(A/N):
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King's Landing...
Red Keep...
The atmosphere in the Red Keep shifted the moment Otto Hightower's boots struck the marble floor.
He moved quickly, jaw clenched, scroll crushed in his fist.
"...."
Servants and guards stepped aside as if a storm was passing through the corridor.
By the time he reached the throne room, his fury was a blade ready to cut.
THE THRONE ROOM ...
Viserys sat slumped on the Iron Throne,
Weary from listening to noble petitions.
A few lords of minor houses were mid-report when the doors burst open.
-Creak
Otto entered with a storm behind his eyes.
"...."
Everyone froze.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Viserys straightened, sensing danger.
"Leave us,"
He ordered sharply.
The nobles bowed and hurried out,
Whispering to one another.
The doors slammed shut.
Viserys exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose.
-Sigh
"Otto… what now?"
Otto stepped forward and dropped the crushed scroll onto the floor.
His voice was trembling—
Not from fear, but from rage.
"News from the North, Your Grace."
Viserys frowned.
-Frown
"What of the Starks?"
Otto almost spat his next words.
"Rickon Stark has sent letters to ALL his banner houses.Stating that Princess Rhaenyra and my daughter are with King Morningstar by choice."
Viserys blinked—
-Blink
"...."
Stunned.
Otto continued, voice rising.
"He claims there was NO kidnapping."
"No coercion."
"They are willingly under Morningstar's protection."
Viserys's face changed to confusion.
"...."
"Willing…? Alicent… willingly?"
Because he along with several others who were present that day saw Syrax kidnapped Alicent Hightower,
Otto Hightower's daughter by the order of Rhaenyra.
Otto's jaw flexed violently.
"Rickon Stark claims both girls CHOSE to stay with Eldoria. He paints them as guests—NOT captives."
Viserys looked shaken.
"Then why… why would they not return? Why—"
Otto cut him off sharply.
"THERE'S MORE."
He tossed the scroll toward the Iron Throne.
Viserys caught it with trembling fingers, reading quickly.
His eyes widened.
Otto roared.
"The Starks hosted a celebration for King Morningstar. A feast. A grand gathering.And they declared Eldoria's goods a blessing upon the North."
Viserys's breath caught in his throat.
"...."
Otto didn't stop.
He stepped closer, voice icy and venomous.
"They openly defied your decree.They rejected your command.They CHOSE Eldoria. Over YOU my lord."
Viserys swallowed hard.
-Gulp
"The Starks… defied a royal order?"
Otto's eyes burned.
"The FIRST of many, Your Grace.The North stands with Eldoria now.And the rest of Westeros who were buying their goods will follow unless we act."
Viserys stared at the Iron Throne's jagged swords, breathing unsteadily.
"...."
Otto's voice dropped to a deadly whisper.
"The Starks have declared, without words, what their true allegiance is."
"Not to the Crown…"
"But to King Morningstar."
Silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Heavy.
Choking.
Viserys whispered.
"And my daughter… she celebrated with them?"
Otto closed his eyes briefly.
"...."
"Yes. Rhaenyra and Alicent were present at the feast.Side by side.Laughing. Smiling.Free."
Viserys's hands curled around the throne's armrests.
Otto leaned in, delivering the final blow.
"Your Grace… Eldoria has become a kingdom the Starks are ready to die for."
"If we do not act, the realm will fracture."
Viserys finally spoke.
A whisper.
A crack.
A breaking point.
"What would you have me do, Otto?"
Otto's eyes gleamed with cold ambition.
"You must show strength, Your Grace. Call your banners. Prepare your dragons. Force the lords to kneel—before Eldoria becomes the new power of Westeros."
Viserys stared ahead,
Horrified by the crossroads before him.
And outside the throne room, the Red Keep felt as if winter had already arrived.
As Otto Hightower left the throne room beside Viserys,
His mind churned with cold, vicious logic.
For the first time in decades,
The usually careful Hand was shaken—
And that made him even more dangerous.
'The Starks… traitors.'
'They would choose a foreign king over the Iron Throne.'
'Rhaenyra is wild. Uncontrolled. And now corrupted by that man.'
'Daemon will join her in a heartbeat. If he get's a chance.'
'If civil war breaks out, the South will burn under dragonfire.'
Otto's reasoning twisted further as he walked.
"...."
But there was one shining comfort inside his calculating mind.
'At least Elizabeth carries the next heir. A TRUE heir. With Hightower blood tied to the Crown forever.'
He smiled faintly, hideously satisfied.
"...."
Elizabeth's pregnancy was the anchor to bind their bloodline to the monarchy.
He had achieved what no Hightower had done since Oldtown's founding.
Now, all threats to that future…
Must be crushed.
And in his mind?
Eldoria a variable in his plan was the greatest threat of them all.
