"Viserys!"
Rhaella once again called out to him. No one missed Rhaegar more than she did.
Even though she herself was eager to know what her youngest son had dreamed about, this was hardly the right occasion.
Even if Viserys truly had dreamed of Rhaegar, how many here would actually believe it?
The Faith of the Seven was deeply rooted in Westeros.
Even Aegon the Conqueror had to be crowned before the Seven. Right now, Rhaella's main concern was that Viserys's behavior might arouse resentment from the Kingsguard.
In truth, after spending more than a month together, several of the Kingsguard had already developed a certain respect for Viserys.
Some even believed that his claim of dreaming of Rhaegar was plausible.
Viserys looked around. Everyone's eyes were focused on him.
He was no stranger to such occasions. Back when he had been evaluated for Senior Teacher, his classes had been filled with inspectors and officials.
Calm and composed, he spoke:
"My brother once told me that a crown lifts the wearer above others. It is a symbol of status."
Viserys's voice echoed through the Great Sept of Baelor, reaching every corner, landing clearly in everyone's ears.
In a corner, Ser Lamy curled his lip slightly. There was nothing wrong with what Viserys had said—but there wasn't much meaning in it either.
If Viserys had interrupted the coronation ceremony just to say something so trivial, it would only backfire on him.
But Rhaella, Elia, and Lyanna knew that Viserys was not finished yet. Their gazes locked on him, eager to hear more about Rhaegar.
"My brother also said: The true meaning of a crown is that when disaster falls from the heavens, I shall stand before you and bear it all. I will ensure that you see only the golden light of hope."
A low hum swept through the Sept.
Rhaella, the others, and the Kingsguard alike felt their minds go blank for a moment.
A tingling sensation rose from the soles of their feet straight up to the crowns of their heads.
Elia could not hold back her tears. She believed without a doubt that these were words Rhaegar would have said. Lyanna was also visibly moved, silently mouthing the words again and again.
The Kingsguard no longer doubted the truth of Viserys's dream.
Viserys was surprised to notice that even Arthur Dayne, Sword of the Morning, had tears shimmering in his eyes.
He took a deep breath, looked up slightly, and suppressed the rising emotions.
Standing farther out, Ser Willem looked on dazedly, as though something was stirring deep within his chest.
Viserys continued:
"I know that in both virtue and ability, I still fall far short of my brother. Therefore..."
He turned to face the Kingsguard, who instinctively straightened their postures.
"Ser Gerold Hightower, Ser Arthur Dayne, Ser Oswell Whent, if you ever find fault in my character, I ask you to point it out without hesitation.
I will never punish you for speaking the truth. Unless you fall in battle or return to the Seven, you will always be my Kingsguard!"
With that, Viserys lowered his head in a deep bow.
The three Kingsguard were stunned.
They had never seen anything like this.
It felt as if a fire had ignited within their chests. Without hesitation, the three drew their swords and planted them into the ground.
Rhaella knew instantly what this meant: they were formally swearing fealty to Viserys.
"I will protect your life, offer you my counsel, and in times of peril, lay down my life for you. I swear this in the name of the Old Gods and the New."
Their voices rang out together, loud and resonant as a great bell.
Viserys immediately replied:
"I swear that by my hearth, there will always be a place for each of you.
You shall dine at my table, drink and feast as my companions. I swear never to command you to perform an act of dishonor. I swear this in the name of the Old Gods and the New."
The moment the oath was complete, Viserys felt a new change within his golden finger.
The final function—[Transfer]—had now been unlocked.
.......
Meanwhile—
"The King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Protector of the Realm, Robert Baratheon the First!"
At the High Septon's proclamation, Robert somewhat dizzily placed the stag crown upon his head.
He accepted the congratulations of lords and ladies from across the realm, feeling as if he were floating on a cloud.
"May he reign long and prosper!"
Looking at the cheering nobles, Robert grinned foolishly, at a loss for words.
Only when he caught his foster father Jon Arryn winking at him did he remember there was still business to attend to.
"Ahem!" Robert cleared his throat and addressed the crowd:
"Rhaegar the rapist is dead. The Mad King is slain. But across the Narrow Sea, in the dragon's nest, remnants of House Targaryen still linger. For three hundred years, they tyrannized these lands with their dragons. Today, we shall wipe them out completely! Paxter Redwyne!"
The man who had once attacked Storm's End at King Aerys's command rose to his feet, ready to receive his new king's orders.
"Within ten days, launch an assault on Dragonstone! Exterminate the dragonspawn once and for all!"
Watching Robert, so full of righteous indignation, Tywin Lannister could not help but find the scene amusing.
Robert's claim to the throne largely rested on the blood of House Targaryen that ran through his grandmother. And yet here he was, roaring about purging the dragon's remnants. It was almost laughable.
Jaime Lannister, once again a Kingsguard, glanced between Tywin and Robert.
He had killed Aerys partly for vengeance, partly to save the people of King's Landing. Yet it was his own father who had led troops to sack the city, slaughtering forty to fifty thousand innocents.
And now Robert was declaring he would bathe Dragonstone in blood.
Had the king changed?
Yes—and no.
Jaime felt utterly lost.
"Yes, Your Grace!"
Paxter responded without emotion.
He had hardly fought seriously against Storm's End. He had no intention of risking everything against Dragonstone either.
The Redwyne Fleet was one of the three great naval forces of Westeros.
The royal fleet stationed at Dragonstone was the strongest among them. Paxter had no desire to ruin his fleet battling the Targaryen remnants.
The lords of Westeros had always been adept at playing their kings.
Still, Robert, learning from the Targaryens' mistakes, ordered a thousand men from the Vale and a thousand from Storm's End to board ships and join the assault.
At least with them present, Paxter could not openly slack off.
........
After the coronation ceremony, Viserys suggested to Gerold that Willem Darry be inducted into the Kingsguard.
None of them objected.
Though Willem might not match the others in martial prowess, his character was beyond reproach.
Inside the Stone Drum, Viserys, Leila, the four Kingsguard, acting castellan Lemmy, and the Maester gathered to discuss how to face the coming attack.
Although they had no intelligence from King's Landing, Robert's intention to assault Dragonstone was obvious.
Among them were veterans well-versed in warfare.
As for Viserys, he had never fought in a battle nor commanded an army. He had only consulted Gerold a few times over the past month.
In the original story, Dragonstone had not fallen even without a fleet. Under Gerold and the others' leadership, it was even less likely now.
At this moment, Viserys's greater concern was that the final function of his golden finger had been unlocked.
[Title: King]
[Army: Kingsguard]
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