Game of Thrones: The Bronze and Fire Lord

It was noon, and the sun shone brightly.

Aemon stepped out of the attic and went to report to his mother.

In the spacious hall, a man was visibly upset.

Gerald Royce, a middle-aged man with a white beard, wore bronze armor lined with leather.

Just by looking at him, one could tell he was a stubborn old relic.

"Lady Rhea, do you really want that child to inherit Runestone City?"

Gerald's face showed disbelief, as if the sky was falling.

Lady Rhea sat on a chair, carefully wiping a long sword with an ancient design, and said casually, "Cousin, he is my son."

"He is also the son of that man!"

Gerald was both excited and indignant. "Your husband returned from the Stone Steps Islands and fled to Dragonstone Island to live in isolation. He never took you or the Royce family seriously."

Lady Rhea's expression turned cold. "I don't need an incompetent husband, but Aemon is still my son and my heir."

She would be glad to hear that the man had died suddenly one day—whether by getting into trouble and being attacked, or by exhausting himself on a prostitute's lap.

But she would never allow slander against her son to spread.

Gerald was startled but unwilling to back down. "You have a better choice."

"Who?"

Madam Rhea sneered. "Is it your cousin? Or my unmarried cousin?"

"This..."

Gerald fell silent, hesitating, unable to answer.

When Jobert chose the heir, there were several candidates among the direct cousins.

He was the oldest male.

But Uncle Jobert bypassed others, including him, and chose Madam Rhea, his cousin who had been smart since childhood.

Facts had proven Madam Rhea was indeed no less capable than a man.

Seeing him stall, Rhea lost interest and said disappointedly, "Go back, cousin."

"But—"

Gerald was eager to speak.

Madam Leia waved him off. "Tell others to end those baseless thoughts. I will not give in."

Her sharp words shattered all his little schemes.

Gerald's heart sank hearing that.

He had many supporters who opposed the Targaryen children inheriting Runestone City.

But his cousin's resolve left him trapped.

Just then—

"Mom!"

Aemon entered through the main door with a smile.

Both men in the hall looked over.

Gerald's hope flared again.

Lady Rhea glanced at her cousin and frowned subtly.

The first peg that sticks out gets hammered down first.

What deal had those people made for him to be the first to show himself?

"Are you chatting?"

Aemon asked knowingly, eyes fixed more on his cousin.

Gerald barely kept his composure and nodded, a weak greeting.

Aemon's lips curved slightly, thinking some people were truly blind.

With such an attitude, one still had to watch the person's true intentions.

"If you're not in the attic for class, what are you doing here?"

Lady Rhea stopped and glanced at the two large men behind her son.

Sir Steve nodded and saluted, but Gunthor ignored everything and did his own thing.

Aemon was about to answer when Lady Rhea cut him off, annoyed. "Cousin, you should go back."

She didn't want her son to know about problems she could handle herself.

Jello, unwilling to give up, hurriedly said, "You really want a Targaryen to inherit Runestone City? Then what about the Royce name?"

"I am the Lord of Runestone City. It's not your concern."

Lady Rhea answered sharply.

Gerald snapped back, "I am also a member of Runestone City, and I have the right to worry about the family."

As he spoke, he suddenly pointed at Aemon.

"You are the mother of this child. Who knows if you might act on impulse regarding the heir and destroy the family's foundation?"

Lady Rhea's face turned cold, as if frost was forming.

Blinded by self-interest, Gerald spoke without restraint.

Anyone with eyes could see that Queen Alysanne had arranged the marriage between her grandson Daemon and Lady Rhea to win over the Royce family.

But Uncle Jobert, almost possessed, later handed Runestone City to Lady Rhea.

Lady Rhea became a Lord, and her offspring would be the next heir.

This way, the Targaryens could easily steal the inheritance of Runestone City.

It was like eating the entire family alive!

"I object—"

Gerald's voice grew louder.

Aemon couldn't listen any longer and interrupted, "Sir Gerald, may I ask what gives you the right to say these things?"

He wouldn't stand by and let others question his mother.

He had to fight for his rights.

Gerald paused, then said bluntly, "Because my last name is Royce."

Aemon looked him straight in the eyes and asked, "Before I came in, I heard you mention my father. Has my father ever wronged you or harmed the Royce family?"

Gerald opened his mouth to answer but stopped.

Thinking carefully—Daemon was arrogant, never looked him in the eye, and rarely stayed in Runestone City.

The worst he did was probably call his cousin Lady Rhea a "bronze bitch."

Aemon continued, "May I ask again—since I am my mother's son—do I not carry half the blood of the Royce family in my veins?"

Gerald could not deny it. "Of course."

"Oh, so my father never offended you, nor harmed the Royce family. I am also a member of the Royce family."

Aemon's voice turned cold and quick.

Swish!

He drew the bronze dagger from his waist and pressed it against Gerald's side.

"My right to inherit comes from my mother, and the king has recognized it. What right do you have to slander me?"

Gerald was shocked, stepping back, and said what he truly thought:

"You are a Targaryen. If you inherit Runestone City, it would be a cuckoo in the magpie's nest."

Bang!

The hall's door burst open, and someone hurried in.

William, sweating, asked for credit, "Prince, the craftsmen rushed to finish it. Please take a look."

Aemon didn't even look up, staring at Jello's sweaty face, and muttered, "It's right here. Open it."

"Yes."

William sensed the tension, shook his hand, and unfurled a rolled-up flag.

With a swish, a shield-shaped inverted triangle flag appeared.

The flag was divided clearly in two.

On the left side was a dark orange background with two white stripes running through the middle, adorned with black runes.

Between the rune bands, black pebbles were neatly arranged.

It was a slight modification of the Royce family flag—both classic and grand.

The right side was simpler.

On a pure black background, a lifelike three-headed red dragon stretched in the center.

The rune pebbles and the dragon faced each other on opposite sides.

The orange background complemented the red dragon, and the black and white runes echoed the black field.

The colors were neither flashy nor dull.

The flag was full of majesty.

When Lady Rhea and Gerald saw the flag, their pupils suddenly shrank.

The two-part flag symbolized the union of the two families.

"Give it to me!"

Even Gunthor, usually thick-skinned, understood the meaning.

He took the flag and placed it in front of Lady Rhea.

Lady Rhea took a deep breath and looked at the pale Jello.

"Cousin, what else do you have to say?"

Gerald was stunned.

"You have nothing to say, but I do."

Aemon caught the slip.

"Do you know what crime you committed before?"

Gerald snapped awake, cold sweat breaking out.

"Prince, I…"

"You still remember I'm a prince?"

Aemon tilted his head.

Gerald's lips moved, but no words came out.

Seeing this, Imon smiled suddenly.

"For the sake of this flag, I will forgive you."

Geraldo's heart sank with a bad feeling.

For a moment, he seemed to see the shadow of the dissolute prince who had stolen his love.

"But!"

Aemon changed the subject, holding the sword and stepping forward.

"Since you're meeting the prince, why don't you kneel?"

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