Chapter 142 The Marriage of Sea and Dragon
In the garden of Tyrosh Castle, Gael was strolling under a lemon tree when Daemon quickly walked over and said, "I have good news for you. Laena has agreed to marry Jaehaerys."
Gael was somewhat surprised and said joyfully, "How did you do that?"
Daemon smiled and said, "You don't need to worry about that. Anyway, I convinced Laena."
Jaehaerys, after all, was Daemon and Gael's second son. Jaehaerys had a lazy personality and, apart from cooking and food, showed little interest in anything else. He didn't have his elder brother Aegon's handsome appearance, nor his younger brother Baelon's wildness. The court ladies all believed that Jaehaerys was the most unremarkable of the three princes.
In contrast, Laena was beautiful, dignified, and charming, with many suitors. Gael had once worried that Laena would refuse to get engaged to Jaehaerys.
Laena had previously served as a lady-in-waiting to Gael, and Gael had always been very fond of Laena. To have such a daughter-in-law, Gael was extremely satisfied. She showed a sweet smile, "We should immediately set an engagement date with Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys. Once they come of age, they can get married."
Daemon said indifferently, "There's no need to rush. I haven't spoken to Corlys and Princess Rhaenys about the engagement yet."
The smile on Gael's face vanished like dew in the sun. Gael's lips were tightly pursed. "I thought you had already settled things with Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys. So, you only convinced Laena? That's not enough. Laena's marriage is up to Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys. Laena is their only precious daughter, so it's obvious they will be very selective in choosing a husband for her and carefully vet him."
As she thought of this, Gael became even more worried. "Jaehaerys served as Lord Corlys's squire a few years ago. At that time, he was sent back because of seasickness and gluttony. How could Lord Corlys allow Laena to marry a squire he wasn't satisfied with?"
In truth, Daemon was also unsure, for Corlys was the greatest mariner in the world today. He had completed nine unprecedented grand voyages, reaching Yi Ti, Asshai, and Sothoryos, and challenging the Shivering Sea. Corlys's seafaring skills were admired even by the Braavosi, Pentoshi, Ironborn, Sistermen, and the people of the Summer Isles.
For such a great mariner and the Ship King of Westeros, it was indeed hard to imagine his son-in-law being seasick. As he thought of these things, Daemon also began to doubt whether he could convince Corlys and Rhaenys. However, Daemon still feigned composure, "Laena has already agreed. The alliance is half successful. I will go to Corlys and Rhaenys now to formally propose."
Gael's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "There's no custom for a father to propose for his own son. You should find a matchmaker, someone of noble status, to speak to Corlys and Princess Rhaenys about this matter."
Daemon gave a resigned smile, "Is that so? Then tell me, who would be suitable? Marston Sunderland? Raven Greyjoy, Son of the Wind? Corlys has always looked down on the Ironborn and Sistermen. Or the Tomb Wolf? The Tomb Wolf is excellent at fighting on the battlefield, but asking him to discuss a marriage is simply not feasible."
Gael pondered for a long while. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "Perhaps we can wait until we return to King's Landing and have King Viserys mediate to facilitate Jaehaerys and Laena's marriage."
Daemon shook his head. "That's not a very good idea. King Viserys rejected Laena years ago, and Corlys and Princess Rhaenys have always held a grudge. How could they accept King Viserys as a matchmaker? King Viserys might not even be pleased to see us allied with Corlys. If he wanted to mend the relationship between the Iron Throne and House Velaryon, he might consider marrying his son, Aegon, to Laena."
"Many nobles want to marry into House Velaryon and wed Laena, who possesses Dragon Vhagar. Therefore, our alliance must be swift and discreet, otherwise, it might be snatched away by others."
Gael was not convinced. "How could such a thing as'snatching away' happen?"
Daemon said solemnly, "Of course it can. There was a girl from House Stark who was engaged to the crippled heir of Highgarden. The girl was overjoyed and told her jester. As a result, the jester leaked the information, and the Lion Chief of Casterly Rock found out. The Lion Chief, before House Tyrell could announce the engagement, immediately arranged for his dwarf son to marry the girl from House Stark."
Gael was bewildered. "Is there really such a historical event? Why have I never heard of it?"
