Chapter 126: Aegon's Coronation
"How can a King not remain in King's Landing!"
The Sea Snake, Lord Corlys Velaryon, slammed his hand against the table in disbelief.
Only six men remained within the spacious council chamber: Prince Draezell Varezes, Prince Daemon Targaryen, Lord Corlys Velaryon himself, Lord Bartimos Celtigar—the Master of Coin—Ser Steffon Darklyn acting as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, and Grand Maester Orwyle.
Joffrey had already been dragged away by Baela. The little Queen—or rather, the little Dowager Queen—understood that neither she nor Joffrey possessed any voice in this matter.
Even dragons could not grant them influence.
They could only obey the arrangements made by the lords.
"This was Jace's final wish." Draezell spread his hands, signaling that this was not his own decision. If the old Sea Snake had objections, he could go ask Jacaerys himself.
"Aegon will come to King's Landing under my brothers' protection for his coronation. Afterwards, I will bring him back to Dragonmont City, just as King Jaehaerys once did in his youth. Once Aegon reaches fourteen and fulfills his marriage pact with my daughter Samantha, I shall send him back to King's Landing and assist him in ruling."
Draezell lightly tapped the table and spoke in an unquestionable tone:
"I am informing you all—not consulting you."
"Draezell, even if this truly was Jacaerys's final wish, there has never been a precedent where a King grows up in a vassal's castle after coronation."
Corlys stood with visible displeasure.
"Even King Jaehaerys spent his youth on Dragonstone."
"Is there anywhere in the realm more suitable for a child to grow up safely than Dragonmont City?" Draezell smiled.
"Or perhaps all of you wish to disregard Jacaerys's final command?"
"Aegon is now my adopted son. I also serve as his Hand."
He turned toward Daemon.
"Wouldn't you agree, Lord Regent?"
"Daemon, this concerns principles."
Corlys remained unwilling.
"How can a King who does not grow up in King's Landing ever command respect?"
Jacaerys's death had shattered Corlys's hopes of binding House Velaryon even deeper into House Targaryen.
As for Aegon, his marriage and upbringing clearly meant that in the future he would naturally lean closer toward House Varezes and dragons.
And if House Velaryon and House Varezes ever competed...
The loser would certainly be House Velaryon.
After all, House Velaryon possessed shallow roots and had only risen due to Corlys's personal brilliance.
House Velaryon now possessed only Joffrey's dragon.
Meanwhile House Varezes commanded six dragons.
And in the foreseeable future, even more would come.
Daemon silently rolled Orwyle's maester's orb in his hand.
He made no immediate response.
A Targaryen King merely required a dragon beneath him. With that, no one would dare claim he lacked authority.
But House Varezes...
Its growth had become terrifying.
Among the Targaryens, only Caraxes remained battle capable.
Tyraxes, Moondancer, and Stormcloud were all still young dragons.
Creatures Vermithor could likely swallow whole.
Dreamfyre had effectively lost her rider and had been confined within the Dragonpit upon returning to King's Landing.
Syrax remained there as well.
As for the wild dragons...
Seasmoke, Grey Ghost, and Sheepstealer still nested on Dragonstone.
But none had riders.
House Varezes, however...
Aside from Vermithor, Silverwing remained a true battle dragon.
Shadow Nightmare had also reached fighting maturity.
Daemon had received southern reports stating that during the destruction of the Triarchy fleet, Shadow Nightmare had grown beyond fear of scorpion bolts and had already surpassed Vermax in size.
House Varezes also possessed three growing dragons.
Rumor even claimed that Lingor's dragon, belonging to Draezell's eldest son, was another rapidly growing giant breed.
Daemon exhaled heavily.
His head hurt.
"Corlys."
He finally looked toward the Sea Snake.
"I believe we should honor Jacaerys's final wish."
Corlys immediately grew anxious.
"Daemon, this—"
Daemon raised his hand.
"Consider it following our grandfather's precedent. Draezell is Aegon's adoptive father, and Aegon has already spent years in Dragonmont City."
