Chương 77: -Chapter 74-

-Chapter 74-

-POV Rhea Royce-

A few minutes after Daemon left, Laena claimed she needed to speak to her brother, but it didn't take a genius to understand that it was just an excuse.

She left quickly without saying a word to Aemon, another sign that something wasn't right between them.

I waited until she closed the door before asking my son, "So, how did it go?"

"Fine," he said, his mind clearly elsewhere.

I didn't respond but simply continued to stare at him until he stopped pretending not to notice the inquisitive look I was giving him.

Aemon sighed and told me again:

"It went fine."

'He's more convincing, but not enough to fool me,' I thought.

'But if he doesn't want to talk, I won't force him. He'll tell me when he's ready.'

"Alright, if you don't want to talk about it, I understand," I said, disappointed that he didn't confide in me.

He rolled his eyes before exhaling and finally said:

"We argued before getting to it, that's all."

"Oh," I said, surprised.

"Yeah, oh," he said, eyes lowered.

"But you…"

He looked up and said, "Yes."

"Alright then," I said.

A long silence settled between us, and to break the awkwardness, I changed the subject by asking:

"What did you argue about?"

"Guess," he said, rolling his eyes.

I frowned and said, "She's upset because you gave the idea to Laenor?"

"Nooo, she understands that perfectly," he said, with a hint of sarcasm, before adding, "What she didn't like is that I refused to participate or send Gunthor to fight as Laenor's champion."

'He'd never send Gunthor to fight in his place, especially for something like this.'

"Why Gunthor?"

"She asked which fighter had a chance against Criston Cole, and I answered," Aemon said, sulking.

"You could beat him easily," I said, knowing my son's physical abilities and combat skills.

'I was the one who started training him at a young age.'

'He was so adorable with a wooden sword,' I thought, remembering how he looked ten years ago.

"And so?" he said, frowning, not appreciating my implication.

"And so, why did you refuse? It would be a huge favor to House Velaryon," I said, not understanding why he was so determined to draw a clear line between us and House Velaryon.

'His reactions are incomprehensible, even more so now that they're married.'

"It would be a mistake. I'd be publicly identified as part of Rhaenyra's camp."

"You're already in her camp. You loudly proclaimed that doctrine of exceptionalism at the small council," I said.

Aemon frowned, then said, "Who told you… Rhaenys?"

I stayed silent, as our discussions were only meant to protect the interests of our two Houses.

'And I have nothing to feel guilty about; I don't reveal anything secret to Rhaenys.'

Aemon shrugged and said, "Anyway, that doesn't matter. It's not the same. What I loudly proclaim is the truth: Rhaenyra is the rightful heir to the throne, and the fact that she's a woman changes nothing."

'Nonsense,' I thought, already aware of his distaste for his cousin.

He finished by saying, "But asking me to kill the queen's champion is asking me to start hostilities with her, and I don't want that."

"What does she have against you?" I asked, not understanding this sudden friendship between him and the queen.

"Nothing at all," he said, laughing, finding my words ridiculous.

I frowned and then said:

"If she has nothing against you, if she poses no threat and you don't want to upset her, then there's only one possibility: you're trying to please her."

Aemon stopped laughing and said nothing.

'Caught red-handed.'

I shook my head, closed my eyes, and pinched the bridge of my nose: "You know if I could figure it out, Laena, Rhaenys, and Corlys will too. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they're already fully aware of it."

Aemon shrugged and said:

"I don't need their approval anymore. The Velaryons have nothing left to offer me. My business interests are in Westeros. An alliance with Queen Alicent offers me advantages, plenty of advantages, especially with House Hightower, where she comes from, and House Lannister, with whom she's particularly close since she…"

"…gave the Master of Ships seat to them temporarily before Corlys Velaryon returned from the Stepstones," I said.

"I see that, contrary to what you led me to believe, you're well-informed about what's happening at court," he said, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

'With a son as ambitious as mine, I have no choice,' I thought.

I didn't respond to his slight provocation and simply asked: "What I still don't understand is why it would be more beneficial to serve the queen for potential friendships with the lords of those great houses than to help our in-laws, whose head is the Sea Snake. Have you forgotten that his fortune is second only to the King's?"

Aemon smiled slightly and swirled his wine before saying:

"I've established very good relations with Rickon Stark."

"And how is that relevant?" I asked, not understanding why Aemon brought this up so suddenly.

"Before we return to Runestone, it will be publicly announced that Arnold will become the Lord Protector of the Vale," he said joyfully.

'That's why he's been acting so cocky lately.'

"That's excellent news, but it doesn't answer my question," I said, waiting for my son's response.

"The answer to your question is simple," he said before starting his explanation:

"Each region has something to offer the other, but they're all isolated. Trade routes are controlled by independent merchants who manage to make obscene profits because of the isolationist way we all live."

"You want to break that?" I asked, confused by what would motivate him to do such a thing.

Aemon quickly shook his head before saying:

"Why would I? That wouldn't make me richer. What will make me richer is connecting these isolated regions and offering them goods or materials from other regions."

"You want to build a trade network like the ones in Essos, but here, by land?" I asked, quickly understanding what he intended to do.

He shrugged and said: "By land, by sea, by air, it doesn't matter, as long as it makes me the richest man on this continent."

'He even wants to use dragons for the most precious goods,' I thought, amazed, as no one had thought of using dragons to transport materials from other regions.

"It's a beautiful plan," I said.

"But," he interrupted.

"But," I continued, and he quickly raised an eyebrow, knowing what I would say: "It's big, maybe too big. With the Vale, you'll slowly become rich enough to…"

Aemon smiled slightly and said: "The Vale is done. I've already won the Vale. Once I clear the mountains of raiders and mountain clans, I'll ensure secure trade routes are permanently established, controlling all commerce in the region."

"And slowly, you'll expand," I said, realizing the immense power House Royce could wield in a few years if this plan succeeded.

'But it still needs to succeed. A troubled home won't allow him to focus on such ambitious projects peacefully.'

"The Hightowers for food supplies, the Lannisters for precious metals, the Starks for Ironwood…"

"Why would they do business with us? And besides these Great Houses, you've made quite a few enemies in the Vale. How will you get them to bow down and let you pass through their lands without causing you trouble?" I asked, trying to make him reconsider.

"Is that a serious question?" he replied.

ROAR OF URRAX.