"How could such a joyful day turn out like this!"
Back in his chambers, Viserys felt increasingly distressed the more he thought about it.
He had fantasized about Rhaenyra and Aegon being close, but reality had slapped him hard.
"Your Grace, there is something I feel I should say."
Archmaester Mellos, who had returned to the chambers with Viserys, handed the medicine he held to Viserys.
Viserys frowned and drank the thick medicine, then drank two cups of water before letting out a long sigh.
"Speak, I pardon you."
"Prince Aegon is excellent, and he is also your eldest son. Perhaps you should reconsider the heir to the Iron Throne," Mellos said seriously.
Upon hearing this, Viserys immediately frowned with displeasure and said, "What do you mean by that? Did Otto tell you to come and say this to me?"
Mellos shook his head.
"Not at all, Your Grace. The Archmaester only pledges allegiance to the current ruler of the Iron Throne.
You saw everything that happened today with your own eyes. Prince Aegon is not as lacking in ambition as you said.
In fact, the opposite of what you said is true. Prince Aegon has great ambition.
From Prince Aegon's actions in the Stepstones, it seems the Iron Throne might only be a temporary goal in his eyes."
After speaking, Mellos took out two prepared intelligence reports from his 懷 and handed them to Viserys.
Viserys frowned as he took the reports.
After reading them carefully, his frown was deep enough to trap night-flying insects.
Mellos stood by and explained:
"As you can see, Your Grace, Prince Aegon appears to want to invade Essos. Perhaps Prince Aegon wishes to rebuild..."
His gaze shifted to Viserys's model of the Valyria Freehold.
Mellos's meaning was clear.
"You mean... Aegon wants to rebuild the Valyria Freehold?" Viserys's eyes widened slightly. "I don't know, no one can guess Prince Aegon's thoughts.
Moreover, Prince Aegon is very skilled at winning people over.
Those members of the royal fleet who should have been loyal to you have all defected. The intelligence we can obtain is very limited."
"Then where did these two reports in your hand come from?"
Viserys held up the two reports in his hand.
The Triarchy splitting, Tyrosh on the verge of collapse, Dorne turning to the Sunset Sea.
The Stepstones had stabilized just like that, making him genuinely doubt the authenticity of these two reports.
When a person is utterly speechless, they might want to laugh.
That was exactly Mellos's situation now.
He never expected Viserys would rather doubt the authenticity of the intelligence than believe Aegon had essentially pacified the chaotic Stepstones.
However, Mellos understood.
If Aegon easily pacified the Stepstones, it would be equivalent to gaining a treasure trove for wealth and a strategic stronghold for free.
This did not align with Viserys's expectations.
What he wanted was a controllable quagmire of war.
Aegon should also be firmly entangled by the Triarchy, just like in the previous two Stepstones wars.
War costs money, and the Stepstones are barren.
Once Aegon ran out of money, soldiers, and warships, he would surely ask for help, and then they could take the opportunity to deplete the strength of the Greens.
Especially staunch supporters of Aegon like the Hightower Family and the Lannister Family.
Unfortunately, although Viserys's idea was good, and Aegon went to the Stepstones as he wished,
The subsequent development of the situation completely exceeded everyone's expectations, including Mellos himself.
According to the collected intelligence, Aegon and the fleet did not stay together but split into two groups.
The fleet went to Bloodstone Isle, now Dragonstone, and set up camp.
The four Dragons, on the other hand, unexpectedly attacked Tyrosh, giving the Tyroshi a day they would never forget.
It also forced Mellos to re-examine the role of Dragons in war.
"Your Grace, the situation in the Stepstones is not a secret. Many merchants know about it, including merchants from Westeros."
Mellos explained helplessly.
Viserys fell into a long silence upon hearing this.
"Your Grace, whether Prince Aegon wants to rebuild Valyria is not important."
"Decades of peace have filled the treasury with gold dragons and grain. The royal family is not afraid of foreign wars, but it cannot withstand a... contest between true Dragons."
