Game of thrones: The fire lord

The king is willing, so he cannot refuse.

Viserys smiled, satisfied with the outcome. "Great! Do you, the commander of the guard, have any recommendations?"

Harold hesitated for a moment, quickly running through his options in his mind.

The Kingsguard is judged by strength, and while Harold is older and usually stays close to the king and princess, he knew that other guards stood out. Among them, Cole's strength was unrivaled. He had bested the Cargall brothers, fellow Kingsguard members, in a tournament and was considered at the peak of his prowess. However, Cole had become the "Princess's Guard," a role that Viserys knew made him less available.

Harold frowned, torn between the possibilities. In addition to himself and Cole, Sir Lorent and the Cargall brothers were also skilled, each able to fight against ten men and still hold their ground. The king would need their support, as it would be difficult to manage without their efforts to protect him.

Finally, after much deliberation, Harold thought of a candidate and whispered into the king's ear.

"It's him."

Viserys looked over at one of the white knights standing by the door. "Sir Stephen, your king calls for you."

Aemon turned to see the knight approaching. Two white knights were stationed by the door, one on the left and one on the right. Aemon recognized the one on the right as the white knight who had been with him earlier in the day, when he had been escorted to the royal carriage.

"Your Majesty, what is it you need?" Sir Stephen asked, his tone respectful as he approached.

Viserys adjusted his tunic, his demeanor suddenly serious. "From today onward, I would like you to serve as the knight instructor for Aemon Targaryen. Teach him to become a true knight."

"Teach Prince Aemon?" Sir Stephen was taken aback. This was news to him.

Viserys explained further, his voice firm. "If this is too difficult, feel free to speak up."

Harold interrupted, his expression serious. "Speak freely."

Stephen quickly composed himself, bowing his head in recognition. "It is an honor, Your Majesty."

Viserys was known for his tolerance and thoughtfulness toward those around him, always considering the wishes of his subjects. But a white knight must never let personal desires interfere with duty.

Viserys turned to Aemon, beaming at him. "How about it? A white knight to guide you?"

Aemon, chubby-cheeked and serious despite his young age, nodded eagerly. "It is my honor as well."

This was an opportunity that no child could refuse. The Kingsguard still held great prestige, unlike the lesser individuals who would come to occupy the position in later years. Aemon, still young, would benefit from such a steadfast and brave protector, and this was a responsibility he could not turn down.

Viserys patted Aemon on the shoulder, a proud smile on his face. "Very good."

The king's affection for his nephew was clear. While he had once ignored Aemon to secure his position on the Iron Throne, he now felt a deep connection to him. The young boy's innocence and sincerity made Viserys feel the warmth of family.

"He's a good boy," Viserys thought, watching his nephew as he ate.

The Next Day: The Celebration Banquet

The next day, the Red Castle was filled with guests celebrating the second birthday of little Aegon. The banquet was a prelude to the Royal Forest Hunt, which would take place soon. The halls were crowded with nobles from every corner of the kingdom.

"Ahh~~"

A large group of princes and nobles gathered to admire the little prince, Aegon. He was held by the plump maid, and his mother, Alisson, stood nearby, beaming with pride.

"He has his father's hair, doesn't he?"

Viserys, holding a wine goblet, pinched his son's chubby cheek and made the baby squirm in his arms.

Aemon, meanwhile, was enjoying the feast at a nearby table. Plate in hand, he was happily eating, enjoying the spread of food, and observing the guests around him.

"Prince, you're still growing. You should eat less and more frequently," Sir Stephen advised, standing by his side.

Aemon, mouth sticky with jam, looked up and smiled. "Okay, Sir."

He was, in fact, full, but it felt like the right thing to say.

Sir Stephen nodded, his smile warming. He had heard about Aemon's supposed conflict with Cole, and initially, he had feared the boy might be a troublesome brat. But now, seeing him as he was, he realized Aemon was, in fact, quite easy to get along with.

Aemon wiped the jam from his lips, unaware of Stephen's inner thoughts. He would have explained, had he known. "You are too happy too soon," he might have said. Still, he found Sir Stephen trustworthy. He glanced at the knight, noting his serious demeanor and experience, which made him appear reliable.

"Now I'm in charge," Aemon thought proudly to himself.

As the banquet continued, he kept looking around, searching for a familiar face. Rhaenyra had promised to take him to the dragon's lair yesterday, but she had yet to arrive.

"Huh, no?" Aemon scanned the crowd and found that Rhaenyra was nowhere to be seen.

At that moment, a figure entered the hall, weaving through the crowd to approach the king.

Viserys, still coaxing his son and enjoying the praise of his ministers, was interrupted by Tyran Lannister's urgent message.

"Your Majesty, there is an urgent military situation on the Stepstone Islands."

Tyran's tall figure was unmistakable. His luxurious black clothes and neatly combed blonde hair made him stand out.

Viserys looked at him, a little annoyed. "We'll discuss it later, Tyran. Not today."

"But Your Majesty..." Tyran started to protest.

"Let Sea Serpent and Damon take care of it first," Viserys interjected, his attention already shifting back to the food.

Tyran was stunned by the king's dismissal but refrained from pressing further.

Aemon, still at his table, observed the exchange. Though he knew his father would eventually deal with the matter, he wasn't overly concerned. His father had always been a skilled strategist, and despite his many flaws, he rarely failed in a crisis.

As the conversation continued, Viserys turned his attention to his nephew, smiling kindly at Aemon, who returned the gesture.

Aemon then got up, leaving the table as he looked for Rhaenyra. Despite the royal tensions, he wasn't worried about her. He simply wanted to see the dragon's lair.