Chapter 73: The Expected Marriage
Soon, the most important houses from all seven kingdoms gathered. Everyone knew Princess Rhaenyra was getting married and was here to offer their congratulations.
But everyone was here for something even more significant than the princess's wedding, something that had been kept secret for a long time.
Thus, before the secret wedding, there was a banquet.
As the party was about to begin, guests arrived one by one and entered a special hall, where they were led to an enormous venue prepared for the festive occasion.
Lords from various houses were present, but they received little attention as, in a sense, it was a secret. Guests from other regions, northern nobles, and other notable figures were also present.
All of them held high status or belonged to influential organizations. When they entered the beautifully decorated venue, it seemed as though the space came alive, emitting magical particles that adorned the site with great elegance.
The servants showed minimal courtesy, asserting themselves as members of the house they served. Additionally, powerful guards were stationed throughout the mansion, and best of all, there were grand ice sculptures, a sight never before seen.
It was a majestic view, all created by Lucian, who had finally been influenced by Haldor. The five hundred guests who had arrived from all seven kingdoms represented the prestige, nobility, and power that Haldor would dismantle in the future if they became obstacles.
The nine most powerful knights of Haldor stood alert with a strong sense of importance at this ceremony, taking strategic positions to ensure the place was secure. They had to demonstrate that the guardian knights and servants were not ordinary people and that each of them could take down a group of people if ordered.
Except for the White Walkers, no other man on this land could even match the trained mages of Haldor. And since their forces had recently increased, it was simply impossible.
Meanwhile, Haldor was observing the entire scene with Viserys. They stood on a balcony overlooking the courtyard. Rhaenyra's family was seated at a large table, but honestly, most of the guests had come to see the consort they had heard so much about.
"This must be your first banquet, right?" Viserys asked without looking at Haldor.
"Yes, this is my first banquet."
Indeed, Haldor had never attended an official event in this world since he had been born, apart from the succession ceremony.
'I should apologize. Although I sincerely feel that this is natural since it involves me, I can't ignore the fact that this is something special for Rhaenyra. She should have chosen...' Haldor couldn't feel too bad about this fact, but he was perceptive enough to understand it.
The way he believed he could remedy this was to give his full attention to the commitment without being overbearing, which was more than enough to make her feel valued. There was no man in this room who could match his future greatness, or at least that was how many of his followers viewed him.
However, Haldor did not express his feelings on the surface and simply waited for Viserys to make the announcement that would shake the kingdom.
"As you know, this is much bigger than just an engagement, even if it is my daughter." Viserys had changed his attitude to a more serious one.
"I understand..."
"I have decided to trust you and will support you in the coming war with all that I have. Moreover, I like the idea of you being my daughter's husband, as I don't believe anyone better could be found."
Viserys placed his hand on Haldor's shoulder and said, "Even if others believe you are incapable of commanding a war, only you and I, who share the message of my ancestor, know what is to come."
Haldor was surprised by someone's words for the first time. He had never been so close to anyone else, apart from this family, who were either subordinates or servants. But these words certainly filled something in his heart.
"Well, then let's begin." Viserys smiled at this and stepped forward to say a few words.
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