"Yes," Baelon spoke calmly.
Maekar looked deeply at Baelon, a look of surprise on his face; he had expected many things, but never a positive answer. He hadn’t asked for a horse or even a toy, but for the Iron Throne—the greatest power on an entire continent.
Baelon found amusement in Maekar’s surprised expression and said with a gentle smile, "While I cannot promise you will sit on the Iron Throne, I can try."
"That paranoid old man will refuse," Maekar said in a slightly sarcastic tone and looked away from Baelon; he truly wasn’t used to being looked at with such kindness, especially by the man he despised.
"Paranoid old man?" This time it was Baelon’s turn to show an expression of surprise; then he laughed and said with a wide smile, "Yes, he is a very paranoid old man!"
"Paranoid old man" was a quite fitting description for Jaehaerys, something Baelon agreed with. His father was indeed a paranoid man, especially regarding anything related to a possible civil war.
"Besides, I am the third son; there are Viserys and Daemon in the line of succession, not to mention Rhaenys and Laenor," Maekar added in a calm tone. In terms of the line of succession, even Laenor Velaryon was above him, as he was the king’s eldest grandson, son of Princess Rhaenys.
"You don’t need to worry about Laenor; my father will never give him the Iron Throne," Baelon said in an even gentler tone. "After all, his surname is Velaryon, not Targaryen."
"As for Rhaenys..." Baelon showed a complex expression as he remembered his niece, daughter of his elder brother, and continued speaking. "If she were unmarried, her chance of getting the throne might be greater, but she is married to Corlys Velaryon."
"That man is already the richest man in Westeros, not to mention the powerful fleet he possesses. If he were King Consort, Velaryon would be the name above all others. Only a Targaryen must sit on the Iron Throne and nothing else."
"Let’s not speak of Daemon; he is simply not suited to be king. A general, yes, but not a king." Remembering his second son, Baelon showed a gentle and helpless look. "He inherited all of Alyssa’s impulsiveness."
"Did he not inherit that from you, Baelon the Brave?" Maekar said in a sarcastic tone.
Baelon couldn’t help but look a bit embarrassed and spoke with a dry laugh. "I was small, and Balerion refused to accept me as his rider; I simply became furious and punched him in the nose."
Maekar let out an unexpected laugh at Baelon’s words; he began to laugh. Who was Balerion? He was the legendary dragon that Aegon I Targaryen rode during the Conquest of Westeros. He wasn’t just the dragon of House Targaryen; he was the ultimate symbol of power, a symbol that could make everyone bend the knee.
The symbol that forced the continent of Westeros, which had been at war for twelve thousand years, to finally be unified under one crown. That was Balerion in the eyes of the world.
Baelon having punched this terrible dragon simply showed how brave he was; that was why he was called the Brave.
Seeing Maekar laughing like a normal teenager, Baelon also showed a smile. He felt he was closer to his son.
"As for Viserys, he is no king." Baelon shook his head and said in a helpless tone. "Instead of calling him a king, it’s better to call him a Prince Regent. He doesn’t want to change anything, only to manage the decades of peace my father built. That is not a king, but a prince who doesn’t want to change anything."
"That’s why he’s Jaehaerys’s favorite," Maekar commented in a calm tone. Viserys was the one Jaehaerys liked most, as he could continue the policy of peace and balance he had built over nearly seven decades of hard work, sweat, and many battles.
"Because of the civil war between Maegor and Aegon, he saw the terror of a war between dragons, so my father will always choose the best person to prevent something like that from happening again." Baelon knew his father very well and knew how the Old King’s mind worked.
"How stupid," Maekar said in a sarcastic tone; he thought it was great stupidity. Instead of choosing the best, he chose the most peaceful. To some extent, Jaehaerys’s choice was right, but the old king forgot that the world has never lacked ambitious people.
Those same people led to the near-fall of the Targaryen Dynasty and, at the same time, destroyed the greatest power of House Targaryen—the dragons.
Baelon did not comment on Maekar’s words, although he thought Viserys was not suited to be king; he also didn’t think it was a terrible option, as Maekar was subtly indicating.
"I’ve met my half-brother; he is indecisive." Maekar looked at Baelon and said in a calm tone. "An indecisive king is worse than a weak king. In a moment of firmness, what do you think your son will do? Start a war or initiate a dialogue, trying to delay the problems as much as possible?"
Baelon remained silent, but deep down, he agreed with Maekar’s words. Viserys, his son, was indeed indecisive and wanted to preserve the peace Jaehaerys built more than anything, which made things even more complicated.
"I’m still getting used to my new bed." Maekar, feeling he had nothing more to say, spoke in a calm tone.
Baelon seemed visibly disappointed not to talk more with Maekar, but he knew that forcing a conversation would have the opposite effect of what he wanted. The Prince of Dragonstone looked at Maekar and said with a smile, "The view from the window is very good; I advise drinking a bit while you enjoy the view."
Maekar looked at the pale man in the bed with his violet eyes and nodded before leaving the room. He truly didn’t want to talk to Baelon. Every time he saw the man, he remembered his mother’s last words.
Watching his back disappear from the room, Baelon fell weakly onto the bed; he touched his belly with an expression of pain. The prince felt he wouldn’t survive; this left him somewhat distressed and relieved. He would see Alyssa again, though perhaps he would be greeted by a punch from his late wife.
"Maekar..." Baelon murmured his third son’s name; the boy had the same arrogant look as Cassandra, the same look that had fascinated him that day. "You truly created a great man; I only hope this great man is not the cause of many deaths."
From the conversation he had just had with Maekar, Baelon knew that Maekar would fight for the throne, not just out of a thirst for power, but to demonstrate that he was better than Jaehaerys’s chosen one.
"Father, your paranoia and caution will one day make you regret," Baelon murmured, feeling his consciousness slowly fade; he slowly fell asleep.
Outside the room, Maekar returned to his room after a while of walking. Hesitating for a moment, he walked to the balcony and looked at King’s Landing. It was indeed a good view, although the city wasn’t that beautiful.
"When I am king, I must change this city," Maekar murmured. Although King’s Landing was one of the five largest cities in Westeros, it wasn’t truly worthy of being the Capital of the Seven Kingdoms.
Remembering the conversation with Baelon, Maekar was slightly surprised. He himself hadn’t expected Baelon to actually accept his request for the throne. Of course, Jaehaerys definitely wouldn’t agree, but just Baelon’s desire to pass the throne to him would spread throughout the city.
This was a great support for his claim to the throne, which would make others see him in a different light.
"One step at a time," Maekar murmured. He had been planning to be king for a long time; he just needed to follow his plans, and his chances of becoming king at the Great Council of 101 would be great.
Knowing Jaehaerys’s personality, it was almost certain that the paranoid old man would accept the lords’ votes.
Read the advanced Chapters on my Patreon!
/GOTSW
Read my other books:
House of The Dragon: The Pale Prince
Game Of Thrones: The God-Emperor of Planetos (500,000 words written).
Percy Jackson: Godwyn the Golden.
Game Of Thrones: The King’s Court Wizard