace Viserys in his restoration?"
"Yes, that's right," Ian said, his emotions running high, adopting a completely open and honest expression. "I doubt His Grace Viserys's abilities and character—you know that, Lord Illyrio. When I first met His Grace, he was digging his nails into Princess Daenerys's arm.
And just last night, he tried to beat Princess Daenerys, his defenseless, helpless sister, simply out of anger. What kind of king would do such a thing?
I'm not very learned, but I can only think of one person capable of such behavior," Ian paused. "Aerys II, the Mad King! And he happens to be His Grace Viserys's father.
Of course I know Viserys can't become Aegon the Conqueror, and I even prayed all night that he wouldn't become a second Mad King, but what choice did I have? I want to take back Darry, I want to revive House Darry.
And as everyone knows, the plowman can only fly again under the banner of the three-headed dragon! And Viserys is the last true dragon! He—"
"He is not," Illyrio interrupted Ian's outburst softly.
"He's my only one..." Ian stopped abruptly. "I didn't hear you clearly. What did you just say?"
"Prince Rhaegar's son is still alive," Illyrio said again.
Bang! Ian slammed his hands on the table and jumped to his feet.
"Aegon, his name was also Aegon, Aegon Targaryen, the eldest son of Prince Rhaegar and Princess Elia Martell, and their only son."
"Lies!" Ian said bluntly. "Prince Aegon was brutally murdered in the nursery by 'The Mountain' Gregor Clegane during Robert's Rebellion. My father told me this story more than ten times, warning us never to forget this hatred!"
"What was killed by the Lannister dogs was just an ordinary peasant baby, while the real Prince Aegon had already been hidden away by a loyal servant. I'm sorry, I can't tell you who he is right now."
Sorry, I already know who he is, Ian thought to himself.
"Then, Prince Aegon was sent to Essos, where he was raised by people as loyal as you."
"How is he?" Ian pressed, seemingly impatiently, then turned his face away, though his furtive glances at Illyrio betrayed his anticipation.
"People say he's like Prince Rhaegar—as handsome, as kind, as skilled in martial arts. I even think he surpasses Rhaegar in many ways, such as in fulfilling his duties. He wouldn't be as reckless as Rhaegar; he would be a perfect monarch."
That's incredibly reckless! Having a wife and children, running off with Lyanna, the daughter of a lord paramount and betrothed of another lord paramount—Rhaegar's contribution to the fall of the Targaryen dynasty was no less than that of his father, the Mad King, Ian thought to himself.
But at the same time, his eyes gleamed with excitement, and a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.
"Thank the Seven," Ian murmured quietly, then, as if suddenly realizing his slip, he retorted, seemingly trying to cover something up.
"But what does that change? Prince Rhaegar didn't become king, and His Grace Viserys, as the son of King Aerys, is above Prince Aegon in the line of succession! Viserys is our rightful king."
Illyrio smiled, very pleased with Ian's reaction.
Because Ian's question was 'What does that change?'—in other words, 'How?'—and as everyone knows, the question of 'how' only arises when something 'needs to be done.'
Although Ian was still speaking in favor of Viserys, this detail revealed that his heart had already leaned toward Aegon Targaryen, and he was even considering how to get Aegon VI to replace Viserys on the throne.
Of course, what Illyrio didn't know was that every detail of Ian's performance today had been rehearsed countless times; he had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
"Do you care about the so-called law?" Illyrio asked slowly.
"Of course not. But the law is the law. A nephew cannot become king before his uncle; that's been the rule since the Great Council." Ian's voice didn't seem entirely confident.
"But the law stipulates that anyone who kills the eldest son of the previous king and pardons the 'Kingslayer' and those villains who butchered his kin can become the new king," Illyrio slowly took a sip of red wine.
"What are you talking about? That's absurd." Ian understood Illyrio's meaning but pretended to be naive.
"Isn't there such a provision in the laws of Westeros?"
"Absolutely not, Your Excellency."
"Then why is Robert Baratheon sitting in that iron chair?"
Ian's mouth dropped open, revealing a look of utter disbelief, then his eyes lit up as if he had opened the door to a new world.
"So, what is your final choice? Viserys or Aegon?"
"Your choice is my choice, Your Excellency. Without you, we can't accomplish anything." Ian said without hesitation.
(End of Chapter)
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