Chapter 26 Endless meetings and Damon's sudden intrusion

Red Fort.

King Viserys I looked tiredly at the ministers who sat back in their respective seats again. Queen Allison is not here this time, she has to take care of the children.

"Everyone, has the discussion concluded?"

The king glanced around at the ministers who had their heads lowered, and held his forehead. He and Grand Maester Melos searched for information about the royal family's fiefs for a long time, but they really couldn't find any suitable land. There was a piece of land in the Dorne Frontier, a few scattered pieces of land in the royal territory, and a few pieces of mountain land in the Crab Claw Peninsula. The land in the seam, there are several small pieces of land in the riverlands. They are not suitable for placing a huge team with two dragons and tens of thousands of people.

We can't enclose Dragonstone Island.

Nor can it bear the task of carrying a heavy enough chip.

"Your Majesty, winning over the Varese family is indeed the only way at present." Prime Minister Sir Otto Hightower spoke first: "But we still need to carefully consider the bargaining chips. Your Majesty, the Ronzel brothers have the royal family in them. Even though Princess Senela was expelled by the late king, her royal status was not denied, so I suggest that the royal status of the Ronzel brothers can be restored and given the title of 'royal prince'."

"Yes." Viserys nodded. It's just a title and it won't affect anything.

"Your Majesty, if Brother Ronzel also uses the title of 'Prince', there will be an issue of inheritance." Count Jaspi said hurriedly.

"Princess Senela's line of inheritance has been deprived of her right of inheritance." Earl Linman coughed and continued. "Lord Wilder, there is no need to dwell on this issue."

"Where are the other chips?" Sir Tyran turned the orb in front of him. "According to the information, the gold and silver brought by the Longzel brothers on the ship is no less than the treasures brought back by Lord 'Sea Serpent' Corliss from his nine voyages. Gold may not be able to bribe them. A title cannot be used as a bargaining chip."

"Your Majesty, we can enter into a marriage covenant with the Varese family." Otto Hightower added. "The royal family currently has no girls of the right age to marry, but it can make marriage arrangements for the next generation. Prince Aegon and Princess Helena, Prince Aemond, and Prince Daeron's heirs can all participate."

"And Princess Rhaenyra's descendants." Lord Linman added. "If the queen and princess can still give birth to a girl, they can also marry the younger brother of the three brothers."

Otto ignored Linman and continued: "The Varese family also has pure Dragon King blood. If their blood can be gradually merged into the royal family through marriage, it will be a great benefit."

"I understand, but this will be many years later," the king said. “Things years from now can hardly be considered valid leverage in the present.”

"Land," said Larry Strong. "This is the most valuable bargaining chip to win over them. Your Majesty can set him up with a position in King's Landing that sounds good enough but lacks real power." The lame Strong glanced around at the ministers. "And it is promised that the landless second or youngest sons of the Varese family will be given priority to be selected as White Knights in the future."

"Count Larys Strong, please be careful with your words." Captain Kriston Cole, who had never had a chance to speak, knocked his gloved hand on the table. "The honor of a White Knight of the Kingsguard, noble and noble, should never be used for such a transaction."

Laris Strong rolled his eyes at him quietly. The white knight of the Kingsguard had to take an oath not to marry and have children. He was reducing the number of future men in the Varese family, not to mention... honor, nobility?

"Brothers Longzell came from afar. They are not believers of the Seven Gods, so naturally they will not understand the meaning of the Kingsguard." Count Linman hurriedly smoothed things over. “The top priority now is land.”

"The fiefs owned by the royal family are not large in area and are extremely scattered." Grand Bachelor Melos said with some regret. "It's not enough to be used as a territory to be entrusted to a royal prince with tens of thousands of people and astonishing wealth."

"Prince Damon did not receive this kind of treatment back then." Earl Linman said in his heart. Maybe it's because Damon isn't as special as the Ronzel brothers.

"The land of the Reach is vast and fertile." Otto Hightower took out the map and spread it out on the long table. "There is a large territory from Greylock Mountain to the Mead River. It once belonged to dozens of vassals of the Hightower family, but some of them sold their land and left their hometowns, and some of them lost their heirs. Currently, these lands are owned by the family. The family is willing to contribute it as a royal fief for the royal family’s use.”

The king gave Otto a blank look and did not answer his question.

"The North is vast and sparsely populated," Count Jaspie suggested. "Why not discuss with Duke Stark and divide the uninhabited lands in the north to them."

"Are you trying to make people think that we have exiled them?" Earl Linman replied unceremoniously. "What's more, Duke Stark in the North is still a child. It's impossible for him to figure out these complicated things."

"Then where do you think it's appropriate?" Count Jaspie responded angrily. "Harrenhal that Lord Ralys cannot control? Or Dorne?"

Then he saw everyone looking at him at the same time.

"I'm just saying."

Count Jasper smiled awkwardly and leaned back in his chair.

"The royal family has a royal fief at the end of the Bone Road." Grand Maester Melos said. "From this fief to the south is the Balance Valley where the Dondarrion family and the Granderson family meet, and the Decision and Risky Frontiers where the Dondarrion family and the Swan family meet. Although the land here is not fertile, the Red Mountains have rich mineral deposits and a scorching climate, which is very suitable for the survival of dragons. The Weir family of Dorne has crossed the sea countless times to invade this territory, so the three families have no time to take care of this territory. The royal family can invest in integrating these lands for rewards."

"There are also titles." Earl Linman reminded. "Since ancient times, the borderlands have two hereditary titles. The title of Guardian of the Borderlands is inherited by the Tyrell family, so the Tyrell family can command the nobles of the West Borderlands. The title of the Borderland Marshal is held by the Cullen family of Nightsong City, but the Cullen family swears allegiance to Duke Baratheon of the Stormlands."

"I understand." said the king. "The king has no right to deprive or transfer the hereditary titles of the nobility, so I decided to set up a separate title, 'Governor of the Border'. With this title, the Longzel brothers do not need to swear allegiance to Duke Baratheon."

"But Duke Beaumond." Earl Jasper was a little uncertain.

"I have communicated with Duke Beaumond." The king said with a smile. "The Duke has no opinion, so I would like to ask for your opinions. Do you agree with the suggestion just now?"

"Agree." Earl Linman raised his hand first.

"Agree." Sir Tyran raised his hand second. He had not yet expressed his opinion. He hoped that the land could be allocated to the island outside Lannisport, but unfortunately he was preempted by others before he could say it.

"Agree." Earl Jasper agreed.

Laris looked at the ministers around him and raised his hand. "Agree."

Christon Cole raised his hand. "Your will is my will."

Otto sighed. "Agree."

"Well, then the task of negotiation." The king looked at Otto. Just as Otto was about to agree, the door of the meeting hall suddenly opened.

"The one who can negotiate with the dragon knight can only be the dragon knight, my brother." Daemon, who was covered in dust and dirt, was followed by Princess Rhaenys, who was also covered in dust.

"Your Majesty." The two walked to the long table, and the ministers stood up to greet them. A smile flashed across the king's face, but he quickly covered it up with seriousness.

"I hope the wisdom of the Imperial Council has given you enough conditions to support our negotiations, Your Majesty."

Daemon pressed the dark sister and bowed his head.

"Of course." The king stood up without thinking.

"May the Seven Gods bless you to triumph."

The first update is here. I have a boil under my armpit. It hurts. The next chapter will be updated around 11:45.