-Chapter 185-
-26th day of the 11th moon of the year 300 AC-
-POV 3rd-
The sound of horseshoes echoed through the woods as the herd of deer fled from their assailants.
After the lively feast, the king decided to take his vassals into the Kingswood for a hunt, to strengthen their bonds, understand them, and hear their grievances in a freer and more relaxed setting.
The hunt went well, as everyone wanted to demonstrate their skills with a bow, a spear, or simply their tracking and hunting talents.
In the end, the tracking dogs did most of the work and found a herd of deer, led by a white stag.
The white stag was a symbol of royalty and good fortune. Killing one was generally a sign of good luck, but also reserved for sovereigns.
As soon as the Emperor heard the news, he set off to hunt the herd with the goal of killing the white stag at their head.
After a frantic chase, the Emperor's group finally caught up with the herd, and the Emperor killed the white stag with a precise javelin throw from several dozen meters, hitting it straight in the heart.
He smiled under the cheers of all his vassals, either seeking to win his favor or to make him forget their previous signs of disloyalty.
---
-POV MC-
"What a masterful shot, Your Majesty! I can't believe it, the speed and precision of your javelin throw are truly an art," said Lord Brus Buckler, approaching his horse to mine.
Although he had suffered a heavy loss of prestige over the few days we had spent in the wilderness, he had finally reminded everyone that he was not just a vassal but one of my most powerful vassals.
I could clearly feel that the man before me did not like me, but I did not need his love, only his loyalty and obedience. So, I did not reject him when he tried to flatter me.
"I have appreciated your hunting skills firsthand, and you were quite good yourself," I said, complimenting him in turn.
He smiled and said, "I have spent a lot of time on horseback and often accompanied the former lord on hunts."
"Yes, it shows in your decision-making and how you lead your men. You are clearly experienced in such exercises."
He slightly inclined his head and then, after a fraction of a second, took a small breath and said solemnly:
"I would like to ask for your forgiveness, Your Majesty."
"Why is that?" I asked, pretending to be ignorant of the situation.
"I did something wrong, and I realize that. Although you showed me mercy, I felt the need to express my penitence to you," he said, swallowing his pride in a servile tone.
I nodded and said, "You are a proud man, Vicomte Buckler, and one of my most powerful vassals. I hope you are intelligent enough to understand that the era of the Baratheons is already over."
"You quickly extended your power, and I did not restrict you in this activity, even though I had the power to do so because I expect you to manage the southernmost part of my domain properly, ensuring no land is left abandoned. This does not give you the power to act as a Lord Paramount or to attempt to usurp House Baratheon by restoring it and marrying the daughter of Stannis Baratheon."
Brus Buckler flinched when I mentioned Shireen Baratheon and raised his eyes, surprised. I smiled and said:
"The Florents have already lost a lot because of Stannis. They will not risk the extinction of their house for your ambitions."
"I…" he tried to say, panicked, but I interrupted him before he could justify himself, saying:
"I do not hold it against you, otherwise you would be a steaming pile of Rhaegal's dung right now."
"I like ambitious people, but I also like people who know their place. Do you understand, Vicomte Buckler?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," said Brus Buckler.
"Very well, since you have excited the lords and the common folk, we will need to appease them by giving them something."
A small glimmer shone in his eyes before I brutally extinguished it by saying:
"I will give Storm's End to the heir of Robert Baratheon, the usurper, Gendry Baratheon."
"It's a…"
I raised an eyebrow, and he wisely fell silent.
Everyone knew I hated that insult and used it very rarely, having legitimized all my children so none of them would suffer society's scorn as I had in the past.
"… man legitimized by his Emperor," I said.
Brus Buckler nodded, his mood plummeting, but before he could sink further into despair, I said:
"The Imperial Domain is too vast, and I intend to divide it into three regions, each with a governor responsible for its prosperity and, of course, who will face the consequences in case of disappointment. You are a capable man; I am sure you have the qualities required to serve me properly."
"That is too much honor," he said, stunned by my proposal.
"I will never give you too much honor in this empire. Either you are useful to it, or you are a corpse," I said before spurring my horse away from him at a gallop.
