Game of Thrones: The Wrath of the Sleeping Dragon

"Father."

Viserys looked at his eldest son, a boy with a face very similar to his own but who had not inherited any of the bloodline characteristics. He saw Heros as if he were seeing himself in his younger days.

Viserys' smile faded slightly, and Heros felt a slight unease when he saw his father's smile disappear.

In fact, every child of this age would be startled and have their heart skip a beat if they saw the smile disappear from their father's face, wondering if they had done something wrong.

What did I do wrong?

Before Heros could react, he saw his father's smile return. Viserys reached out and affectionately ruffled Heros's hair, then pulled him close.

"Yes, my little sun."

Viserys named Heros "the sun god" because he had high hopes for his eldest son, wishing him to be a source of hope and strength for many.

The sun brings hope to people, and perhaps no moment has felt this more deeply than now.

Therefore, it is evident from this name that Viserys placed high hopes on Heros and wanted his eldest son to be his successor.

but...

More than half a year had passed since they last met, and Viserys was slightly surprised by the changes in Heros. Before he left, Heros was a boy who loved reading but was taciturn. However, just now he saw a boy who was skilled at bowing, seemingly intimate but actually keeping his distance, bringing the etiquette of a ruler and subject into his family.

Viserys was astonished by the changes in Heros in just over half a year, but then he remembered that Heros was only five or six years old, a crucial stage in the formation of his values. He might have been influenced by the people around him, and his smile faded slightly.

But he didn't expect that Herlos, at such a young age, would be so perceptive. Just by suppressing his smile, the boy noticed and felt a little nervous.

However, Viserys reacted quickly. He ruffled the boy's hair, easing Heros's tension and giving him a slight sigh of relief.

After not seeing each other for more than half a year, even the relationship between father and son can become unfamiliar. Heros was a little nervous when he saw his father again.

"And what about me?" Gu Zhe

The silver-haired girl next to her pouted when she heard her father call her brother "Little Sun" and complained. But when she heard Viserys call her "Little Moon" in return, she smiled again and kissed her father's slightly stubbled cheek.

Having both a son and a daughter is a blessing, and Viserys was very fortunate to have such two adorable little elves.

However, when Viserys met Arianne and learned about the recent events, his good mood vanished.

"my sweetheart..."

Arianne looked guilty; she felt she had let Viserys down.

Her husband entrusted the entire country to her. At first, Arianne was full of confidence, thinking that governing a country and the scheming and intrigue among men were nothing special. However, when Viserys actually handed the entire country over to her, Arianne discovered that reality and imagination were two completely different things.

Arianne is somewhat similar in personality to Cersei Lannister, the former queen of King Robert. Cersei is proud, willful, ambitious, and believes she has great political talent, believing that her gender limits her ability to fully utilize her abilities.

Cersei admires and imitates her father Tywin's ways in everything, but in reality, Cersei does not have the Duke of Tywin's shrewdness and cunning. All she has are self-righteous little schemes. She is ruthless enough in small matters, but lacks both ruthlessness and wisdom when dealing with important matters.

While Arianne may not be as capable as Cersei, although she is decisive, she is not as ruthless as Cersei. However, in terms of governing a country, Arianne is slightly better than Cersei.

Because Arianne wouldn't be so confident as to use her micro-management skills in areas she's unfamiliar with, and she would patiently listen to the opinions of others, even those she dislikes, such as Tyrion Lannister, the dwarf imp, and Velas Tyrell of House Rose.

Viserys' influence taught her that even someone as outstanding as her husband would patiently consult experts when faced with something he didn't understand.

Viserys had taken Arianne on a tour of the farmland around King's Landing. Since her husband had personally visited the fields, Arianne naturally felt uncomfortable continuing to sit in the carriage.

She then witnessed Viserys carefully consulting an elderly farmer about how to better cultivate wheat, and the farmer answered with trepidation. This scene left a deep impression on Arianne, who, as a princess of Dorne, had lived in the Flowing Gardens since childhood and enjoyed a life of luxury.

"Lord Brecken and Sir William Darryl..."

Arianne felt uneasy; she saw the sadness and anger on her husband's face.

"This is none of your business."

After a long silence, Viserys finally spoke slowly.

Putting yourself in her shoes, Arianne's choice was not wrong. As the ruler of the empire, she must prioritize the safety of the capital. The importance of the capital is self-evident, after all, it is the land beneath their feet.

While chaos in other places can be suppressed, chaos in the capital often indicates a decline in a country's rule and that its demise is not far off.

The old Earl of Brecken died because he was indeed too old and could not withstand the torment of this cold night; he fell ill and died.

Sir William Darryl's death particularly enraged Viserys.

Chapter 871 Taking the Dragon Away

The former Red Keep coach saved Viserys' life, and he himself was selfless, which made Viserys feel guilty and unsure how to repay him.

After the establishment of the Empire, Viserys wanted to give him a castle, but Ser William refused, wanting to leave King's Landing and return to his hometown. Viserys then offered to make him Earl of Darry, but this was also refused.

Now, Earl Dai Ruicheng is his younger brother, and his heir is his nephew Lin Man. He does not want to compete with his brother and nephew, especially since his health is poor and he has already gone blind in one eye. He has long lost interest in the power struggle and only wants to return to his hometown to live out his old age in peace.

Ser William's mind was made up, and Viserys could no longer persuade him to stay. After all, the brothers Jon Darryl and William Darryl had already given their all for the Targaryen family.

He then allowed Ser William to board his carriage and leave King's Landing to return to his homeland, but Viserys did not expect that this would be their last farewell.

Sir William was killed by the mob, Darryl fell, and the Darryl family disappeared from history. Viserys was naturally furious, but he suppressed the terrible thought of sending dragons to burn Darryl and the mob that occupied it to the ground.

