At the very moment Aenys successfully took Lys, the Free City of Tyrosh was caught in the midst of a brutal siege.
Tyrosh, perched on an island north of the Stepstones, was a heavily fortified city surrounded by high walls, located at the northeastern tip of the archipelago.
Now, this grand city was facing a calamity unlike any it had seen since its founding. Green and red flames spread wildly through the streets as two dragons took turns unleashing deadly breath upon it.
Countless Tyroshi fled in terror, surging toward the gates, trampling over one another in a desperate stampede. The scene was a picture of sheer misery.
Dragonfire scorched the city without mercy, consuming everything in its path. At the same time, the people turned on each other in a frenzy of chaos and bloodshed.
Maegor stood atop the Weeping Tower, Tyrosh's iconic structure, gripping the Dark Sister in one hand and raising the severed head of the Archon of Tyrosh in the other. Laughing maniacally, he shouted, "This is what happens to those who refuse to kneel!
Soldiers of Targaryen, I command you—slaughter the city!!"
Though Maegor was only ten, his stature and build rivaled that of a grown youth.
The blazing fires of Tyrosh reflected in his violet eyes, his face unflinching and fearless.
Maegor had no intention of leaving troops behind to occupy Tyrosh. With plans already set to march swiftly on Myr, he couldn't afford to split his forces. In his view, the simplest and most effective strategy was to expel the locals and eliminate all soldiers and nobles.
The Cannibal swooped in from above. Without hesitation, Maegor leapt from the tower, landing cleanly on the saddle strapped to the dragon's back.
"Wahoo!! Kill them all!!" he bellowed.
He hurled the Archon's head into the air. The Cannibal snapped it up in a single bite, scattering bone fragments across the sky.
...
In the ruling hall of Volantis, Aegon sat regally at the head of the table.
He laid two letters before him on the rectangular table.
The letter on the left came from his eldest son, Aenys, reporting the successful capture of Lys.
The letter on the right was from Maegor, explaining that because Tyrosh had joined the war, he had no choice but to seize the city to secure their sea routes. Otherwise, they risked being flanked and overwhelmed by Tyrosh's forces. As of now, Maegor's army was marching with full force toward Myr.
Maegon and Aerion sat to either side of Aegon.
They had already read both letters.
Aerion, now over fifty—an impressive age in this world—remained sharp in mind. He advised Aegon, "Since the campaign is progressing smoothly, should we issue a proclamation to the other Free Cities?"
Aegon nodded slightly. "Send word to the other Free Cities. Inform them that the Targaryen dynasty is the rightful heir to the Freehold Empire. We do not seek to conquer the remaining five, but we demand that they open their trade routes and abolish tariffs.
They are also to pay annual tribute to the Targaryen dynasty."
The maester standing nearby quickly recorded the king's commands. Grand Maester Gawen carefully drafted an official document and respectfully presented it for Aegon's review.
After reading through and confirming there were no issues, Aegon signed his name and stamped it firmly with the royal seal.
At that moment, the still-youthful Maegon spoke up, "Elder Brother has only taken one Free City, yet Maegor is already targeting a second. Isn't that a bit unfair?"
Maegon had a good relationship with the gentle Aenys, which is why he brought it up.
Aegon placed his hand slowly over Maegor's letter and said calmly, "This is a result of the fluid nature of war, not Maegor's recklessness. His actions and victories are justified and effective."
Aerion could sense Aegon's clear favoritism toward Maegor—or more precisely, his growing bias.
Still, he said nothing. He too admired Maegor's bold and unrestrained nature—a charisma that made him stand out. In contrast, Aenys was introverted, pensive, and overly cautious, lacking decisiveness—hardly the traits of an ideal ruler.
Aerion believed firmly in choosing the most capable.
Maegon let out a silent sigh and thought, 'Brother, this is as far as I can help you. If I keep pressing the issue, I'll only anger Father. I haven't even secured my position as Governor of the Western Protectorate yet.'
He had already noticed that their father was growing increasingly dissatisfied with Aenys.
He'd also heard about the quarrels between Aenys and Aegon—after all, his mother Sharra, as the Master of Whisperers, had access to sensitive information within the Red Keep.
Sharra once told Maegon something he never forgot: "The king is never wrong!"
Maegon understood the deeper meaning behind those words. As the sovereign of a dynasty, the king stood at the pinnacle of power—beyond reproach. Even when the king made mistakes, it was not a subject's place to speak out. Instead, they should work to cover for him.
Though Aenys had reconciled with their father Aegon at the Red Keep, the mere fact that the king had been forced to compromise left a bad taste. For a crown prince who made the king yield, the road to succession would no longer be smooth.
Maegon followed his mother's teachings to the letter. When it came to political matters, he was unfailingly respectful and obedient toward Aegon, never arguing or challenging him.
