**Chapter 144: Shelltown**  

"Rhaegar, do you truly intend to grant me power?" 

Rhaenys, her eyes lined with wrinkles, stared at her nephew in disbelief. 

How she longed to wield authority—to change her husband's mind and ease the tensions between the Targaryens and the Velaryons. But she never expected the opportunity to arrive in this manner. 

"You are a princess of the royal family. In honoring our great-grandfather Jaehaerys' legacy, I trust you." 

Rhaegar admitted this without a change in expression. 

Everyone harbors doubts. 

As the matriarch of House Velaryon, Rhaenys was no exception—he couldn't trust her completely. 

Yet, it was precisely because Rhaenys bore the dual bloodlines of Targaryen and Velaryon that she could serve as the glue between them, achieving his goals without bloodshed. 

Hearing Rhaegar's affirmation, Rhaenys glanced down at her husband's pained expression, and a decision formed in her heart. 

Raising her head again, she looked directly at Rhaegar and solemnly declared, "I accept your proposal. Of the three surviving houses descended from Old Valyria, only unity can ensure enduring strength." 

"A wise choice, Aunt," Rhaegar said, satisfied with her response. 

He clapped his hands together, the sound crisp and clear. 

"Shriek!" 

The gluttonous dragon ceased spewing flames, roaring toward High Tide before soaring into the sky. 

The ancient dragon could return to Driftmark at any moment, so vigilance was necessary. 

As the dragonfire dissipated, the temperature began to drop, and the air once again became breathable. 

The Sea Snake opened his mouth wide, greedily gulping down fresh air, his dim eyes regaining their focus. 

Moments ago, he had felt as though he were facing the Stranger. 

It was a sensation he had rarely experienced in his long life—only once before, during his youth when a storm capsized his ship on a voyage to Asshai, dragging the entire crew into the waves. 

Rhaenys gently caressed her husband's cheek, her gaze resolute as she urged him, "Corlys, we must reconcile with the royal family." 

After many years of marriage, she couldn't bear to watch her husband stray further down the wrong path. 

"Fine, I'll do as you say," Corlys Velaryon replied, gasping for air, fully aware of the differences between King Viserys and his son Rhaegar's methods of governance. 

He decided to abandon his original plans and reconsider the future of their house. 

"It's good that you've come to terms with this. We missed our chance, and it's time to let it go," Rhaenys said, referring to their loss at the Great Council of 101 AC. 

The Sea Snake had long been bitter about that event, believing his wife deserved to be chosen as the heir, which would have elevated House Velaryon's status significantly. 

This sense of loss had been one of the key reasons for the rift between him and the crown. 

Laenor and Laena approached their parents, the family's mood somber. 

Meanwhile, Rhaenyra walked toward Rhaegar. 

Seeing this, Aegon clenched his teeth and stood behind Rhaegar as well. 

Under the flickering light of the surrounding torches carried by guards, the two families stood clearly divided. 

"The danger has passed, and this banquet should now come to an end," Laenor finally broke the silence, forcing a smile toward Rhaegar and his siblings. 

"It's late. You should all rest," the Sea Snake said, his legs weak as he struggled to maintain his dignified demeanor, inviting Rhaegar and his siblings to return to the castle. 

At this point, House Velaryon couldn't possibly risk rebellion and mutual destruction against the crown. 

Having traveled the world and clawed his way to prominence, Corlys had developed a broad perspective. 

One setback was not enough to blind him with rage. 

"Thank you, Lord Corlys. You and your house are indispensable friends of the crown," Rhaegar replied with a respectful nod, signaling the conclusion of the matter. 

--- 

**Three days later.** 

The island of Driftmark buzzed with activity as guests arrived from far and wide. Ships filled the harbor, all coming to celebrate Rhaenys' name day.

The celebration banquet was held in grand fashion, meeting the expectations of the guests.

As the host, the Sea Snake welcomed guests from all over the castle, accompanied by his eldest son, Laenor.

