"You mean, Crown Prince Daeron inquired about the songs of the Disputed Lands? Which ones?" Viserys already had a guess in his heart. Daeron, he wouldn't want to emulate Baratheon, would he?
King Aegon has gradually transferred power to his eldest son, focusing instead on a warm family life with Queen Samantha. From this perspective, as long as Crown Prince Daeron doesn't go too far, King Aegon won't interfere.
Old Rigo recalled the songs Crown Prince Daeron had requested from him. His mind wasn't so old that he couldn't remember things; he naturally knew a Crown Prince's requests by heart.
The more Viserys listened, the more silent he became. The contents of these songs included, but were not limited to, the chaotic battles in the Disputed Lands involving the Three Daughters and Volantis—these battle songs described both the military capabilities of the city-states involved and the local people and terrain of the Disputed Lands. They also recounted the legends of the mercenary groups, warlords, thugs, and dictators who ran rampant in the Disputed Lands after it completely devolved into a lawless territory.
What does Daeron want these things for?
He wouldn't be planning to make a move on the Disputed Lands, would he?
Viserys's face finally darkened.
Meanwhile.
Dragon Nest City, Twin Towers, Rhaegor and Daniela's room.
The couple greatly valued this child they had regained. Ever since Daniela became pregnant again, Rhaegor had even moved his office from his original narrow hall to a servant's room next to the bedroom, just so he could attend to his wife and child at any time. Even though Dragonzel had told him many times that this birth would be very safe, he was still not entirely at ease.
After all, the last time was too perilous. If his father hadn't discovered it in time, then it might not have been just the child in Daniela's womb, destined to die prematurely, but Daniela herself.
"Little Jace, Daniela, Orion, here are the materials on the Disputed Lands." Rhaegor placed several thick, newly organized books before his younger brothers.
"Big Brother, did you suddenly summon us just for these materials?" Jacaerys sensed something was amiss. There was no need for secret codes between them; in Dragon Nest City, they had no secrets.
"Of course not." Rhaegor opened his own book.
"Jacaerys, it's Hagen's intelligence. Crown Prince Daeron has started collecting information on the Disputed Lands." Daniela knew more about these matters. "Uncle suspects Crown Prince Daeron is preparing to make a move on the Disputed Lands."
"Is he mad?" Orion, who had been silent, frowned deeply. "Doesn't he know that getting involved in the East Continent's disputes, even with dragons, isn't an easy matter?"
Rhaegor raised his hand, signaling his brothers to quiet down so as not to disturb Daniela's rest, and not to get too agitated. Daeron wasn't stupid; he wouldn't act rashly without any preparation.
However, collecting information proved that Daeron indeed had that idea.
"The Disputed Lands are indeed a fat piece of meat," Rhaegor analyzed for his brothers. "In the past, Volantis, Lys, Myr, Tyrosh, Pentos, and Braavos would all contend for this land. But Pentos has been almost conquered by Braavos, and Braavos's interest in the Southern lands is far less than its interest in a stable and safe shipping route."
He lowered his voice and continued:
"This land is flat and vast. Although it has been ravaged by past wars, it still holds immense wealth and abundant resources. Now, Lys has become a vassal of the Realm, Myr is almost crippled, and Tyrosh is ours. The only external threat to the Disputed Lands is the long-declining Volantis."
He glanced around at his brothers: "Do you think Volantis is formidable?"
His brothers smiled knowingly.
"Alright, alright." Rhaegor stopped his brothers' mocking. "The Disputed Lands are currently very chaotic, with hundreds of warlords, mercenary groups, lords, and mayors carving it up and fighting amongst themselves. What I need you to do is simple: understand these, understand the situation among them."
"And then?" Jacaerys became interested.
"Wait and see."
"Oh." Jacaerys's recently piqued interest immediately waned.
"The Realm has enjoyed peace and prosperity for too long."
Rhaegor sighed:
"People hate war, yet they long for it. Of course, everyone knows this, but war cannot break out within the Realm."
Having governed the Borderland Principality for so many years, Rhaegor understood this clearly. Over thirty years of peace and prosperity in Westeros brought not only bountiful harvests and wealth.
But also nearly two generations.
The rapidly increasing population needed land, which wasn't a major problem; there was still much arable land in Westeros.
But what about the surging noble population?
They craved titles, land, and wealth. But their fathers could not give them these things.
Everything of the family belonged to the eldest son.
If the second and youngest sons did not serve as the eldest son's right-hand men, then their only option was to wander with their warhorses and swords.
But peace had lasted too long.
Two entire generations were born and grew up in perpetual summer and peace; they had never seen war, never seen bloodshed. Their martial skills could only be displayed in the tourney grounds.
The Realm needed to vent the pent-up energy of these second and youngest sons.
The Stepstones War was an outlet.
But the Stepstones were too small; Auckland wasn't satiated, and in fact, Auckland's gains were less than its expenditures. Instead, it caused the succeeding Lord Royce to pay a heavy price and accrue massive debts.
It was not worth the effort.
"What can the Varezes family do, Brother?" Daniela exchanged glances with her brothers and calmly asked.
"Prepare for everything." Rhaegor spread his hands. "There will be the presence of a Silver Dragon in the Disputed Lands, but not from the very beginning. Hagen has already dispatched our serpents to plant our nails in the Disputed Lands, and our merchant guilds and workshops in Lys have also sent out ravens. What we need to do now is know everything."
Rhaegor's gaze drifted into the distance.
"Hopefully our lovely grand-nephew is wise enough."
Just then, Daniela's voice came from the bedroom, followed by Daenerys's anxious cries.
"Rhaegor, Rhaegor, come quickly, come quickly."
"Father, come quickly!"
Rhaegor nodded, signaling his brothers to follow his arrangements, and rushed into the bedroom.
Seeing that Daniela was fine, Rhaegor finally relaxed.
Daenerys hurriedly ran to her father: "Father, when Mother suddenly woke up just now, it was so scary. Mother seemed to have seen something strange."
Rhaegor immediately became alert, gesturing with his hand to have Sage, the Faceless Man guarding nearby, come in.
"No need to trouble Brother Sage." Daniela, still a bit shaken, touched her chest: "I dreamt of something special."
Rhaegor seemed to recall something. Before he ended his expedition, the Three-Eyed Raven, symbolizing the Old Gods' sacrifice, told him that their reward would arrive fifteen years later.
He originally thought this would be a bloodline of his family, but unfortunately, it wasn't.
Then there was only one possibility: that reward was born at the promised moment and was now growing.
But what did that have to do with his wife?
"What did you dream of, Daniela?"
"I dreamt of our son. I couldn't see his face; he stood in the shadows, wearing Father's crown, with a Silver Dragon behind him, larger than the sky itself."
Daniela slowly described her dream.
The image is of the Disputed Lands.
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