307 AC.
King's Landing.
The Red Keep, Maegor's Holdfast, the royal bedchamber.
"Ah..."
With Sansa's breathless cry, the king and queen's morning exercise finally came to an end.
"Hah..."
Galon breathed softly, his head resting against the pillow as he sank into a brief, peaceful daze.
After quite some time, Sansa finally recovered from the overwhelming pleasure.
Her cheeks were flushed, and she leaned lazily against Galon's chest, still breathing softly.
"Mmm..."
"Are you really leaving King's Landing today?"
There was a hint of displeasure in Sansa's hoarse voice as she idly traced circles across Galon's broad chest with one finger.
"Yes. The Citadel says next year will probably be another summer.
While the plans for rebuilding King's Landing are still being prepared, I need to inspect the Seven Kingdoms first.
Once construction begins next year, I won't be able to leave even if I want to."
Galon glanced at Sansa, his hand resting gently against her back.
"Hmph. You know perfectly well that's not what I'm talking about!
Are you planning to use the royal inspection as an excuse to fool around with those women and visit your bastards?
Perhaps you'll even take the opportunity to father another one or two?"
Sansa sounded thoroughly annoyed.
When her anger reached its peak, she glared fiercely at her husband and gave his shoulder a sharp bite.
Galon's expression did not change.
Sansa had bitten him more than once before, so he simply remained still and let her vent.
When she finally let go, Galon turned toward her with a smile.
"Jealous?"
"Hmph! Who would be jealous over you?"
Sansa turned away from him, huffing angrily.
"You're the king.
You can love whoever you want and take whoever you want.
At worst, I'll give the queen's position to one of those vixens.
I'll simply take Aegon and Robb back to Winterfell. Out of sight, out of mind."
Galon chuckled and pulled her into his arms, speaking intimately.
"Sansa, don't be silly. You know you're the only woman I love. Our kingdom can only be inherited by our sons.
Besides, I've already explained everything about Mya, Asha, Arianne, and the others."
Sansa continued facing away from him, replying irritably.
"Explained what?
That you had no choice but to sacrifice yourself for the kingdom and sell your body?
Look at our great hero. He sleeps with a few women and suddenly he can become king and stabilize the realm!"
Faced with Sansa's sarcasm, Galon could only laugh helplessly.
Six years earlier, after defeating the Others at the Wall, the people had proclaimed him king.
Galon had studied history extensively and knew that governing a realm could never rely on military strength alone.
To secure the loyalty of as many people as possible, Galon had begun negotiating interests after killing Daenerys.
The wildlings led by Mance Rayder had been the easiest to convince.
Galon granted Mance a stretch of land beyond the Wall, allowing him to lead his people there to settle and live.
Later, he relocated a portion of those wildlings to the Crownlands as well.
As for the giants...
They had lost nearly half their population during the battle at the Milk River and now numbered little more than three hundred.
Their extinction was dangerously close.
To give them a chance to recover and prosper, Galon placed them under Bran's care and promised to send them supplies every year for the next fifty years.
The North, Riverlands, Vale, and Iron Islands were already staunch allies.
Galon did not need to worry about them.
As for the Westerlands, Reach, and Dorne, he only needed to use the presence of his dragon as a mild deterrent and offer them some benefits before they agreed to his terms.
Only the Stormlands proved troublesome.
Ser Poncus, one of House Baratheon's most loyal followers, proposed a difficult condition.
He wanted Galon to find someone who could inherit Storm's End and the Baratheon name.
The only requirement was that the person possess Baratheon blood.
After thinking about it for a moment, Galon immediately thought of Mya Stone.
After careful consideration, Galon ultimately agreed to Ser Poncus's request.
In the name of the king, he legitimized Mya and granted her Storm's End.
As for what happened afterward...
Mya, who had always been a woman who loved fiercely and hated fiercely, rejected most noble marriage proposals over the next six years.
She remained devoted to Galon.
She made several trips to King's Landing.
Considering the situation in the Stormlands, Galon could only repeatedly involve himself personally to reassure her and stabilize the region.
In the end, Mya gave birth to a son the previous year.
Arianne, meanwhile, was simply an accident.
After Galon shipped Daenerys's followers back to Essos, Arianne decided to return to Dorne with her army.
Before leaving, she found time to share one last private evening with Galon.
The result was immediate.
Not long after Arianne returned to Sunspear, she discovered that she was pregnant.