Viserys stormed back into the throne room once more,
Heart pounding as the paranoia Otto fed him took root.
He turned to the captain of the Kingsguard.
"Summon ALL dragon riders."
The guard stared.
"...."
"All… all dragon riders, Your Grace?"
Viserys's eyes were wild.
"Yes. Every Targaryen who has a dragon. Prepare them to fly North."
The temperature in the hall seemed to drop.
The guard swallowed hard.
-Gulp
"And their… purpose, Your Grace?"
Viserys spoke like a man possessed.
"Capture Leo Morningstar. Burn any who oppose. Even Starks, if they stand in our way."
The guard froze—
"...."
"...."
"...."
This was not the gentle Viserys they knew.
This was a desperate, cornered king.
And then the guard asked the question no one wanted to voice.
"Shall I summon… Prince Daemon as well?"
Viserys inhaled sharply—
"...."
And just as he opened his mouth to say "yes,"
Otto stepped forward.
"Your Grace—NO."
The room fell silent.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Viserys blinked.
-Blink
"Why not?"
Otto composed himself,
Speaking as if every word was sacred wisdom.
"Daemon is unpredictable. Reckless. Impossible to control. He may take Rhaenyra's side instead of yours."
Viserys stiffened.
"...."
Otto continued, voice lower, colder.
"If he joins Eldoria… you will have two dragons on their side. And half the realm might follow."
Viserys's breathing hitched.
"...."
That fear—
The fear Otto planted—
Spread deep into his bones.
"So you counsel…?"
"Summon every loyal rider. But leave Daemon out. We cannot risk him defecting."
Viserys nodded slowly, fear overriding reason.
-Nod
"Very well… leave Daemon."
Otto bowed slightly, hiding his triumph.
'Removing Daemon removes Rhaenyra's greatest shield. One less dragon to worry about.'
Then Viserys issued the final command.
"Send ravens to all Targaryen riders. We march for the North within the week."
Otto's face betrayed nothing outwardly.
But inside?
He was already moving pieces for a war he believed he could control.
'Eldoria will kneel. And my daughter will return to me, whether she wishes it or not.'
He completely underestimated,
Rhaenyra's defiance
Alicent's new loyalty.
Leo's power.
Eldoria's unseen might.
And the Starks' iron resolve.
A war was being born—
And Otto Hightower, unknowingly, was feeding the dragon that would swallow him whole.
WHITE HARBOR...
MANDERLY HALL...
GUEST'S ROOM...
Snow tapped softly against the window.
Leo lay stretched across the bed in his guest chamber at Manderly Hall,
Hands folded behind his head,
Taking a rare moment of relaxation.
For once, no Rhaenyra stealing the blanket…
No Alicent panicking over something new in Eldoria…
No Aemma pouncing on him at midnight…
Just silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Peace.
Then the system chimed.
A bright, urgent chime.
Not the soft notifications he got for minor rewards.
This was a war-class alert.
[DING...]
[Urgent Task Generated...]
[Incoming Dragon Riders Detected...]
[Mission: Capture or eliminate all hostile riders sent by the Iron Throne.]
[Reward:][✓ +10 Adult Dragons added to Eldoria,
✓ Summon Card: Riboku (Kingdom Anime)
✓ Special Link: Riboku + Ouki]
[• Greatly increases Eldoria Army Morale]
[• Unlocks Unified War Command bonus]
[• Massive stat boost to all troops]
[Bonus:]
[Summon more "War-Thriving Characters" to unlock Eldoria's Imperial Legion Mode.]
Leo opened one eye.
"...."
Then the other.
And a slow smile spread across his face.
"So that old green-robed raisin finally snapped."
He sat up, stretching his arms.
"Dragon riders, huh…? Finally something interesting. Things were getting boring."
He swung his legs off the bed.
The system's voice echoed in his mind:
[Host,]
[Dragon riders are on route from King's Landing.]
[Objective: Capture for interrogation. Elimination allowed if hostile persists.]
[Note: Otto Hightower is the primary instigator.]
Leo clicked his tongue.
-Tch
"I knew it. Should've given him that nut-blast 'present sensation' months ago."
The system hesitated.
[...]
[…Host, what does that mean?]
Leo smirked.
-Smirk
"It means his grandchildren won't exist after I'm done educating him."
The system fell silent.
[...]
He rose to his feet, eyes gleaming.
In truth, Leo wasn't afraid of the dragon riders.
Not in the slightest.
He respected dragons.
But fear?
No.
Leo Morningstar feared nothing that walked, crawled, flew, or breathed fire.
And the reward—
+10 adult dragons
plus
Riboku, a genius on par with Ouki who killed him through his statics—
That made this more tempting than dangerous.
"A united Ouki–Riboku command… That's insane, such a fox guy, System."
