Ice and Fire: Reign of the Dragon.

Chapter 360 Everyone has their own thoughts

Benson fell silent. He glanced at Garin and Harry, who also did not say much. Compared with Damon, Benson trusted his more mature brother more. He had always been clear about his position. As a tool for King Aegon to try to balance the silver dragon, these illegitimate dragon riders had become a battlefield for the struggle between different forces from the beginning. That was why Benson had been trying to remain absolutely neutral.

On the surface, he succeeded and became an outsider of the political situation in King's Landing, but in fact, Benson himself knew that as a dragon knight, the unicorn was not a little dragon in his teens or twenties, but an adult dragon that was still growing, and he could not stay out of it forever.

Then he saw Garin shook his head slightly. Benson and Garin had been working together for a long time, so he naturally understood that Benson was not denying Damon's meaning, but was saying that this matter was very complicated and not as simple as Damon said.

"understood."

Benson replied.

While the illegitimate children were anxiously waiting for the king's order, the throne room was also not peaceful.

"Crown Prince, His Majesty does not allow us to enter his chambers, but we are short of manpower. The Grand Secretary specializes in medicine and is unable to treat His Majesty's external injuries. Can you..."

"I would like to, Maester, but you have to know that my father will not allow me to go near his chambers, nor will he allow my people to visit him. I can't force my way into his chambers."

Daeron paced slowly in front of the Iron Throne. He had expected this situation today. Whether it was his father's inexplicable hostility towards him and his mother, or his attempts to take back power step by step, it was irritating the sensitive king. In the rare situation where the king could control himself, it was normal for him to refuse Daeron's participation, and Daeron could understand it.

The courtiers who stood on Darren's side were silent, not knowing what to say.

"Your Highness." Lord Marewes was the first to break the silence. This great nobleman of the Reach was a thin old man. He and his father, mother, and brothers stood on the side of the Black Party during the Dance of the Dragons and assisted Longzel in pacifying the southern border. After the victory of the war, the Long Table Hall participated in the feast of dividing the Hightower family. Their wealth and territory were greatly expanded, which also made the Marewes family a staunch Silver Dragon Party. "Extreme times call for extraordinary measures, Your Highness. Half of the capital garrison and the White Cloak Army are in the hands of the bastards. If the situation changes, we will be in a very dangerous situation. Your Highness, Queen Rhaenyra's lesson is still before our eyes."

Count Marewes is very radical. It is not known whether he wants to show his loyalty in front of the crown prince, or the madness he experienced before and after the Dance of the Blood Dragon made this old count who has lost many relatives become sensitive.

"The Black Palace has 700 purple guards, Lord Brynden has 100 archers, my mansion has 30 guards and 12 knights. As long as Your Highness gathers the gold cloaks in the hands of several captains in time, we..."

"It hasn't come to that." Brynden interrupted Lord Merryweather. With his keenness and "loyalty", Daeron trusted Brynden very much and was even willing to allow Brynden to visit Desiree from time to time - the three of them lived together for a period of time when they were very young and were very good friends. Daeron was very clear about Brynden's friendship with Desiree, and he was also very clear about Brynden's character - he would never have any excessive contact with Desiree.

"If the king really goes crazy, we can stop him." Brynden looked at the Iron Throne, where Igor was watching the people talking. "The guards at the door of the King's chamber are Ser Leo Dondarrion of the Kingsguard from the Marches and Ser Galwyn Corbray from the Vale. They were selected by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and appointed by him. They are our men. The guards guarding Maegor's Tower are also our men. The king's excessive orders cannot be passed on." He said with some regret, "But this also means that we have no way to stop His Majesty the King from attacking you."

"People never pay attention to the process, but only to the results." Count Marewes calmed down. He also looked at Igor, as if the young man could give them confidence - indeed, wherever Vermisol was, there was confidence.

"Brynden's analysis is very accurate. Our arrangements are sufficient to cope with various unexpected situations." Igor said, "Unless the bastard rides a dragon and burns down the Red Castle, this is the most extreme case."

"We have also made arrangements." The speaker was the Minister of the Navy, the elderly "Oak Fist" Alyn. "Lord Igor, we have to thank Prince Aemon for his arrangements. He and Prince Aerion separated the bastard dragon rider from the dragon to prevent him from getting out of control. They need permission to enter the dragon's lair."

"Where are Bran, the Crown Prince, Bloodeye, and Stormy Cloud?" Igor frowned. He noticed the loophole in this arrangement. In peacetime, it can indeed prevent the bastards from approaching the dragons at any time and anywhere, but in extraordinary times, who can guarantee that they will not break through the blockade or sneak in? The dragon cave is guarded by only seventy-seven dragon guards. For those who are prepared, a charge or a dragon can make the entire dragon cave lose its defense capability.

"Baoyun is in the courtyard, and Blood Eye is in the Black Palace." Darren also noticed this loophole.

"I'll let Wormisol land directly in the Red Castle." Igor nodded. Out of caution and the need to raise dragons, the dragons of the Vareses family in King's Landing all live in the Black Palace. Sarafathers of Serena and Hovenders of Orion are on standby at all times.

