With Daemon gone, only a few remained capable of governing King’s Landing.
The Hand of the King, Otto Hightower, stood first in line.
Yet at the small council, the king wanted his newly named Princess of Dragonstone to try her hand.
Viserys had heard of Rhaenyra’s recruitment efforts and wished to see what she could achieve.
He gave her his full support.
The Master of Coin and the Master of Laws approved.
The newly appointed Master of Ships, a Lannister second son, supported the Hightowers.
The majority carried the vote.
Rhaenyra gained control of King’s Landing.
If she succeeded, it would become political capital.
Otto Hightower had lost this round.
But Rhaenyra knew it was far from over.
The Hand’s influence in the city ran deep, its claws merely hidden.
Rhaenyra purchased a mansion outside the Red Keep as her office.
The Princess’s Household bustled with activity.
Lords of the Crownlands had sent their trusted kin and retainers.
Rhaenyra and her handmaidens worked tirelessly.
She barely had time to bid farewell to her cousin from the Vale.
She promised to visit the Eyrie soon and properly catch up.
In return, she agreed to a future favor.
Assembly!
The scholars and administrators sent by nobles stood at the front.
Behind them came the knights, who could understand the Common Tongue but not read.
Further back were craftsmen and the city’s local leaders.
Maester Ramos and Arryk Waters from the Dragonpit helped relay messages and keep order.
Viserys had sent two Kingsguard knights to protect his daughter.
Rhaenyra stood before them in practical clothes.
She held a piece of charcoal and wrote on a smoothed wooden board.
Her handmaiden Elly read each point aloud.
Rat extermination, pest control, and sewer repairs across King’s Landing.
Divide the city into districts.
Build public latrines.Investigate slums and cults.
Crack down on crime.
Reform the city’s economic structure.Review the authority and responsibilities of the City Watch.Create jobs and study the livelihoods of surrounding towns.Develop the Kingswood.
Launch specialty farming and other revenue-generating projects.Identify, train, and cultivate reserve officials.
“Princess, developing the Kingswood requires the small council’s approval!” A lord with lands near the forest spoke up.
The Kingswood was a vast royal forest south of the Crownlands.
Soldiers guarded its borders.
Commoners and nobles alike were forbidden from entering without permission.
Viserys often held hunting feasts there.
“Leave that to me.
I will persuade my father.” Rhaenyra did not look up.
“These tasks cannot be done all at once.
I am laying out a strategic direction.
Feel free to add your suggestions.” “Princess, I have a question.” “Speak.” “So many projects require vast sums of gold and manpower.
Where will they come from?” An excellent question.
King’s Landing had a treasury.
Her father and his predecessors had not been extravagant.
The coffers were full.
Yet in history, all that wealth had gone to the Hightowers.
After Lord Beesbury was murdered by Cole, the Green council swore a blood oath.
Then they split the treasury four ways: one share to House Hightower, one to the Lannisters, one to the Braavosi…
One share for you.
One for me.
Playing games with my gold?
Rhaenyra wanted to flip the table entirely.
Why not spend that wealth on the people?
Invest in infrastructure, win loyalty, and enjoy long-term returns through taxes.
A son selling his father’s land without a second thought—that was not her way.
Better to spend now and build a strong foundation than to leave gold for her enemies.
Her father and the Master of Coin might wince at the cost.
But the officials from Lord Beesbury’s office were already in her employ: the four treasury stewards, the royal accountants, the weights-and-measures officers, the heads of the three mints, the harbormaster, tax farmers, customs officers, wool agents, toll collectors, shipping masters, and wine agents.
“Manpower is simple.
Let me be clear to certain officials: King’s Landing is now under my authority.
I do not care whose man you were.
Do your job well, and you will be rewarded.
More generously than your previous masters.
If you sit idle and collect pay, step aside.” This was the catfish effect.
The nobles had sent their own people, giving Rhaenyra ready replacements.
If an official faltered, his deputy could take over.
If problems persisted, she would find new blood.
Of course, this was a temporary fix.
A proper system of oversight and training would come later.
“First, two priorities.
One: address public health and sanitation in King’s Landing.
Two: clarify the duties of the two thousand Gold Cloaks.” “The city stinks.
My grandfather’s Hand, Septon Barth, once built wells, sewers, and drainage channels for the capital.
Now they are a mess!” “Maester Ramos!” “Here, Princess!” “As a descendant of Septon Barth, this task falls to you.
Take the Household’s craftsmen, a guard detail, and the Red Keep’s sanitation officials.
Oversee the work.” “For labor, go to the dungeons.
Every prisoner will work.
Any who resist or flee will be executed on the spot.
If more hands are needed, implement a work-relief program.
Hire the poor from Flea Bottom.” “Map out locations for new wells, main roads, residential districts, and commercial areas.
Understood?” “Understood, Princess.” “Good.
You have my thanks.” Rhaenyra felt drained.
But she had been planning for this since her arrival.
No battle without preparation.
“Princess, I have some thoughts.” A young heir from a minor Crownlands house stepped forward.
“The poor drink only water.
The wealthy prefer ale and beer.
Building wells may not be enough.” Rhaenyra paused.
She had forgotten.
In this medieval world, even the moderately wealthy avoided plain water.
It tasted foul.
Beer was more popular, though more expensive.
Small beer, brewed from household barley and oats, was lighter and cheaper.
“Princess, we should also consider water carriers and officials to manage public water.” A Red Keep official spoke.
“Princess!
Dumping refuse into the Blackwater should be forbidden!” A young city dweller living near the river added his voice.
Rhaenyra considered.
“These are valuable suggestions.
Well done.
Each of you will receive one hundred gold dragons.” It was not a small sum.
A fine meal of mutton, duck, buttered peas, oat bread, and four cups of ale cost a silver stag.
A sausage and a half-cup of ale cost a copper.
A full suit of armor cost eight hundred silver stags—about four gold dragons.
A hundred gold dragons was a fortune.
“Now, I need people to go door to door.
Announce the new sanitation measures.” “No relieving oneself in the streets.
Drink only boiled water.” “Inns, taverns, and homes must be cleaned of vermin.
The cleanest district will receive a hundred gold dragons as a reward.” “But be polite.
Do not bully the smallfolk.
Use respected elders or local leaders as messengers.
Understood?” “Yes, Princess!” “Good.
These are our tasks.
Your pay, supplies, and assignments will all be handled by the Household.
Volunteer for whichever project suits you.
Any questions, come to me.” “I will be here, working alongside you.
I have said it before: those who perform well will be rewarded with titles and riches.” King’s Landing had suffered plagues before.
Mortality rates reached fifty percent.
A royal princess had died.
Rhaenyra did not want to share that fate.
Civil unrest was a problem even dragons could not solve.
Proper governance was the only true path.