Daemon laughed, "Of course there is; it's in the songs. This history teaches us that engagements must be secret and swift."
That night, in the Tyrosh banquet hall, candlelight flickered. The floor was covered with Myrish carpets, and the walls were adorned with colorful tapestries depicting Daemon's conquest of the Three Daughters. Around the hall stood ebony screens, carved with every dragon of House Targaryen.
The spacious hall could accommodate a banquet for two hundred people, but today, Daemon and Gael's guests were only Corlys and Princess Rhaenys.
Daemon and Gael, along with Corlys and Princess Rhaenys, enjoyed onion and cheese pie, honey quail, veal steak with almond milk, foie gras, and roasted suckling pig, washing it all down with amber sweetwine and rum.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Corlys said with a broad smile, "Your Majesty, I love life in the Three Daughters. We control the Stepstones, commanding the shipping lanes between the Narrow Sea and the Summer Sea. If we conquer Pentos to the north in the future, the Myr Sea will become our inland sea."
Daemon took a sip of rum. "Lord Corlys, with the blood and fire of House Targaryen allied with the sea and salt of House Velaryon, we are invincible. Relying on the Valyrian Fleet and House Targaryen's dragons, we can defeat any opponent."
Princess Rhaenys joked, "Only under the leadership of a wise monarch. Your Majesty, you have accomplished a great conquest comparable to Aegon the Conqueror."
As Daemon's cousin, Rhaenys had witnessed Daemon's rise firsthand. Daemon, originally a second son of a noble house with no inheritance rights, had, through his own efforts, built the prosperous territory of Blackwater City on the south bank of the Blackwater Rush. He then led dragons and armies to sweep across Westeros, conquering the three Free Cities of Tyrosh, Lys, and Myr, and establishing a prosperous kingdom at Essos' Heel.
Both Rhaenys and Corlys had no choice but to be impressed by Daemon.
Daemon sighed, "Aegon the Conqueror swept across all of Westeros except Dorne. Although I have conquered the Three Daughters, the surrounding Pentos, Volantis, and Volantis to the north are always watching covetously. Without the support of House Velaryon, I could not have achieved what I have today. We must continue our friendship. I hope our two houses can intermarry."
This sudden change of topic surprised Corlys and Princess Rhaenys. They exchanged glances. Laena had not revealed the engagement to her parents, so Corlys and Princess Rhaenys were completely unaware of it.
Corlys toyed with the silver goblet in his hand, draining the last bit of amber sweetwine, his expression solemn, like a bronze shield. "Intermarriage? Your Majesty and the Queen have no daughters, only sons, so you are interested in my daughter, Laena? This is a great honor."
Princess Rhaenys tossed her dark hair. "Your Majesty, I have always felt that our Laena is a very good match for Prince Aegon. Although Laena is several years older than Prince Aegon, it is still within an acceptable range."
Rhaenys and Corlys were certainly willing to marry their daughter Laena to Daemon's child, but they were interested in the eldest son, Aegon, not the second son, Jaehaerys, or Baelon. Rhaenys deliberately pointed out that Laena was several years older than Aegon, implying that the younger Jaehaerys and Baelon would not satisfy House Velaryon's appetite.
Daemon smiled and said, "Aegon? Princess Rhaenys, I think you've misunderstood. I've already spoken with Laena, and I deeply respect her opinion. Laena has chosen Jaehaerys."
Corlys's eyes narrowed into a thin line. "Prince Jaehaerys? I like that little fat boy. If he put his passion for food and cooking into sailing and ships, Jaehaerys would have already become a top mariner and master shipbuilder. Jaehaerys gets seasick, and Laena grew up on ships; she is the sea and salt. How could Jaehaerys like Laena?"
Although Corlys was very polite, his words clearly indicated his dissatisfaction with Jaehaerys as a prospective groom.
Gael calmly said, "Lord Corlys, my son Jaehaerys is only twelve years old this year. He cannot be seasick forever. He has the potential to become an excellent sailor in the future."
Corlys chuckled, "Your Majesty, you can question everything about me, except my eye for choosing sailors. Jaehaerys will not become an excellent sailor even in a hundred years. Jaehaerys served as my squire, and his performance was quite poor. Excellent sailors need to be brave, agile, and adventurous, qualities Jaehaerys completely lacks."
