บท 9: -Chapter 7-

Hi everyone, it's Ghostrider0002,

I've been getting a lot of positive messages, and I'm glad you're enjoying this fic, which is actually the first one on House of The Dragon.

A promise is a promise, as we say in French—I'm not sure if that'll make sense once translated, but basically, as I promised, here's the bonus chapter you earned by reaching the first milestone of 200 power stones.

You guys are on fire!

Alright, I'll let you enjoy the chapter.

Have a great day or night (depending on where you are and when you're reading this).

Ghostrider0002.

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-Chapter 7-

-POV Yorbert Royce-

Late in the evening, I heard two roars that made the castle walls tremble, and only once I fully woke up did I realize they were the sounds of two dragons. I immediately dressed, thinking Prince Daemon and my grandson would arrive much later.

I opened the door and came face to face with the captain of my guard, Harrold Shett.

"Have my son-in-law and grandson already arrived ?" I asked him as I fastened my belt and an ancestral bronze runic armor of House Royce.

The captain of my guard nodded and said, "They are in the outer courtyard, coming down from Prince Daemon's dragon."

"I want you to wake the cooks and maids so that their rooms, food, and a hot bath are ready for them."

"Yes, Lord Protector," said the captain of my guard before leaving to carry out my instructions.

Once ready, I headed directly with two guards to the outer courtyard of the Eyrie, which was actually just a name for the westernmost courtyard as it was within the castle.

Prince Daemon was carrying my grandson, who was asleep in his arms, undoubtedly exhausted from such a long journey without any breaks, given the speed at which they arrived.

"Prince Daemon," I said, bowing to my son-in-law.

He nodded and then said, "It has been a few years, dear father-in-law."

I sneered internally: 'If it weren't for the Great Council, perhaps you wouldn't even call me by the name my mother gave me.'

I was aware of all the rumors in the capital and those portraying Daemon as a man without any decency or patience for my daughter, whom he dared to call the "Bronze Bitch" on multiple occasions and in front of witnesses.

'You'll get what you came for, you arrogant little shit, but you'll lose some of your scales in the process,' I thought.

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-27th day of the 5th moon of the year 101 AC-

-POV MC-

I woke up alone in a room the next morning and realized I had fallen asleep on Caraxes's saddle, rocked by the sound of the wind. I couldn't believe it, but it seems I was truly a Targaryen through and through to be so comfortable in the air on my first dragon-back flight.

'Imagine if I fell in my sleep; I'm really a fucking idiot,' I thought, swearing to keep this in mind because, when I'm older, I won't have my father by my side to hold me.

Well, it's not that serious; I shouldn't over-dramatize. The fault lies with this baby body of mine that doesn't want to grow fast enough for me to spend hours and hours on the back of my dragon.

"Did you sleep well?" said a voice I would recognize among thousands.

"Sorry," I said, knowing I hadn't made the memorable first impression Daemon had wished for.

"It's nothing; I was foolish to think you could handle the journey. You're just a child."

I didn't know if he really meant what he said, so I just kept quiet, and he said:

"Get ready; we are expected for breakfast with the Lady of the Vale and her loyal Protector."

I didn't know why, but when he said "loyal protector," he used a tone of voice that suggested the opposite. I mentally shrugged before following him and getting ready.

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-3rd Person POV-

Already at the table, Lord Royce and the young Lady of the Vale, Jeyne Arryn, stood up and bowed once Prince Daemon and his son, Prince Aemon, entered the room.

The prince nodded at the display of respect, then placed his son on a chair opposite the very young lady of the Vale and sat down opposite his father-in-law, who seemed very pleased with the visit of his son-in-law and grandson.

"It has been far too long since we've seen each other, Prince Daemon," said the Protector of the Vale.

"I agree with you, Lord Royce," he said in a nonchalant tone, though slightly uncomfortable.

"How is my daughter doing?" asked Caraxes's rider's father-in-law.

"Your daughter is in fine fettle; she is accompanying the queen to Dragonstone at the moment," Daemon said.

"I'm very glad to hear that," he said as if he truly cared about his daughter's happiness.

"And how is Aemon?" Yorbert Royce asked, casting a glance at the silent child looking at the girl in front of him.

"He's doing very well, thank you for asking," Aemon said, looking at his grandfather with a small smile.

Yorbert Royce appeared shocked before saying, "I didn't know you spoke so well; how old are you, dear grandson?"

"I'm two years old, and in about 7 moons, I'll be three," Aemon said nonchalantly while grabbing an apple to gnaw on.

His grandfather, however, looked genuinely surprised by his grandson's responses.

"You seem very intelligent, and your dragon is very large."

"Yes, the gods have blessed me with great fortune. Father says my dragon grows so rapidly that I might even have, within a few decades, a companion akin to Balerion the Black Dread."

He turned his head, shocked by the news Aemon had inadvertently let slip, and then said, "Prince Daemon, I have a few things to say to you once we have finished eating."