When Talvey returned to The Arbor from Bloodstone, the whole family was overjoyed.
That night, the family hosted a lively reunion banquet, filled with laughter and joy.
The next day, at the top of Iser Tower.
The morning sunlight streamed through the dome’s glass skylight, evenly casting down onto the ebony floor of the study.
On the surrounding white walls was a mural of the ‘Pioneer’ Iseroth Valthorn leading his wife and servants to sail the waves in the Summer Sea, with Iseroth standing at the bow gesturing boldly while his wife stood by his side.
Beside the desk made of goldenheart wood from the Summer Isles, Talvey was consulting his father Orion about the development within the territory.
Orion flipped through the materials in his hand while introducing the situation of the past few years to Talvey,
“After nearly a decade of construction, the water conservancy facilities on the island have basically been completed. The balanced diversion channels, terraced reservoirs, and annular flood interception ditches are all finished. The flood-control, salt-interception, and drainage projects on the coastal plains cooperate with the salt pans. In about another year, we can enter the final development stage in the proposal.”
Handing the materials to Talvey, he asked back: “What on earth are you trying to do?”
Orion began to suspect that Talvey’s recent actions clearly implied preparations for war.
Hearing his father’s inquiry, Talvey silently put down the parchment in his hand, sighing that his actions were still too obvious, though he never intended to hide it from his family in the first place.
Before Talvey could answer, Orion slowly leaned back against the chair, his gaze fixed straight into Talvey’s eyes.
After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke: “Forget it. Your grandfather was right. You have had your own ideas since you were a child, and the family will be handed over to you sooner or later. As long as you don’t lead House Valthorn into a state of irredeemable doom, it will be fine.”
Talvey was very fortunate to be born into such a family.
The unconditional trust of his grandfather and father allowed him to lay out his plans as he pleased, yet it seemed he had never cared about their thoughts.
Now was also the time to let them understand his plans.
“Father, rest assured. All my plans are precisely for the future of the family. Do you think that after Viserys dies, Rhaenyra will smoothly become the first queen of the Seven Kingdoms?”
Orion was about to nod, but after pondering for a moment, he shook his head instead.
“Viserys already has his own eldest son. According to the rules established by the ‘Old King’ at the Great Council of 101 AC, the heir should rightfully be changed.”
“Father, even if you think this way, one can imagine what the major lords are thinking now. Therefore, it is not so easy for Rhaenyra to sit securely on the Iron Throne. House Hightower is currently colluding with various nobles, attempting to make Viserys change his heir. No matter what we do, we are already destined to be the core of Rhaenyra’s faction. What I am doing now is also to prepare for a rainy day. If a war really breaks out, not only can we of Valthorn protect ourselves, but we can also take this opportunity to incorporate the entire The Reach into the family’s rule.” New chapters come out on novelping . com first.
Talvey confessed his long-term plotting to Orion.
“I thought what you wanted was that Iron Throne in King’s Landing.”
“What use is that broken chair other than being the nominal ruler of the Seven Kingdoms? If sitting on the Iron Throne could govern the Seven Kingdoms, then Maegor wouldn’t have had to put down rebellions everywhere. When all is said and done, it still depends on the opinions of the other major lords. However, as long as the strength in our hands can make everyone fearful, even if we are not kings, what we say will be obeyed even by the king.”
“You see things very thoroughly, Talvey. This way, your grandfather and I can rest assured.”
“It is all the wisdom of our predecessors; I am merely walking the old path of our ancestors.”
Talvey’s sentence was correct, but the ancestors he mentioned were not the ancestors of this world.
In his past life, he was just an ordinary corporate slave; how could he understand any game of thrones?
He was merely copying the experience of the ancestors of past dynasties on Blue Star, such as ‘build high walls, store grain abundantly, and claim kingship slowly’.
And his identity in this lifetime happened to give him the opportunity to put it into practice.
“How much longer do you think Viserys can live?” Orion knew that Viserys’s physical condition had always been poor, and it was said that two fingers had already been amputated.
Talvey paced to the window.
“Naturally, the longer the better. As long as he lives, war will not break out, and we will be even more fully prepared. House Hightower will definitely not let Viserys die now, because the bloodline of House Hightower has not yet grown up at this time.”
“Good, since that is the case, go ahead and do it boldly. You don’t need to worry about The Arbor and The Bay Territory on the opposite shore; I will handle everything.”
At this moment, Orion’s doubts were completely dispelled, and he could only provide a stable rear area for his son’s future in the field he excelled at.
“Thank you for your trust, Father.” Talvey turned around and lowered his head, his silver hair slipping over his shoulders.
Orion got up and patted his shoulder, and father and son looked together at the plain outside the window, where waterwheels and windmill mills were springing up one after another.
“Tap, tap, tap!”
A burst of hurried footsteps attracted the gazes of Talvey and Orion to the doorway.
A maester took a confidential letter and respectfully handed it to Orion, “My lord, it is a letter from Red Keep.”
Orion took the confidential letter, broke the wax seal, and began to read it.
It turned out to be Rhaenyra’s wedding invitation.
Viserys showed rare backbone and finally made up his mind to let Rhaenyra marry Laenor.
In this way, with Rhaenyra backed by three dragon-riding families, her status as heir was undoubtedly even more secure, and at the same time, it repaired the rift between House Targaryen and House Velaryon.
The letter also mentioned holding the wedding ceremony of Gael and Talvey together.
Obviously, this was also paving the way for Rhaenyra.
Moreover, the letter also mentioned the matter of Otto Hightower being dismissed from office; Queen Alicent was already isolated and helpless in King’s Landing at this time.
When Talvey finished reading the letter, Orion smiled faintly.
“It seems His Majesty has no intention of changing his heir, Talvey.”
Talvey waved his hand to signal the maester to withdraw.
He didn’t have an ounce of trust in these maesters from The Citadel.
After the maester walked far away, he casually placed the letter paper on the desk and spoke indifferently: “Whether Viserys changes his heir or not, this royal civil war is already inevitable. This time it is clearly dragging us and House Velaryon to build up power for Rhaenyra. I believe Count Hobert should have also received the message and is currently preparing to set off for King’s Landing to back his niece the queen.”
“I see House Hightower doesn’t have the slightest chance of winning right now. I wonder if the war you mentioned will still break out. Well, I’m going to notify your grandfather and prepare for the trip to King’s Landing.”
Orion cast a teasing glance at his son, then turned and walked towards the door with a smile.
Talvey couldn’t help smiling at Orion’s reaction.
Who could have foreseen the future?
Rhaenyra held a great hand of cards but played it terribly in the end.
Despite sitting atop a host of dragons, she ultimately ended up having to sell her crown just to return to Dragonstone, only to be killed by Aegon the Elder’s Sunfyre.
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