That old fox Prince Doran even wrote to Galon to congratulate him, saying that both mother and child were safe and that His Grace was clearly favored by the gods, since all his children seemed destined to be sons.
Sansa refused to speak to Galon for several days because of it.
"Sansa, my queen. If you don't believe me, you can send someone with me this time.
Or, better yet, come with me yourself.
Would that satisfy you?"
Galon held Sansa close and whispered affectionately.
"Really?"
Sansa became excited and quickly turned over.
"You're really taking me with you?"
"Of course!"
"But Robb is still little. He's only two years old. I'll need to find someone I trust to take care of him."
A flicker passed through Galon's eyes.
He had effortlessly found Sansa's weak point.
Sansa immediately deflated like a punctured balloon, sinking helplessly into his arms.
"Forget it. I'll stay and look after little Robb. He's been a little difficult about eating lately..."
But then she glanced sideways at Galon and gave a little huff.
"Hmph. Don't think this means I've forgiven you.
I'll have Lady Margaery keep an eye on you.
She's my best friend. She certainly won't hide your little tricks from me like the others do."
Galon nodded with an odd expression.
He kissed Sansa lightly on the forehead and thought to himself, 'Your best friend sold you out long ago.'
'She's even wilder than you when we're alone...'
After the Dothraki uprising, Margaery's brother and grandmother had both died, making her Mace Tyrell's heir.
To maintain control over the Reach, Galon had kept Mace in King's Landing by appointing him to a prominent position on the Small Council.
His daughter Margaery had remained in the capital as well.
After Sansa arrived in King's Landing, Margaery deliberately cultivated their friendship and quickly became Sansa's closest confidante.
She often shared little secrets with Galon behind Sansa's back.
Galon understood Margaery's intentions perfectly.
His attitude toward her had always been simple: never pursue, never refuse, never take responsibility.
She would bring him sweetness, and he would send her trouble in return.
Every time, Margaery would leave thoroughly exasperated.
Just as Galon finished reassuring Sansa, there was a soft knock on the door.
It was Ser Barristan of the Kingsguard.
"Your Grace, Lord Tyrion requests an audience. He says he has finished planning the reconstruction of King's Landing."
"All right. Tell him to wait a moment."
Galon gently patted Sansa before getting out of bed and dressing.
He then began the final task he needed to complete before embarking on his inspection of the kingdom.
After confirming the details with the Imp, Galon formally bid farewell to Sansa and began his journey, which would last more than half a year.
Six years had passed.
With the Cold God sealed, the long winter had never come.
After only four years of winter, Westeros had once again entered spring and summer.
During that time, Galon had devoted himself to rebuilding the Crownlands and King's Landing, both of which had been devastated by the Dothraki.
Now, he finally had the opportunity to extend his influence and authority across the entire Seven Kingdoms.
And to gain a better understanding of the realm as a whole, Galon chose not to travel by dragon.
Instead, he traveled by royal caravan and fleet.
Galon departed King's Landing and headed first for the Stormlands.
After spending several days with Mya, he agreed to her request and legitimized his bastard son as Mya's heir.
The royal caravan then followed the border with Dorne before eventually reaching Sunspear.
After concluding his discussions with Prince Doran and Arianne, Galon sailed to Oldtown in the Reach, then traveled from there to Highgarden.
At Highgarden, Margaery, back on her home ground, used a carefully planned trick to catch Galon off guard and became pregnant.
Seeing the situation, Galon had no choice but to leave Margaery in Highgarden while he continued west with his entourage.
Because Davon Lannister of Casterly Rock had signed the treaty surrendering territory, his prestige in the Westerlands was not particularly high.
Even after forming marriage alliances with several important western families, many of the Westerlands lords continued drifting toward Tyrion, whom Galon had heavily favored.
Especially after Tyrion fathered a healthy son, more and more of Tywin's former supporters began siding with him.
And Galon was quietly encouraging it from behind the scenes.
He intended to create a struggle between the Imp and Davon, allowing himself to maintain control over the Westerlands.
His strategy proved highly successful.
Davon hated Tyrion with a passion.
The two began openly and secretly competing over the succession of Casterly Rock.
As a result, Davon gave Galon an exceptionally grand welcome, completely abandoning the perfunctory attitude he had shown years earlier.
He wanted the king's support.
After remaining at Casterly Rock for several days, Galon successfully reassured Davon before following the River Road to Riverrun.
Six years earlier, the Riverlands had also suffered through the Dothraki invasion.
