Ice and Fire: Reign of the Dragon.

Chapter 58 Prince and Prince

Looking at Jekaris who came in quietly, Longzel sat cross-legged again, looking at Jekaris with an unnatural expression thoughtfully.

This kid. Longzel once again ignored the fact that he was only less than seven years older than Jacaris. He knew very well why Jacaris visited him late at night. Although this kid was young, he was very clear-headed. Longzel saw the shadow of Lin En in him.

It's a pity that in this world where bloodline is as important as the law, and in many cases bloodline is higher than the law, doubts about bloodline mean that Jakaris will inevitably be attacked openly or covertly.

However, the responsibility for this matter did not lie with the child, but with his foolish, irresponsible, and lustful mother, Princess Rhaenyra. As a member of the royal family, the heir to the Iron Throne, and the marriage partner of the Targaryen family's most important ally, the Velaryon family, she was so stupid as to do such a thing and let her children bear the strong mark of adultery. It is no wonder that the prince's faction had enough reasons to attack the princess and her children.

"Xiao Jie, why don't you rest so late? Be careful not to grow tall." Longzel smiled and asked Jacaris to sit on the bed and touched his brown-black hair. To be honest, Longzel liked this child very much. He was transparent, sensible, brave, tenacious, and polite. No one would dislike such a good child.

What a pity, Longzel could only sigh in his heart.

"My Lord." Jacaerys asked as a squire. "I have a question for you."

This surprised Longzel. In Westeros, knights and squires who were close to each other actually formed a relationship similar to that of foster father and son. Of course, there was a premise of "close relationship". Some squires were just servants of knights, or even pedophiles, while others were students entrusted to knights by heirs, relatives, or close friends of knights. For great lords, many of their squires came from the families of subordinate vassals, and were an important link between lords and vassals.

For the latter two, teaching squires is the knight's duty. Obviously, Jacaerys asked Longzel for advice with this idea in mind.

"Go ahead, Xiaojie." Longzel rubbed the sheets gently. "I will tell you everything I know."

"In your opinion, which is more important, bloodline or ability?" Jacaris lowered his head. Although he could accept his own peculiarities calmly, he was still worried about the fact that his peculiarities would affect other people.

Longzel smiled. "Valyria's bloodline requires only one thing." He pointed out the window. On the hills in the distance, Vermithor and Vermax had simply built a nest, waiting for the arrival of the New Year. Lord Tarly prepared a large amount of game, some slaughtered and some alive, and arranged them near the dragon's nest for the dragon to enjoy.

"Dragon," Longzel said. "In the days of ancient Valyria, a dragon rider who could ride a dragon would enjoy a high status in the family, regardless of whether you were born a legitimate child or a seed left by the Dragon King on a whim. After all, the power of the Valyrians was forged by blood and fire, not by laws."

Jacaerys' voice was still a little trembling. "But now dragons are not everything. I know that Xiaolu, Xiaoqiao and I are special. If only we looked more like our father instead of Ser Harwin Strong, if only we had our grandmother's pure black hair instead of brown and black, many things would not have happened."

"You are innocent." Longzel held down Xiaojie's head. "I am your knight. It is my duty to tell you this, Xiaojie. Your mother made a big mistake, but the blame is ultimately on her, not you. At least now the law supports you." He stared into Jacaerys' eyes, and there seemed to be fire burning in his deep purple eyes. "Before King Viserys announced to the kingdom that the princess's position as crown prince was abolished, you only need to consider showing your ability in front of the people of the kingdom, telling them that you have the ability to prove that your bloodline will not lead to mediocrity, and that you will bring peace, stability, bread and beer to the people. You must remember that the people may not accept a king with a tainted bloodline, but they will definitely not accept a mediocre monarch or tyrant with no ability. A virtuous monarch can make the people forget his stains. Even if history books will record these, thousands of years later, people will still praise his ability and virtue. His stains will only be a joke at the table. If someone wants to make a fuss about them, it will only cause normal people to laugh at them."

"Thank you, my lord." Jacaerys whispered. "Go to bed." Longzier ruffled Jacaerys' hair. "We will spend the New Year at Horn Hill. We still have a tough battle to fight."

Jakaris carefully left Longzel's room, leaving Longzel in the room with a long sigh.

The New Year of the 123rd year of the Conquest Era passed quietly in the warm summer breeze. There was almost no sign of autumn or winter in the south of the kingdom. It was a long summer, and the wheat in the river bay continued to mature, the flowers bloomed, and the population grew.

Only the word fertile can describe the river bend shrouded in the long summer.

Subsequent fleets of the Varese family arrived in Westeros in batches, and a large number of young and middle-aged people injected fresh blood into the new territory. Countless villages sprang up like mushrooms after rain in the borderlands and stone roads, and workshops once again produced a steady stream of luxury goods, wine and silk. The workshops and banks left by the Varese family in other free trade cities also continuously sent in newly earned wealth.

When Longzel and his party arrived at Highgarden, they were greeted with another feast.

Most of the lords from the Reach had come. Duke Loras of Highgarden decided to hold an open-air banquet on the lush green land outside Highgarden. If Longzel hadn't sent a letter to dissuade him, he would have even planned to hold a tournament.

That's not necessary.

Vermithor and Vermax were resting outside the camp. Flags were already flying in the camp: the three castle flags of the Peake family, the golden tree flag of the Rowan family, the fox and lapis lazuli flower flag of the Florent family, the yellow centaur of the Caswell family, the cornucopia of the Merryweather family, and the red apples of the Fossoway family.
But all these dazzling banners were clustered around two great banners in the center, the rose banner of House Tyrell, and the beacon of House Hightower.

Sir Mond and Prince Daeron raised their glasses to welcome Longzel and Jacaerys who had come from the dragon's resting place.

"How can women rule over men!"

Just as Sir Mond was about to say a word of welcome, a rough voice suddenly rang out from the long table nearby.

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(End of this chapter)