All of Essos was in an uproar and chaos. The news of the appearance of dragons had spread like wildfire, and every person was frantic about it.
It was the only topic on the lips of every person in Essos. From the powerful and ruling magisters of Lys to rich merchants of Myr to the highly influential keyholders of the Iron Bank, everyone was shell shocked by the news. This development had forced them into deep discussion and debate regarding the repercussions of the appearance of dragons and that of Rhaenys Targaryen.
With these debates came the memories of the red comet that had appeared in the sky not long ago. At that time, many people had believed it to be a symbol of many different things. But now, most of them were either firmly believing or wondering if that red comet had been a sign of the reappearance of dragons, which had been extinct for more than a century. And they wondered about the consequences of such an event.
At the center of all this chaos and upheaval was Qohor. The city had seen more change in fifteen days than it had seen in decades. The city had found its new ruler. A queen. Rhaenys Targaryen.
Slavery had all but been banned. In a three month period, of which fifteen days had already passed, every last slave was to be set free. It was a monumental step.
The six thousand Unsullied who were meant for the protection of the city had already been freed from slavery. They had been given the option to either continue serving the new queen at a fixed salary or leave and begin a new life. And just as Rhaenys had hoped, almost every Unsullied had decided to remain and continue serving her.
The city was being cleaned and repaired. New buildings were being planned and commissioned. The streets were cleaner than before and plans were being made to pave every street with cement and brick. In only a few days, the merchants who sold the bricks, cement and white paint had their stocks emptied and more orders in huge quantities were being placed.
Whether it was the sewage system or waste collection, everything was being updated. Even this work, which had only just begun its execution, was but the tip of the iceberg of what was in the pipeline, to be completed as soon as she had the required funds and competent manpower.
Thanks to all the initiatives Rhaenys had taken, there had also been a surge in employment in the city. Thousands upon thousands were being employed, and the local populace was more than happy.
Rhaenys, meanwhile, was drained of funds. The taxes were barely enough to support her initiatives. Until the city was firmly on the path of prosperity, the tax collection was never going to be sufficient. In this case, Rhaenys had resorted to taking loans from the extremely rich magisters.
Initially, the magisters had been worried that Rhaenys might never be able to repay the debt and that all her initiatives were bound to go down the drain. That she was merely snatching their wealth that she had promised to spare.
But when Rhaenys had shown them the 'Dragon steel' and Valyrian steel, all their hesitation had vanished. With that miraculous item, there was no doubt that once the steel started to be sold, a river of wealth was destined to flow into the city.
She was walking through the streets of Qohor. The results of her initiatives were already visible. The streets were cleaner and work to pave and widen the major streets of the city had already begun. Flowers were being planted on both the sides of the streets and the beauty of the city was being enhanced.
"Your Grace," an old man in his sixties, walking next to her, said. "Have you thought about the day you will hold your formal coronation?"
This old man was Bardley. He was one of the oldest and most experienced magisters of Qohor.
Bardley was one such man whom Rhaenys found to be genuine. Like most of his kind, he too sought power and influence, but he was not as low-live as the rest of them. He was genuinely willing to change and was happy to see the lives of the common people changing. And since Rick had been busy and devoted towards the forging of the Dragon Steel, Bradley had risen to take up that position of being the 'informal' advisor of Rhaenys.
"Is having a formal coronation really that important?" she questioned her eyes leaving the workers working for the pavement of the street. "Whether I do it or not, it does not change the fact that I am the Queen."
"Although everyone knows and accepts that you are the Queen," Bradley replied, "holding a coronation, where you will have a crown placed upon your head, sit upon the throne, and formally take a title, will solidify and formalize your position. The crown on your head will make people look up to you. "
Rhaenys nodded thoughtfully. She was not keen on having a formal coronation. It was only a matter of time before her kingdom would be merged into Lord Aeon's empire. In this scenario, she was not sure if she should take up a throne. But now that so many of her advisors were suggesting it, she was reconsidering her options.
Bradley did not say anything. He was not able to understand why her grace was not very willing to get a throne placed on her head. Even so, he did not press the issue further. It was for her grace to decide.
"Your Grace," he said, snapping her attention away from the workers on the streets. "We should get going. All the merchants, lords, and traders you invited for the demonstration of the Dragon Steel will be about to arrive."
Yes! This was the first time the Dragon Steel was going to be demonstrated to the outside world. For days, thanks to the magisters who already knew about it, a rumour had been spreading through the entire city, but nothing had been verified. But today would be the day when she would demonstrate it and its sales would begin.
[We will probably have one more chapter before we shift back towards Jon and his conquering of the Free Cities. It is hard to say, but in probably around 10 to 12 chapters, we will be either very close to the timeline of canon or already within the timeline of canon. Not that the canon will happen as the canon. Jon will not hesitate to make moves just so that he can keep the plot intact. And I know many of you will again ask so here I answer. He will get Ghost. And do not ask for spoilers.]
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