Ice and Fire: Reign of the Dragon.

Chapter 26 Endless Meetings and Damon’s Sudden Intrusion

Red Fort.

King Viserys I wearily watched his ministers return to their seats, without Queen Alicent this time, as she was away tending to the children.

"Everyone, have you come to any conclusion from this discussion?"

The king glanced at the ministers who were bowing their heads, and held his forehead. He and Grand Maester Melos had been looking up information about the royal fiefdom for a long time, but they really couldn't find any suitable land. There was a piece of land on the border of Dorne, a few scattered pieces of land in the crown, a few pieces of land in the mountain crevices of the Crab Claw Peninsula, and a few small pieces of land in the Riverlands. None of them were suitable for settling a large team with two dragons and tens of thousands of people.

We can't just give away Dragonstone.

Nor can it take on the task of carrying a heavy enough chip.

"Your Majesty, winning over the Varese family is indeed the only way at the moment." Prime Minister Sir Otto Hightower spoke first, "But we still need to carefully consider the bargaining chips for winning over. Your Majesty, the Longzer brothers have royal blood flowing in their veins. Even though Princess Senira was expelled by the previous king, her royal identity was not denied. So I suggest that the royal identity of the Longzer brothers be restored and they be given the title of 'Royal Prince'."

"Yes." Viserys nodded. It was just a title and would not affect anything.

"Your Majesty, if the Longzel brothers also use the title of 'Prince', the issue of succession rights will arise." Count Jasper said hurriedly.

"Princess Senila's lineage has been stripped of its inheritance rights." Earl Linman coughed and continued. "Lord Wilde, there is no need to dwell on this issue."

"What about other bargaining chips?" Sir Tyran turned the orb in front of him. "According to intelligence, the gold and silver that the Longzel brothers brought on board are no less than the treasures that Lord 'Sea Snake' Collis brought back from his nine great voyages. Gold may not be able to buy them off. A title cannot be a bargaining chip."

"Your Majesty, we can make a marriage alliance with the Vareses family." Otto Hightower added. "The royal family has no girls of marriageable age now, but we can arrange a marriage for the next generation. The descendants of Prince Aegon and Princess Helena, Prince Aemond, and Prince Daeron can all participate."

"And the descendants of Princess Rhaenyra," Earl Linman added. "If the queen and princess can give birth to a girl, she can also marry the youngest of the three brothers."

Otto ignored Lin Man and continued, "The Varese family also has pure Dragon King blood. If we can gradually merge their bloodline into the royal family through marriage, it will be a very beneficial thing."

"I understand, but this is many years from now," the king said. "Things from many years from now can hardly be considered as effective bargaining chips at the moment."

"Land," Larris Strong said. "That is the most valuable bargaining chip to win them over. Your Majesty can set up a position for him in King's Landing that sounds good but lacks real power." The lame Strong glanced at the ministers. "And promise that the second or youngest son of the Varese family who has no land can be given priority in being selected as a White Knight in the future."

"Lord Larris Strong, please be careful with your words." Captain Christon Cole, who had not had a chance to speak, knocked his gloved hands on the table. "The honor of the White Knight of the Kingsguard is noble and cannot be used for such a transaction."

Larris Strong rolled his eyes at him secretly. The White Knights of the Kingsguard had to swear not to marry or have children. He was reducing the number of males in the Vareses family in the future. What's more... Honor and nobility?
"Brother Longzel has come from afar. They are not followers of the Seven Gods, so they naturally don't understand the significance of the Kingsguard." Lord Linman hastily tried to smooth things over. "The most urgent task now is land."

"The fiefs owned by the royal family are not large in area and are scattered," Grand Secretary Melos said with some regret. "They are not enough to be granted as territories to a royal prince with tens of thousands of people and amazing wealth."

"Prince Damon didn't receive this kind of treatment back then." Earl Linman said in his heart. Maybe Damon is not as special as the Longzel brothers.

"The land of the Reach is vast and fertile." Otto Hightower took out a map and spread it out on the long table. "There is a large territory between Greylock Mountain and the Mead River. It once belonged to dozens of vassals of the Hightower family, but some of them sold their land and left their hometown, and some died without descendants. Currently, these lands are managed by the family, and the family is willing to contribute them as a royal fief for the royal family to use."

The king looked at Otto expressionlessly and did not answer his question.

"The North is vast and sparsely populated." Lord Jasper suggested. "Why not discuss with Lord Stark and divide the uninhabited land in the North to them?"

"Do you want people to think we exiled them?" Lord Linman responded bluntly. "Besides, Lord Stark in the North is still a child. It's impossible for him to understand these complicated things."

"Then where do you think is suitable?" Lord Jasper responded angrily. "Harrenhal, where Lord Larys cannot control it? Or Dorne?" Then he saw everyone looking at him at the same time.

"I'm just saying."

Count Jasper smiled awkwardly and leaned back in his chair.

"The royal family has a royal fief at the end of the Bone Road," said Grand Maester Melos. "From this fief to the south is the Balance Valley where the Dondarrion family and the Granderson family meet, and the Decision Frontier and the Danger Frontier where the Dondarrion family and the Swan family meet. Although the land here is not fertile, the Red Mountains have rich mineral deposits and a scorching climate, which is very suitable for dragons to survive. The Weir family of Dorne has crossed the sea countless times to invade this territory, so the three families have no time to take care of this territory. The royal family can invest in integrating these lands for rewards."

"There are also titles." Lord Linman reminded. "Since ancient times, the Borderlands have had two hereditary titles. The title of Guardian of the Borderlands is inherited by the Tyrell family, so the Tyrell family can command the nobles of the West Borderlands. The title of Marshal of the Borderlands is held by the Cullen family of Nightsong, but the Cullen family swore allegiance to Lord Baratheon of the Stormlands."

"I understand," the king said. "The king has no right to deprive or transfer the hereditary titles of nobles, so I decided to create a separate title, 'Governor of the Borderlands'. With this title, the Longzel brothers don't have to swear allegiance to Duke Baratheon."

"But as for the Duke of Beaumond." Count Jasper was a little uncertain.

"I have communicated with the Duke of Beaumond," the king said with a smile. "The Duke has no objection, so I would like to ask for your opinions. Do you agree with the suggestion just now?"

"I agree." Count Linman raised his hand first.

"Agree." Ser Tyran was the second to raise his hand. Before he could express his opinion, he hoped that the land could be allocated to the island outside Lannisport, but unfortunately, he was preempted by others before he could say anything.

"Agreed." Count Jasper agreed.

Laris looked at the ministers around him and raised his hand. "Agree."

Kriston Cole raised his hand. "Your will is my will."

Otto sighed. "Agreed."

"Okay, then what about the negotiation mission?" The king looked at Otto. Just as Otto was about to agree, the door of the conference hall suddenly opened.

"The only one who can negotiate with the Dragon Knight is the Dragon Knight, my brother." Daemon, dressed in military uniform, was covered in dust and followed by Princess Rhaenys, who was also covered in dust.

"Your Majesty." The two men walked to the long table, and the ministers stood up to greet them. The king also smiled, but he quickly covered it up with seriousness.

"I hope the wisdom of the Imperial Council has given you enough conditions to support our negotiations, Your Majesty."

Damon held the Dark Sister down and said with his head down.

"Of course." The king stood up without hesitation.

"May the Seven Gods bless you with a triumphant return."

First update: I have a boil under my armpit, it hurts so much. The next chapter will be updated around 11:45.

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(End of this chapter)