Lord Bartimos and Grand Maester Orwyle exchanged glances before simultaneously lowering their heads.
They understood well enough that becoming involved in such matters amounted to courting death.
Draezell nodded.
"Then let us prepare for Aegon's coronation."
Looking around the chamber and seeing no further objections, he smiled and gestured for the meeting to end.
"Daemon, House Varezes is beyond control now."
On the path toward the Tower of the Hand, Corlys caught up with Daemon.
"Aegon staying with Draezell means he will inevitably favor House Varezes, strengthening them further."
The old lord spoke softly in High Valyrian.
"Do you wish to witness another House Targaryen rise?"
Corlys felt deeply indignant.
House Velaryon had sacrificed generations to reach their elevated status through dragons and wealth.
The Velaryons and Targaryens had intermarried for generations.
Yet House Targaryen never allowed House Velaryon contact with dragons until Corlys wed Princess Rhaenys.
Only then had House Velaryon finally become dragonlords.
"And that," Daemon answered calmly, "is exactly why Draezell and his family cannot remain in King's Landing."
He had already abandoned hopes of restraining House Varezes.
Unless they split apart from within...
Or disaster wiped them out entirely.
Moreover, the Borderlands Principality had already become comparable in size to an entire kingdom.
"Distance from King's Landing benefits us."
"It benefits Aegon."
"Maintaining good relations with House Varezes benefits everyone."
Daemon's gaze turned icy.
"The last two dragonlord houses left in this world should aid one another."
"Blood and fire intertwined."
Corlys suddenly felt a chill.
At last, he said nothing further.
Elsewhere.
Baela sat staring blankly at Jacaerys's portrait.
In the painting, Jacaerys stood beside Vermax with a bright smile.
She remained unmoving for a very long time.
Only after darkness gradually fell did Baela finally seem to awaken.
She wiped away her tears.
In the end, she said nothing.
Silently, the little Dowager Queen made a vow.
Since she could not spend her life beside the boy she loved...
Then she would follow her grandmother's path and become a true dragonrider.
Moondancer would become battle-ready within a few years.
When that day came...
She would become House Targaryen's sharpest sword.
What she could not gain in bed—
She would seize upon battlefields and skies.
"Crone, hear my prayer."
Baela clasped her hands together.
"Guide my Jace home with your shining lantern."
Aegon's coronation lacked grandeur.
When the Silver Dragon and the gaunt black dragon arrived roaring above King's Landing, Aegon arrived alongside them astride the blue-horned Stormcloud.
Ravens spread across the Seven Kingdoms, announcing the passing of the old King and the ascension of the new one.
After mourning wise King Jacaerys, the lords once more renewed their oaths.
The High Septon personally anointed Aegon with sacred oils.
The Faith had now temporarily moved to Visenya's Hill.
Draezell and Daemon intended to rebuild all of King's Landing in the coming years, transforming the stinking city of corpses completely.
One major focus would be the Faith.
The newly planned great cathedral.
Initially, they intended to name it the Great Sept of Rhaenyra.
But the septons objected.
They preferred naming the seat of the High Septon after Jacaerys.
Aegon carefully seated himself upon the Iron Throne.
Daemon presented the king's orb and scepter.
Draezell personally placed upon the boy's head the crown he had chosen.
Aegon chose Jacaerys's simple iron crown.
Forged from Valyrian steel and sword points.
After a brief progress through the city and a flight atop Stormcloud, the coronation concluded.
Draezell departed King's Landing immediately afterward with Aegon.
Daemon remained behind to handle the endless chaos left in the capital.
As for Aegon, his full title became:
Aegon Targaryen, Second of His Name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm.
Of course, in Grand Maester Munkun's True History, he was recorded as Aegon II.
Yet later historical texts frequently called him Aegon III.
Because the "Usurper" Aegon had, strictly speaking, already been Aegon II.
But history...
History is always written by the victors.
Isn't it?
This volume ends here.
Next volume title:
The Silver Dragon's Marionette Show
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