Chapter 60: Chapter 59: The Heir
Viserys hesitated slightly as he spoke the last sentence.
"If something unexpected were to happen..."
A vision of a little girl with brown hair appeared in the silver-haired boy's mind – it was Rhaenys Targaryen, who always liked to cling to him.
Although Rhaenys was still just a child, it was evident that she was a beauty in the making, destined to become a stunning woman who would captivate the Seven Kingdoms.
"Hey! Viserys!"
Now, Rhaenys' sweet smile that could melt hearts flashed through Viserys' mind.
Due to their close age difference or perhaps some other reason, Rhaenys didn't like to address him formally.
Instead, she always liked to call him 'big brother' repeatedly or just casually use his name without any respect for seniority.
Then, following that thought, Viserys' mind pictured the baby girl wrapped in swaddling clothes.
Daenerys Targaryen.
When the siblings first met, Viserys gently held Daenerys' little hand, feeling a strong sense of kinship through their shared bloodline, a bond that could never be severed.
"This..."
Viserys hesitated once more, unable to make an immediate decision.
The old man knew the profound significance of such a decision and did not interrupt Viserys' thoughts.
After a long silence, the boy eventually made his choice, raising his head and speaking earnestly.
"If something unexpected were to happen to me..."
"Please continue to assist and help my sister, Daenerys Targaryen, ascend the Iron Throne, Ser Joffrey."
No one knew what Viserys had been thinking during that moment of silence.
Why he made such a decision and what his basis was for it.
Viserys' words now carried great weight, essentially designating a future heir.
That heir would be his sister, Daenerys Targaryen.
Although Viserys was only eight years old, his position in the game of power meant that no one would show him mercy simply because he was a child.
Just as the king sitting on the Iron Throne in King's Landing had already begun using any means necessary to eliminate him, Viserys had to tread carefully even in Dragonstone, striving to survive.
Therefore, Viserys had to make this decision early on, even if it sounded cruel, as if he were settling his affairs in advance.
"Choosing the younger one, huh?"
Ser Joffrey was somewhat surprised upon hearing Viserys' decision.
Princess Daenerys was indeed very young, still just an infant in swaddling clothes, and without a mother, it was uncertain if she would even survive infancy.
He hadn't expected Viserys to choose the younger girl.
In the old knight's view, Viserys and Princess Rhaenys had a seemingly closer relationship.
The two children were not only close in age but also had compatible personalities.
At times, Viserys would be visibly worried about certain matters, but when he saw Rhaenys, he would try to smile, even if it looked a bit forced.
However,
Daenerys was, after all, his sister, and the Targaryen bloodline was purer in her.
It was understandable that Viserys would make such a decision, considering that Rhaenys had more than half of the Dornish bloodline, making her Targaryen lineage less pure.
"I understand."
Ser Joffrey finally nodded, comprehending Viserys' intentions, and designated Daenerys as his heir.
If anything were to happen to Viserys on this journey to Braavos, then the infant Daenerys would become the new Lady of Dragonstone.
"Then it is settled."
Having made his decision, Viserys no longer hesitated.
He called the guards outside to bring the two Braavosi envoys, who had just been sent to rest, back to him.
In reality, the city official and the First Swordsman hadn't gone far. They had been arranged to rest in a small room outside the great hall, waiting for Viserys and his 'council' to finish deliberating.
They thought it might take a long time to reach a decision.
And they didn't have high expectations that Viserys would accept the Sea Lord's invitation.
After all, the current head of House Targaryen was only an eight-year-old boy, perhaps still prone to crying if he fell.
If Queen Rhaella were still alive and lucid, she might have accepted the invitation to go to Braavos.
However, the queen had now become the dowager queen and had been buried, which caught them off guard.
To their surprise, they received word before they had even warmed their seats in the adjacent room.
...
The two envoys hastily returned.
Viserys sat on the throne in the great hall, his small body in the massive seat creating a strong sense of incongruity.
The boy wore a crown of pure gold, with a ruby resembling flames at its center, and placed his hands on the armrests of the throne.
Then, with a clear, calm voice, the young king informed them that he had accepted the Sea Lord of Braavos' invitation and would soon embark on a journey to Braavos to meet with the Sea Lord.
His voice echoed through the silent hall.
The two Braavosi envoys exchanged glances, disbelief in their eyes.
They hadn't expected the child to have the courage to agree to accompany them to a distant, unfamiliar city all by himself.
However, after Viserys spoke, Ser Joffrey stood up and demanded that the Braavosi side respect the ancient Westerosi tradition of 'guest right,' ensuring the young King Viserys' safety.
Guest right was a traditional rule observed by all Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, stating that neither commoners nor nobles could harm their guests once they had accepted the host's bread and salt, thus activating guest right. Violators would offend the sacred laws, believed to be intolerable to both the old and new gods. This held true in the teachings of both the Old Gods and the Faith of the Seven.
"Of course, Your Grace."
"There are temples to the Seven Gods and the Old Gods of the Seven Kingdoms on the Isle of the Gods in Braavos."
Cleos, the chief Braavosi envoy, bowed slightly once more, solemnly promising,
"Braavos values its reputation above all, as it is as important as our lives."
"Since we have invited you, we will protect you throughout the entire journey, from the moment you leave Dragonstone until you safely return."
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