**Chapter 25: The King's Strategy**  

"Well done, short swordsman!" 

"Good riddance, Dornish scum..." 

After winning his duel in the arena, Sireu was met with a wave of cheers and applause. 

The referee asked him if he wanted to continue competing. Sireu, carrying his iron sword, bowed toward the king and audience in the stands, smiling. "Of course, I aim to win the championship in this tournament." 

King Viserys, watching the foreign swordsman who had just killed the Dornish youth, found himself somewhat fond of Sireu. He observed with the detached interest of a spectator. 

Sireu proved to be an extraordinary swordsman, cutting through the competition and defeating several opponents in succession. 

The tournament lasted until midday, with the sun shining high in the sky. 

Viserys, sipping fine wine and admiring Sireu's elegant and skillful swordsmanship, was in excellent spirits. 

Feeling the heat of the intensifying sunlight, he decided to call a halt to the tournament. 

Rising from his chair and stretching his stiff back, Viserys declared, "What an exhilarating contest this has been!" 

As he moved, the audience's eyes naturally turned toward him. 

"Bring that foreign swordsman here; the king wishes to speak with him," he ordered the servant standing behind him. 

The servant nodded and quickly descended the stands, whispering to the referee. 

Before long, Sireu approached the edge of the arena and knelt on one knee, looking up at the platform. 

Viserys looked down at him, puzzled. "Swordsman, why don't you come up here?" 

Sireu placed his sword across his knee and called out loudly, "I fight for honor, Your Grace. Once I win the championship, I will pledge my loyalty to you." 

"Honor?" 

Viserys raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "The tournament lasts another five days. If you can win the championship, I will grant you a wish." 

"Your generosity is boundless, Your Grace." 

Sireu humbly expressed his gratitude. 

Viserys waved him away, then took Rhaegar's hand and left the arena. 

As the king departed, the other guests naturally followed. 

--- 

Back in the study at the Red Keep, Viserys gathered his son and daughter and posed a question. 

"Aren't you curious why I made that promise to the swordsman?" 

Rhaegar looked confused. 

Rhaenyra shrugged indifferently. "You've always said that the best way to understand a person or situation is through careful observation over time." 

"Good. It seems you remember my words," Viserys said with a faint smile. "A competent ruler eliminates risks before they can grow." 

"And in the process, we investigate the source of the risk thoroughly." 

Rhaegar, still unsure, asked, "But what if we're too late and it backfires?" 

"Exactly. That's why I'm teaching you to always be vigilant for potential dangers and never let your guard down." 

Viserys brought up the War of the Stepstones as an example. "The Stepstones lie between two coasts, a vital strategic location." 

"When the Three Daughters invaded, do you know why I didn't send troops immediately?" 

Rhaenyra paused, staring at her father for a long moment before replying, "Because you didn't want to start a war and risk criticism from the realm." 

"Wrong. The war over the Stepstones was, in essence, a defense of the realm. History would record the king's wisdom and valor in defeating the vile pirates of the Three Daughters." 

Viserys dismissed her reasoning and turned to Rhaegar. "What do you think?" 

Rhaegar furrowed his brow, uncertain. "Because someone else would fight the Three Daughters?" 

"Exactly! You've hit the mark, Rhaegar. You have a natural talent," Viserys said with a hearty laugh, openly praising his son. "When the Three Daughters seized the Stepstones, the family most affected was House Velaryon, led by the Sea Snake. He would never sit idly by." 

Rhaenyra was perplexed. "So what? You let the pirates raid your people while the Sea Snake raised the call to arms, winning the war and glory on behalf of the crown?" 

To her, the king's duty was to lead the fight against the Three Daughters directly, not rely on a vassal and risk undermining royal authority. 

Viserys, unfazed by his daughter's challenge, patiently explained: 

"When the Three Daughters invaded, your mother had just died in childbirth. Rhaegar, as a newborn, was gravely ill and unfit to be named heir." 

"By tradition, my brother Daemon, backed by the lords, was next in line and harbored ambitions for the Iron Throne." 

"But I insisted on naming you, Rhaenyra, as my heir instead." 

"This led to fierce arguments with Daemon, and I eventually expelled him from King's Landing in anger." 

Viserys looked at Rhaenyra with an impassive expression. "Do you think the crown could afford the risk of starting a war under such circumstances?" 

"But we had dragons and the loyalty of our lords!" Rhaenyra argued earnestly. 

"Dragons? There were dragons in the Dragonpit and on Dragonstone. How many were battle-ready at the time?" 

**"Even if an army were dispatched to fight, who would command it amidst the raging seas?"** 

Viserys countered with a question. 

Rhaenyra froze momentarily, realizing the crux of the issue. 

Viserys's expression hardened. "At that moment, the royal family had no dragons fit for battle, and the most suitable naval commander was none other than Corlys, the Sea Snake." 

"But Daemon has Caraxes, and I can also join the campaign..." 

Rhaenyra tried to argue, but Viserys cut her off sharply: 

"Daemon was exiled by my hand. He just lost his chance to be heir. Do you think he would set aside his grievances to loyally serve me or you, my chosen heir?" 

"Absolutely not! And I won't lower myself to ask for Daemon's help." 

"Syrax is a young dragon that has never been to battle. I'm not foolish enough to send my newly appointed heir into war, only to one day hear the news of your assassination!" 

His piercing words struck Rhaenyra's fragile heart like a sharp sword. 

And yet, she was speechless, knowing he was right. 

Viserys, softening his tone, continued, "Now, consider the present. The crown only sent 3,000 soldiers. Corlys and Daemon, bearing the stigma of starting an unauthorized war, nonetheless fought tirelessly for the kingdom and defeated the Triarchy." 

"And what was their reward for their sacrifices?" 

"Years of grueling warfare, exhausting countless resources and lives, all to conquer a desolate chain of rocky islands?" 

Viserys sipped his wine calmly, his gaze unwavering. "They gained nothing." 

"Corlys's family was left deeply weakened, retreating from the Stepstones to lick their wounds in humiliation." 

"Your uncle Daemon depleted his band of second sons, abandoned his crown and the Stepstones, and returned to King's Landing to bow his head and reconcile with me, his older brother." 

"And during that same period, my chosen heir grew up smoothly, while the kingdom enjoyed peace and stability." 

Standing beside Rhaenyra, Viserys spoke deliberately, "Do you understand now, my daughter?" 

Rhaenyra was profoundly shaken by her father's foresight and strategy. 

Her naïve mind had never contemplated such intricate calculations. 

In that moment, the image of her father before her overlapped with her memory of the ever-smiling, appeasing man she once knew. 

Familiar, yet strangely distant. 

Rhaenyra pressed her lips together and lowered her head. "Father, the Seven have blessed you with unparalleled wisdom. I feel deep shame for ever doubting you." 

As a king, Viserys was certainly indecisive, but he was by no means ignorant of politics. 

**End of Chapter**