Game of Thrones: Dance of the Dragons

Baylor nodded in thanks.

Then, he lowered his head and continued eating the hearty breakfast on his plate.

Viserys ate his grilled lamb chops and cream cake, looking at his harmonious family with a smile in his eyes.

He was pleased that his eldest son, Baylor, was able to forgive Damon without holding a grudge, and he was also gratified that his unruly younger brother had grown up and learned to restrain his pride.

Renilla spoke up, "Father, Uncle Damon and I have agreed that after the Royal Council meeting, we'll ride dragons together to Dragonstone for a visit!"

Damon chimed in, "I promised Rhaenyla that after the battle of the Stepstone Islands, I would ride a dragon with her to Dragonstone and teach her some dragon-riding skills."

Viserys was overjoyed. "Seeing you care so much about your nephew and niece makes me so happy. Little brother, you've really grown up!"

"Brother, people never stay the same."

Damon raised his glass of red wine to Viserys.

Viserys smiled and raised his glass, pleased with his brother's growth.

The atmosphere at breakfast was exceptionally pleasant, but Baylor just couldn't bring himself to eat the bread in his hand.

He had spent too long in the old town, and the so-called family affection he felt was nothing more than the meticulous care his sister Renella had for him.

As for the rest of the time, he either atones for his sins to the Seven Gods or engages in one-on-three verbal battles with the Heitel family, the maesters of the Citadel, and the opposing forces of the Dragon family within the Seven Gods' main church.

Damon's double entendre undoubtedly triggered his alarm.

After breakfast, Viserys convened this royal council to discuss with his ministers how to defend the Stone Steps Islands.

Otto, the chief intelligence officer, spoke first once again, "Your Majesty, the Stone Steps Islands are an important port for trade between the Kingdom of the Three Daughters and Dorne. Blindly defending them will only drain our resources."

"I propose that we send envoys from the Kingdom to negotiate with the Kingdom of the Third Daughter and Dorne to reduce some port taxes in exchange for the much-desired peace."

Viserys nodded in satisfaction; Otto's words clearly resonated with him. As a benevolent and tolerant king, negotiation and marriage had always been his favorite means of maintaining balance.

"Otto, do you mean we're going to give half of our meat to the enemy before we've even had any?!" Damon had never heard such a stupid reason in his life.

"Prince Damon, I was merely offering my personal opinion to the King."

"Secondly, the kingdom's finances can no longer support further wars. Peace is our top priority, even if it means sharing the spoils!"

Otto knew Viserys very well, and it was precisely because of this sense of superiority that he was able to gradually gain important positions.

Viserys looked at the current Prime Minister Leonor and asked, "What are your thoughts?"

"Your Majesty, I do not deny Lord Otto's proposal for peace, but if we cede too many benefits, what is the point of our conquest of the Steppes Islands?"

After a moment's thought, Leonor gave a relatively fair and positive opinion.

At this moment, Finance Minister Lin Manni spoke up, "Your Majesty, my thoughts are aligned with the Prime Minister's. Peace is necessary, but we must not tolerate the Three Kingdoms and Dorne pushing their luck!"

Justice Minister Jaspi sternly retorted to the two, "Your ideas are far too idealistic."

"I don't need to repeat what kind of scoundrels Dorne and the Kingdom of the Three Daughters are. Giving up some benefits is a necessary means to maintain peace in the kingdom!"

By noon, the two sides had still not come up with a satisfactory solution.

Especially Damon and Otto, these two are like they dug up each other's ancestral graves in their past lives, they wish they could smash each other's heads with wooden chairs when they meet.

Ultimately, the meeting ended in discord.

Damon was the first to stand up, waved to Renilla, and then left the council chamber.

"Father, I'm leaving now." Renilla put down the wine bottle, gently hugged her father's back, and said goodbye to him.

"My child, be careful." Viserys gently hugged his daughter and offered his blessing.