[Host deserves only the strongest army.]
Leo rolled his shoulders.
"Damn right."
He grabbed his coat and stepped toward the door.
Benjen Stark bumped into him.
The boy froze.
"...."
"Your aura… it changed again."
Leo smirked and patted his head.
-Smirk
"War's coming, little wolf."
Benjen's eyes flickered icy-blue for a moment.
"Winter is listening."
Leo laughed.
-Haha!
"Good. Tell it to listen well. It has a story to tell..."
'If Otto wants a war… I'll give him a legend instead.'
THE STEPSTONES...
The waves around the Stepstones crashed violently,
But Daemon didn't care.
He lounged on a rock like a lazy dragon,
Sipping wine straight from the jug while Corlys Velaryon discussed troop movements.
Corlys, ever the serious admiral, traced routes on a map.
"If we strike here at dawn, the Triarchy will be—"
CAW!
A raven swooped down from the grey clouds and landed right on the table.
"...."
Corlys frowned, taking the scroll bound with the king's seal.
-Frown
He read it once.
"...."
His face changed from stern commander
→ to confusion
→ to shock
→ and finally to something like dread.
Daemon lifted an eyebrow, amused.
"What? Did my brother Viserys finally choke on a chicken bone?"
Corlys shoved the letter at him.
"...."
Daemon, smirking, took it and began reading—
-Smirk
His smirk vanished.
"...."
His eyebrows lowered.
His jaw clenched.
In one smooth motion,
Daemon tore the scroll apart,
Scattering pieces of parchment into the wind.
"All dragon riders summoned… ALL dragon riders…?"
He stared at the torn pieces, furious.
"So why wasn't I summoned?"
Corlys sighed heavily.
-Sigh
"Daemon—there is probably a reaso—"
"A reason!?"
Daemon stood abruptly, wine spilling.
"I am the BLOOD of the DRAGON. The rightful heir! of my father like my brother The Wielder of Caraxes! And he dares—"
Corlys stepped forward.
"Calm yourself. If you fly to King's Landing in anger—"
Daemon ignored him completely.
He stormed toward the makeshift cliffs, armor pieces clinking as he walked.
"Viserys thinks he can call EVERY rider but not me? Is my loyalty NOT enough?"
He hissed, eyes furious.
-Hiss
"Is he mocking me? Testing me? Ignoring me!?"
Corlys tried one last time.
"Daemon—if you fly now, you will only cause trou—"
Daemon swung onto Caraxes' massive neck.
Caraxes hissed, sensing his rider's fury, wings already spreading wide.
-ROOOOOAR!
Daemon roared.
"LET HIM TRY TO IGNORE ME TO MY FACE!"
He pointed Caraxes to the sky.
"To King's Landing! NOW!"
-SCREEEEECCCHH!
Caraxes screeched and launched into the air with brutal force,
Blood-red wings cutting through the clouds.
Corlys Velaryon watched him disappear and ran a hand down his face.
"Seven hells. This will not end well…"
The wind howled past him,
But his rage kept him burning hotter than dragonfire.
"Viserys summons riders for a mission… But not his own BLOOD?"
"He doubts me. He dares to doubt me."
Caraxes growled in agreement.
-GROWL!
Daemon's eyes narrowed.
-Frown
"I'll show him… I'll show them ALL. No one overlooks Daemon Targaryen."
After An Hour...
KING'S LANDING...
Red Keep...
The Red Keep shook.
Not metaphorically—
Physically.
Servants screamed.
Guards stumbled.
The courtyard trembled as Caraxes, the Blood Wyrm, spiraled down from the sky like a red streak of fury.
BOOM!
He landed with a thunderous crash,
Wings flaring wide,
Neck twisting with that eerie serpentine hiss that chilled even the bravest knights.
The courtyard fell silent.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Then—
Daemon dropped from the saddle, armor clanking, eyes burning.
He didn't wait for permission.
Didn't wait for guards.
Didn't wait for protocol.
He stormed straight through the Red Keep halls,
Shoving aside armed men like they were nothing.
The doors to the throne room BURST open as he kicked them in.
-CREAK
Viserys stood near the Iron Throne, startled.
"...."
"...."
Otto stood beside him, visibly tense.
Daemon's voice echoed like lightning.
"Why?"
Viserys blinked.
"Daemon—"
"WHY!"
Daemon roared again, stepping closer.
"Why did you summon every dragon rider but not your own BLOOD!?"
Otto stepped forward deliberately.
"Prince Daemon, this is—"
Daemon's hand tightened on the hilt of New Dark Sister.
"SILENCE, leech."
The entire room froze.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Daemon's violet eyes burned holes into Otto's skull.
"I'll speak to my BROTHER first. Not the snake whispering poison in his ear."
