Blood Raven's autobiography was yellowed and tattered, covered with dense writing, and the leather cover had long since faded.
But Réga held the book as if it were a gold mine. Reading more books is like a sword needing a whetstone.
The age of dragons is no longer here, and the power of the dragons is not as secure as it seems. Maekar I was killed by falling rocks while suppressing a rebellion, and Aegon V was overwhelmed by the troubles caused by the nobles.
Rega's sense of security came not only from his identity, but also from his physical strength, intelligence, and intelligence.
The Blood Raven was an object he could look at.
Brynden Rivers, the Bloodraven, is a name worth a fortune. Like Damon, the Ranger Prince, and Baelor, who was killed by Mecca, he was a legendary dragon whose fame resounded throughout the Seven Kingdoms even before he ascended the throne.
In historical records, Blood Raven is a legendary figure who could be included in a prestigious family, and he once shone brightly.
Although Blood Raven was not popular, everyone acknowledged that he possessed the ability to control the rise and fall of dynasties and was an outstanding figure of the era.
Rhaegar seemed to see the face of Bloodraven's overly sensitive bastard son through the mist. His hair was white and straight, his face was as pale as bone, and the ugly wine-red markings on his cheeks and neck were clear and distinct. No wonder everyone called him a red raven. He was not as tall and mighty as his brothers, but his intelligence far surpassed theirs.
Rhaegar devoured the book, reading about Bloodraven's joys and sorrows, his successes and failures. He was particularly captivated by his tumultuous and ultimately fruitless love affair with Cyrus Ocean, his complex relationships with Daeron, Cold Iron, and Blackfyre, and his triumphs and failures in governing Westeros. Perhaps the only thing missing was the latter half, which deals with mysticism, witchcraft, and the supernatural. Bloodraven might not want future generations to see that part, or perhaps Rhaegar simply lacked the ability to begin.
"Duke Bloodraven is truly a legendary figure." Rega placed Bloodraven's autobiography back into the casket; spending too much time in the library would arouse suspicion.
But this time, he also gained a lot. The most valuable things were Blood Raven's archery skills, his secret agent organization, and Blood Raven's map of the Red Keep's secret passages.
Achievement: Game of Thrones (Little player, you've immersed yourself in the story of Blood Raven, witnessed the rise of a giant, and gained a deeper understanding of power. Congratulations, you've become a Little Player.)
Upon exiting the library, Rhaegar noticed a white knight in addition to his mother's servants.
It seems his grandfather, King Jaeheris II, wants to see him again.
"Tell my mother I've gone to see my grandfather," Rega said.
"Yes, Your Highness," the maid said respectfully. The prince's silver hair and purple eyes made him look like a god.
The king's secret meeting room, dimly lit, further accentuated the hateful face of power.
Power flows not only through the grand parliament and the votes of millions, but also through backroom deals and conspiracies between two or three people.
Around the long, golden wooden table sat only King Jaehaerys II, the newly recovered Prime Minister Mond, and Prince Rhaegar, who resembled a mascot. Prince Rhaegar sat on a long chair, with oranges, figs, buffalo cheese, and cranberries prepared for him by King Jaehaerys II before him—the grandfather's love for his grandson was always the same.
Prince Rhaegar simply watched the adults' discussion, remaining silent. Meanwhile, on the other side, King Jaeharis II was showering the adults with extravagant displays of food.
"The war on the Stepstone Islands is coming to an end. It is time for us to make a decision," said Jaeheris II, as the raven brought the latest news that the flames of war were about to be extinguished. But power, fluid power, brought them new troubles.
"The kingdom is truly enjoying a rare period of peace. The direwolves and mountain eagles have long remained uninvolved, while the roses and trout have been relatively peaceful, and even the sea monsters haven't caused us any trouble. Only in the western border, the struggle between the yellow lions and the red lions has reached the point of volcanic eruption," Duke Mondstadt nodded and said.
"The gold from the Iron Treasury must be repaid in three years. We need the gold support from the West. The West cannot be in chaos," Jaeheris II said in a deep voice.
