The feast ended in bitterness.
Viserys had a fine idea, but he had blindly ignored the core conflict between the blacks and the greens.
Besides, anyone with eyes could see that Jacaerys and his brothers carried the wrong blood.
Why would Alicent ever abandon Aegon and marry Helaena to a bastard?
It was almost laughable.
Even Corlys did not lie to himself.
Yet Viserys still refused to believe the truth about those three boys.
After leaving the feast, Alicent went straight to Aegon.
“We cannot wait any longer,” she said, her voice hard.
She had once proposed marrying Helaena to Aegon.
Viserys had seemed pleased then.
She never imagined he would turn around and try to give Helaena to a damned bastard.
“I have no objection.
It depends on what Helaena wants.” Aegon smiled.
He glanced at Helaena beside him.
Her plump, pale cheeks were already bright red.
“I suppose that answers it,” Alicent said, deeply satisfied.
“Then it is settled.” Aegon turned to her.
“Daeron is old enough now.”
“You have someone in mind?” Alicent looked startled.
Daeron blinked.
“Me?
Wait, me?”
Aemond cut in.
“Hold on.
By normal order, shouldn’t I be next?”
“There is someone suitable.
But not from the Seven Kingdoms.”
Alicent was even more surprised.
Not a Westerosi noble?
“A girl from Essos?” Aemond looked shocked.
“Can anything good come from there?”
“Watch your mouth.” Aegon rapped Aemond on the skull.
“Where exactly is she from?” Alicent pressed.
“Stop being cryptic.”
“Lys.”
“A Lysene girl?” Alicent’s mouth twitched.
“Can anything good come from there?”
Lys was a member of the Triarchy.
They called it “Lys the Lovely,” an island in the Summer Sea.
Cool climate, rich soil, endless sun.
Palm trees and fruit groves everywhere, green seas thick with fish.
“I know Lys,” Aemond said, suddenly eager.
“I also know its most famous pillow house is the Perfumed Garden.
Is Daeron betrothed to a whore?”
He had studied Lys with the Grand Maester not long ago.
Lys was famous for its bed slaves and brothels.
It bred and sold beautiful boys and girls.
The Perfumed Garden was only the most celebrated. Find the original chapter at g.com.
“Is it true the niece of the Count of Stonehelm was sold to a Lysene brothel?” Daeron asked, curious.
“True.
Her miserly uncle refused to pay the ransom after she was taken.
So she was sold.”
“What was her name?”
“Johanna Swann.
An unlucky noble girl.” Aegon grinned.
Daeron’s eyes went wide.
“Is she my betrothed?”
Aegon burst out laughing.
“Would you want to marry her?”
“She was sold to a brothel.
That makes her a whore.
I don’t want to marry a whore.
But if it helps you, I’ll do it.”
Aegon pinched his little face hard.
“She’s far too old for you.
And I would never make you marry a whore.”
“Then who?” Daeron rubbed his reddened cheek.
“If all goes well, her name will be Larra Rogare.
She has the silver-gold hair and violet eyes of Old Valyria.”
“What do you mean, if all goes well?
You don’t even know for certain?” Alicent was exasperated.
“I wouldn’t say I know nothing.
Have you heard of House Rogare?”
House Rogare was an immensely wealthy Lysene family.
Their bloodline stretched back to Valyria before the Doom.
“I’ve heard of them.
They’re rich.
Some say the Rogare Bank has already surpassed the Iron Bank of Braavos.”
“That’s an exaggeration.
At least for now, the Rogare Bank isn’t that powerful yet.”
House Rogare was rising fast, but it was still far from its peak.
“Fine.
I trust your judgment.
A merchant’s daughter, but at least she has Valyrian blood.
Far better than a bastard.”
“If we can secure a marriage alliance with House Rogare, their wealth is only the most basic advantage.
In time, I’ll take Daeron to Lys myself.”
Aegon valued far more than Rogare gold.
He wanted their influence inside Lys.
He meant to break the Triarchy apart.
Start with Lys.
Conquer them one by one.
In the end, swallow the entire Disputed Lands.
The Disputed Lands lay in the southwestern corner of Essos.
For centuries, Lys, Myr, and Tyrosh had fought over that territory.
Sometimes Volantis joined the scramble.
Around 96 AC, Volantis invaded again. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
Lys, Myr, and Tyrosh formed a permanent alliance to fight back.
They beat the invaders.
The three cities became the Kingdom of the Three Daughters, and the Disputed Lands fell under their rule.
It was rich, fertile ground, perfectly placed.
A waste to leave it in the hands of three whore-cities.
Aegon wanted land to build his own power base.
But the Seven Kingdoms had already parceled out nearly everything worth holding.
So why not go further?
Wear the skin of House Rogare and devour the entire Disputed Lands.
Even if House Rogare refused, it hardly mattered.
Without Rogare, there would be some other house.
Aegon could raise up any family he pleased.
But House Rogare was wealthy now.
That would save a great deal of early effort.
Aegon hooked Daeron’s head under his arm and laughed.
“When it’s done, I’ll name you Prince of Lys.
You’ll rule the whole island.
What do you say?”
“Whatever you decide.
I don’t care!” Daeron squirmed and shouted.
“What about me?
What about me?” Aemond pressed, eyes full of hope.
“You?” Aegon thought for a moment.
“I haven’t decided yet.
We’ll see.”
“I want to go to Essos too.
I want to stay with Daeron.” Aemond did not hesitate.
“Fine.
I’ll make you Prince of Myr.
You can stay together.”
“No.
Myr is too close.
He’s annoying.” Daeron raised his hand in protest.
Aemond’s face darkened.
“You’re asking for a beating.”
“We need the support of the Seven Kingdoms’ lords, Aegon,” Alicent said quietly.
“I know.
I never planned to marry Aemond to some Myrish woman.
Daeron is enough.
I only need a front, so the other Free Cities don’t panic.”
The Free Cities of Essos were nearly all colonies of the old Valyrian Freehold.
They carried an instinctive fear of dragonlords.
If Aegon launched an open war of conquest, the other Free Cities might well unite behind the Triarchy.
But if he moved sideways, striking under the Rogare banner while Aegon himself entered only as an outside ally, the game changed.
At the very least, the odds of the other nine Free Cities forming a grand alliance against him would drop sharply.
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