As a result, Edmure had resigned as Hand of the King the following year and devoted himself entirely to governing the Riverlands.
He had not forgotten Roslin Frey.
The two had married and now had a daughter who was three years old.
"Your Grace, your eldest son is now five, while my daughter is three. Why don't we arrange a betrothal between them?"
At the banquet in Riverrun, Edmure made his proposal while Galon was in a good mood.
"Hmm..."
Galon was momentarily surprised, but quickly recovered and smiled.
"Let me return to King's Landing and discuss it with Sansa.
Lord Edmure, you know that I once promised your sister that one of my sons would take the Stark name.
Ed and Robb are still young, and Sansa hasn't decided which of them should inherit House Stark."
He neither accepted nor rejected the proposal.
Edmure was somewhat disappointed, but not entirely surprised.
"That's fair. Then I'll wait for Your Grace's answer.
But Your Grace, Winterfell is currently under Arya's rule. Surely she will eventually need to marry and produce an heir?"
Galon shook his head and sighed.
"Don't mention Arya. She's nearly driven Sansa mad!"
He looked at Edmure and explained,
"Ever since Sansa and I moved to King's Landing, no one has been able to control that girl.
She's practically gone wild.
Even the vast North can't contain her. She keeps saying she wants to become a knight and travel the world.
Maester Luwin has no choice but to complain to Sansa."
Edmure thought of his young niece's personality and could only smile bitterly.
The conversation soon drifted toward the difficult subject of raising children.
Several days later, after meeting with the remaining Riverlands lords, Galon set out for Seagard, where he would board a ship bound for the Iron Islands.
At Pyke, Galon met his six-year-old son with Asha, Balon Greyjoy.
"Why did you give him that name?"
That evening, after Galon and Asha had retired to the Sea Tower, he asked her about it.
"What would you have named him? Theon?"
After giving birth, Asha had become even more passionate about sailing.
She frequently led her fleet into the Summer Sea to raid, while their son was largely left in the care of his uncle Harlaw.
"No, no. Balon is fine."
"If he turns out like your brother Theon, we're doomed."
Galon shook his head, earning an irritated look from Asha.
"How is the situation in the Summer Sea?"
"Much the same."
"But what you did by selling the Dothraki to the slavers of Slaver's Bay angered several of their... khals."
"When I returned, I heard that Meereen..."
"...had been sacked."
"Ah..."
The two continued talking late into the night.
Several days later, after meeting with the captains of the Iron Islands, Galon set out for Deepwood Motte in the North.
Now that he was king, his old Bloody Fist banner had also been crowned.
Most of the Steel Fist Company he had founded himself had been brought to the Crownlands, where Galon granted them noble titles.
His uncle Robett Glover inherited Deepwood Motte, becoming the head of a cadet branch of House Glover in the North.
The family's banner and words remained unchanged.
After spending a night talking with his uncle at Deepwood Motte, Galon traveled to Winterfell the following day.
"Arya, what are you looking at?"
"Placidusax didn't come this time!"
At the Hunter's Gate, Galon noticed that after Arya had finished bowing, she continued looking around.
He immediately realized that she had been hoping to ride the dragon again.
The moment Arya learned that the dragon had not come, her face fell.
"Galon, you're terrible. Why..."
"Arya, mind your words. You should call him Your Grace!"
Nearby, the much older Maester Luwin could not help correcting her.
Arya, however, waved him off casually. "Galon won't be angry. We're family. Why bother with all that?"
Maester Luwin was so exasperated that he coughed several times.
Seeing this, Galon stepped forward to smooth things over.
"Arya is right.
The North is my home. There is no need to be so formal here.
Come, my lords. Tonight there is no king and no vassals. There are only northerners.
Let us drink until we can drink no more!"
Galon's words prompted the entire Winterfell to erupt in cheers.
That evening, the great hall of Winterfell once again resembled the lively gatherings of years past, back when armies had marched off to war.
Greatjon loudly boasted about Galon's past exploits as usual.
Tormund and others competed loudly over their drinking.
And Loras, his face flushed from drink, repeatedly raised his cup to Arya.
Jon, meanwhile, brought his four-year-old son over to speak with Galon.
Yes.
The former Jon Snow had become Lord Jon Gotaek.
After Galon granted him the title of Lord of the Dreadfort, Jon had named his new house "Gotaek."
The name symbolized the use of weapons to protect the North and House Stark.
The family's banner depicted a longsword clashing against an iron fist, with the background bearing the colors of House Stark.
