Chapter 143: Dragon Council, Return to King's Landing
At Laena and Jaehaerys's engagement ceremony, Laenor stayed with his close friend, the "Kissing Knight" Joffrey Lonmouth. Joffrey Lonmouth, with his red hair and striking appearance, leaned into Laenor's ear and whispered a few words, making Laenor burst into laughter.
Daemon looked at the intimately close Laenor and Joffrey Lonmouth, a smile on his face. Now that Laena was engaged to Jaehaerys, she was destined to be the daughter-in-law of the Three Daughters royal family. Since Laenor was a man who preferred sweet wine, it was unlikely that Laenor would have children, no matter which noble lady Corlys arranged for him to marry in the future.
Corlys had toiled for half his life, accumulating wealth through nine great voyages. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this wealth would be inherited by Laena and ultimately passed down to Laena and Jaehaerys's children.
At the engagement ceremony, Daemon sipped Lysene brandy when Ser Ronald Florent approached. A crystal hung around his neck, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow in the sunlight. Ronald Florent had always considered himself the most devout follower of the Seven Gods, and in the Three Daughters, he had personally funded the construction of several septs.
Ronald Florent wore a humble smile. "Your Majesty, Prince Jaehaerys and Miss Laena are engaged. This is truly wonderful news! But, Prince Jaehaerys is a year younger than Prince Aegon. The younger brother is engaged, but there's no news of the elder brother's marriage. Why is that?"
"My cousin, Lord Florent, has a daughter, Susan, who is about the same age as Prince Aegon. Susan is a sweet girl. Shall I try to arrange something?"
Daemon smiled, "No need to trouble yourself. Prince Aegon already has someone in his heart."
In Daemon's view, while House Florent was certainly a prominent noble house in Westeros, it was still a bit lacking if they wished to marry into House Targaryen of the Three Daughters.
Ronald Florent was somewhat disheartened. He said pitifully, "What about Prince Baelon then, Your Majesty? I just want to facilitate a marriage!"
Daemon drained the brandy in his cup, his mouth immediately filled with the fruity aroma of grapes. He said calmly, "Baelon is still young, there's no need to rush. Ser Ronald Florent, I completely understand your good intentions. You have rendered many meritorious services to me in the Three Daughters and are a distinguished elder of the Empire. I wish I had a hundred children so I could marry them into your esteemed family."
"Since a marriage alliance is not possible, I have come up with other ways to compensate you. The Three Daughters will soon implement a parliamentary system and establish the Three Daughters Council, and you will have a seat."
Ronald Florent, who had been disappointed by Daemon's refusal, brightened at the mention of joining the Council. "Your Majesty, you are truly too kind. What kind of Council? Is it like the Archon Council of the Triarchy from back then?"
Daemon shook his head. "No, the Archon Council has proven its fragility. We will not adopt the ways of the defeated. The Council I intend to establish will be composed of Westerosi knights, Ironborn, Sistermen, captains, Dragon's Servants Army commanders, and wealthy merchants and nobles from the Three Daughters."
The Archon Council of the Triarchy was composed of thirty-three Archons, with Lys, Myr, and Tyrosh each holding eleven seats. The Archons schemed against each other in the Council, engaging in an endless game of power for the benefit of their respective cities and families. The Archon Council's inefficiency led to the Triarchy's slow and indecisive response when facing Daemon's invasion, ultimately resulting in Daemon sweeping through the Three Daughters with his Dragons and Westerosi army.
Now, the Archons of the Three Daughters who had fled to Pentos, Volantis, and Braavos still maintained an Archon Council in exile.
That night, Daemon convened the Small Council in the Tyrosh Council Chamber.
"The marriage of Laena and Jaehaerys will mark a new journey for our Three Daughters. Starting tomorrow, we will officially prepare for the Three Daughters Dragon Council, which will consist of thirty councilors."
Corlys, the Hand of the King, frowned, Tomb Wolf's expression was perplexed, Maester Michiel nervously stroked the chain around his neck, Princess Rhaenys pursed her lips, Master of Coin Domingos's eyes showed joy, Master of Laws Qidan Massey looked lost in thought, and Master of Ships Raven Greyjoy, Son of the Wind, coughed uneasily a few times.
Although the Small Council members had already heard some rumors, Daemon's announcement at the Small Council still took everyone by surprise.
Tomb Wolf gave a rough smile. "Your Majesty, we in Westeros don't do this Council thing. We conquered the Triarchy, which was ruled by the Archon Council, so why should we learn from the defeated?"
