The Rogue Prince Stirred Up Another Farce

For three days straight, the morning mist over King's Landing's Landing had not completely dissipated. The two main roads outside the Red Keep —one leading to the Vale lords of the Iron Gate and the other to the Riverlands lords of the Gate of the Gods —have recently been adorned with the banners of newly arrived lords.

The black-robed members of the Dark Blade Guard gradually figured out the pattern:

The nobles of the Vale often arrived by ornate carriage or from the port due to the Vale roads; the carriage curtains and sails were often embroidered with emblems of eagles, trees, and swords.

The nobles of the Riverlands lived relatively close by, and the roads were relatively flat, so they preferred to ride horses. Their armor was often damp with the scent of the Trident, and even their speech had a light and cheerful tone characteristic of the Three Rivers.

Daemon had just finished organizing the intelligence on the Triarchy in his study early this morning when he heard Rayford's footsteps outside the door. "Your Highness, Edwin House Arryn of Gulltown has arrived. His Highness Viserys requests your presence at the Iron Gate."

He put down the parchment, casually hung the Blackfyre at his waist, and walked into the courtyard. There he saw Edwin House Arryn, who had arrived the day before, talking to Viserys with a group of "friends." This "Golden Eagle," the patriarch of the House Arryn branch of Gulltown, had a dazzling Golden Eagle emblem on his silver-gray suit.

Upon seeing Daemon, the lords and merchants of Gulltown immediately greeted him with smiles, led by Edwin. Edwin even clutched a silver eagle-shaped pendant inlaid with an eye-shaped sapphire, seemingly interrupted by Daemon's arrival as he "presented his treasure": "Oh, my dear Black Dragon Prince, Prince of Blackfyre, Prince Daemon, the warrior descended to earth!"

Earlier this year, when you led our Vale Allied Forces on a tour of battle at Moon Gate Keep, I still vividly remember your heroic figure as you cleaved through the shields of those Wildlings barbarians of the Mountain Clans with a single sword strike! And the peaceful and approachable demeanor you displayed in Gulltown is equally unforgettable for us, the subjects of Gulltown!

Having just finished praising Daemon, this smooth-talking "Golden Eagle" then went on to praise Viserys.

Compared to the As High as Honor House Arryn family and its branches, this man, who prioritizes profit above all else, is more like a smooth-talking businessman than House Arryn Gulltown.

He then handed the pendant to Viserys, and continued speaking slowly, feigning "sincere emotion": "Your Highness Viserys, this is a specialty of our Gulltown, and the gems on it are treasures from the open sea. Today, I present it to Princess Rhaenyra, the pride of our Westeros kingdom, to admire it."

Viserys accepted the gift with a smile, while Daemon glanced behind Edwin — Earl Corbray was holding Lyonel Corbray's arm. The Earl's grey robes still bore traces of dust from his morning journey, but his eyes couldn't hide his excitement. "Lyonel, your swordsmanship has improved since you accompanied His Highness on his tour! In your last letter, you said you could withstand three of His Highness's moves? And those spoils you sent to your father before," that fellow flaunts them to the neighboring lords every day at home!

Lyonel's ears turned slightly red, and he pointed to Daemon behind him. "No way, Uncle, it's all thanks to His Highness's excellent teaching—"

However, before Lyonel could finish speaking, Corbray patted him on the shoulder and interrupted him, "Good lad! You really haven't disgraced the Corbray family. The swords of the House Corbray should follow the true dragon to conquer all corners of the world, not be like your father, guarding his old castle and his small plot of land, too afraid to move. In his entire life, he's never even ventured beyond the Vale, let alone ventured far from our Heart's Home!"

Daemon chuckled, defusing the situation. "Earl Corbray, Lyonel is now also a squad leader in my Dark Blade Guard. He decided the patrol routes for the guards today; sometimes he's even more meticulous than I am."

Earl Corbray turned to Daemon and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, thank you for nurturing Lyonel. This child used to love sparring with people in Heart's Home, but now, after traveling with you, he has become much more composed, and even the letters he recently sent home are more neatly written than before."

Daemon smiled and nodded, "Lyonel has always been talented; I just gave him the opportunity."

Not far away, Earl Hunter was talking to his youngest son Harlan.

The Earl, dressed in green armor, looked a bit older than at the beginning of the year, but still quite spirited. He patted Harlan on the shoulder. "Do a good job in His Highness's Dark Blade Guard, don't disgrace the House Hunter. Little Daemon is a true dragon, our House Hunter is small, and as the second son" (referring specifically to all sons except the eldest), you'll definitely have a better future following him than if you stay in the Vale with your brothers tending those few acres of land.

Harlan nodded emphatically, his gaze sweeping over Daemon, his eyes filled with determination. The Battle Daemon Moon Gate Keep a year ago had shown him something he could follow for life, and he would always remember this kindness.

