A Crown for Aegon (ChatGPT)

[The grand marble entrance of the Crown Merchant Guild headquarters gleamed in the midday sun as the royal procession arrived. Servants scurried to form a proper receiving line while the guild's steward, a sharp-eyed man named Ser Willam Bywater, stepped forward with a deep bow.]

SER WILLAM BYWATER: (bowing deeply) Your Graces, Your Highnesses, the Crown Merchant Guild is honored by your visit.

KING AEGON VI: (nodding) Ser Willam. It's been too long since we last inspected the guild's progress.

PRINCE DAERON: (eyeing the grand facade) Five years is long enough for any regency, wouldn't you say?

QUEEN RHAELLA: (placing a warning hand on Daeron's arm) Patience, my prince. First, we tour.

PRINCE DAEMON: (grinning) Oh good, I do love counting other people's money.

PRINCESS ALYSSA: (elbowing him) Try not to drool on the ledgers.

SER WILLAM: (clearing throat) If you'll follow me, we'll begin with the main counting house where all trade records are kept.

[The family followed Ser Willam through the vaulted archway into the bustling heart of the guild. Clerks scrambled to their feet as the royals passed, quills still dripping ink onto parchment.]

PRINCE RHAEGAR: (observing the organized chaos) It's grown considerably since the founding.

SER WILLAM: (proudly) Indeed, my prince. We now oversee trade routes to every major port from Braavos to Oldtown. The guild's profits have increased sevenfold under Lord Tywin's stewardship.

PRINCE DAERON: (tightening jaw) Temporary stewardship.

KING AEGON VI: (giving Daeron a pointed look) Which makes today's inspection all the more important. Ser Willam, show us the latest figures from the Essosi trade agreements.

[As they approached a massive ledger table, a young clerk accidentally knocked over an inkpot. The spreading black pool nearly reached Princess Alyssa's silk slipper before Prince Daemon yanked her back.]

PRINCE DAEMON: (mock serious) Careful, sister. We can't have you returning to court looking like a common scribe.

PRINCESS ALYSSA: (dusting her skirts) Better a scribe than whatever you are.

QUEEN RHAELLA: (ignoring them) These numbers from Pentos seem unusually high.

SER WILLAM: (nervously adjusting collar) Ah yes, that would be the new tariff exemptions His Grace approved for the Spice Guild.

PRINCE RHAEGAR: (frowning) I don't recall any such exemptions being discussed in council.

[A tense silence fell. King Aegon VI studied the figures with an unreadable expression.]

KING AEGON VI: (finally) A matter we'll revisit later. For now, show us the shipping manifests.

PRINCE DAERON: (leaning over the ledger) These timber shipments from the North - why are they being routed through Gulltown instead of directly to King's Landing?

SER WILLAM: (wiping brow) A temporary measure, my prince. The storms last autumn...

PRINCESS ALYSSA: (snorting) And the fact that Gulltown's harbor master is married to Lord Tywin's cousin has nothing to do with it?

[The steward paled. Queen Rhaella shot her daughter a warning glance.]

QUEEN RHAELLA: (diplomatic) What my daughter means is that we should examine all routing efficiencies.

PRINCE DAEMON: (whispering to Alyssa) Subtle as a warhammer, as usual.

KING AEGON VI: (clapping hands) Let us continue to the vaults. I'm particularly interested in seeing the gemstone inventories.

[As they moved deeper into the guildhall, Prince Daeron lingered behind, running fingers over the account books with a critical eye. Prince Rhaegar paused to join him.]

PRINCE RHAEGAR: (quietly) You see it too, don't you? The discrepancies?

PRINCE DAERON: (grim) Enough to fund a small army. Father can't possibly ignore this.

PRINCE RHAEGAR: (placing hand on his shoulder) Then make your case. But carefully. The Crown Merchant Guild was meant to be your legacy - prove you're ready to claim it.

[At the vault entrance, Ser Willam produced an ornate key, hands trembling slightly.]

SER WILLAM: (forcing cheer) And here we keep the rarest imports - Myrish glass, Qarthi silks, even some Valyrian steel artifacts...

PRINCE DAEMON: (perking up) Now this I want to see.

KING AEGON VI: (smiling faintly) I thought that might get your attention.

[The heavy vault door swung open, revealing glittering treasures - and the real work of governing a kingdom's commerce began in earnest.]

