Chapter 708: Chapter 708: Building the Shrine
"Your Grace."
"Your Grace."
The routine council meeting in the presence of the king concluded. The council members rose to leave, and Viserys retreated to his chambers.
Jon Connington's unexpected death in Dorne not only led to a change in the position of the Hand of the King but also left the position of the Stormlands' governor vacant.
The governor's position wasn't hereditary. It was based on merit and wasn't fixed to a particular family. Viserys could appoint someone as the governor of the Stormlands, or the nobles of the Stormlands could elect one themselves.
After Jon's death, he left behind only an unborn child, whose gender was still unknown. Even out of respect, Viserys couldn't appoint the child in Lady Beth's womb as the next governor of the Stormlands.
Doing so would severely undermine the system he had established, and no one would take the empire's governorship seriously thereafter.
Thus, Viserys didn't appoint or parachute a governor to the Stormlands. Instead, he allowed the Stormlands' nobles to elect a governor for the Iron Throne's approval.
Jon Connington's wife, Lady Beth Brecken, was heavily pregnant and close to her due date. So, Viserys allowed her to stay temporarily in the Red Keep, vacating the Hand's tower for the new Hand, Myles Toyne.
Pregnant Lady Beth Brecken was taken care of by the Red Keep's steward. She would return to Griffin's Roost after the child's birth. For now, Griffin's Roost was managed by the Connington family's steward.
Viserys also had Lady Beth send a letter to the Connington family's steward, instructing him to build a shrine for Jon Connington in Griffin's Roost.
This order puzzled the steward and maester of Griffin's Roost. Shrines were typically built for the Seven Gods or ancestors, but building one for someone who had just passed away was unusual.
The steward and maester felt an eerie chill, as if Jon Connington's spirit was watching them from some corner. Although they were uneasy and didn't fully understand, they had no choice but to follow Lady Beth's orders.
So, construction began in Griffin's Roost for a shrine with a statue of Jon Connington.
Viserys had his reasons for this. He had lent Jon Connington a spark of divinity to help him grow rapidly and then prepared other posthumous arrangements for him.
He planned to place Jon Connington's soul in the Connington family's shrine, making him the guardian spirit of Griffin's Roost. With the offerings from his descendants, Jon would continue to exist and bless his future generations.
After the council meeting, Viserys returned to his chambers to rest. Meanwhile, the sounds of clashing weapons echoed from the Red Keep's garden.
In the spacious garden, under the bright sun, two girls of similar height sparred with divine weapons.
One wore the white armor of the Kingsguard, while the other donned silver armor with a red gem on her necklace. Their brown hair flowed over their cold armor.
Both didn't wear helmets. Their figures moved swiftly, and their weapons clashed continuously. The weapons they held were luxurious, enough to make any knight outside envious.
One wielded the Dragon Slayer, and the other, the infamous Dark Sister, both made of Valyrian steel.
However, the redhead in the white cloak seemed to have the upper hand with her unpredictable swordsmanship. After a few rounds, she managed to disarm her opponent, pointing her sword at her throat. She sheathed her sword and curiously asked, "Your Highness, are you distracted lately?"
"I'm sorry, Master Mya."
Princess Rhaenys felt a bit embarrassed, realizing that her swordsmanship teacher had seen through her disguise.
"It's alright. I've been there too," Mya, older than Rhaenys and even Viserys, replied. She had once roamed the streets of Valyria, becoming a mercenary to survive, experiencing many life-and-death situations.
"What's it like in the ruins of Valyria? I'm curious," Rhaenys asked, intrigued.
"I asked Viserys, but he didn't say anything."
Mya looked at her strangely, then shook her head with a light laugh, "There are terrifying creatures there, Your Highness. You wouldn't be interested."
The two girls walked into the Red Keep's garden corridor, where green vines covered the overhead trellis, casting dappled shadows in the bright sunlight.
"I once loved someone, Your Highness," Mya suddenly said, changing the topic.
"Really? Who was it?" Rhaenys asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Just a boy next door," Mya reminisced with a smile, which she quickly hid. "He had red hair like mine, was handsome, and sang beautifully. He often sang for me."
"Really? What happened then?" Rhaenys pressed.
"What happened? He died," Mya replied with a shrug.
"Ah?" Rhaenys was taken aback.
"So, the lesson is, if you love someone, seize the moment. Don't wait and live with regrets," Mya concluded.
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