Daemon pursed his lips. "Lord Corlys, you are choosing a son-in-law, not a sailor. Jaehaerys may not become an excellent sailor, but he will be a successful Prince of Myr in the future. Once Jaehaerys marries Laena, they will rule Myr side by side."
Since Daemon conquered the Three Daughters, Aegon, Jaehaerys, and Baelon became the City Princes of the Three Daughters. However, they were too young and held no actual power; the title of City Prince was more of an honorary title than an actual lordship.
Now that Daemon promised Jaehaerys would become the ruler of Myr, Corlys and Princess Rhaenys immediately leaned forward, their eyes lighting up. Jaehaerys, whom they had previously disliked, instantly appeared much more refined in their eyes.
Princess Rhaenys said, "Actually, I've always thought Jaehaerys was a good boy. He has a lot of potential."
Corlys nodded heavily. "Indeed, Jaehaerys is, after all, of true dragon blood. As a Dragon Knight, he naturally doesn't need to prove himself on the sea and on ships. In fact, thinking about it carefully, Laena and Jaehaerys are simply a match made in heaven. They have known each other since childhood and have always been very close."
Their second son Jaehaerys might not have satisfied Corlys and Rhaenys, but who could refuse Jaehaerys, the ruler of Myr? Myr, after all, was the city with the strongest craftsmanship among the Three Daughters.
In the future, Daemon's sons would separately become the lords of Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh, but military and political power would still be concentrated in Daemon's hands. The Kingsguard and Dragon's Servants Army would be stationed throughout the kingdom, and household registration would be centrally managed by the kingdom.
Daemon said proudly, "The Three Daughters must be united to survive in Essos, surrounded by powerful enemies. The marriage between Jaehaerys and Laena will make the Three Daughters more united and stronger."
Corlys and Princess Rhaenys were very satisfied. Corlys smiled and said, "Your Majesty, it's only a pity you have no daughters. If you did, my son Laenor could also marry your daughter, and then we would be even closer."
Laenor had grown into a handsome young man. He had a hooked nose, a beautiful face, silver hair, and purple eyes. He was always surrounded by handsome young knights or squires. Laenor also had many female admirers, but when faced with beautiful women, Laenor always kept them at arm's length. In the Three Daughters, Laenor's orientation had become an open secret, and the local customs were more open than in King's Landing, so no one cared.
Did Corlys and Princess Rhaenys truly not know Laenor's orientation? Or did they know but pretended not to? Daemon didn't know. In any case, Daemon did not want to marry his daughter to Laenor.
After the banquet, Daemon went to his sons' room. Aegon, Jaehaerys, and Baelon had slept in the same room since childhood, on a large weirwood bed with a soft velvet mattress.
Aegon was wiping his longsword, Jaehaerys was flipping through a cookbook, and Baelon was playing under the covers. Daemon called his sons to his side.
"Today, I arranged a marriage for Jaehaerys. Jaehaerys will soon be engaged to Laena."
Jaehaerys happily said, "I like Sister Laena. Her lemon cake is especially good, and she also likes the pretzels I make."
Aegon breathed a sigh of relief. "So, I don't have to get engaged to a certain noble lady? Thank the gods above." Aegon liked Willow of Blackwater and did not want to get engaged too soon.
Daemon said, "In Essos, you don't have to get engaged, but once we return to Westeros, you will soon be engaged. A noble lady in King's Landing will be engaged to you."
Aegon pondered for a moment. "Rhaenyra? She is the Realm's Delight; so many nobles are pursuing her."
Baelon said, "Father, since both my older brothers are engaged, when will it be my turn?"
Several noble women of Westeros immediately came to Daemon's mind. "You are the youngest; you can wait a bit longer."
Seven days later, Prince of Myr Jaehaerys and Lady Laena of House Velaryon formally became engaged in a grand ceremony at the Plaza of the Seven Shrines in Tyrosh.
Jaehaerys's mount, Blue Sprite, and Laena's mount, Vhagar, soared in the sky. Amidst the roar of dragons, people witnessed the engagement.
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