[The royal family entered the spacious guild head office, where sunlight streamed through tall windows onto a massive oak table covered in maps and ledgers. King Aegon VI took his place at the head of the table while Queen Rhaella examined a shipping manifest. The princes and princess scattered around the room - Daemon testing the weight of a gold coin, Alyssa peering at a map of trade routes, and Rhaegar studying a ledger with quiet intensity.]

KING AEGON VI: (leaning back in his chair) Well, Daeron? This will be your domain one day. What do you make of it?

PRINCE DAERON: (running fingers along the table's edge) It's... more complex than I imagined. The tariffs alone could fill a library.

PRINCE DAEMON: (tossing coin) And the gold could fill a dragon's belly.

PRINCESS ALYSSA: (without looking up) Careful, brother. Your greed is showing.

QUEEN RHAELLA: (glancing up from documents) Daeron makes a fair point. The guild's operations have grown considerably under Lord Tywin's oversight.

PRINCE RHAEGAR: (closing ledger) Almost too considerably. Did you notice the discrepancies in the Braavosi shipments?

PRINCE DAERON: (nodding) A twenty percent variance between what the customs reports show and what's recorded here.

KING AEGON VI: (raising eyebrow) You caught that? Good.

[The king stood and walked to a large map of Westeros on the wall, tracing trade routes with his finger.]

KING AEGON VI: Managing this guild isn't just about counting coins. It's about balancing the needs of every kingdom, every lord who thinks they deserve special treatment.

PRINCE DAEMON: (grinning) Like how the Lannisters suddenly get all the choice mining contracts?

PRINCESS ALYSSA: (snorting) And the Tyrells mysteriously control half the grain shipments.

QUEEN RHAELLA: (sharply) Enough. These are serious matters.

PRINCE DAERON: (approaching the map) I see the problem, Father. The guild was meant to centralize trade, but it's becoming another tool for the great houses to jockey for power.

KING AEGON VI: (pleased) Exactly. So what would you do?

[A heavy silence fell. Rhaegar and Alyssa exchanged glances while Daemon stopped playing with the coin.]

PRINCE DAERON: (thoughtfully) First, standardize the tariffs - no more special exemptions. Second, rotate harbor masters regularly to prevent... familiarity with certain houses.

PRINCE RHAEGAR: (nodding) And third?

PRINCE DAERON: (meeting his father's gaze) Third, I'd want Rhaegar's help with the Essosi trade. He understands their customs better than any of us.

KING AEGON VI: (smiling) Wise answers. Though you forgot one thing.

PRINCE DAERON: (frowning) What?

KING AEGON VI: (tapping the map) The smallfolk. The guild was meant to serve the realm, not just the nobles. Never forget who truly keeps your coffers full.

[Outside, the bells of King's Landing began tolling noon. Queen Rhaella gathered the documents.]

QUEEN RHAELLA: We should return to the Red Keep before the small council meets.

PRINCE DAEMON: (stretching) Thank the Seven. All this talk of tariffs is making me thirsty.

PRINCESS ALYSSA: (rolling eyes) Everything makes you thirsty.

KING AEGON VI: (As they moved to leave, King Aegon VI placed a hand on Daeron's shoulder) You did well today. Perhaps the regency won't need to last much longer.

[Daeron stood straighter, the weight of future responsibility - and his father's approval - settling on his young shoulders as they departed the guildhall.]

[The royal carriage rumbled through the streets of King's Landing, its velvet curtains drawn back to let in the afternoon light. King Aegon VI watched with quiet satisfaction as clean cobblestones passed beneath them, while Queen Rhaella sorted through guild documents. The younger princes pressed their faces to the windows, taking in the sights.]

PRINCE DAEMON: (nose against glass) I don't understand what's so remarkable. Streets are supposed to be clean, aren't they?

PRINCESS ALYSSA: (laughing) Oh, my sweet summer child.

PRINCE RHAEGAR: (smiling wistfully) You should have seen Flea Bottom five years ago, brother. The gutters ran with more than rainwater.

KING AEGON VI: (grimacing) The stench could knock a horse off its feet.

PRINCE DAERON: (frowning) But how? Where did all the... waste go?

QUEEN RHAELLA: (not looking up from her papers) Into the new sewer tunnels, darling. And the public bathhouses.

