Chapter 124 The Iron Throne Rejected Him, But the People Accepted Him
The Red Sea Monster was still waiting for the Iron Fleet to assemble; several captains' longships had not yet arrived. Although the Three Daughters had been severely battered by Dragonzel's Silver Fleet, it still possessed some naval power, and King Dalton never fought an unprepared war.
While the Red Sea Monster anxiously awaited the late captains and sharpened his swords against the Three Daughters, Dragonzel and Jacaerys had already flown to every castle in the West. Jacaerys held Royal Family courts in the lords' halls, under ancient trees in the countryside, and in the gold mines, listening to the petitions of the common people and the lords. He dispensed justice for young lords whose fathers or brothers had gone to the Great Wall, and championed the rights of the common people. Under Jacaerys's persuasion, the lords willingly opened their treasuries, paying fines themselves rather than resorting to exhaustive taxation. In Lannisport, Jacaerys personally held Jason Lannister's only son, Loreon Lannister, on the throne of the King of the Rock, accepting the fealty of all West lords and helping Madam Johanna consolidate her rule. After resolving affairs in the West, Jacaerys flew back to the Riverlands with almost no delay to receive supplies arriving from the South.
Under the supervision of Vermax and Vermithor, these supplies, including food and medicine, were distributed to the people very smoothly. Jacaerys flew to plague-stricken villages and castles throughout the Crownlands, bringing them the wisdom accumulated by the Citadel over thousands of years.
Although the Scholars could not cure the shivers and dragon pox, combining the medical knowledge held by the Citadel with some contents from the Varezes Family's library, people learned that the shivers were suspected to be related to rats, and dragon pox was actually close to extinction—due to its extremely strong lethality, it was difficult for it to spread widely. Even Dr. Cole Long of the Citadel, before the specimen was lost, did not know that a dragon pox specimen was preserved in the Citadel's ice cellar.
Therefore, Jacaerys specifically requested Dragonzel to act as a go-between, purchasing a large number of rat-catching cats from the East Continent, and ordered Joffrey, Daemon, and Lord Corlys, who remained in King's Landing, to hire a large number of rat catchers.
During the King's Landing riot, Queen Rhaenyra's Master of Whisperers, "White Worm" Mysaria, had her brothel burned down by angry common people. Not wanting to be killed by the rioters, she threw herself into the flames that consumed her brothel. As for Lord Bartimos Celtigar, his sole reason for survival was that he had to remain in the Red Keep to clear the accounts.
Under the strong governance of the Serpent and Daemon, King's Landing quickly restored basic order. The Old Prince resumed his old profession, working for the City Watch, and with the large amount of supplies sent by Jacaerys, the plague in King's Landing was finally brought under initial control.
But just as everything was slowly improving, Jacaerys fell ill.
He had just flown back to the continent from Whisperfort on the Crab Claw Peninsula when he suddenly developed a high fever. At that moment, he wasn't even near any castle, with only Dragonzel and the Dragons beside him. And war-torn villages, farmlands turned to scorched earth, and corpses hanging from trees by the roadside.
"Do you regret it, Jaehaerys?"
Vermax coiled his body into a circle, letting Jacaerys lie on him. Although Dragons don't speak and don't have overly complex emotions, Dragonzel could feel the worry and heartache in Vermax's gaze, which was fixed on Jacaerys. If the Dragon's tongue wasn't as hot as fire, Dragonzel was very sure Vermax would have licked Jaehaerys a few times. Vermithor, meanwhile, used his Dragon wings to create a huge space for the young Dragon and the young King. The Old Dragon also looked at the man and Dragon beneath his wings, conveying to his companion the message that the boy would not live much longer.
Dragonzel knew this well. Although he was not a Scholar specializing in medicine, he had read the vast collection of books in his family during his childhood, which naturally included medical content. Jacaerys was not suffering from a simple cold; his symptoms were actually those of dragon pox. However, the Dragon King bloodline within him and the life force fed back by Vermax had played a role, preventing him from dying with bursting pustules all over his body like Amos Fezerel.