"Igor, thank you for your support."

"This is all for the stability of the kingdom."

Igor said, looking down.

The Varese family is now increasingly unable to conceal its strength. A powerful family will remain rational in the first generation, and the second generation will also remain calm and rational due to the need for development. However, by the third generation, as the Varese family's strength reaches its peak, it has become increasingly difficult to remain low-key and rational.

The two dragon families could coexist peacefully during the Freehold of Valyria, because at that time there were forty dragon families competing with each other. Everyone knew that in the kingdom of dragons, it was impossible for one family to dominate alone. Cooperation was inevitable, and integration was also feasible.

This is also the reason why there are only forty dragon king families left in Valyria's thousands of years of history. Cooperation, competition, and integration have always been the norm among the dragon kings of ancient Valyria.

But when only two Dragon King families remained in the world, this rule ceased to work.

Frequent marriages destined the two families to merge, and the strength of the Vareses family destined this fusion to be dominated by the Vareses. For the generation of the Vareses family who grew up in peacetime, they were exposed to the prosperity of the family, the constant tricks of Aegon III, and the weakness of the Targaryens. Naturally, pride was growing and ambition was budding.

In fact, Longzel and Ringol have been trying to maintain the balance between the two families, hoping that this integration can be promoted as gently as possible, but Viserys and Aegon are unwilling to accept this integration. Especially under the reality that the Vareses family is dominant. The Targaryen family, which has already experienced the dominance of the family, is difficult to accept the result of being integrated. So from Viserys to Aegon, they tried many means to slow down this process. The pride that the three generations of Vareses naturally developed under the influence of a powerful family has intensified the suspicion between the two sides.

The combination of these factors eventually led to undercurrents between the two families.

What Igor was dissatisfied with was King Aegon's targeting, but he was not actually radical. It would not be good for the Varese family to push for integration too quickly or to directly occupy the Iron Throne.

What he needs is for the Targaryens to make their own stupid moves and a pace that suits the needs of the family.

Daeron must take the throne safely.

This is the current demand.

The king's chamber.

"Has my son finally betrayed our family?"

King Aegon looked at the Grand Maester weakly. He couldn't understand why his brother didn't support him. It was obviously for the sake of the family. "Traitors, all traitors."

Although the king was seriously ill, he was still conscious and could express himself fluently.

Then he saw with difficulty that the Grand Secretary was cowering.

"Did you betray me too?"

"I dare not, I dare not, Your Majesty, I serve the Red Keep and you."

"Bullshit!" King Aegon seemed to have suddenly gained strength: "I should have thought of it earlier. You grey robes have eaten the silver dragon's gold. You serve the master of the Iron Throne and the Red Castle. Hahahaha, I should have thought of it earlier."

"Your Majesty, you."

"Shut up and tell your master." Aegon seemed to be a little confused: "If you want to eat the Targaryen family, you have to see how strong your teeth are."

"Your Majesty," the Grand Secretary was a little panicked, but still tried to calm the king.

"Go and call my bastard son His Majesty." Aegon's cold gaze made the Grand Maester shudder. He also realized that Aegon's consciousness was very clear: "The throne is his, haha."

"But I will not let him and the silver dragon have an easy time either." Aegon scolded: "Grand Maester, do you remember your oath?"

"remember."

The Grand Secretary knew what the king wanted to do and calmly picked up the paper and pen.

"Listen up. I, King of the Iron Throne, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, Aegon III of House Targaryen, am delivering my final decree to my people. By the grace of the Seven Gods, my sins will be cleansed under the guidance of the Stranger. Before that, I must repent of my sins. I acknowledge that the children with my blood are my children, and they also have the legal right to inherit everything I have."

Before he finished speaking, the entire Red Castle seemed to tremble.

The king became even weaker.

The dragon's roar, like muffled thunder, made the two people in the bedroom realize what was happening.

Vermithor, descend upon the Red Keep.

Bronze Fury was too big to fit into the courtyard, and the dragon's mountain-like head poked out from behind the Red Keep's tower, its gigantic wings spread out like a god.

The illegitimate children in the villa also saw the arrival of Wormisol.

"Now."

"The same thing." Damon said calmly: "Wait for father's order."

Seeing the king's gloomy face, the Grand Secretary showed what he had written to the king.

Fortunately, this guy at least lived up to his Grand Maester's necklace.

I don’t know if it was because of Wormithor’s provocation that the king fell silent. Perhaps Aegon had already realized that force could no longer solve the problem.

"Leave it to the Minister of Justice." The king finally broke the silence: "I still have this power. I am tired. Please go."

"His Majesty."

"roll."

"As ordered."

Watching the Grand Secretary leave the bedroom.

Aegon closed his eyes.

The dragon's roar was heard again.

This time, the two giant dragons guarding the Black Palace took off into the sky and circled over King's Landing.

The door to the throne room burst open.

"His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, His Majesty, the King, has passed away."

Ser Galwyn Corbray brings dark news.

(End of this chapter)