The Weight of a Crown

The dawn after the fall of Volantis was heavy with the scent of smoke and blood. The city lay in stunned silence, its people watching with a mixture of awe and fear as Daenerys Targaryen stood atop the Black Walls, the Targaryen banner billowing behind her.

She had conquered Volantis without a formal siege—not through brute force, but through rebellion, fire, and fear. The ruling Triarchs had been burned alive, their golden palaces now nothing more than smoldering ruins.

But victory was not the end.

Now came the true battle—governing a city that had known only chains and masters for thousands of years.

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A Queen in a City of Chaos

Inside the Grand Temple of R'hllor, the new seat of power in Volantis, Daenerys sat upon a high-backed chair—not a throne, for she did not wish to be seen as a queen of conquerors, but as a liberator.

The temple was filled with those who had aided her—Red Priests, former slaves, Tyrion Lannister, Grey Worm, Ser Barristan Selmy, and Varys, who had watched the city's collapse with careful calculation.

Missandei stood beside her, relaying the reports.

"The freedmen are celebrating, Khaleesi. They call you the Mhysa of Volantis."

Daenerys nodded, unsurprised. "And the nobles?"

Tyrion sipped his wine. "Less celebratory, to put it mildly. Those who did not burn with the Triarchs are already scheming to reclaim power. If you do not act quickly, they will attempt to replace the old rulers with new ones."

Daenerys turned to Varys. "And the armies?"

Varys folded his hands. "The Tigers and Elephants were shattered in the battle. Some have surrendered to you, others have fled to the other Free Cities—most likely to Pentos, Lys, or Myr, where they will try to rally support."

Grey Worm added, "The Volantene fleet remains intact. We hold the city, but we must be prepared for retaliation."

Daenerys considered their words carefully. She had won Volantis, but the war for Essos was far from over.

She needed to ensure that her rule here was absolute—not just by fear, but by foundation.

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Rebuilding Volantis

That evening, Daenerys made her first decree.

"Slavery is abolished. In all of Volantis. Permanently."

The temple erupted into cheers from the freedmen and murmurs from the remaining nobles.

She ignored the discontented whispers. The old order was dead. And she would make sure it never rose again.

To cement her rule, she took immediate action:

She appointed former slaves and commoners to positions of power, ensuring that the new leadership was made up of those who had suffered under the old system.

She placed Grey Worm in command of Volantis' remaining army, ensuring loyalty through the Unsullied.

She allied herself with the Red Priests, allowing them to spread their faith freely in exchange for their unwavering support.

But not all welcomed her rule.

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The Nobles' Resistance

Even with the old Triarchs gone, the noble houses of Volantis still held vast wealth, trade, and influence.

They would not submit easily.

One night, as Daenerys dined with her council, an assassin struck.

A freedman who had been appointed as a city official suddenly lunged across the table with a hidden dagger.

Daenerys barely had time to react before Grey Worm intercepted the man, plunging his sword through the would-be assassin's chest.

Silence fell over the room.

Tyrion set his goblet down with a sigh. "Well, that didn't take long."

Daenerys wiped the blood from her cheek. "Find out who sent him. And make an example of them."

Varys nodded. "Consider it done."

The purge of the remaining noble families began that night.

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A New Empire Rises

Days turned to weeks, and slowly, Volantis began to transform.

With the Red Priests' support, her rule gained legitimacy among the people. The freedmen embraced their new Queen, while the remaining opposition was crushed.

But even as she secured Volantis, Daenerys knew she could not remain here forever.

"Myr and Lys have declared war," Tyrion reported one evening. "The other Free Cities will not stand idly by while you dismantle their slave trade."

Daenerys exhaled, her eyes drifting toward the horizon.

The conquest was not over.

If she wanted to truly break the chains of Essos, she would need to keep marching.

Myr, Lys, and Pentos would be next.

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End of Chapter 32