Aegon rode his horse, looking down at him. His expression was neither angry nor proud—more like a look that said, "What can you do to me?"
"Your Grace," Will tried to speak as calmly as possible, persuading him. "This shipment of grain was designated by the prince to be sent north. The North has not yet rebelled. If their food supply is cut off, they may be pushed into the arms of the Blacks."
"The North has not rebelled?" Aegon sneered. "Lord Stark's bannermen have been demanding he march south every day in Winterfell. Is that not called rebellion?"
Will was surprised and curious. "Your Grace, who told you this?"
"I have my own sources." Aegon did not answer the question, fixing his gaze on Will. "Lord Will, let me ask you—is the North truly opposed to us? Will this grain be sent to feed them so they can defeat us? Or will they be grateful?"
Will fell silent.
Then Aegon the Second said loudly, "Are the lives of those northern traitors fate? I rule King's Landing. Are the lives of my loyal commoners not fate?"
Hearing His Grace's speech, the crowd behind him erupted like a tsunami.
"Your Grace is wise!" "Your Grace is right!" "We are Your Grace's loyal people!"
Will looked back at the sea of people and could not help but shake his head. Today, this matter might not be stopped.
In the crowd, an old man was still desperately pushing forward.
"Let me through, let me see His Grace..."
A young man supported him. "Old man, slower."
The old man looked up, his clouded eyes full of tears.
"Your Grace Aegon, you truly have the style of the late king..."
The young man was silent a moment, then whispered, "The late king was a good man, but the late king was not as bold as His Grace."
The old man nodded. "His Grace is a true ruler..."
The strong man nodded and said nothing more.
Nearby, a woman with a child on her back stood on tiptoe, muttering, "His Grace is truly handsome, just like a person in a painting..."
The child on her back was crying, and she ignored him, staring at the beautiful king on the white horse before her.
"Mother, I'm hungry..." the child cried.
"Don't cry, don't cry," the woman patted his back. "When His Grace brings the food, Mother will bake you bread."
---
At the city gate, Carter finally descended from the wall. He approached Aegon and bowed slightly.
"Your Grace."
Aegon immediately fixed his gaze on him, his eyes wary.
"Yes."
Carter raised his head and said cautiously, "Your Grace... this shipment of grain, according to the prince's instructions, was prepared to be shipped north so they could survive the winter."
Jeers came from the crowd.
"The prince again!" "The prince won't let the king decide!" "What did the prince order?" "Are you his watchdog?"
Carter's face froze, but he did not look at them. He kept his eyes on the king on horseback, Aegon the Second.
Aegon's horse stepped forward nervously twice. In the sky, Sunfyre seemed to sense his master's emotions and let out a low roar.
Aegon reined in his horse and looked at Carter.
"Your name is Carter, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"My brother Aemond raised you?"
Carter lowered his head and answered, "Yes."
"Then let me ask you," Aegon's voice slowed, "am I the king?"
Carter answered immediately. "Yes."
"Then I want this shipment of Crown grain. Can you stop me?"
Carter raised his gaze and looked into Aegon's eyes.
Now Prince Aemond was not here. The Hand Tyland was not here. He was the most powerful man in King's Landing.
Carter lowered his posture and spoke.
"Your Grace, you want this shipment of Crown grain. I will not stop you."
Aegon raised his eyebrows.
Carter continued. "But I will go with you."
"Accompany me?"
"Yes." Carter nodded. "I will accompany you to Moonspire, accompany you to open the granaries, and accompany you to release the grain. However much you want, I will give you as much."
Carter had already thought: when Aegon entered alone, he would first tie up Aegon the Second. Then immediately send a letter to Prince Aemond, asking him to return and quickly resolve this. Once the prince returned, His Grace would not dare to be so arrogant.
Aegon was stunned for a moment, then smiled.
"You will come with me? I need you to accompany me?"
Carter answered without humility.
"It is good that Your Grace cares for the people. But in Moonspire, everyone is the prince's man. If I do not accompany you, what if someone fails to recognize you and offends Your Grace... Your Grace is a true dragon; you may not care, but we courtiers must think of such things."
Aegon the Second looked at him for a few seconds. His intuition told him that this boy was not holding back any good.
Aegon the Second said gravely.
"Carter, this grain belongs to the Crown. It is not the prince's. Do you understand? Moreover, I will not give a single grain to those northern traitors."
Carter nodded. "Understood."
"I want to open the granaries and sell it to the commoners of King's Landing at a fair price."
Carter nodded again. "Understood."
"You still want to come with me?"
Carter looked at Aegon.
"Your Grace, without the prince's order, you are taking this grain and killing the good."
