Game of Thrones: I Became a Crown Prince For a Day

Chapter 25 The King’s Mind

 “Well done, short swordsman!”

 “Well die, Dornish bastard…”

Hiliu won the duel and was immediately greeted by countless cheers and cheers.

 The referee asked him whether he should continue to compete?

 Xiliu carried the iron sword on his back, bowed to the king and others in the audience, and smiled: "Of course, I want to win this game."

Viserys had a somewhat favorable impression of the Fanbang swordsman who killed the Dornish youth, and watched as if he were watching a show.

Hiriu is an excellent swordsman. He fights all the way through the arena and defeats several opponents one after another.

 This contest lasted until noon, when the sun was high in the sky.

 Viserys drank a lot of wine and admired Xi Liu's elegant swordsmanship, and was in a good mood.

Feeling that the sun was getting warmer, he called off the martial arts competition.

Viserys stood up from the chair, relieved his tired waist, and said with satisfaction: "What a hearty competition!"

 Following his movements, the eyes of the audience turned to him one after another.

“Bring forward the foreign swordsman, and the king will speak to him.”

Viserys ordered the attendants behind him.

 The attendant nodded, quickly walked down from the auditorium, and whispered to the referee.

Soon, Xiliu walked to the edge of the duel field, knelt down on one knee and looked at the high platform.

Viserys looked down condescendingly and asked, "Swordsman, why don't you come up to the stage?"

Hiliu put the sword on his knees and said loudly: "I fight for honor. When I win the championship of the tournament, I will devote myself to your majesty."

 “Honour?”

Viserys was noncommittal and said with interest: "There are still five days left for the tourney. If you can win the championship, I can grant you one wish."

 “Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty.”

Hiliu thanked him humbly.

Viserys stopped waving for him to leave, took Rhaegar's hand, turned around and left the venue.

 As soon as the king leaves, the other guests naturally follow.

 …

 After returning to the study in the Red Keep, Viserys left his two children behind and asked questions.

“Aren’t you curious why I promised that swordsman?”

Rhaegar looked puzzled.

Rhaenyra shrugged and said boringly: "You once said that the best way to see through a person or a thing is to observe over time."

 “Very good, it seems you still remember what I said.”

Viserys smiled slightly: "A qualified person in power will nip risks in the cradle."

“In the meantime, we can fully investigate the source of the risk.”

Rega said confusedly: "If we don't take action in time, won't we suffer backlash?"

“That’s right, so what I want to teach you is to always be alert to potential dangers and don’t take it lightly.”

Viserys took the Stepstone Islands War as an example and said: "The Stepstone Islands are located between the two banks and are a very strategic location."

“When the Three Women Kingdom invaded, do you know why I didn’t take the initiative to send troops?”

Rhaenyra's expression paused, and she stared at her father for a long time before saying, "Because you don't want to start a war and be questioned by the whole country."

“Wrong, the war on the Stone Step Islands was strictly about protecting the country. Later generations will only record the king’s wiseness and greatness, and defeated the hateful pirates of the Three Women Kingdom.”

 Viserys disagreed with her answer.

He looked at Rhaegar and asked, "What do you think?"

Rhaegar frowned and said uncertainly: "Because someone will fight against the Three Women Kingdom..."

“Yes, that’s right, Rhaegar, you are very talented.”

Viserys clasped his hands and laughed, praising without hesitation: "The Three Women's Kingdom invaded the Stepstone Islands. The first and most affected family was the sea serpent Corliss. He will never sit idly by and ignore it." Renee Lada was puzzled: "So? Let the pirates rob your people, let the sea serpent blow the horn of war, and win the victory and honor of the war on behalf of the king."

 In her view, the king's responsibility should be to defeat the Three Women Country without hesitation.

 Instead of indulging the ministers to send troops and affecting the royal power.

Facing his daughter’s doubts, Viserys was not angry and patiently explained:

“When the Three Women Kingdom invaded, your mother died in childbirth. Regada was comatose when she was born and could not serve as heir.”

 “According to tradition, my brother Daemon is naturally supported by the ministers and is ambitious for the Iron Throne.”

"And I insist on choosing my daughter, you, as my heir."

“Later a fierce quarrel broke out with Daemon, and he was driven out of King’s Landing in anger.”

As he spoke, Viserys looked at Rhaenyra expressionlessly: "Do you think the situation at that time could the royal family afford the risk of starting a war?"

 “But we have dragons and lords from all over the country who have sworn allegiance!”

Rhaenyra tried to argue with her father.

“Dragon? There are dragons in both Dragon Cave and Dragonstone Island. How many dragons could go on the battlefield at that time?”

“Even if an army is sent out to attack, who should be the commander-in-chief on a rough sea?”

Viserys asked rhetorically.

Rhaenyra’s face froze as she realized what the problem was.

Viserys said with a serious face: "At that time, the royal family had no dragons that could go on the battlefield, and the most suitable candidate for commander of the navy was the sea serpent Corliss."

　　"Daemon has Coraxio, and I can also go to war with the army..."

Rhaenyra was still about to argue, but Viserys interrupted directly:

"Daemon was driven away by my own hands. He just lost the chance to become the heir. Will he remain loyal to me or you, the heir, regardless of his past grudges?"

“No way! I won’t lower my face and ask Damon for help.”

“Syrax is a young dragon who has never been on the battlefield. I am not stupid enough to send the newly selected heir to the battlefield, waiting for the bad news that you have been assassinated one day!”

 The sharp words were like a sharp sword, piercing Rhaenyra's fragile heart.

 She was speechless, knowing that was the truth.

Viserys stopped lecturing his daughter and said instead: "Looking at the current situation, the royal family only sent three thousand soldiers. The sea serpents Corliss and Daemon, bearing the stigma of starting a private war, tried their best to defeat the Three Women Kingdom for the kingdom."

 “And what are their contributions and rewards?”

 “Went into years of hard fighting, spending countless manpower and material resources, just to occupy a deserted stone archipelago?”

Viserys picked up the wine glass and took a sip, his eyes calm: "They will get nothing!"

“The family of Corliss, the sea serpent, was devastated by this. They abandoned the Stone Steps Island and returned home in despair to lick their wounds.”

“Your uncle Daemon, at the expense of a large number of the Second Sons who followed him, gave up the Crown and the Stepstones and returned to King’s Landing, bowing his head to me, my brother, and begging for peace.”

"In the same time, the heir I chose grew up smoothly, and the kingdom was peaceful and peaceful."

Walking to Rhaenyra's side, Viserys said word by word: "My daughter, do you understand?"

Rhaenyra was struck by her father's foresight.

Her simple mind had never imagined so many twists and turns.

For a moment, the father in front of me intersected with the father who smiled ingratiatingly at everyone in his memory.

 It is both familiar and unfamiliar.

Rhaenyra pursed her lips, lowered her head and said:

“Father, the Seven Gods have given you unparalleled wisdom, but I have doubts about you, and I am deeply ashamed of this.”

As a king, Viserys was indecisive, but he was not ignorant of politics.

　　　Thank God for the favoritism and rewarded me with 2,000 points.

　　　Thanks to the Thirteen Cave for the reward of 100 points.

 (End of this chapter)