In the second year after becoming Lord Gotaek, Jon married a daughter of House Karstark and fathered the son now standing beside him.
"Your Grace, this is my son, Rickon Gotaek."
Jon held his son's hand and respectfully introduced him to Galon.
He had originally intended to name his son Ed, in memory of his father.
But after hearing that Galon's eldest and second sons were named Ed and Robb, Jon had hesitated before finally choosing Rickon.
"Haha! Good lad!"
Galon laughed and gently rubbed Rickon's head before looking up at Jon.
"Once the boy is a little older, send him to King's Landing. Let him keep my eldest son Ed company."
Jon was instantly delighted.
"Yes, Your Grace!"
The others immediately regretted not bringing their own children along.
Unable to hide their envy, they could only raise their cups to Galon again and again.
Galon accepted every toast.
By the end of the night, he had managed to drink nearly every northern lord under the table.
"Haha!"
"Come on, another round. Get up and drink!"
The welcoming banquet for the king ended amid laughter and drunken revelry.
After spending several days at Winterfell, Galon set out for the Wall with Arya and Jon.
He visited the Night's Watch and Mance Rayder's people.
He also brought Arya and Jon to meet the "Three-Eyed Raven," Bran Stark, who had become one with the weirwood.
Jon and Arya had already learned what had happened to Bran three years earlier.
Even so, seeing him in person still filled them with sorrow.
Bran, however, did not mind.
He told Galon about the situation beyond the Wall and the settlements of the giants.
Only after hearing that everything remained peaceful did Galon bid Bran farewell and leave with Jon and Arya.
Arya and Jon eventually parted ways with Galon at Castle Black.
Galon then took the royal guard to Eastwatch, where he met with the Skagosi before boarding a ship for his final destination, the Vale.
Six years had passed.
Lord Royce had aged considerably.
Compared with the decisive warrior Galon had known during the final battle, he seemed almost like a different man, his entire demeanor carrying the weight of old age.
Robert Arryn was still thin and frail, though he had grown considerably taller.
"You look much sturdier now."
"In a few years, I'll have young Robert serve as my squire."
At the Moon Gate, Galon rubbed Robert's hair and smiled at Lord Royce.
"Haha, that would be wonderful!"
Lord Royce immediately relaxed.
His health had been deteriorating rapidly, and he could not say when he might go to join the Seven.
As Jon Arryn's most trusted vassal, Lord Royce refused to let Robert Arryn be manipulated by people with ulterior motives and bring shame upon House Arryn and the Vale.
So hearing that Galon intended to honor the promise he had made years ago finally put his mind at ease.
During the banquet, Lord Royce even pulled Galon aside and reminisced about amusing events from their younger days.
The stories had everyone laughing.
Galon remained at the Moon Gate for several days.
After meeting most of the Vale's nobles, he finally began the journey back to King's Landing.
More than half a year after leaving, Galon returned to King's Landing.
Now, he would begin governing his kingdom in earnest.
308 AC.
Galon reached an agreement with the Banks of Lys, Tyrosh, and Myr.
They would finance the reconstruction of King's Landing, while Galon would exempt their traded goods from taxation for twenty years.
In the second half of the year, the reconstruction of King's Landing officially began.
309 AC.
Galon gathered a group of maesters and spent five years developing a method for producing and refining high-quality salt.
He ordered the Master of Coin to oversee its sale.
Within only half a year, the refined salt became a best-selling commodity in the nine great trading cities of Essos.
That same year, Galon spent heavily to establish the Royal Fleet.
He also accelerated the reconstruction of King's Landing through trade and the purchase of laborers.
310 AC.
The Royal Fleet officially began operations.
312 AC.
A Salt War erupted between Westeros and the banks of Lys and Tyrosh over the salt trade.
Galon ordered the Royal Fleet to fight alongside the Iron Fleet.
They defeated the disguised Tyroshi and Lysene pirates in the Narrow Sea before launching a formal attack on the two trading cities.
313 AC.
The Royal Fleet occupied Tyrosh and, together with the Iron Fleet, defeated the Lysene fleet.
Lys and Tyrosh were forced to sign an unfavorable treaty and place all their banks under Galon's control.
315 AC.
Galon arrived in Myr on dragonback.
Myr surrendered.
Using the banks of Lys, Tyrosh, and Myr as its foundation, Galon formally established the Royal Bank and reorganized the responsibilities of the Master of Coin.
Galon and Sansa had their third daughter.