Aegon the Second grew impatient, his violet eyes narrowing.
"What did you say?"
Carter looked directly at him, neither avoiding nor yielding, word by word.
"Your Grace, listen to me—you are killing the good."
Aegon's face darkened.
"Get out of the way."
Carter did not move.
"Get out of the way!" Aegon's voice suddenly became harsh.
Carter still stood before the horse, his arms outstretched.
"Your Grace, listen to me..."
"I will not listen!" Aegon tightened the reins, and the white horse reared, nearly kicking Carter. "Who are you? A dog raised by Aemond, daring to stop me?"
Carter's face twisted, and he tried to grab the reins of His Grace's white horse.
"Your Grace..."
"Insolent!"
Aegon's hooves nearly trampled Carter; Carter had to step back, but he remained in the middle of the road.
Jeers came from the crowd.
"What is this!" "Dare to stop His Grace!" "Kill him!"
The militia Frey had brought also began to move, but Carter's soldiers gathered around as well—the two groups facing each other, swords drawn.
At that moment, a deafening roar came from above.
Sunfyre dove down, his huge wings scattering the crowd. The people screamed and fell back, keeping a distance from the dragon. Sunfyre landed on an open space not far behind Aegon, his golden scales glittering in the sun, the flames in his throat already faintly visible.
Carter also stepped back, but could not completely leave the road.
Aegon was on horseback, the dragon behind him baring teeth and claws. He looked at Carter and laughed in anger.
"Get out of the way. I am getting the food today. Not even the Seven Gods can stop me—that is what I say!"
Carter's face was extremely troubled. He slowly stepped back one pace. Finally, he turned sideways and yielded the road.
Aegon rode forward a few steps, then suddenly reined in his horse and looked at him with a trace of contempt.
"Carter, go back and tell my brother Aemond that I have taken this grain. If he has any objection, let him come to me."
With that, he spurred his horse and galloped forward. The militia behind him followed. Sunfyre roared behind him, spread his wings, and soared into the air.
The crowd erupted in applause, rushing forward behind the king.
Carter stood there, his face pale.
Will approached from the side and whispered, "Why didn't you stop him?"
Carter smiled bitterly. "Stop him? I did everything I could..."
Will was silent.
Carter turned to go back, took two steps, and suddenly stopped.
"Where is Kermit?"
"On the wall."
Carter glanced up at the wall, where Kermit stood looking at him from a distance. Carter drew a deep breath and slowly climbed the wall.
On the wall, Kermit handed him a water flask.
Carter took it, took a large gulp, then leaned against the merlon, watching the crowd pressing below the city.
"What do I do?" Kermit asked.
Carter did not answer.
"If the prince finds out..."
"I know," Carter interrupted him.
Kermit stared at him, waiting for him to continue.
Carter was silent a long time, watching Aegon on horseback, and suddenly said, "Why not try it?"
Kermit was stunned.
Carter pointed toward the city. "From this position, I could shoot His Grace with a single arrow."
Kermit said incredulously, "Have you lost your mind?"
"I know," Carter smiled bitterly. "That is why I did not shoot."
Kermit looked at him for a few seconds, then suddenly lowered his voice. "Tell me, do you really want to end it?"
Carter did not answer.
Kermit was silent for a while.
"Carter," he whispered, "he is the king."
Carter turned his head and looked into his eyes.
"The king? What kind of king is he? So what? What good is the prince to us now?"
Kermit sighed and lost the power to speak.
Carter suddenly laughed, a twisted smile.
"Kermit, what do you think would have happened if the prince were here?"
Kermit thought for a moment and whispered, "The prince would not have let His Grace leave the city."
"Nonsense," Carter cursed. "But the prince is not here."
They fell silent.
The crowd below the city was still surging forward; faint cheers could be heard, someone vaguely shouting "Long live the king" and "Your Grace is wise."
Suddenly Kermit said, "Are you going to let it go?"
Carter turned to him.
Kermit lowered his voice. "This shipment of grain—the prince was preparing it to win over the North. What will His Grace do now with the North?"
Carter was silent a moment.
"I do not know either."
Kermit asked, "What about the grain the prince bought in advance?"
Carter said calmly, "I have already hidden that grain. Besides, we have done everything we could. The prince will not blame us."
Kermit nodded helplessly. There was nothing else they could do. No one had expected that Aegon the Second, usually suppressed by Aemond, would take advantage of this moment to cause trouble.
Now Prince Aemond was holding his troops at Antlers, and the Hand Tyland had gone west to persuade his brother Jason Lannister, the Lord of the West, to send troops. If Prince Aemond learned of Aegon the Second's nonsense, he would surely be very angry...
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