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-POV Brandon Stark-
"Brandon… Brandon… Brandon…"
'That voice again,' I thought, looking around only to see my brother, who looked at me slightly perplexed.
"You're still hearing voices?" Robb asked.
I nodded and said, "I'm sure it's important, but I can't understand who's calling me."
Robb sighed, and I said, "I'm not crazy."
Robb smiled and ran a hand through my red hair before saying:
"I know you're not crazy, little brother."
"I'm not lying either," I said.
Robb smiled and said:
"I have dreams, dreams in the skin of Grey Wind. For a long time, I tried to push it deep down without connecting it to all the stories Old Nan and Jon told us when we were younger, but today I can no longer hide from the truth. Magic exists; the wildlings who crossed south of the Wall are living proof, as they also possess the trait I have, which we all have as Starks."
"So, you believe it too?" I asked, excited because Father was skeptical about everything I said.
I felt he did not doubt my word but had difficulty believing something so fantastical.
'Not to mention Mother, who would likely drag us straight to the sept for purification,' I thought, smiling slightly.
Brandon… we will wait for you… at the Wolfswood
I widened my eyes because the phrase seemed to have changed and no longer repeated my name senselessly.
I smiled and said, "I need to go to the Wolfswood."
Robb frowned, and before he could say anything to oppose it, I said:
"Come with me. With you, I fear nothing. You are the Lord of Winterfell in Father's absence."
Robb frowned deeply before finally relaxing and said:
"If it's the only way to end what torments you and understand the nature of this voice, then let's go."
---
-POV Viserys Targaryen-
Before me, more than 150,000 soldiers were gathered, the full might of the Imperial army that would be the spearhead of the Empire in its quest for world domination, starting with the complete subjugation of the Summer Isles in the name of Prince Jalabhar Xho.
'A farce led by a puppet who will be under the dragon's orders,' I thought with a slight smile.
Gone were the days when I had to humiliate myself and put on a show so that merchants in the Free Cities would offer me a roof for the night.
Today, I was leading an army that would subjugate a continent, however small, with one of the largest armies in the world.
I was sure to make history and would not be forgotten for at least several millennia.
'How could they forget the Great Prince Viserys, sword and right hand of the First Emperor?' I thought.
"SOLDIERS," I shouted.
The sound of lances striking shields or breastplates echoed before silence returned. I then began my motivational speech, saying:
"Soldiers, no matter where you come from, no matter your status at birth, no matter your wealth, from tomorrow, YOU WILL ALL BE IMMORTAL."
Cheers erupted, and I raised my hand for silence to finish:
"You are all heroes of the Empire, heroes who will never be forgotten. You will pave the way for the prosperity of an entire nation, for tens of millions of people, and countless generations will benefit long after all of us are gone. IT IS A GREAT HONOR FOR ME TO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO COMMAND SUCH BRAVE MEN."
"VISERYS, VISERYS, VISERYS, VISERYS."
'I understand why you enjoy these sheep so much. How could you not revel in such acclaim,' I thought, finally understanding why Aegon enjoyed the crowd and the common people so much.
"Prepare yourselves; we leave the Stepstones today. We have waited long enough."
"Storms have been reported. We will not be able to make a stopover at Lys with our entire fleet, so we will have to navigate as we are if we encounter a storm," said Aegor Velaryon, a distant cousin of the current head of House Velaryon and Admiral of the 3rd Imperial Fleet.
'He doesn't even look like a Valyrian,' I thought, looking at the man lacking distinctive Valyrian traits.
"Trust me, from atop Viserion, I can see for miles," I said confidently.
'I won't disappoint you,' I thought, having a last thought for my sovereign and nephew, one of the few people I genuinely respected.
"Very well, Your Highness," said Aegor, slightly annoyed that I did not heed his cautious but time-wasting remarks.
"We will make the Empire proud, and you will return a hero, Admiral Aegor," I said, placing a hand on his shoulder, which instinctively straightened at the mention of his recent promotion.
"At your command, commander," he said with renewed vigor.
'It's so easy. He was right; no need to shout or threaten them, a little pat on the shoulder and it's done.'