We Bleed Silver(GOT/ASOIAF Fanfic)

Rhaegor tried to digest his sister's words, but with his own sense of morality, he couldn't comprehend what Aegon was thinking. That he would call the firstborn of his lawful wife a product of infidelity?

It was incomprehensible—truly incomprehensible.

"So, Seryna, what do you intend to do?" Draezell asked, clearly intrigued. After all, something this entertaining was happening within the prolific line of Viserys—it might well be a ticking time bomb.

"Father, looking at it this way, Melissa's child is most likely the promised one from the Old Gods' line. We..." Rhaegor seemed to be making a very difficult decision, and he struggled to get the words out. "Should we…"

In the end, Seryna couldn't take it anymore. "Brother, no need to act like you've finally made up your mind." She looked directly into their father's eyes and said firmly, "Father, I know Aegon isn't simple. After returning, he dumped all the filth onto Rhaenya very skillfully."

"Seryna!" Rhaegor moved to his sister's side. "Slow down—tell us carefully."

Seryna nodded and once again tried to suppress her anger. "Although everyone in Harrenhal knows it was Aegon throwing mud, and the people there only grew more fond of gentle Rhaenya, still—Father, Aegon played on the public's appetite for drama. The folk of Harrenhal may not believe the lies, but outsiders might. They'll spread it, exaggerated, twisted. And what's worse—those girls he defiled…"

She couldn't go on.

"He treated them well enough, didn't he, Seryna?" Rhaegor said with a sigh. He knew all too well that Aegon wasn't as simple as he appeared.

Seryna nodded. "That's also why Melissa and the others were fooled by that bastard. Lord Bracken gained quite a bit of support at court because of Lady Barba, and Lord Benjicot was granted a significant royal appointment because of Melissa—though he didn't take it. With His Grace focused on the eastern campaigns and domestic affairs managed by the Prince, Aegon's requests weren't so unreasonable as to be refused…"

"Viserys didn't lack reason to refuse, Seryna," Rhaegor said, catching the underlying meaning in her words. "Look at the families of the girls Aegon's been toying with—Lady Melissa is from House Blackwood, Lady Barba is a Bracken. Both houses are close to ours, but the Blackwoods even closer. Lady Stokeworth's family is a major crownlands noble house. Lady Marsae's mother once served both the Queen and our eldest sister. The Massey are also among the most powerful noble families of the crownlands. Do you see it now? Aegon is trying to win favor for their houses. Viserys is happy to oblige."

"I understand. That's why, Father, you chose Elenna for Rhaegon. But now, Diana has already been ensnared by that bastard."

"What?" Rhaegor was stunned—he genuinely hadn't known.

"Yes, you heard right. Diana's fallen for Aegon." Honestly, when Seryna first heard this from Elenna, she hadn't believed it either. It wasn't until both Rhaenya and Melissa confirmed it that she accepted it.

"Before I left, I even saw Princess Diana and Aegon out on a date..."

Seryna didn't know what else to say. After that line, she fell into silence.

"Enough—let's end this topic." Even Draezell seemed weary. "Tell me, Seryna, what do you plan to do?"

"Father, I plan to fly back to Harrenhal tomorrow and persuade Melissa to bring the child back to Raventree Hall. Lord Benjicot should be returning soon—his presence will ensure there's no trouble."

"That's not what you really wanted to say, is it, Sister?" Rhaegor, ever the perceptive elder brother, saw through her hesitation.

"Father, I want to know... may I adopt that child?" Seryna asked softly. "Because of his father's irresponsibility, my friend's son must bear the surname 'Rivers' as a bastard. I would rather give that child the Silverblood name than let him carry the word Rivers."

"So long as Melissa agrees, I have no objection, child," Draezell said kindly, gazing at his daughter. But then, the old man's expression suddenly shifted.

Both Seryna and Rhaegor immediately felt immense pressure descend upon them.

"Father, what is it?" Rhaegor seemed to realize something and shouted loudly toward the outside, "Elarion, seal off Dragon's Nest! Sauthor, check if any shadows have slipped in!"

"No need. Just a clown," Draezell said as he reclined back onto the throne. "Rhaegor, tell me—have I been silent for so long that people have forgotten what I'm capable of?"

With that, Draezell raised his hand and clenched it tightly.

At the edge of Dragon's Nest.

This mountain fortress had only one weakness.

If someone could really climb up, the castle wasn't as sturdy as it appeared.

It was just difficult to scale.

A shadow was engaged in this very task, thoroughly prepared. It was clear he had been planning for many years to infiltrate Dragon's Nest.

Just as he had embedded his pickaxe into the mountain...

An indescribably intense heat exploded from the inside out. The man didn't even have time to react before he was engulfed in flames from within.

It felt as if his blood was burning.

In just a few breaths, nothing remained.

The castle returned to calm.

But Draezell, with a rather pleased expression, glanced at his hand.

"To think there was still some dragonblood left. Looks like my grandson's campaign might not go as smoothly as expected."

At least, between 169 and 170, it went very smoothly.

Daeron's Great Conquest.

That was the term used by bards and historians to refer to this campaign.

King Daeron was crowned in Hossaru, and he added a long list of titles to his name.

In Hossaru, presided over by Shariss, Daeron held court for a full six months, allowing the citizens, nobles, and merchants of the contested—now conquered—lands to meet with their king personally.

The king even took Aemon and Illyon with him, riding dragons to clear out the Dothraki from northern towns. They even flew to Vaes Dothraki, forcing the khals and their khalasars to swear blood oaths to the kingdom.

The Dothraki would continue to roam and raid the conquered lands.

But this time lasted less than half a year, for a simple reason.

The king was the king of Westeros, not of the conquered lands.

His roots were in Westeros.

The king and the dragons were both going home.

Especially with Queen Jeyne pregnant, the king's heart yearned to return even more.

But when the day arrived for the dragons to fly away from the eastern continent...

Chaos returned with them.