PRINCE DAEMON: (gagging) Ugh, now I'm imagining it. Thanks for that.

[The carriage passed a public fountain where children played, their laughter drifting through the open window.]

PRINCESS ALYSSA: (pointing) That fountain used to be brown. Literally brown. From all the -

PRINCE DAEMON: (clapping hands over ears) Lalala! Not listening!

PRINCE DAERON: (ignoring him) Father, how did you convince the lords to pay for all this? The sanitation project must have cost a fortune.

KING AEGON VI: (smirking) I didn't convince them. I taxed them. Heavily.

QUEEN RHAELLA: (finally looking up) Then made sure they saw the profits from increased trade when the city stopped smelling like a privy.

PRINCE RHAEGAR: (chuckling) Nothing motivates nobles like coin.

[As they turned onto the Street of Steel, a group of washerwomen waved at the carriage. Queen Rhaella nodded regally in return.]

PRINCE DAEMON: (squinting at the women) They look... happy? Weird.

PRINCESS ALYSSA: (elbowing him) People tend to be happier when they're not dying of plague.

PRINCE DAERON: (thoughtful) So the sanitation system actually saved lives?

KING AEGON VI: (leaning forward) Fewer fevers. Fewer dead babes. More workers paying taxes. It's all connected, son.

[A sudden jolt made the carriage lurch as they hit a rare uneven patch of road.]

PRINCE DAEMON: (grabbing onto Rhaegar) Seven hells! Was that a body?

PRINCE RHAEGAR: (steadying him) Just a pothole, brother. Though five years ago, your guess might have been right.

QUEEN RHAELLA: (sternly) That's enough. We're approaching the Red Keep.

[As the spires of the castle came into view, Prince Daeron stared thoughtfully at the clean streets below.]

PRINCE DAERON: (quietly) So this is what good governance looks like.

KING AEGON VI: (putting arm around him) Remember this when you're managing the guild. Coin matters, but people matter more.

PRINCE DAEMON: (grinning) Can we talk about something pleasant now? Like executions?

[The carriage rolled through the gates, leaving behind a city that no longer stank of shit and death - though the royal family's bickering continued unabated all the way to the stables.]

[The royal carriage rolled through the gates of the Red Keep, coming to a smooth stop in the main courtyard. King Aegon VI stepped out first, offering his hand to Queen Rhaella. Their children followed, stretching their legs after the long ride. The imposing figure of Lord Tywin Lannister approached, his golden hair gleaming in the afternoon sun.]

LORD TYWIN: (bowing slightly) Your Graces. I trust your inspection of the guild was... enlightening.

KING AEGON VI: (smiling) Quite. Your stewardship has been most thorough, Tywin.

PRINCE DAERON: (muttering) Too thorough, some might say.

[Tywin's sharp green eyes flicked to the young prince, but his expression remained impassive.]

LORD TYWIN: I've prepared a full report on the realm's affairs during your absence. The Iron Bank's representatives arrived earlier than expected.

QUEEN RHAELLA: (smoothing her skirts) Of course they did. Nothing pleases Braavosi bankers more than catching us unprepared.

PRINCE DAEMON: (grinning) Shall I greet them, Mother? I've been practicing my juggling with gold dragons.

PRINCESS ALYSSA: (rolling eyes) Yes, because nothing says financial stability like a prince tossing coin like a street performer.

PRINCE RHAEGAR: (diplomatic) Perhaps we should review Lord Tywin's report before meeting with the bankers.

KING AEGON VI: (nodding) Wise suggestion. Tywin, join us in the small council chamber.

[As they began moving toward the keep, Prince Daeron lingered, eyeing the Hand suspiciously.]

PRINCE DAERON: My lord, about those Braavosi shipment discrepancies...

LORD TYWIN: (coolly) All properly documented in the ledgers, Prince Daeron. Though I commend your... attention to detail.

[The air between them grew tense. King Aegon VI cleared his throat.]

KING AEGON VI: Daeron, Rhaegar - with me. The rest of you, try not to burn down the castle while we're in meetings.

PRINCE DAEMON: (mock offended) You say that like it's happened before!

PRINCESS ALYSSA: (grabbing his arm) Come, brother. Let's find something suitably destructive to do.

[As the group split up, Queen Rhaella cast one last glance at Tywin before following her husband, the unspoken tension of guild management hanging heavy in the air.]