Chapter 31.5- The Seadragon's Roar

“And we have nothing but your word to go upon that the Princess intends such”

“Are you new to the game, Strong? House Velaryon sought that crown that now sits upon King Viserys’ head. Do you think they have lost any of that desire to be Kings of Westeros now that their patriarch has fallen? Rhaenys was denied a crown that she felt was hers. And now she desires to snatch it from the rightful royal line by whatever means possible.”

“And that is why you spurned the marriage with Princess Rhaenyra? It would be a good match, and it is not like the King has made up his mind on some other option. If your worry is that the claim will be pushed by force or whatever means, why not merge the claims and be done with it. Let Princess Rhaenys have her grandchildren on the Iron Throne and let there be peace.”

“Surely you would not be so blind. Is it treason instead, Strong? The King intends for the Princess to rule as King in her own right. Do you think Laenor Targaryen, that boy that so vigorously defended his claim before even fully out of his swaddling clothes, would submit to Rhaenyra as Queen? Do you think he would see himself as Prince-Consort? Or would he see himself as King of the Seven Kingdoms with all that means? And in that case, do you not think it is treason to put forth a match that would be counter to the King’s true wishes and might see his chosen heir supplanted?” He asked, and Strong backed down with an inclined head. The Hand’s silver tongue was truly unmatched.

“But that still leaves us the matter of how we assert the Crown’s power over House Velaryon. You yourself did a good job of painting the power they have amassed”

“They have power, but no legitimacy. I have worked and bled for this day. If the realm is to vote again, Laenor Velaryon would not even get a third as many as the King would. They have no support, and that means when we push them, they will back down like any house would.”

“And the Dragons?”

“Dragon riders or not, they would never slay their own kin. Neither would they rise in open rebellion— not unless they felt they had a chance of winning. House Velaryon is power hungry and grasping. But if we are quick and thorough, they will bend before they break.” He said, and he sounded so confident that it was not hard to believe him. And so they began to scheme and plan late into the night.

“Lord Beesbury, were you able to create what I asked of you?” The Hand asked then.

“Yes, Lord Hand. But I must add that these provisions will be most unfair to certain Houses. I would not be surprised if they petitioned the King to see a reduction or even elimination.” The Reach Lord said. Runciter almost shook his head as the Master of Coin began to hand out sheets of parchment. The man was a genius when it came to numbers. He could understand and see them in a way that Runciter just could not. He had been chosen for his wise stewardship of House Beesbury’s holdings, after all. Turning a Honey producing house into one of the richest in a Kingdom as large as the Reach was impressive. That he had done it without fermenting rebellion among his small folk from overtaxation was a feat worthy of reverence.