Aegon, in turn, was very pleased with the conduct of his bastard son. Naturally, the position of Protector of the Western Regions was his to claim.
Aegon remained in Volantis for about a week.
News soon arrived of another victory—Maegor had successfully captured the city of Myr.
In the council chamber, Aegon lavishly praised his second son's valor. He was thoroughly satisfied with Maegor's performance.
But alongside this victory, several letters from Tyrosh arrived, sharply criticizing the second prince.
These were written by a maester assigned to the army by Aegon himself. They detailed how Maegor had allegedly ordered the massacre of innocent Tyroshi civilians, labeling him a bloodthirsty madman.
Enraged, Aegon tore the letters to shreds and immediately ordered the maester dismissed and imprisoned.
"Maegor already explained in his military dispatch that he didn't have the forces to garrison Tyrosh. That's why he executed the Tyroshi nobility.
How dare this vile maester accuse him of slaughtering civilians!
How dare he defame the king's second son?" Aegon thundered in the council chamber.
Aerion frowned, then asked calmly, "Judging by the current victories, Maegor has won the fight for the throne. But have you considered, Aegon—Aenys now holds tremendous influence within the Faith of the Seven. He's even seen as the new savior in their New Covenant.
What are you planning to do with him?
If he's left as just another prince, it might cause unrest."
Aegon thought for a moment.
"The Holy Crusaders will remain permanently stationed in West Essos to assist Maegon in governing the region. Aenys will be stripped of all military authority and removed from every church post he holds."
Aerion tapped his finger lightly on the table.
"That may work for now, but you must keep a close watch on Aenys. Don't let him stray down the wrong path."
Aegon gave a slight nod.
"I understand, Father."
...
Official letters from the Targaryen dynasty were delivered one after another to the capitals of the remaining five Free Cities.
Faced with the reality of the situation, the leaders of those cities could do nothing but accept it—grudgingly and with resentment.
None of them even dared to send a letter accusing Aegon of tearing up the federal treaty.
Aegon had already turned three parliamentary Free Cities into private Targaryen territories, and now Tyrosh had been added to the list. The horrific massacre carried out by his second son left the people of West Essos shaken to their core.
That year, the people of West Essos were once again reminded of the terror of being ruled by the Dragonlords of Valyria!
Just five King-tier Dragons were enough to crush any dream of resistance. And with Balerion himself among them, how could they muster the courage to rebel?
In addition to the letters, Aegon dispatched envoys to explain in detail the future status of the five cities.
For the first time, the concept of a "vassal state" was introduced to them.
The five cities cautiously accepted the Targaryen envoy's declaration. When they learned that Dragonlord Aegon would not launch further military campaigns against them, all the noble houses breathed a collective sigh of relief.
They agreed to send representatives back with the Targaryen envoy to meet Aegon in person and better understand the new arrangement.
As the Dragonlord's army set foot once more on the continent of West Essos, the Free Cities' citizens were filled with dread and uncertainty. Yet deep within, a sliver of hope began to form.
After all, Aegon's Dragonlord treasury had wreaked havoc on their economies in recent years, triggering repeated famines.
Now, they hoped they could negotiate—if they became Targaryen vassals, would the treasury finally stop interfering with their economies? Could they all just live in peace?
Second, the influence of the Valyrian Freehold still lingers.
The Free Cities were deeply steeped in Valyrian culture. After thousands of years of conditioning, they held the Dragonlords in both awe and reverence.
In recent years, the splendor of King's Landing had been widely praised across West Essos. With the Targaryen dynasty returning as the successor and rightful heir to the Freehold, the Free Cities may have felt internal resistance—but their actions spoke otherwise.
Envoys from the five Free Cities arrived in Volantis alongside the Dragonlord's messengers, but they did not meet Aegon. Seeing that the situation had stabilized, Aegon had already returned to King's Landing ahead of them.
Instead, they were received by Maegon, the newly appointed Governor of the Western Protectorate. He delivered Dragonlord Aegon's decree.
All five Free Cities, along with the rest of West Essos, were ordered to send their senior officials to King's Landing to pay homage and reestablish their roles as vassals under their suzerain.
The Targaryen dynasty claimed succession over the Freehold's authority, seeking to once again dominate West Essos and assert control over the Disputed Lands.
Those who resisted or harbored ill intent needed only to look at the fate of Tyrosh as a warning.
Those who submitted would naturally become vassals of the Dragonlord and receive the protection of House Targaryen.
Maegon emphasized Aegon's core message:
"Though the Freehold has fallen, the Targaryens are a kingdom built by Dragonlords as well.
What the Freehold once achieved, the Targaryens can achieve again.
Those who submit will never be left helpless!
Those who defy us—no matter how far—will be punished!"
After delivering Aegon's declaration, the envoys returned home in awe and apprehension. Soon after, they organized even larger delegations, preparing tribute and setting out for King's Landing to formally establish their vassal status.