Daemon opened the parchment in front of him, on which some councilor names were written. Daemon said, "The Council can gather wisdom and offer more good advice to the King. The first batch of councilors will be directly appointed by the King, and in the future, they will be elected. In the future, the residents of the Three Daughters will have the right to vote, just like the free people of Volantis can elect their Archons, to elect councilors."
Corlys worried, "A hundred councilors? If a hundred councilors each express an opinion, we will waste several hours. That's how the Archon Council of the Triarchy led the Triarchy to its downfall. Your Majesty, the Council seems good, but if I may be frank, it might affect our efficiency."
Grand Maester Mishael echoed, "Your Majesty, Lord Corlys is absolutely right. The wildlings of the Moon Mountains and Beyond the Wall love to hold meetings. They believe everyone has the right to express an opinion, which often results in them being no match for their enemies in battle. The Stone Crows, Moon Brothers, and Burned Men of the Vale often crumble at the first encounter with the Canyon Knight, and the wildlings have spent thousands of years without ever truly threatening the Night's Watch."
Daemon smiled, "Don't worry, our Council will be very efficient, because any councilor who tries to obstruct the agenda will quickly be out."
Princess Rhaenys asked, "Is Your Majesty establishing a Council to abolish the Small Council?"
At this question, all the Small Council members pricked up their ears. Their own positions and futures were at stake, and this was their most pressing concern at the moment.
Daemon toyed with a quill. "No, the Small Council's authority is above the Council. The Council is only responsible for drafting and revising kingdom laws and offering advice. The actual execution of specific work still falls to the esteemed members of the Small Council."
Master of Coin Domingos dramatically clutched his chest and chuckled, "Your Majesty, the parliamentary system is truly a wise move. The Pentoshi choose their Prince from among the nobles, the Volantenes choose their Archons from among the nobles, Braavos chooses their Sealord from among the nobles, and our Three Daughters, in the future, will choose councilors from among the nobles."
"Dragon Council! What a pleasant and melodious name! When future historians write biographies for Your Majesty, they will say that the Dragon Council was the beginning of House Targaryen's roots in the Three Daughters."
The Ironborn Raven Greyjoy, Son of the Wind, showed a beast-like smile. "Do Dragons need a council? In the Iron Islands, the Ironborn once had a Kingsmoot, but that was thousands of years ago, until Urragon the Bloodhand slaughtered the Kingsmoot, watering Nagga's ribs with the blood of enemies and priests."
In Essos, although most Free Cities practiced slavery, they still had a system of elections. In Westeros, only the Night's Watch on the Wall voted for their Lord Commander; in other cases, the common people had no voting rights whatsoever. The indigenous inhabitants of the Three Daughters were clearly more inclined towards elections.
Daemon did not grant lordships in the Three Daughters, which ensured that power remained concentrated in the royal family's hands. However, those new nobles who followed Daemon needed rewards. The Council seats could be awarded to those who fought alongside Daemon and contributed to building the Three Daughters, as the Small Council seats were too few.
In Daemon's vision, the future Small Council seats would be chosen from among the councilors. Councilors would need to win the votes of their peers to gain a seat on the Small Council.
In reality, whether councilors or Small Council members, their power was ultimately limited. Some nobles who craved political status loved to speak at length and express their opinions, so let them talk all they want in the Council! They couldn't truly influence the Dragon King's decisions anyway.
In the future, the status and power of the new nobility in the Three Daughters would be rooted in the King. As long as Daemon's descendants held the Kingsguard, Dragon's Servants Army, Unsullied, fleets, and other armies, and possessed Dragons, their rule could continue indefinitely.
A few days later, in the spacious Council Hall of Tyrosh Castle, the first batch of councilors was born. Daemon's confidant, Andy Harver, was elected as the first Council Speaker. Westerosi people occupied two-thirds of the Council seats, including knights, Ironborn, Winter Wolves, and Ironborn. The remaining one-third of the seats were divided among the wealthy merchants and nobles of the Three Daughters, Unsullied, Dragon's Servants Army, Dothraki, and artisan representatives.
After the first regular meeting, Daemon and Corlys walked shoulder to shoulder along the Three-Headed God corridor towards the King's Hall. Daemon said, "I will return to King's Landing in a few days, Lord Corlys. You and Princess Rhaenys will manage the Three Daughters in my stead."
Corlys pondered for a moment. "Your Majesty, I would very much like to share your burden, but I wish to bring my family and return to Westeros with you. I miss my home, Driftmark. I am sure Tomb Wolf would be very happy to help us manage our kingdom."