As the lords of the Vale arrived one after another, the caravans from the Riverlands also appeared Gate of the Gods in recent days. Today, the most eye-catching banner was naturally the white flag of the Strong family with light blue, red, and green stripes, the stripes gradually becoming clearer in the fog.

Leonno Strong paused, his bald head gleaming in the morning light. Larys, leaning on his cane, followed behind his father, the hem of his black robe sweeping the ground, his eyes secretly scanning the Strong family's procession.

Leonno's eldest son, Harwin Strong, Larys's brother, rode at the head of the procession on a black horse.

The old Earl of Harrenhal, Earl Bywin Strong, looked much older than at the beginning of the year; the stripes on his ceremonial robes were worn. He glanced at his eldest son Leonno, and his second grandson, Larys, and a smile appeared on his lips, "Leonno, you look much more energetic now that you're the Master of Ships's King's Landing than when you returned from the Citadel last year. Larys, though, that leg of yours—didn't your father get those remedies he found in the Citadel for you?"

Larys bowed slightly. "Grandfather, the medicine from the Citadel is useless, but I've found it much more efficient lately when handling intelligence with His Highness."

Harwin stepped forward and warmly embraced his "Clubfoot" brother, Larys, before giving his long-unseen father Leonno, a bear hug. A helpless Larys could only look to Daemon for a signal.

Daemon nodded to indicate that he understood, then his gaze swept over the other members of the Strong family—several brothers and nephews were surrounding Leonno asking about naval affairs, while Larys stood on the edge, occasionally interjecting, "The docks in King's Landing's Harrenhal," seemingly nonchalant, yet taking in everyone's expressions.

After greeting his father, Harwin patted his younger brother on the shoulder. "Larys, how are you doing in King's Landing? Father said the intelligence report you sent back last time was even clearer than the Harrenhal report Uncle wrote."

Larys, leaning on his cane, the hem of his black robe sweeping the ground, nodded slightly. "Thank you for your concern, brother. I'm fine."

The usual cunning had vanished from his dark eyes, replaced by a rare gentleness—after all, they were family members he hadn't seen in a long time, and even the coldest temperament would soften a bit.

Following them came the ships of the Three Sisters. On the Blackwater Rush, the Marquess Sunderland, dressed in a blue-green suit with the three heads of dark-haired women of the Three Sisters embroidered on the hem as a symbol of his family crest, was followed by his vassals from the Three Sisters: Earl Borrell, Longthorpe, Torrent, each with a cautious expression.

Instead of going directly to the River Gate, they went around to the other side of King's Landing, walked through the fish market to the King's Gate, and were led by Colin Celtigar to meet Daemon.

"Your Highness," the Marquess Sunderland said, handing over a scroll of parchment, his voice hushed, "This is our trade list for the Three Sisters. If Your Highness requires further intelligence on the Narrow Sea, our merchant ships can deliver messages at any time. Moreover, since pledging allegiance to you, we have hardly touched those matters again, except for some Ironborn and ships from the Three Cities."

Earl Torrent, standing behind him, added, "We have heard about Berna Earl's matter. The Three Sisters are nestled between the the North and the Vale. As vassals of House Arryn, we are not as flamboyant as Lord Berna. We only wish to follow Your Highness and protect the fishermen of the Three Sisters. Please forgive us, Your Highness."

Daemon took the list, which was filled with merchant shipping routes, and couldn't help but smile, "Rest assured, as long as the Three Sisters remain loyal to the Iron Throne and live up to the oath we made on the Three Sisters, I will certainly not allow anyone to bully you."

The Marquess Sunderland breathed a sigh of relief and then quietly slipped Daemon a small bag of pearls, "A small token of my appreciation, specially presented to His Highness and Gael."

After the Three Sisters were seen off, Viserys ' messenger brought news that the Earl Barring ton of the Acorn Hall of the Gate of the Gods had arrived with his entourage.

Upon arriving at the Gate of the Gods, Daemon saw the old Earl holding a child wrapped in brocade, none other than his grandson Joseth— the child had just celebrated his first Name Day when Daemon toured last year, and now could speak a few words more clearly. Upon seeing Daemon, the child stretched out his little hand and called out, "Dragon—Dragon."

"This child talks about your majesty and your dragons all the time." Earl Barring ton chuckled as he handed Joseth over. "He sleeps with the wooden dragon you sent as a gift during your journey."

Daemon took Joseth from him, and the little guy immediately grabbed his silver hair, giggling and making everyone around him laugh.

In the evening, the teams from both the Blackwood and House Bracken families arrived at the same time.

