Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Chapter 340 Family Motto – “An anchor is not confined to the harbor, and a blade is not afraid of land!”

The luncheon was still held in the banquet hall of the Red Keep, with a long table laden with sumptuous food. However, the atmosphere was quite different from the unrestrained revelry during the wedding and tournament.

The wine glass was still in his hand, but he no longer drank it down without restraint as before.

This meal felt more like a political meeting held without people sitting in the government hall.

Euron was speaking in hushed tones with Lord Tywin Lannister and Lady Olenna Redwyn. He informed them that the first installment of capital for the bank, one million gold dragons, would arrive at the port of King's Landing in a few days.

It was also proposed that the first bank be established in King's Landing, so as to quickly take over the lending business of the royal domain and control the core financial lifeline.

Before the golden dragon arrives, the Lannisters and Redwynn need to use their resources and influence in King's Landing to first establish the framework of the bank.

Tywin and Lady Olenna had no objection to this, which was exactly the first step they had been hoping for in their investment.

Euron and Eddard Stark reached an agreement: Euron would hand over the prisoners transferred from Dorne to Eddard, who would then escort them to the Wall on his return to the North to join the Night's Watch. Eddard, an upright man who valued the Wall, readily agreed.

Taking this opportunity, Prime Minister Jon Arryn entrusted Eddard with bringing King's Landing and other prisoners captured during the war to the Wall. This move relieved the capital of its supervisory burden and food shortages, while also increasing manpower to guard the Wall—a win-win situation.

On the other side of the long table, Lord Tywin and Lady Olenna discussed the pricing and trade of grain between the Westerlands and the Reach, their words filled with calculation and weighing of options.

King Coron discussed with Prime Minister Jon Snow the initial ideas for rebuilding the royal fleet, and the Iron Islands' shipbuilding technology and maritime experience were undoubtedly important assets.

Prince Oberyn of Dorne exchanged views with the stern-faced Stannis Baratheon about opening a bank branch in Storm's End in the future.

Throughout the luncheon, conversations rose and fell, but none of them were about enjoyment.

Between the clinking of knives and forks, the realities of power, money, and territory were discussed. This banquet lacked the casual ease of aristocratic gatherings; behind every smile lay conditions, and every toast might signify a silent compromise or alliance.

Robert's eyes were vacant as he thought about how he would be overwhelmed by countless memorials, court infighting, and financial deficits, and how he would have to deal with these headaches every day. Suddenly, the wine in his glass lost its flavor, and a great sense of exhaustion and disgust washed over him.

He suddenly felt inexplicably envious of Euron. Although Euron was the second son and could not inherit the Iron Islands, he was also free from the heavy burden of being an heir. He could marry the woman he loved, do what he wanted, go wherever he wanted, and enjoy the freedom that Euron now longed for but had lost.

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Then, Robert shook his head, as if trying to shake off the sudden melancholy. Suddenly remembering something, he turned to Euron in a loud voice, a hint of curiosity in his eyes, and asked, "Euron! Now you are the Duke of Harrenhal, with your own independent fiefdom, officially becoming a branch of the Greyjoy family, and thus beginning your own lineage. According to tradition, you must have your own family crest and motto! So, have you thought it through?"

The others also looked at Euron with curiosity.

Euron was prepared for this. In fact, he had discussed the matter privately with his father, King Coron, and his elder brother, Balon. When the king asked, he exchanged a knowing glance with his father, King Coron, and then smiled and replied, "Your Majesty, we have a preliminary idea, which will be formally submitted to the Grand Secretary for record-keeping later."

Robert, intrigued, waved his hand and exclaimed, "Don't wait until later! Bring it out, let me take a look and see what new tricks our sea monster has up its sleeve!"

Euron smiled and calmly took out two meticulously drawn parchments from his pocket, slowly unfolding them on the table in front of Robert.

The first image is the coat of arms: the main element still uses the golden sea monster symbolizing House Greyjoy's heritage and their dominion over the sea. However, the background is no longer a single black, but divided into three distinct color blocks—azure at the top representing the boundless sky, ochre in the middle symbolizing the steadfast earth, and deep blue at the bottom representing the sea. The entire coat of arms proclaims that the new duke's ambitions are no longer limited to the ocean.

Westeros heraldry strictly follows the principle of "same origin, different branches": the heraldry of a branch family must reflect its blood relationship with the main family, but it can highlight its uniqueness through patterns, colors, and symbols.

Euron's coat of arms retained the main golden sea monster, only changing the background color, which conformed to the rules and gained the approval of those present.

On the second sheet of paper was the family motto, written with vigorous strokes: "An anchor is not confined to the harbor, and a blade is not afraid of the land!"

These two short sentences are full of ambition and conquest, preserving the Iron People's courage to sail the seas and declaring their determination to extend their influence to the mainland.

When Euron's ambitious and conquering family motto, "An anchor is not bound to the harbor, nor is a blade afraid of the land," was mentioned at the banquet, it immediately drew a chorus of admiring praise from the surrounding nobles. This motto, which both reflected the Ironborn's inseparable nature from the sea and revealed their ambition to expand their power onto the land, was indeed ingenious.

King Robert listened intently, his thick fingers tapping the rim of his gilded goblet as he muttered the two phrases repeatedly: "Anchors are not confined to harbors, blades are not afraid of land—" He suddenly looked up, his booming laughter drowning out the surrounding murmurs: "Hahaha! Well said! That's fucking awesome!" He slapped his thigh, his eyes gleaming with admiration, and said, "It flows smoothly, and it's powerful! From sea to land, it makes perfect sense! That's what my brother Robert is worthy of, worthy of the Duke who will soon rule Harrenhal!"

The grand wedding and long banquet finally came to an end.

At the farewell luncheon, King Robert boldly raised his heavy wine glass and deliberately clinked it against Euron's. The resounding sound and the splashing wine were not only a testament to their friendship but also an affirmation of Euron's adage, "An anchor is not bound to the harbor, nor is a blade afraid of the land."

After the meal, the nobles who had gathered in King's Landing began to disperse like a tide. Banners fluttered in the wind in all directions as the processions set off one after another, returning to their respective territories and routes.

Robert himself stood at the gates of King's Landing, bidding farewell to each of his important vassals and allies. He patted Eddard's shoulder forcefully, whispered a few words to Oberyn, and beneath his hearty smile lay a hint of wistfulness, unsure when their next meeting would be.

Euron's party also traveled north with Lord Horst Tully. Among his hundreds of followers was an inconspicuous carriage.

Inside the carriage sat Elisa from Stoneham, her daughter with King Robert, Zhong, whom she held tightly in her arms. They were to accompany Euron to Harrenhal, where the newly crowned Duke would settle them in and care for them.

This was both Euron's explanation to Robert and a form of protection for the mother and daughter.

Before they left, Robert solemnly assured Elisa that he would visit them often in Harrenhal.

But Euron, riding on horseback, didn't hold much hope. He knew his brother the king all too well; his passions came and went quickly, and fickleness was practically in his nature.

Promises made in moments of tenderness often eventually fade away with time and new temptations.

I love Miyazaki Hayao.