Danyla's first Small Council meeting had gotten off to a flying start, thanks to her eloquence and King Jaehaerys's affection for her.
Recommending Lady Cold Jade for the position of Master of Laws on the Small Council was only Danyla's first experiment.
If Danyla wanted to shake up and change this world, she would certainly face tremendous pressure doing it alone. So she planned to first help more women distinguish themselves on the broader stage of Westeros.
After all, the Seven Kingdoms had countless lords, great and small. In this world rife with sex and violence, natural disasters, man-made calamities, and territorial disputes never ceased, and it was fairly common for every male heir to die.
Some capable noblewomen therefore had opportunities to lead their houses, but power would often return to male heirs once their children came of age.
Danyla's next task was to give the women of the Seven Kingdoms as broad a stage as possible.
When Danyla accompanied King Jaehaerys back to his rooms, she was surprised to find that her personal maids, Bethany and Rhaella, had arrived, along with her personal guard, Harold Darklyn.
"Your Majesty! Your Highness!"
After paying their respects, they respectfully stepped aside.
"What brought you all over from Dragonstone?"
Danyla was quite surprised by their arrival and asked them about it.
With King Jaehaerys present, even the normally aloof, sharp-tongued Rhaella spoke with ladylike grace.
"Your Highness! Prince Viserys and Princess Aemma were worried that you would have trouble adjusting without your usual attendants, so they sent us over at once!"
Danyla knew it could not be that simple. She deliberately adopted a slightly disapproving tone, though inwardly she was very pleased.
"With Great-Grandfather looking after me in the Red Keep, how could I have trouble adjusting? You worry far too much!"