Jacaerys leaned against Vermax's body, shaking his head weakly. "Only after seeing them did I realize what my Mother did wrong, Lord." He looked at Dragonzel. "And the true state of the Realm. The common people need peace and a King who doesn't cause trouble, a King who can let them survive the winter. They need bread, salt, and light beer, preferably with some meat. Not honor that leaves no trace. My Mother believed her rights were inviolable, but she failed to grasp her power, Lord. I think I understand now. The true King's crown is not made of gold or Valyrian Steel, but made by them." Jacaerys raised his hand, pointing beyond the area covered by the Dragon wings.
The nearby common people saw the Dragon descend. They had just received relief from the South and had presented their requests to the King at the Royal Family court held by Jacaerys. The patient young King resolved each of their requests. When they learned that the Dragon had landed in the wilderness and the young King who had solved their problems was not holding court as before but was gravely ill lying beside the Dragon, people spontaneously gathered. There were soldiers who had been discharged and sent home, as well as old people and children, and women who had been abused by rogue soldiers, to whom Jacaerys had given respect and defended their legal rights. There were also Friars traveling through the countryside, and a few nobles also arrived, but they couldn't squeeze into the front rows, as the front was filled with common people in worn clothes.
The young King smiled and raised his hand, stroking Vermax's approaching head. "It's a pity I can't continue to accompany you, my companion. I hope your next companion is brave, just, and can accompany you for many more years." The Dragon whined and rubbed Jacaerys's hand.
Dragonzel could already see small, pale green-white pustules growing on Jacaerys's exposed skin, a sign of dragon pox onset.
"Lord Dragonzel, please save His Majesty," a thin Friar knelt outside the Dragon wing, shouting loudly. "We know you have the grace of the seven gods and can perform miracles unknown to mortals. Please save His Majesty."
Dragonzel smiled bitterly at the Friars outside and the people silently praying for Jacaerys. Some of them had questioned Jacaerys's lineage, and some had even accepted the Shepherd's fanatical doctrines. A considerable number of them had, in the countryside, once denounced his blood magic as "devil's sorcery."
But now, they hoped that this "bastard" they once spoke of would survive and continue to be their King. Vermithor gently spread his Dragon wings, preventing the common people from approaching Jacaerys.
"Raising the dead is the gods' prerogative," Dragonzel said. "And I am but a mortal. dragon pox is contagious, please do not approach the Dragon wing." He looked at Jacaerys. Jacaerys smiled and asked, "Lord, how much time do I have left?"
"When the pustules on your body rupture," Dragonzel said with a sigh, looking at the growing pustules, "the ancestors will come to take your life."
Jacaerys looked at the pustules on his body. "Then it seems I still have some time." He struggled to sit up but was pressed back down by Dragonzel. "You are still alive now, thanks entirely to Vermax. Do not leave his body, otherwise, you won't have enough time."
"Alright, Lord, from now on, in the name of the King of the Andal, Rhoynar, and First Men, Ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, I command you."
Dragonzel knelt before the dying young King, looking at Jacaerys gently.
"Please continue to serve as the King's Hand of the Realm." Jacaerys felt his consciousness beginning to blur. Some of the pustules on his body had already begun to rupture, but the pus that flowed out was instantly evaporated into nothingness by the heat emanating from between Vermax's scales. "After my death, Baela may remarry as she wishes. My brother Joffrey Velaryon will become the next Lord of Tide Stone, Lord of Tides. For this, he has renounced his claim to the Iron Throne. Therefore, I appoint my brother Aegon Targaryen as Prince of Dragonstone, heir to the Iron Throne. After my death, he shall succeed as King, and my stepfather Prince Daemon Targaryen shall continue to serve as Regent. Should my stepfather unfortunately pass away and Aegon still be underage, please serve as Aegon's foster father and Regent until Aegon comes of age."
Dragonzel nodded, indicating he accepted the appointment.