He wanted to burn these people alive, yet he didn't want to wipe Darryl City off the horizon. Although these mobs were starving people and could be rationally forgiven, Viserys emotionally only wanted them all dead.

“Send ravens to the Twins.”

"Tell Humphrey that after the funeral of old Lord Brecken is over, send troops to quell the rebellion immediately. I want to see their heads."

“Get this done, Velas.”

Viserys's voice sounded calm, but it actually concealed a chilling killing intent. Velas Tyrell, who had come to pay his respects leaning on his cane, showed a slight stiffness upon hearing this, and then quickly nodded in agreement.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"I will never fail Your Majesty's expectations."

Although Velas didn't really support Viserys killing people, he rationally understood that if Viserys really wanted to kill, he couldn't stop him. So Velas left the place again, leaning on his cane.

"My love, how is the war going over there? Will the long night ever end? Is it really going to be the end of the world?"

After Velas left, Arianne finally blurted out all the questions she wanted to ask.

After all, King's Landing, as the capital of the empire, is too far from the front lines. News travels slowly, whether it's the Wall or the battlefields of the Eastern Continent, and she doesn't know exactly how far the war has progressed. She hopes to hear Viserys's promise in person.

This is what Viserys wanted to say next: the purpose of his sudden flight back to King's Landing.

Although it wouldn't take more than a few days to fly from Pentos across the Narrow Sea to King's Landing, with the decisive battle imminent, every minute and every second was extremely precious. The Night King rode his wounded ice dragon to the Land of Everwinter to heal, and no one knew when he would return. However, Viserys also took the time to fly back to King's Landing under these circumstances, because he had no choice but to return for this matter.

"The war is nearing its end, but I don't know if the long night will ever end."

Viserys spoke frankly, saying he couldn't predict the future. If killing the Night King didn't end the long night, there was nothing he could do but look for other reasons.

Or they could simply stock up on food and hide in a safe and warm place to get through the night.

"My purpose in returning this time is for this decisive battle."

Viserys once again spoke frankly, stating that his return to King's Landing was to mobilize more dragons to join the war.

The five dragons of King's Landing have grown up and are capable of fighting. They have rested in King's Landing for far too long since the Long Night began, though their presence there is of great significance, serving to protect the capital of the Empire and Viserys' family.

But for the upcoming decisive battle, this is undoubtedly a huge waste, and humanity urgently needs more dragons to fill the gaps and join the war.

Viserys is taking five dragons from King's Landing this time: Varghal, Tyrex, Miracis, 'Little Lady' Syracuse, and Silver Nuggets. (Gu Zhun)

"Take all the dragons with you?"

Arianne paused slightly upon hearing her husband's words, then her sparkling gold earring swayed, and her beautiful face was filled with worry.

"What about King's Landing?"

"My beloved, my children and I..."

Viserys' initial decision to have Rhaenys and Daenerys guard the Wall, leaving five dragons in King's Landing, was a foolproof plan to prevent a surprise attack from the rear if trouble arose. However, Viserys has now decided to take all the dragons with him...

"You and the children come with me."

Viserys hesitated for a moment before speaking, saying that this was actually one of the solutions he had considered before.

The best course of action was to bring his wife and children with him. Although the departure of all the royal family members from King's Landing would inevitably have a negative impact and could even cause turmoil, Viserys couldn't afford to worry about that at the moment.

The candlelight flickered softly in the bedroom, where Viserys and Arianne were having a long talk, while their children, Diana and Herros, were already resting in their respective rooms.

"What will happen to the Iron Throne if we leave King's Landing?"

Upon hearing her husband's thoughts, Arianne frowned slightly, then spoke with concern.

The departure of all members of the royal family from King's Landing will inevitably cause rumors to spread, especially at this turbulent time. The newly established empire may seem stable, but in reality, it is riddled with holes from all sides by the Long Night's invasion.

The emperor's decrees could not leave the capital, and the local military system began to fall into chaos. Some people held military power and others hoarded grain. The empire's centralized system was put to its most severe test in just a few years after its birth.

This is a test of life and death. After all, when people are starving and see no hope, chaos will naturally ensue. No one will continue to be loyal to the so-called king and nobles while they are hungry.

The empire's powerful prestige, built upon its conquest of seven nations in recent years, is now being overdrawn. While it may appear to stand firm on the surface, the edifice is actually teetering on the brink of collapse.

"Take the children and leave, my love."

"I will stay in King's Landing to protect this family business for you."

After a moment of contemplation, with her eyes slightly reddening, Arianne finally made a difficult decision.

“Arianne…”

Viserys' eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing his wife's words.

With all the dragons gone, King's Landing lost its greatest protection. It is the largest city of mankind and also the most dangerous place, after all, there are so many mouths to feed. When the dragons are there, they can suppress the danger, but if the dragons leave, can Ariane still keep these people in check?

"I believe Sir Mia will protect me, my love!"

"No matter what the danger."

However, before Viserys could finish speaking, Arianne silenced him with her soft lips.

She kissed her husband deeply, and after a long while, she raised her head and spoke earnestly.

"Your hard work of more than ten years cannot be destroyed like this."

Chapter 872 Return

Arianne wanted to stay in King's Landing to protect the country her husband had built, while Viserys remained silent, equally speechless.

It was certainly a good thing for Arianne to stay in King's Landing, but the corresponding price was the weakening of the capital's defenses. Arianne might be in danger if she stayed in King's Landing.

But she was willing to do this, and let Viserys take the two children away, because she understood that staying in King's Landing might be dangerous, but she couldn't put all her eggs in one basket.

She didn't want her children to be in danger with her.

"I'll leave Syracuse to you."