Aemon tilted his head and said in surprise, "You have to give me a reason?"
Although it was still a mother-son conversation, the voice was no longer cheerful.
"Marriage is a big deal, no matter how serious it is."
Lady Rhea said lightly, "I don't like Targaryens, and I don't like girls with Targaryen blood either."
Aemon became more and more confused and stared at her in a daze.
Lady Rhea continued, "The one on Driftmark Island is also of Targaryen blood."
Two sentences.
Not only did they deny Rhaenyra, they implicated Laena as well.
Aemon frowned. "Laena hasn't offended you, has she?"
"You like her?"
Lady Rhea asked quickly.
Aemon hesitated for a moment and denied it. "Not really."
Laena is indeed very good.
She's beautiful, generous, intelligent, and has a unique, gentle temperament.
But there is a gap between the two.
For many years, the Sea Snake has failed to solve the stubborn problem of his daughter's marriage and has kept the son of the former King of the Sea of Braavos like a pig.
This disgusted Aemon, who thought the Velaryon family was too calculating.
The Sea Serpent wanted him to kill the Sea King's son to preserve the reputation of his daughter and family.
Additionally, Laena was too smart.
She was a 12-year-old girl determined to tame Vhagar, the largest and oldest dragon in the world.
And she succeeded.
Even "Brave Baelon" only managed to tame Vhagar after he was knighted at the age of sixteen.
This made him feel as if he were stripped naked and seen through when he was with Laena.
Without secrets, it is impossible to establish basic trust.
Over time, the two went from having a friendly relationship to actively distancing themselves from each other.
Occasionally, they would communicate or meet atop the dragon.
However, it can't be said that they liked each other.
"Then it's over."
Lady Rhea looked as if she had expected it and calmly said, "You don't like either of them, so why not marry a girl from the Vale?"
Aemon noticed something strange and sought an answer. "Mom, why do you insist on marrying a girl from the Vale?"
"If you can't see the problem, look at the result."
You can always find clues by inferring the cause from the result.
Lady Rhea said, "You have to do this if you want to take root in the Vale."
"Are you worried that I will betray the Royce family if I marry a dragon rider?"
Aemon closed his eyes and sighed.
"People and dragons influence each other."
He was already getting irritated and couldn't help but tear the windowpaper.
He was able to inherit the Royce family's Runestone City with the Targaryen surname not only because of his mother, Lady Rhea, but also because of his great-uncle Jonbert Royce's plan.
His mother married his father, and their offspring had Targaryen blood.
One example is the sea snake, Corlys.
Two of their children are dragon riders, and their family's power has skyrocketed.
Although this calculation failed in the original world,
With Aemon, however, the Royce family's prestige and power in the Vale is no longer second to anyone.
However, everything in excess is bad.
If he marries a Targaryen, their children will be alienated from the Royce family.
At that time, the Royce family will be at risk of being wiped out.
This move is a blessing and a curse, showing the boldness of Jonbert Royce in politics.
"More than that!"
Lady Rhea shook her head. "If you only want to inherit Runestone City, I won't force you."
"But if you want to develop the river valley, it's essential that you marry a girl from the Vale."
Aemon opened his eyes and asked suspiciously. "Will someone trip me up?"
Lady Rhea took a sip of wine and slowly replied, "The river valley was once an outpost of the Royce family, but it fell into disarray after the Andal invasion."
"In the thousands of years since then, this land has belonged to Runestone City, Ironoaks, and Redfort at different times."
"Until a few years ago, the mountain clans became more and more rampant, and the land became completely unowned."
Aemon suddenly realized.
No wonder the river valley was unowned; it turned out to be a buffer zone.
By occupying the river valley, he touched the interests of the nobles in the Vale.
His identity was also too sensitive.
A Targaryen prince with a dragon had settled in the Vale.
Did this scene resemble the time when the conqueror Aegon landed on the continent of Westeros?
Lady Rhea remained composed and said, "Your goal is to gain a foothold in the Vale, so you must abide by its rules."