Two days earlier, Laenor had already returned to King's Landing, escorting a tightly bound Daemon aboard the ship.

Rhaenys volunteered to go along, bringing her two children with her to King's Landing.

Vhagar had not yet returned, though fishermen claimed to have spotted it at sea.

The Sea Snake did not stop Rhaenys from making this decision.

He had already resolved to partially align with the crown's rule and was not concerned that Viserys would make things difficult for his daughter.

Once the festivities concluded, he planned to take his family to King's Landing as well to discuss the matter of the "Three Daughters" and his wife's position.

As a politician, Corlys Velaryon intended to make up for the benefits he had lost in other ways.

---

**Shelltown.** 

A large theater. 

Thanks to the Uncrowned Queen's name day, many theater troupes and circuses had traveled to Driftmark, hoping to make a fortune.

Rhaegar sat at the edge of the second floor, watching the play being performed below.

It was an outdated production about the Great Council of 101 and the selection of a successor.

As expected, the actress portraying Rhaenys was quickly knocked to the ground by the actor playing Viserys, symbolizing her failure as a contender for succession.

"What a boring performance. Why doesn't the kingdom ban these plays that mock the royal family?"

Rhaegar ate grapes one by one as he curiously glanced at the seat beside him.

"They're just a bunch of clowns."

Rhaenys, draped in a black cloak, sat cross-legged next to him, calmly watching the performance. 

She didn't appear the least bit angry and even criticized the actress for being unattractive and damaging her image.

"Aunt, today is your name day. Are you sure you don't want to return to the castle?"

Rhaegar asked casually.

Rhaenys shook her head. "I've already made an appearance. I don't want to entertain those ladies any further—it's exhausting."

"So, we're just going to watch this lousy play?"

Rhaegar tried to guess the purpose behind Rhaenys bringing him here.

"What else would we do?"

Rhaenys countered with a rhetorical question before adding, "This is just another example of the kingdom's prejudice against women. I'm sure Rhaenyra has faced similar depictions in plays."

"There aren't many theater troupes in King's Landing."

Rhaegar turned his head and made an unrelated remark.

After being named heir to the throne, King's Landing had been flooded with plays depicting baby dragons defeating the "Light of the Realm." 

Those plays were performed during the day, and the actors had their tongues cut out that same night.

No one knew who was responsible, but one thing was certain: 

After that, the number of theater troupes in King's Landing dwindled to a handful, and they only dared to perform lowbrow comedies to make a living.

Rhaenys had heard some rumors and couldn't help but admire Rhaenyra for having such a supportive brother. She asked, "Do you plan to claim Laenor and Rhaenys's dragons?"

Rhaegar shook his head. "Once a dragon chooses its rider, it won't accept another."

"Back in Old Valyria, forty dragonlord families maintained their glory for thousands of years by adopting a council system."

"Westeros only has one dragonlord family—the Targaryens. I've decided to form a corps of dragonriders, bringing non-Targaryen dragonriders under royal command."

"So that's why you've pushed me to the forefront?" Rhaenys wasn't surprised but sighed nonetheless.

"The Targaryens' rule is based on dragons, and only dragons can destroy dragons."

Rhaegar quoted his great-grandfather Jaehaerys's famous words.

"I'll advise Corlys to let go of his unrealistic ambitions."

Rhaenys sighed and leaned back in her chair, slowly closing her eyes.

Seeing that his aunt had lost interest in continuing the conversation, Rhaegar tactfully stood up, grabbed a handful of dates, and left.

With the celebration over, a negotiation awaited him in King's Landing.

The "Three Daughters" continued to lurk in the shadows, ready to launch an invasion at any moment.

The kingdom's internal instability made it impossible to focus entirely on external threats.

The Targaryens' enemies came from outside—Dorne, the Iron Islands, the Free Cities… 

But the internal power struggles would continue, though it wasn't yet time for open conflict. 

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*(End of Chapter)*