"By the way, I hope Robert is already prepared to rebel again," Illyrio asked with a smile, his eyes unable to hide the excitement he was feeling at that moment.
"According to my little birds, Robert is indeed ready to rebel again," Varys replied with a smile. He was also satisfied with Robert's actions. As soon as Robert took the first step, the rest of the kingdoms would follow, and the continent of Westeros would become a massive battlefield.
Not even Varys had predicted that Balon would take the first step; unfortunately, the Eunuch still didn't know that things on the Continent of Westeros had changed drastically in just a few weeks. If he had known, perhaps he wouldn't be laughing right now.
"That's good. When Robert rebels, the other kingdoms will follow suit," Illyrio commented with an even wider smile on his lips. With the Stormlands rebelling, the Riverlands would also rebel, as would the Vale and the Westerlands.
Four kings would be born in the near future.
"However, we have some problems." When Varys said this, Illyrio's expression changed.
"I have news that a hundred ships from the Red Faith set sail for Westeros days ago," Varys said in a solemn tone. Although he loathed magic and religion, he never underestimated the world's religions, especially the strongest religion on the planet.
"A Religious Crusade?" Illyrio asked, shocked.
"Most likely," Varys nodded and continued. "But this could also be an opportunity."
"We can vow to accept the Red Faith in Westeros if they support Aegon's claim to the Targaryen Crown." As soon as Varys finished speaking, Illyrio didn't hesitate and simply loved the idea.
"Let's do it. The Red Faith won't refuse Aegon," Illyrio said with confidence. Westeros did not accept other religions, much less the Red Faith, which used magic as easily as breathing. Thus, he was quite confident about winning over the Red Faith.
Varys nodded and said his goodbyes to Illyrio; he had much work to do.
After the conversation with Illyrio, Varys walked through the magister's palace and entered a courtyard filled with roses, plants, and a water fountain. Sitting on one of the stone benches, a fourteen-year-old boy could be seen reading a book.
He had white hair and purple eyes, very handsome like any descendant of Old Valyria. There was an air of a scholar about him, as well as the elegance of a great noble. He looked as much a warrior as a Maester, which created an excellent contrast.
Varys stopped hiding the sound of his footsteps and spoke in a gentle and warm tone. "Hello, my prince. I hope you are having a pleasant morning."
Aegon, who was reading a book, looked up and saw the eunuch; a smile appeared on his lips upon seeing the fat man. "The morning is wonderful, Lord Varys." There was a touch of respect in the Blackfyre teenager's tone; he truly had respect for the eunuch who had taught him many things.
"How are our friends in Westeros?" Aegon Blackfyre asked with a smile, narrowing his eyes and looking directly into the eunuch's brown eyes.
"The Lord of Storm's End was already preparing to declare himself king and become independent from the Seven Kingdoms," Varys said with a smile. He had already contacted Robert Baratheon and knew the man was about to start the second rebellion.
Only when Robert brought chaos to the continent would they have room to grow in Westeros. Only when the entire continent was at war would they have space to grow safely while the big fish fought fiercely far from the shore.
"Rhaegar is a fool for letting Robert survive after the rebellion," Aegon commented with a touch of sarcasm. In his eyes, Rhaegar should have killed Robert to prevent such a dangerous element from existing and causing even more chaos in the future.
Varys remained silent but disagreed with Aegon's words. In his eyes, Rhaegar sparing Robert was a smart move. Only when the Stormlands were calm could House Targaryen focus on the other kingdoms. After all, of all the kingdoms, the Stormlands were the closest to the Crownlands.
Furthermore, it was because of this maneuver that Rhaegar gained enough time to grow and strengthen House Targaryen. In nearly two decades, an army that belonged entirely to House Targaryen was created, and the Crownlands were fully pacified.
In Varys's eyes, this was the most important thing. As long as the Crownlands were under House Targaryen's control, the foundations of the realm were secure.
"My prince, sometimes the living have more value than the dead," Varys advised with a smile, his honeyed voice continuing to ring out. "People like a leader who values life more than a cruel and insensitive one."
"Rhaegar managed to keep his crown because he was generous with rewards and fair with punishments; that is why he is called 'the Just' by the people. Do you understand what I mean?" Varys asked with a gentle and elegant smile.
"A balance." Aegon was no fool; having been trained to be king since he could remember, he was a much better pretender to the throne than Aegon, Rhaegar's son. "They have to fear me and respect me at the same time."
Varys showed a satisfied expression; Aegon was worthy of the boy he had taught for years. Looking at the youth, the eunuch smiled and couldn't help but think that raising a king was truly easy. The boy was more receptive to advice than he had expected.
However, it wasn't hard to achieve such a feat, not when Varys controlled the frequency with which Aegon visited his mother. He used longing, the need for affection, and the lack of maternal and paternal love to manipulate the mind of the young man who had intended to take the throne since he was just a child.
Varys was no fool and knew that people change, so he molded Aegon's mindset from a young age, all to have greater control. Of course, he knew it was impossible to completely control a person, so he was satisfied with controlling most of Aegon.
"Yes, balance is the best thing in the world. Aenys was too weak, Maegor was too cruel; a middle ground is the best thing, just like Jaehaerys I," Varys replied to Aegon's words with a smile on his lips. His unnaturally white hands, hidden under long sleeves, rubbed together at a slow pace.
"I shall take my leave; I will no longer disturb my prince's reading time," Varys said, looking at the book Aegon was reading.
The pretender to the Iron Throne nodded and returned to his reading. Varys turned and left the courtyard, leaving the young man reading. However, when Varys left the courtyard, he didn't notice, but Aegon's eyes were fixed on his back.
The hands holding the book were white from the force with which Aegon gripped it; a trace of anger and resentment flashed in Aegon's eyes. If looks could kill, Varys would have been dead countless times by now.
Varys might be a master of manipulation, but he never thought that Aegon's training would also reveal his own manipulations against Aegon. The young Blackfyre was extremely intelligent and had discovered early on that he was nothing more than a pawn in Varys's hands.
On the surface, he was the pretender to the Iron Throne, controlling an army of twenty thousand men from the Golden Company, but in reality, he was merely a pawn with no power at all. Not even the guards were loyal to him. And although Varys said they were for his protection, they were clearly there to watch him at all times.
As for his father, Illyrio, and his mother, Daella, both were blinded by greed and did not see the dangers of the Game of Thrones. Aegon felt helpless in the face of the massive cage that was his life. However, he saw the chance to control his own future.
Although he was the pawn, he was the core of this power game!
Once they landed in Westeros, people would have to follow his will, or they simply wouldn't be able to sustain themselves on the continent. After all, he was the pretender to the throne, and there was no one else to replace him.
Without him, the Golden Company couldn't return to Westeros; without him, Illyrio and Varys couldn't continue with their plans. So, Aegon was waiting to arrive in Westeros to demonstrate his true power.
Once that happened... a cold glint shone in Aegon's eyes. He would kill this fat pig without any hesitation. Of everyone who tried to manipulate him, it was Varys he hated most. The eunuch tried to control him in every possible way, whether mentally or physically.
Even his mistresses were Varys's spies, showing how meticulous the eunuch was.
Aegon hid his emotions and returned to smiling gently, observing the pages of the book on his lap with a bright gaze. The feeling of freedom was about to explode in his chest; he just needed a little more patience.
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Read my other books:
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