She knew very well that her son's personality was similar to her husband's beneath his playful exterior.
They both admired dragons and were clever, but they lacked patience.
Such people can attract countless followers wherever they go, but they will always be excluded and have a hard time gaining a foothold.
If you are unwilling to sacrifice, you will be envied.
"The rules of the Vale?"
Aemon pondered carefully.
His mother meant that he would gain the nobles' recognition through marriage.
To put it bluntly, it was a token of surrender.
The struggle for power was clearly visible.
Lady Rhea was not impatient. She slowly savored the aroma of wine, waiting for her son to make a decision.
"Mom."
After a moment of contemplation, Aemon spoke, his voice serious: "I have a dragon. Why should I abide by the rules of the Vale?"
My great-grandfather's integration strategy proves that truth.
Compromise will only result in a heavy price being paid.
He will never win with the nobles' rules of the Vale.
Lady Rhea still doesn't understand.
"Why don't we overturn the rules and set new ones for the nobles of the Vale?"
Aemon's eyes were deep, and his tone changed.
Majestic, iron-fisted, and murderous—more like a decisive, iron-blooded monarch.
Hearing this, Lady Rhea's pupils suddenly shrank. She said in disbelief, "You want to challenge the Arryn family?"
It was a fair question.
Aemon nodded vigorously and said solemnly, "Using Runestone City as a springboard to seize power in the Vale. I don't believe my great-grandfather and Lord Jonbert never had this idea."
Lady Rhea was even more shocked.
Uncle Jonbert must have said something similar.
She thought it was her uncle's obsession with the honor of the "Bronze King."
However, the old man remained loyal throughout his life.
Aemon was very rational and said slowly, "This idea only existed in its embryonic stage. It was abandoned by the two old men at the same time, but it makes sense."
He was raised by his great-grandfather, who never stopped nagging him.
This made him aware of many secrets.
For example, the marriage between the Targaryen and Royce families was no coincidence.
The heir, Aemon, was killed, leaving only the second son, "Brave Baelon," to fight the tripod.
At the time, the great-grandfather's idea was that eggs should not be put in one basket.
He separated the second grandson, Daemon; borrowed chickens and eggs from the Royce family; and spread the bloodline to the Vale.
Lord Jonbert's idea was also pure: take the opportunity to obtain the blood of the real dragon and strengthen the family's power.
If possible, you can take it a step further.
The two old men have different ideas about this "step further."
Lord Jonbert wants to regain control of the Moon Mountains and restore the Royce family's glory.
However, he didn't expect that, shortly after Daemon married his niece, Rhea, the old Lord Arryn and his heir were killed.
Only a three-year-old girl was left.
There was no way to challenge; only to assist.
The great-grandfather considered the long term and made preparations.
Daemon, the second grandson, married Lady Rhea.
Before that, the eldest grandson, Viserys, married Queen Aemma, who had Targaryen blood.
Through these political marriages, the Targaryen family will always have a place in the Vale.
No matter how you look at it, it's a sure win.
However, accidents happen.
Daemon doesn't like Lady Rhea and refuses to sleep with her.
In 101 AC, "Brave Baelon" died, which was a heavy blow to the royal family.
Two events nearly brought down the old man.
Seeking stability in the chaos, Lord Jonbert threatened Daemon with the right of succession to force him to consummate his marriage with Lady Rhea.
Aemon was successfully born.
The two families barely recovered.
Without "Brave Baelon," however, the royal family struggled.
Queen Aemma could not bear a son, and Daemon coveted his brother's throne.
With constant internal disputes, there was no intention to expand outward.
"Mom."
Aemon was determined to change. His voice was sonorous and powerful. "One punch is better than a hundred punches!"
On this continent, whoever has the bigger fist has the right to speak.
The people of the Vale are just sheep.
Looking into Lady Rhea's doubtful eyes, Aemon calmly said, "I was born of bronze and fire. I am a real dragon that eats sheep!"
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