Ice and Fire: Reign of the Dragon.

Chapter 417: The Royal Family's Difficulty in Procreating

The Red Keep, the bedroom of King Daeron II.

During the last days of Daeron II's reign, illness completely consumed the good king's body.

The wise king's rule brought a long period of peace and stability to the kingdom, but also saw the passing of many older generations of the tribesmen in the peace and stability.

Orion Vareses was the first to pass away, and after his death, Valar Vareses the Younger inherited Hovendes. Then Jacaris Vareses' health also deteriorated, and he had to return to Dragon's Nest to recuperate.

The Targaryen family also withered. Not long after Maegon Targaryen died from inner demons and heavy political affairs, Princess Naerys, who lived on Dragonstone, locked herself in the Seadragon Tower after learning of Maegon's death, and died in her sleep soon after. The illegitimate dragon knight Gaimon was also bedridden and had to resign his position to recuperate at home.

Daeron II leaned on a soft pillow embroidered with dragon patterns, his pale fingers stroking the scroll of the family tree. Outside the window, the low roar of the dragon in the stormy clouds seemed to echo the king's sigh.

"The Targaryen bloodline... is so thin."

The old Prince Baelor Targaryen and the God of Fire were elusive, and no one knew where this dragon rider who loved traveling and helping the poor was. Even Dan was not sure. And Daeron knew very well that even if he had persuaded Baelor many times, it would be difficult for that ascetic who had no intention of finding a woman or a man to leave offspring - his age did not allow it.

Prince Baelor tamed Dreamfyre very smoothly. The grumpy old dragon did not resist Prince Baelor. Shortly after Prince Baelor rode Dreamfyre, Adele Varese fulfilled the alliance between the two families and became the princess of Dragonstone. The two had only one daughter, Daenerys Targaryen. Although they were still very young, considering the fertility rates of the Targaryen and Varese families in this generation, some people still unconsciously worried about the issue of succession.

Young Prince Rhaeg is still trying to tame dragons. His target is Mogul or Grey Shadow. Although he has not succeeded yet, King Daeron, who is eager to have a grandchild, has already impatiently chosen a wife for his son. However, Alyssa of the Velaryon family did not bring abundance to the Targaryen family like her ancestor of the same name. Perhaps because the young man and girl got married too early, the girl's pregnancy was not smooth. The difficult birth of the first child scared the young couple, and finally the already formed male fetus was not saved. Instead, the girl's uterus was injured. An accidental miscarriage a year later once again dealt a heavy blow to the young couple whose relationship was getting better. Like the new Prince Aenys of Oldtown, Rhaeg even publicly confronted his father to stop his father from continuing to ask Alyssa to give birth. For this reason, Daeron II once tried to ask the High Septon to force the two to divorce so that Rhaeg could remarry.

The most abnormal one is Prince Aerys who spends all day in the dragon cave and the Great Library. Since taming Tyrexu, this maverick prince has never been seen in the Red Keep again. Even the servants said that "he would rather talk to Tyrexu than attend a dance." Not to mention getting married and having children, King Daeron still regrets why he agreed to let this seemingly well-behaved and obedient son tame dragons so early.

Only the marriage of the youngest Prince Maekar and his cousin Danessa Targaryen satisfied his old father the most, because they brought a healthy and living boy to the Targaryen royal family. Although Maekar and Danessa's first child had miscarried for the same reason as Rhaegal and Alyssa, they still had a son that made his old father ecstatic. Daeron personally named the child "Aegon".

Queen Sirui put an ermine robe on him and whispered, "Baile and Maekar already have children. Rhaegal and Aerys are still young. They still have a chance."

"A daughter, a baby, a barren wife, and a world-weary scholar." Darren smiled bitterly. "The royal bloodline has withered to this extent."

His eyes fell on the edge of the scroll - the name of "Dark-haired" Garin Targaryen was circled in red paint. He was the son of the illegitimate dragon knight Benson. He was officially recorded in the family tree not long ago because his mother was an orthodox Targaryen.

The king fell silent. Dragonstone.

Jonil Varez landed on the volcanic rock platform on his Sun Breed, the black dragon's scales glowing in the gray sky. Following closely behind was Luciris Varez, whose dragon Moon Dancer folded its wings lightly and swept the ground with its tail, raising a cloud of fine volcanic ash.

Adele had been waiting outside the castle, her long hair was blown by the sea breeze, and she was holding Daenerys Targaryen in her arms. When the little girl saw the two dragons, she immediately waved her hands excitedly and shouted incoherently: "Lyks! (Fly!)"

"You've come just in time." Adele came forward with a wry smile, "Beile is almost driven crazy by His Majesty the King."

Jonniel and Lusiris looked at each other, smiled bitterly, and walked towards the main castle.

Prince Beile was slumped on a chair piled with parchment scrolls. On the table stood a row of suspicious medicine bottles, some of which were a strange purple color, some had black residue deposited in them, and one was bubbling and wriggling like a living thing.

"'Secret of Lys', 'Bay Leaf Tea', 'Ancient Valyrian Fertility Potion'." Baelor grabbed a bottle and shook it, and the liquid inside immediately made a harsh hissing sound. "Does father think that as long as we pour these things into my and Adele's mouths, the baby will hatch like a dragon egg with a 'bang'?"

Jonnell and Luthris looked at each other and wisely chose not to respond.

"What's worse is that." Beile stood up suddenly, with a rare anger burning in his purple eyes, "He actually persuaded Reg and Alessa to divorce! Reg almost drew his sword against my father!"

"Prince Reg? Draw your sword?" Lusiris raised an eyebrow, "Hasn't he even tamed the dragon yet?"

"So you know how serious this matter is." Belle rubbed his temple. "After Alessa had a miscarriage, she could no longer get pregnant, but Reg would rather not give birth than abandon her. You know, father hates this the most."

Jonniel was silent for a moment, and finally could only sigh: "The king is just worried about the extinction of the bloodline."

"Then why doesn't he go and force Aerys?" Baelor sneered, "My dear brother spends all day either hiding under Tyrexu's wings or hiding in a pile of books. He has never even held a woman's hand!"

As if to confirm his words, a low dragon roar suddenly came from outside the window. The huge purple wings of Tyrexu swept over the castle, and Prince Iris was lying on the dragon's back, ignoring his fellow tribesmen below.

(End of this chapter)