Tomb Wolf had returned to his ancestral home in the Barrowlands a few months prior, then returned to the Three Daughters. During that winter, Tomb Wolf led the Winter Wolves to follow Daemon on campaign, and now most of the Winter Wolves remained in the Three Daughters.
A few days later, Daemon's family, riding their Dragons, returned to Westeros.
This was perhaps the strongest iteration of Daemon's Dragon legion. Daemon's three sons were still too young to ride Dragons across the sea, so they all followed their father, riding on the back of Daemon's Dragon Caraxes. Aegon's Dragon Black Dread, Jaehaerys's Dragon Blue Sprite, and Baelon's Dragon Ancalagon all followed alongside.
Gael rode on Dreamfyre's back; behind her were Princess Rhaenys's Dragon Meleys, the Red Queen, and Laenor's Dragon Seasmoke. At the very rear was the largest Dragon Vhagar, with Laena riding on Vhagar's back, looking down on everything. Corlys's fleet sailed on the ocean, following the Dragons forward.
The Dragons first arrived at Dragonstone, and after resting for a day, Daemon and Corlys's family came to Driftmark, spending the night in Corlys's castle. The next day, they all set off for King's Landing.
King Viserys I Targaryen was holding a Small Council meeting in the Council Chamber when Ser Criston Cole entered.
"Your Majesty, Prince Daemon, Princess Gael, Lord Corlys the Sea Snake, and Princess Rhaenys, with their children, have returned! They have arrived at King's Landing harbor and are being cheered by the people."
Princess Rhaenyra, who was serving wine at the Small Council, was overjoyed upon hearing that her uncle Daemon had arrived, and showed a sweet smile.
Viserys laughed heartily. "That scoundrel Daemon, why didn't he write ahead of time that he was returning? I shall take the children and go greet Daemon."
Ser Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, immediately protested, "Your Majesty, you are the King, and Daemon is a vassal lord under the Iron Throne. Since when does a King go to greet a lord? This is inappropriate."
Viserys said indifferently, "What's so many rules about a brother going to greet his brother?"
King Viserys bathed and changed, groomed himself, and then, accompanied by Princess Rhaenyra and the Small Council members, went outside the Red Keep to greet Daemon.
Flocks of Dragons landed one after another on Aegon's High Hill. Only Dragon Vhagar did not land, as her size was too immense for the ground to accommodate her.
Daemon leaped from Dragon Caraxes and embraced Viserys. Viserys had grown even more corpulent and portly, with a lovable clumsiness.
"Brother, you've gotten fat," Daemon commented.
Viserys laughed, "You're still as lean and strong as ever."
Then Viserys waved his hand. "Rhaenyra, come quickly and see your uncle Daemon."
Rhaenyra had matured into a beautiful and captivating noble maiden. Her breasts were full, her waist slender, and a black and red silk gown enveloped her graceful figure. It was no wonder she had earned the moniker "Realm's Delight" over the years.
Daemon smiled. "Rhaenyra, you've grown up. In my court, singers vie to praise the beauty of the Realm's Delight."
Rhaenyra said gently, "Uncle, you truly know how to say nice things. In Westeros, I haven't heard many songs about myself, but I've heard so many about Daemon the Liberator that my ears are calloused."
Then Daemon called Aegon, Jaehaerys, and Baelon forward one by one. King Viserys smiled and said, "The children have all grown so much."
Subsequently, Princess Rhaenys and Corlys came before King Viserys. Viserys said warmly, "Princess Rhaenys, Lord Corlys, it has been many years since you returned to the Red Keep."
Corlys said coldly, "Indeed, Your Majesty. Princess Rhaenys and I have lived in the Three Daughters for many years. With the sea between us, we rarely returned, and naturally faded from Your Majesty's court." King Viserys's rejection of Laena back then still rankled Corlys and his wife to this day.
Viserys paid no mind to Corlys's cold tone. He maintained his smile and said, "I hear Princess Rhaenys has recently earned the title 'The Queen Who Never Was.'"
Rhaenys gave a bitter laugh. "People are mocking my failure at the Great Council of Dragonstone all those years ago. Isn't it ironic that a woman would foolishly dream of becoming Queen of King's Landing, Westeros?"
Ser Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, smiled. Otto Hightower wholeheartedly agreed with these words; he had always felt that Princess Rhaenyra had usurped his grandson Prince Aegon's right to inherit the Iron Throne.
These words made Princess of Dragonstone Rhaenyra extremely uncomfortable. The smile vanished from King Viserys's face, and he frowned. "Princess Rhaenys, why do I feel you are implying something? My daughter Rhaenyra is the Princess of Dragonstone, the heir to the Iron Throne. Do you think she is unworthy?"
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