"Then we need to support the Yellow Lions. Although Lord Roger has made a name for himself in the war, he is just a balloon inflating in the wind. Strictly speaking, in terms of family heritage and strength, no family in the Westerlands can rival the Lannisters. Before Aegon the Conqueror arrived, only the Starks, Baratheons, and Arryn were born to be kings."
"But Tytos the Laughing Lion doesn't seem like a decisive and strong person. He lost two or three of his brothers before he was chosen. He wasn't born to be a king," Duke Mondstadt analyzed carefully. As the Hand of the King, he had a detailed understanding of the situation in the Seven Kingdoms.
Rega listened as he ate. He also gained a general understanding of the situation. Currently, in each realm, there exist second-tier nobles who pose a threat to the great nobles. One side wants to rise to power, while the other side frantically tries to secure its position.
Lord Roger the Red Lion's family is all talk and no action, seemingly quite formidable. But in reality, their strength is still limited; they only became arrogant after encountering an oddball like the Laughing Lion. They are far inferior to Hightower and Redwyn of the Reach, Bolton of the North, and even Frey of the Riverlands seem more impressive than they are.
"Supporting the Lannisters is not the same as supporting Tytos." King Jaehaerys II shook his head.
Rhaegar had already guessed who he was referring to; the king was talking about Tywin and his brother.
"The Laughing Lion's son has grown up, and he's a true hero. Tywin has become a knight, and it's said that Kevan has also been knighted by Lord Roger." Jaehaerys II raised a glass of water to himself. He had many spies on the Stepstone Islands, and Tywin had been in King's Landing for a long time, so he had been observing him closely.
"That's a good idea. Like the last few times we mediated, after we withdrew, the Western Frontier became chaotic again, and we still need someone from the Western Frontier to help." Duke Mond still vividly remembered the last few mediations.
"Then let's see how much Tywin can surpass Tytos. I've prepared a gift for him." Jaehaerys II remained silent, showing the Duke of Mondstadt two proclamations. The proclamations bore the wax seal of a three-headed dragon, and the names were all stained with blood.
"A declaration of treason?" Duke Mond's eyes widened. The two declarations that Jaeheris presented already listed the Red Lions Reyes family and the Reyes family's in-laws, the Tabek family, as treason.
Treason is arguably one of the most infamous crimes in Westeros, and it carries a high chance of resulting in beheading or being hung on a spear.
"Lord Roger was a great contributor in the Battle of the Stone Steps. Although he was indeed somewhat arrogant," Duke Mondstadt said, still somewhat hesitant. After all, he was born into the Baratheon family, known for its reckless warriors, and didn't have much of the blood of schemers and politicians flowing through his veins.
"Sometimes the dead are more useful than the good," Jaeheris II said coldly as he fed his grandson Rhaegar.
Once the royal seal of treason is added, the Red Lion's death will become all the more logical.
This is a very good gesture, as it both does Tywin a favor and demonstrates the power of the royal family.
Jaeharis II saw through Tywin's cold-bloodedness and cruelty, and he wanted to see if the young man was as he imagined.
Rhaegar looked at his grandfather, the old king, who, though frail-looking, was a ruthless and cunning man. It seemed he already knew Castamere's tragedy was inevitable and was determined to add fuel to the fire for Tywin.
"Achievement: Game of Thrones (Little player, blood and fire are necessary for power. When tenderness cannot resolve conflicts, you need a little cruelty.)" Rhaega looked at his panel, fearing that Count Roger's death would be even more gruesome.
It's truly a case of fortunes changing in the wheel of life, and power being a bloody game.
"Tywin is brave and resourceful. If he were alive, our sons would be overshadowed." Duke Mondstadt hesitated for a moment before voicing his doubts.
"This is not the time to discuss this. I can only resolve the Iron Treasury's debts first," Jaeheris II said helplessly. He knew that relying on the feudal lords was a last resort. But the Dragon King also had his own difficulties.
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