Torrhen Blackwood rode a black horse, with his wife, the second daughter of the House Piper, beside him, wearing a light pink dress;

Henrik House Bracken followed behind, his wife House Piper in a dark green dress. The two families kept a full ten paces apart, their eyes never meeting.

"Your Highness, we remember the marriage you mediated last year," Torrhen bowed to Daemon. "But— the House Bracken is still the same as ever, always feeling we got the better deal."

Henrik snorted, "This time, it was clearly your House Blackwood who seized the oak grove first!"

Seeing that Daemon Targaryen, who had just experienced his first heartbreak because of Lady Piper, remained silent, Daemon had no choice but to handle the conflict between the two families himself. He waved his hand helplessly, saying, "You're both lords of the Riverlands. Don't always argue over such trivial matters. The tournament is approaching, and if this happens in King's Landing, His Majesty will be displeased."

The two then shut up, but still turned their faces away. The two young ladies from the House Piper secretly exchanged a glance, both with a helpless smile on their lips.

Following them were Earl Belmore of Strong Song in the Vale, Earl Lynderly of Snakewood, and Lord Grafton of Gulltown.

Their journey was uneventful. Earl Belmore brought some wool from the Vale, Earl Lynderly brought timber from Snakewood, and Lord Grafton was pulled along by Edwin House Arryn to discuss the recent trade in Gulltown around Viserys. Daemon stood aside, occasionally asking a few questions about the defenses of the Mountain Clans behind the Vale.

As for the Leonno family, the four members of the Strong family gathered in a side room of the Red Keep tonight.

Earl Bywin looked at the naval documents compiled by Leonno, then flipped through Larys's intelligence notes, and sighed, "Leonno, you're too serious. You need to be more flexible in governing Harrenhal in the future; Larys, you're too extroverted. You need to calm down. You two should learn from our the Conciliator, who combines firmness with gentleness."

Larys smiled, said nothing, and simply handed his grandfather a glass of Arbor sweet wine.

Leonno replied, "Father, naval affairs are not Harrenhal; the slightest mistake could affect trade between the Seven Kingdoms. I must be cautious."

As night fell and the first rays of dawn shone through Daemon's window, Daemon was awakened by a series of urgent knocks on the door.

Rayford's voice was filled with unprecedented anxiety. "Your Highness! Something terrible has happened!"

Daemon threw on his coat, got up, and opened the door to find Rayford sweating profusely, clutching a crumpled piece of paper. "The Iron Gate and the Gate of the Gods have arrived simultaneously —Yobert House Royce, Regent of the Vale, with Miss Jeyne House Arryn, Lady Rhea, and the Riverlands Warden Grover Tully, and his family!"

"Isn't this good news?" Daemon took the note, which contained a report from a member of the Dark Blade Guard. "Is Viserys picking up the House Royce at the Iron Gate? And what about the House Tully— "

"The problem lies with Lord Daemon Targaryen!" Rayford interrupted him, his voice even lower. "He's wearing his Gold Cloaks and has gone to the Gate of the Gods to fetch Lady Lysa of House Tully before His Highness Viserys! Lady Rhea and the House Royce are still waiting at the Iron Gate!"

Daemon paused, nearly dropping the note in his hand. He recalled Daemon Targaryen's calm demeanor when welcoming the House Bracken, and his nonchalant mention of Rhea. He never expected that this "playboy prince" would make such an absurd choice between his wife and the girl who was healing his heartbreak— Rhea of Iron Gate was his lawfully wedded wife; Lysa of the Gate of the Gods was merely a girl he had met briefly in Riverrun last year.

"Where is Viserys now?" Daemon's voice turned somber.

"At the Iron Gate, he was with Yobert House Royce and Miss Jeyne, looking very grim," Rayford said urgently. "The House Royce was whispering amongst themselves, while the House Tully was in an uproar, with the Gold Cloaks still calling for Daemon to pick up Miss Lysa." If this got out, Your Highness, the face of the royal family—"

Daemon walked to the window and looked toward the Iron Gate in the distance. In the morning mist, he could vaguely see House Arryn's silver moon blue eagle and the House Royce's runestone banner, while from the Gate of the Gods, he seemed to hear the cheers of the Gold Cloaks.

He gripped the Blackfyre at his waist, his fingertips turning white—he knew that Daemon Targaryen's actions would not only anger House Royce, but also strain the relationship between the Riverlands and the Vale, and give Otto leverage against him.

As the morning light gradually dispelled the fog, the bells of the Red Keep rang precisely on time, but instead of their usual cheerful tone, they sounded like a heavy alarm bell echoing across King's Landing's Landing. Daemon took a deep breath and turned to Rayford, saying, "Prepare the horses. Let's go to the Iron Gate."

Little did he know what kind of hidden dangers this farcical welcoming scene, sparked by "love turmoil," would sow for the upcoming martial arts tournament.