Mellos thought about it repeatedly and finally used "contest" instead of "civil war" to remind Viserys,
In Mellos's opinion, given the current significant advantage of the Greens, if Viserys did not name Aegon as the heir to the Iron Throne, the Seven Kingdoms would inevitably erupt into an unprecedentedly bloody civil war!
Viserys's face was clouded with changing emotions. After the uproar tonight, he finally understood that there was no possibility of reconciliation between Rhaenyra and Aegon.
Even if he didn't want to believe it, that was the reality. Daemon even wanted to attack Aegon; on the surface, it seemed he wanted to arrest Aegon.
But if Criston hadn't stopped Daemon and allowed Daemon to get close to Aegon, would Daemon have directly...?
Viserys quickly shook his head, not daring to think further.
"Where is Daemon? Has he been confined?" he quickly asked, fearing Daemon might lose his mind and ride Caraxes from the Dragonpit.
Putting aside who was stronger between Caraxes and Sunfyre, Vhagar was not someone Caraxes could handle.
"Your Grace, according to your request, Prince Daemon has been placed under house arrest, in Maegor's Holdfast," Mellos said.
"Hmm, hmm? What did you say?"
Viserys's face changed drastically, and he immediately stood up,
"Maegor's Holdfast?"
He had only given the instruction to confine Daemon, thinking he would let Daemon calm down, but he didn't expect Ser Steffon and the others to confine Daemon in Maegor's Holdfast!
What kind of place is Maegor's Holdfast?
The Greens' backyard!
From the guards to the servants, they were all loyal hounds of the Greens!
"Quick, quick, move Daemon away! Don't keep him in Maegor's Holdfast! Hurry!" Viserys roared anxiously.
Mellos bowed his head and left to convey Viserys's command.
"Gods, please, let nothing else happen," Viserys panted, praying.
Meanwhile.
Maegor's Holdfast.
Aegon returned to his long-unvisited bedroom.
The crackling fire in the brazier dispelled the darkness.
Knock, knock, knock. A knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
Having received Aegon's permission, Larys walked in, leaning on his cane.
"Your Highness, what is it you require of me?" Larys asked, puzzled.
He had been preparing to rest when he was informed Aegon summoned him.
"Daemon has been confined in Maegor's Holdfast, they call it house arrest," Aegon said with a slight smile.
"Yes, I know," Larys nodded gently.
"To outsiders, it might look like Daemon wanted to arrest me, but I know he wanted to kill me."
Hearing this, Larys's brow furrowed slightly. He didn't think Daemon would be that insane.
To kill the King's eldest son, his own brother's eldest son, in front of all the lords of the realm?
That was too crazy!
And too foolish!
"Your Highness, forgive my bluntness, but I do not believe Prince Daemon would be that... foolish!"
"A cornered dog jumps the wall, a cornered rabbit bites. What about a mad Targaryen?
But whether it's a dog or a rabbit, or a mad Targaryen, if they dare to bare their fangs at me, they must pay the price.
My uncle was knighted at sixteen. Jaehaerys I personally bestowed Dark Sister upon him to reward his bravery.
Besides dragonriding, what he is most proud of is his exceptional swordsmanship. You arrange it, break his right hand. I want to see if he will still be as confident as before when he wields a sword with his left."
Aegon's expression was calm as he gave the order, but Larys looked troubled.
"Your Highness, I can fulfill your request, but I implore you to reconsider. If you act against Prince Daemon, His Grace and Princess Rhaenyra will certainly not let it go."
"It doesn't matter. Even if the sky falls, I will hold it up. Just do it, and leave the rest to me." Aegon waved his hand, indicating Larys should proceed boldly.
"I understand. I will go and make the arrangements now." Larys nodded in agreement.
Just as Larys reached the door, Aegon suddenly said, "Larys, the struggle for the throne has always been like this. It must be clean and decisive, understand?"
Larys did not stop his steps.
"Understood. Please rest assured, Your Highness."