"Lord, I authorize you to organize Aegon's Small Council and Kingsguard, and, if you permit, I hope he can remain in Dragon Nest City under your tutelage until he is fourteen."
Dragonzel understood Jacaerys's meaning. The political situation in King's Landing was far more complex than in Dragon Nest City. Daemon could handle it well, but Aegon was too young and would likely be unable to manage the complex political affairs. Following the example of King Jaehaerys, having the Small Council serve as Regent for a period to handle King's Landing's affairs, while Aegon remained in the safer Dragon Nest City to learn how to manage state affairs, was a better choice than directly ascending the throne in King's Landing.
This also meant that Aegon's closeness to the Varezes Family would reach a terrifying degree, even far surpassing the closeness between the Targaryen Family and the House Velaryon.
This was also what Dragonzel hoped to see.
Jacaerys felt his brain starting to rust, and his entire body slowly lost sensation. He seemed to hear the prayers of the common people outside the Dragon wings.
But he could barely hear any sounds anymore. Pustules gradually grew in his ear canals, and a mixture of red and yellow pus slowly flowed from the young King's ears and body, eventually evaporating clean by the Dragon's heat.
Vermax let out a low whimper.
"Lord, as your attendant, I request you," Jacaerys suddenly pulled out a childish smile. "Knight me. I don't want to leave regrets like Lucerys."
Dragonzel stood up, his eyes also reddening. Since he was very young, he had stopped crying. Although his Old Lord had told Dragonzel many times to cry when he needed to, Dragonzel knew that his subordinates often needed not a tearful superior, but an iron will that could lead them at all times. Dragonzel's youthful side could only be shown in front of his brothers, and the Jacaerys brothers, to be honest, had accompanied Dragonzel for over six years. For Dragonzel, he had personally watched them both grow from children into valiant youths, and he had also personally watched them wither.
This feeling was truly difficult, but Dragonzel knew he couldn't cry.
Dragonzel drew his silver blood sword and gently tapped the young King's shoulder seven times, completing the Knighting ceremony for him.
Jacaerys smiled contentedly.
The young King slowly closed his eyes. Vermax suddenly let out wail after wail, and even Vermithor looked up at the sky, letting out a long, yet not harsh, Dragon roar.
People seemed to realize something. The Friar who had begged Dragonzel to save Jacaerys knelt down, took off his prayer beads, and slowly began to recite the stranger's scriptures.
Then came the common people, their mourning voices coalescing into long, distant sounds, like the tolling of bells.
Dragonzel silently watched the deceased Jacaerys. This brown-haired Targaryen, a handsome 15-year-old boy, left this land, most corners of which he had traversed, two months after his coronation at Harrenhal.
During his brief reign, Jacaerys I of the Targaryen Family never returned to King's Landing to sit on the Iron Throne, that symbol of royal power. His rule was established in the courts of the common people in the countryside and in the halls of noble castles. This young King, bearing the name of a bastard, won the love of the common people through his actions. When he died in the wilderness, thousands of people spontaneously came, including even his mother's opponents and the Friars who had once fiercely criticized them.
"Jaehaerys, the Iron Throne rejected you." Dragonzel silently picked up the young King and placed him on the open ground. He had the protection of blood magic and feared almost all infectious diseases. Vermax understood Jacaerys's wish. If he couldn't be cremated on the spot, the common people would surely spontaneously carry his body back to King's Landing. In fact, some had already started to do so. Including the noble Old Lord, in just half a day, the common people had brought over twenty coffins of various designs, each person hoping to bear the King's coffin.
The terrifying thing about dragon pox was that even after the infected person died, their corpse remained contagious for a period. Jacaerys did not want people to become infected because of him.
Vermax slowly crawled several circles around the young King's body, wails echoing across the wilderness, as if to make everyone feel the pain of a Dragon.
Finally, Vermax breathed a stream of Dragonflame, cremating Jacaerys.
"But the common people accepted you," Dragonzel murmured, looking at the weeping people. "You are the true King, Jacaerys Targaryen."
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