Moreover, during their return journey, the five envoys actively spread word of Dragonlord Aegon and the Targaryen dynasty's rising might throughout the smaller nations of West Essos. They declared that the Dragonlords of Valyria had returned.
They urged the lesser states to pay tribute to their "elder brother," the Targaryens—warning that if Dragonlord Aegon were angered, destruction could fall upon both kingdom and kin.
News of the Dragonlord's return spread swiftly across the continent.
Unlike the petty struggles of Volantis during the Century of Blood, the Targaryen dynasty was no small force. They commanded five King-tier Dragons, including one nearly two hundred meters long—none other than the Dragonlord himself.
And House Targaryen continued to grow stronger with each passing year.
Every nation once humbled by the Freehold's Dragonlords still trembled at the memory.
The legacy of the Freehold's brutal rule in West Essos had left deep scars, but it also laid a favorable foundation for House Targaryen to reenter the region and secure its dominance.
After sending off the five major envoys, Maegon noticed more emissaries from minor nations arriving one after another to pay homage to Aegon. He gave them the same message and dismissed them.
However, Maegon soon noticed these emissaries returning, now bearing lavish gifts and requesting another audience with him.
That's when it finally clicked.
These nations had realized that Maegon was the Targaryen dynasty's voice in West Essos. Naturally, they now sought to curry favor with him.
They believed that with Maegon—the Governor of the Western Protectorate—backing them, they could gain leverage in the regional power struggles.
For the first time in his life, Maegon truly understood the advantages of being born into a great nation—and of having a powerful father.
While others were merely at the starting line, he had been born at the finish line.
Gifts flooded in from all directions, so many that he could barely keep up with receiving them.
Upon learning that Maegon was still unmarried, some countries even sent their most beautiful noblewomen, allowing him to take his pick. These women were stunning: some with skin as pale as cream, others with a healthy, dark glow; some were tall and elegant, others curvaceous and full-figured—each one a rare beauty capable of toppling kingdoms.
How could a young and hot-blooded Maegon possibly resist?
And yet, in the end, he managed to regain his composure.
His mother, Lady Sharra, had sent him a letter, reminding him not to accept overly lavish gifts. If he came across rare treasures, he must not forget his father, Aegon. The letter emphasized that his position as Magister of the Western Regions of Essos was not due to anything else but the blood he inherited from his father.
Maegon carefully considered his mother's words. "If you come across something good, don't forget your father." His gaze slowly swept over the graceful foreign beauties before him, and he couldn't help but swallow hard.
Finally, Maegon sighed with reluctant resignation, then waved his hand and gave the order to his adjutant.
"Send all these women to my royal father."
The adjutant was stunned by the command, but quickly recovered and praised him.
"Magister, this move is truly brilliant. I am deeply impressed."
Maegon raised his chin smugly and gave a knowing smile.
...
At the end of the 19th year of the Conquest.
Aegon received more than a dozen beautiful women, all sent by Maegon from the continent of West Essos.
Queen Visenya and Queen Rhaenys, upon seeing that their husband had taken in yet another group of women, wore expressions so dark they could drip water.
Aegon was baffled and hurried to explain to his sisters.
"I swear I didn't ask Maegon to find women for me. He sent them of his own accord. You've got to believe me!"
"Like hell I do!" Rhaenys scoffed. "Maegon's barely a teenager. You expect me to believe he'd take the initiative to gather beauties just to please his father? Unless you ordered him to, what other reason could there be?"
Aegon helplessly spread his hands. The more he tried to explain, the more feeble he sounded.
Though he enjoyed the company of women, Aegon had never gone out of his way to collect them. He'd already seen and had his share of beauties. With his status, getting any woman he wanted was as easy as breathing.
He looked once more at the row of exotic women before him and sighed.
"Well, since it's a gesture of filial piety from my son, I can't exactly turn it down, can I? Send them all to my chambers tonight."
"You!!!" Visenya was so furious her fingers trembled as she pointed at him, too enraged to even speak.
Aegon gently took her hand and said with theatrical sincerity, "This is about preserving Maegon's dignity. It's a gesture of support.
He's just taken office as Magister of the Western Regions. If I turn down his gift, it'll be a laughingstock to the other nations of Essos. Worse, they might misinterpret the situation. If that happens, it'll put Maegon in a difficult position."
"...&%&￥￥." Rhaenys was left speechless.
...
In the twentieth year of the Conquest.
The Targaryen Dynasty held a grand New Year celebration.
Envoys from across the continent of Essos arrived one after another at the port of King's Landing, bringing ships laden with treasures.
They came in waves—from Pentos, Braavos, Qohor, Norvos, Lorath... every nation in West Essos sent a delegation, without exception.
Even among the Dothraki horselords, one Khal had sent his most loyal Bloodrider as an envoy.
...
[Upto 20 chapters ahead for now]
p@treon com/ BlurryDream