"Sister, take me with you, I want to see your and Uncle's dragon." Beller took Renilla's hand and said coquettishly.

Renilla turned to look at her father, not daring to make a decision on her own.

Viserys leaned wearily back in his chair and waved to the two of them. "Go on, but be careful not to let the dragons hurt you, Baylor."

"I understand, Father."

After obtaining permission, Baylor, along with Renilla and Damon, traveled by carriage, escorted by Kingsguard Ilic, to the Dragon's Lair.

The dragon's lair is built against the mountain ridge, quiet and spacious.

Upon seeing the royal carriage approaching, a guard in armor ran forward and gestured for the carriage to stop.

"I wonder which prince or princess has come to visit?"

Illic rode forward, proclaiming loudly, "Baelor Targaryen, eldest son of Viserys I and heir to the Iron Throne!"

"The eldest daughter, Rhaenyra Targaryen!"

"And the king's brother, Damon Targaryen!"

Upon hearing the name Ilik gave, the guards protecting the dragon's lair immediately made way for the carriage to enter.

Ilik was tasked with riding ahead to the dragon's lair to inform the dragon guards to remove the chains from Syracuse and Kolachu's feet.

When they arrived inside the dragon's lair, Koraksh had already slowly climbed up and affectionately nuzzled Damon.

"Belle, pay attention to how your uncle interacts with the dragons. This will greatly help you tame dragons in the future," Renilla nudged Beller and whispered a reminder.

"I know, sister. Don't forget what I told you, and don't tell anyone." What Belle was referring to was, of course, finding out about the Gluttons.

"My dear brother, I have always kept your affairs in mind," Renilla whispered in his ear.

While the siblings were chatting, Damon had already climbed out of the dragon's lair on his mount, Corakshyu, and looked down at the affectionate Baylor and Rhaenyra, a playful glint in his eyes.

"Nephew, didn't you want to see my Corakshyu? Come and touch it."

Baylor glanced at Damon first, and only after confirming that the other had tightened the reins did he slowly walk forward.

"Roar—!"

Just then, Syracuse suddenly opened its dragon mouth and roared forward uncontrollably.

If Baylor hadn't kept his distance so vigilantly, his right shoulder would have been bitten off.

"Baelor, how are you?"

Renilla immediately moved away from Syracuse and quickly shielded her brother behind her.

"Quiet, Koraksh!"

Damon also quickly tightened the reins, using Valyria to soothe the restless Coracius.

Upon seeing this, the Dragon Guards immediately went to Kolachu's side and skillfully used soothing words.

For once, Korakshyu did not respond to Damon, but instead roared and stared at Baylor, wary yet aggressive, as if it were facing not a small child, but a dragon of considerable size.

"What's going on?!" Renilla angrily questioned the dragon guard in Valyrian.

"Princess, we had already comforted and fed Koracxiu before releasing her, but we don't know the specific reason why." The Dragon Guard leader hurriedly knelt down to beg for forgiveness.

"Still dare to argue?!"

"I think it's clearly you plotting to murder the Crown Prince!"

As she spoke, she waved to Ilik, who was standing to the side, and had him arrested.

A younger member of the Dragon Guard hurriedly knelt before the princess. "Princess, we Dragon Guards are loyal to the royal family and would never collude with outsiders to harm the king's eldest son!"

"Also, dragons are actually..."

Baylor interrupted him, "My sister Corakshweh is the most ferocious dragon in our Targaryen family, so it's not surprising that she would show aggression."

"Besides, I wasn't injured, was I?"

"But!"

"Alright, alright, if you and Uncle Damon don't set off soon, you might not make it to Dragonstone tonight."

Beller urged Renilla on.

Renilla sighed helplessly, gently cupping Baylor's face in her hands. "I just can't do anything with you."

Then, riding on Syracuse, he flew out of the dragon's lair with Damon.

After watching them leave, Baylor turned around with interest and focused his gaze on the young dragon guard he had just interrupted.