318 AC.
After ten years of work, the reconstruction of King's Landing was finally completed.
The foul stench that had once permeated the city was gone, and every district now had its own proper function.
The trade of the entire realm increasingly centered upon King's Landing.
In the latter half of the same year, Galon established the Royal Guard in the Crownlands, a force loyal solely to the royal family, with an initial strength of five thousand men.
Galon and Sansa had their fourth daughter.
320 AC.
Galon's eldest son, Ed Glover, formally married the daughter of lord Edmure of the Riverlands.
Galon's second son, Robb Stark, officially succeeded as lord of Winterfell.
After spending a night with Galon in King's Landing, Arya Stark departed for Essos to travel the world.
325 AC.
After more than two decades of diligent rule, the population of Westeros began to grow rapidly.
Galon now possessed enough wealth and resources to finally deal with the Citadel.
In the latter half of the year, Galon summoned maesters from the Citadel and established the Royal Academy in King's Landing.
Its purpose was to educate the children of noble families and prepare them for service to the crown.
The Royal Guard was expanded to twenty thousand men.
330 AC.
At the urging of several members of the Small Council and various maesters, Galon began reforming the political system of the realm.
The Westerosi Empire was formally established.
For achievements unprecedented in history, Galon was officially crowned the first Emperor of the Westerosi Empire.
345 AC.
With the dragons having disappeared from public view for many years, unrest erupted in the Westerlands.
Galon sent his eldest son, Ed Glover, at the head of the Royal Guard to suppress the rebellion.
The war ended in victory.
Davon Lannister was stripped of his title, which was instead granted to Tyrion's son, Tywin Lannister.
The position of Warden of the West was also stripped from the Lannisters and returned to the royal family.
That same year, Sansa Stark died of illness at the age of fifty-nine.
346 AC.
Galon abdicated as Emperor of the Westerosi Empire and allowed his eldest son, Ed Glover, to succeed him.
On the second day after his abdication, Galon summoned Placidusax and formally began his plan to travel the world.
400 AC.
After more than forty years, Galon completed his travels throughout Essos and the Shadow Lands.
460 AC.
Galon spent sixty years exploring the continent of Sothoryos.
490 AC.
After thirty years of research, Galon discovered a method of reaching the ruins of Valyria and finally witnessed the true face of the ancient ruins.
500 AC.
Galon rode an aging Placidusax back beyond the Wall and returned to the long-abandoned cave of the Three-Eyed Raven.
During the final year of his life, the empire he had built was already falling into civil war.
But Galon paid it no mind.
He quietly remained beside his dragon, slowly spending the last years of his life.
During his final month, he found a book at the Wall that had been written a hundred years earlier.
The True Biography of the Emperor of the Empire — Written by Archmaester Samwell Tarly of the Citadel
Preface:
[His Majesty Galon's life was one filled with legend.
Born in the wolfswood, this man favored by the gods showed his extraordinary talent from childhood.
In order to win his queen, he fought a knight thirty years his senior to the death.
He supported the North, attacked the ironborn, saved the trout... and eventually defeated the Others and became a hero.
At the time, he was only seventeen years old.
From becoming king at seventeen to becoming emperor at forty-seven, his life was destined to shine brightly throughout the river of history.
Now, let us enter the lesser-known stories of His Majesty Galon's life and examine the journey of his heart...]
"Samwell, you bastard!"
"How dare you make up scandalous rumors about me..."
"Placidusax, we should never have saved him back then. We should have just let him die..."
Galon flipped through the book in his hands, complaining endlessly to Placidusax, who was already nearing the end of its life.
501 AC.
Galon peacefully passed away in the cave of the Three-Eyed Raven beyond the Wall.
He was 216 years old.
The instant he died, Placidusax also reached the end of its life.
Its enormous body turned to ash within a few breaths and scattered into the wind.
Within a brilliant green dreamscape...
"My child, you have finally come!"
"Galon, my Galon..."
"Darling, what took you so long..."
"Father!"
"Master..."
When Galon opened his eyes once more, countless voices echoed around him.
His vision gradually focused.
Countless dreams drifted past his eyes, while countless others emerged in their place.
The workings of life and the decay of death were laid bare before him.
Galon shifted his gaze and suddenly realized that he stood at the center of an ocean of consciousness belonging to both the living and the dead.
The next moment, a magnificent long table appeared, stretching all the way to the end of time.
"Hello, Old Gods!"
"It's time for the meeting!"