Viserys snapped.
"Daemon! Show respect!"
Daemon turned to him sharply.
"Brother… answer me. Why summon the riders? Why believe this leech— but not your own flesh and blood!?"
Viserys's face twisted with conflicting emotions—
Fear, guilt, anger.
Then—
"...."
He cracked.
"Because I ALWAYS TRUSTED YOU, DAEMON!"
The shout echoed across the hall.
Viserys's voice dropped lower, shakier.
"But this time… I cannot. Not when I know what you REALLY want."
Daemon froze.
"...."
Viserys pointed a trembling finger at him.
"You want the Iron Throne. You always have."
The room filled with cold silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Daemon's jaw locked.
Then he laughed—
A bitter, humorless sound.
-Haha
"So that's it. You listen to the Hand's whispers… and doubt your own brother."
He stepped closer, voice dripping venom.
"You think I flew here to take your chair? If I wanted the throne—I would have taken it YEARS ago."
Otto scoffed loudly.
-Scoff
"Empty words from a man who mocks the death of your nephew—"
Daemon's glare snapped to him like a whip.
"And YOU—!"
He pointed Dark Sister at Otto's throat.
"You dare speak when I have not finished?"
Otto stiffened, sweating.
"...."
Daemon sneered.
-Sneer
"You disgust me. Manipulating my brother… twisting the realm… poisoning everything you touch."
Viserys's eyes widened—
Anger burning.
"Daemon! That is ENOUGH!"
Daemon looked back at him, face flushed with fury.
"No, brother. What's enough is YOU trusting strangers and snakes over your own blood."
Viserys raised his chin, steel in his gaze.
"If I cannot trust your intentions, then you give me no choice."
Daemon whispered—
"You'd raise dragons against me…?"
Viserys didn't answer.
"...."
But his silence said everything.
Daemon's fury boiled over,
But he kept it contained—
Barely.
He backed away slowly, eyes sharp as blades.
"Very well, brother."
"Remember this moment."
"When your 'loyal allies' turn on you—Don't say I didn't warn you."
He walked toward the exit,
Cloak swirling behind him like storm clouds.
But before he left,
He paused beside Otto.
Leaned close.
And whispered:
"One day, the realm will see you for what you truly are."
Then Daemon turned and strode out, rage following behind him like a trail of dragonfire.
WHITE HARBOR...
The skies darkened over White Harbor.
Not from storm clouds.
From wings.
One after another, ten dragons circled above the port,
Their shadows passing over ships, warehouses, and the icy sea.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Fishermen dropped their nets.
Merchants froze mid-transaction.
Children screamed or hid behind parents.
And leading them—
Meleys, the Red Queen, with her shimmering crimson scales, majestic and deadly.
Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, "The Queen Who Never Was," sat straight-backed on her saddle, posture proud but eyes cautious.
Behind her, nine lesser riders landed with their dragons—
Medium and small-sized compared to Meleys,
But still monsters of flame and scale.
Snow blew away from the ground as they touched down.
One rider, an elderly man with a stern scowl and silver hair braided behind him,
Stepped forward.
His light-brown dragon growled low, smoke curling from its nostrils.
He pointed at the White Harbor guards with a hardened commander's authority.
"By order of King Viserys I Targaryen—We demand the presence of the so-called King of Eldoria!"
His voice boomed across the port.
The guards of White Harbor stiffened.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Fingers tightened around spears.
Cregan Stark or Lord Manderly they would arrive soon—
They were the frontline now.
The old rider continued, voice colder.
"He is to be arrested at once."
"Any who obstruct will face DRAGONFIRE."
Gasps erupted from the dockworkers and townsfolk.
"...."
"...."
"...."
The threat wasn't symbolic.
Nine dragons hissed.
Meleys alone lifted her head, eyes scanning the horizon.
Even the bravest guards felt their knees weaken.
Captain Braydon of the White Harbor militia stepped forward.
His voice trembled slightly—
But he did not bow.
"White Harbor is under House Manderly… not the Crown. We cannot simply hand over a visiting king."
The elderly dragon rider narrowed his eyes.
-Frown
"Are you defying the Iron Throne?"
Braydon swallowed.
-Gulp
"Our lord has not issued any command to yield Eldoria's king."
The rider's dragon growled, causing several guards to flinch back.
-GROWL
"Defiance is TREASON."
He raised his hand.
Several dragons shifted, wings unfurling slightly, preparing for an intimidation blast.
People screamed and scrambled for cover.
-Ahhhhhh!!!
"....."
"....."
"....."
The tension was explosive.
One wrong breath…
And White Harbor would become ashes.
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(Author's POV)
(A/N)I hope you guys are enjoying the story.
Thanks for reading the chapter!
Please give areview
And power stone!!!
It will Motivate Me.