Chương 39: -Chapter 36-

-Chapter 36-

-POV 3e-

"It is with great pleasure that His Majesty King Viserys welcomes you to these festivities to begin the celebration of the princely weddings," cried the herald in charge of announcements at the welcome banquet.

Little by little, the hall began to fill, and all the minor lords and illustrious knights of the realm invited to participate in the tournament entered.

This wave of people entering the hall stopped once all the representatives of the smaller houses had entered, and the herald resumed his role, announcing the first Great House.

"The House Lannister and its lord, Jason Lannister, Lord Paramount of the West and Lord of Casterly Rock."

"The House Hightower and its lord, Ormund Hightower, Beacon of the South, Protector of the Citadel, Voice of Oldtown, and Lord of the Hightower."

"The House Arryn and its Lady Jeyne Arryn, Lady Paramount of the Vale and Lady of the Eyrie."

One by one, all the members of these houses, along with their close entourages, entered the banquet hall under the envious eyes of all the minor lords. Then it was the turn of the main players in this event.

"Prince Daemon, Rider of Caraxes, Defender of the Narrow Sea, Governor of the Stepstones, and Prince of Bloodstone."

The music stopped, and everyone fell silent, watching the Prince enter accompanied by his son, the black-haired Targaryen, along with his wife Raevyna Targaryen, daughter of Triarch Raethorio Vaelaros, and Princess Saera Targaryen.

The king applauded the entrance of his brother, with whom he shared a special bond, and everyone followed suit, celebrating the return of the Rogue Prince to the capital.

Daemon took his place at the main table, to the left of Queen Alicent, who gave him a polite smile, which he returned before turning away from her and focusing all his attention on the door, where his son, Prince Aemon, could already be seen.

The herald wasted no time and shouted: "House Royce and its lord, Prince Aemon Targaryen, Rider of Urrax, the Bronze Dragon, Lord of House Royce, and Lord of Runestone."

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-POV MC-

As I entered the throne room, which had been decorated and rearranged to accommodate all the guests for these festivities, I smiled because, at just 15 years old, I had already outmaneuvered all the players in the Game of Thrones.

'But this is not the end, it's just the beginning,' I thought, forcing my inflated ego, which was soaring due to the applause and all the respectful and envious looks from the lords, whether great or small, to come back down to earth.

I separated from my mother, Gerold, Gunthor, and William once we reached the head table to go sit next to my father, who had saved a seat beside him.

I did not disappoint him and took my seat to his left, which he appreciated by giving a characteristic sly smile to my mother, who simply raised her glass in his direction.

'Children,' I thought as I watched the Velaryons enter under the herald's shouts and the disproportionate applause from the other lords.

"Lord Corlys of House Velaryon, Lord of the Tides, Master of Driftmark, and his wife, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, Rider of Meleys, their daughter Laena Velaryon, Rider of Vhagar, future Princess and Lady of Runestone, along with their son and heir Laenor Velaryon, Rider of Seasmoke, future King Consort," said the herald.

I held back a laugh upon hearing the term "future King Consort" because he still had to survive his cruel wife before even thinking about wearing a crown.

Everyone stood up, including the king, and just as I was about to do the same, I felt my father's hand on my arm. I raised an eyebrow, and he said with a small smile in High Valyrian:

"We're not going to stand for our inferiors, are we?"

I said nothing but obeyed and remained seated. Turning my head, I saw that Raevyna was also seated, as was Baelon.

'The conflicts between him and Corlys are still ongoing,' I thought, understanding that Daemon might not be on good terms with Corlys since the end of the Stepstones war.

'This grudge must surely date back to the moment he realized he was just a means for Corlys to weaken Viserys' position to place his blood on the Iron Throne.'

As the Velaryons advanced under the applause of everyone, I met the eyes of all, particularly those of Rhaenys and Corlys, who both scrutinized me, clearly displeased for some reason.

'Perhaps because of my refusal to obey his instructions like a good little dog, which jeopardizes Laenor's claim to the throne.'

Rhaenyra stepped forward and extended a hand to Laenor, who kissed it, while Laena stared at me, likely waiting for me to do the same, but I didn't move—a not-so-subtle way of sending the following message:

'I serve no one but myself.'

Seeing that I wasn't going to bother standing, the Velaryons took their places beside us at the head table in silence, while the lords all applauded the display of affection between the two "madly in love" betrothed.

The king stood up and said: "We are gathered for this celebration, and tonight we honor the oldest and most powerful ally of House Targaryen, an alliance dating back to the days of Old Valyria and the times of dragons. United together, I am convinced that the Houses Velaryon and Targaryen will usher in a new era of dragons and unparalleled prosperity."

Everyone applauded the king, and once the applause subsided, he said:

"There will be seven days of tournaments and banquets, after which the princely weddings will unite my daughter Rhaenyra, Princess of the Iron Throne, with Ser Laenor Velaryon, and Prince Aemon Targaryen with Lady Laena Velaryon."

'Let the games begin,' I thought, raising my glass in the direction of Jeyne Arryn.