Chapter 76 - Conspiracies (IV)

Chapter 76 - 76 - Conspiracies (IV)"An exchange of lies and compliments." Leda Dayne, Lady Commander of the Kingsguard, thought as she observed the conversation between the King and the aspirant to be King.

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As Aenar and Tyrion walked side by side, Tyrion watched closely as the people revered Aenar with absolute devotion and respect. It was like a sacred ceremony: everyone knelt down as they passed him and didn't even dare to look the king in the eye. Not even other kings could achieve that kind of respect with their most loyal subjects.

The little lion of House Lannister wondered what Aenar had done to inspire such adoration and sincerity in people.

Little did Tyrion know that, with his reforms, Aenar had abolished slavery, at least in Volantis. For someone who had once been a slave, this wasn't just a political change; it was nothing short of a miracle.

And Aenar's reforms didn't stop there.

The red priests and priestesses were instructed to teach children to read and write. This initiative was not limited to Volantis; in every city with a Red Temple, parents could send their children to receive a basic education. In these prototype schools, children learned to respect their father, mother and religion, as well as discipline and loyalty to the king.

At this time in Essos, the Rulers of the Nine Free Cities were unaware that many cities gradually had Aenar's influence in the shadows, ready to be used at the right moment;

Aenar knew that he would need trained officials in the future to administer the cities together with the nobility. After all, he couldn't allow the cities to be controlled exclusively by the nobles.

What if a revolt broke out? Cities surrounded by walls could become war fortresses. And, as we know, sieges of cities can last for months, even years.

And if that happened, it could delay the armies for a long time, leading to a defeat in the war, something that Aenar and any Monarch would not want to happen.



Tyrion hesitated for a moment, but after a brief pause, he took a deep breath and asked in a serious tone. "Your Grace, I'd like to ask you something."

Aenar looked at him and smiled. "You don't need to ask permission to speak. You'll be paid to advise me, after all, I don't need an advisor who can't speak."

For Aenar, it didn't make sense to have an advisor who was afraid to express his opinions, it was the complete opposite of what an advisor should do.

"What does Your Grace plan for the future of House Lannister?" Tyrion asked without further hesitation. The question was subtle, as it involved many delicate areas, including the fate of the members of his house.

"If you mean what I will do with the members of House Lannister, then only Tywin and Joffrey interest me," Aenar replied in a calm tone. "As for the others, I don't care, but you and I know how dangerous your sister can be."

Although eliminating all the Lannisters was a tempting idea, it wasn't what Aenar wanted. Westeros was different from Essos; he needed to indoctrinate people before taking action that could be misinterpreted there.

As for Myrcella and Tommen's loyalty, Aenar planned to use blood magic to control them. It wouldn't harm them as long as they remained obedient, but any sign of rebellion would activate the magic, causing an agonizing death, with pain impossible to bear. Their deaths would look like heart attacks, preventing the blame from falling on him.

Tyrion, knowing his sister well, knew that Cersei would fight tooth and nail for the lives of her children. Of that, he had no doubt. Cersei could be called many things, but never a negligent mother.

Still, Tyrion felt relief at Aenar's words. The king was kinder than he had expected, allowing other members of House Lannister to survive despite what had happened.

Tyrion, despite hating his own father to the point of wanting to devour him in revenge, didn't let anger cloud his judgment. He still valued the concept of family and didn't want it to be destroyed.

Aenar looked at Tyrion, who seemed immersed in thought, and asked with a deep look. "Tyrion, we're about to meet Hizdahr. He appears to be a gentle man and is well-liked in the eyes of the city of Meereen, but in fact he is a secret prince of New Ghis and a descendant of great leaders of the past."

"What do you think a man like him is doing in Volantis while the Three Slave Cities are preparing to attack me at this very moment?" He looked at Tyrion for an answer

"Isn't New Ghis an island port city in the Gulf of Pain?" Tyrion asked, slightly confused. For him, and for many, a small coastal town was not worthy of being considered a kingdom, let alone an empire like the legendary Old Ghis.

Still, Hizdahr's presence in Volantis, just at this critical moment, was indeed suspicious, as Aenar had said. What Hizdahr was doing was not unlike offering himself up like a pig on a silver platter. A man who could stake his life on something was dangerous.

"You underestimate the greed for power, my Hand. Many have ambition, but those often lack the resources or influence to fulfill their ambitions." Aenar replied with an amused smile. "Hizdahr, however, is a man who possesses ambition, wealth and power. He also relies on his slave armies in Meereen."



Tyrion understood Aenar's implicit message. Hizdahr had come to Volantis to negotiate something. And if that was what he was imagining, Tyrion was eager to find out what price Hizdahr was willing to pay.

Aenar, Tyrion and Leda stopped in front of an ornate door. Leda stepped forward and opened it, revealing a luxurious and comfortable room.

Hizdahr was sitting in a comfortable seat, holding a glass of Volantis wine. The man seemed extremely relaxed, almost as if his life wasn't at stake if the negotiations went wrong.

"I see you're enjoying yourself, Lord Hizdahr," greeted Aenar with a smile as she sat down opposite him.

Leda positioned herself behind the king, staring at the dark red-haired man with a cold gaze. As always, her hand rested on the hilt of her sword, ready to draw it at any moment. Tyrion, for his part, settled into a chair with some difficulty and cast a calm glance at Hizdahr, accompanied by a charismatic smile.


"The wine from Volantis is still excellent, just the right amount of sweetness, Your Grace," said Hizdahr, placing the goblet on the table and returning the smile with equal kindness.

"I'll be sure to arrange a few jars for you to take with you when you leave," Aenar replied, looking at him with an intense gaze.

"Your Grace has my thanks," Hizdahr thanked him, leaning forward slightly in respect.

Whether Hizdahr would actually drink the wine offered by Aenar was another matter. Poisoning, although considered undignified in Westeros, was common practice in Essos, especially in Slaver's Bay.

As he watched the two exchange pleasantries as if they were old friends, Tyrion couldn't help thinking how hypocritical it was. But politics was, in essence, a game of hypocrisy exchanged in pursuit of greater profits, regardless of the method used.

"I assume Lord Hizdahr is aware of the attacks about to take place against my beautiful city," commented Aenar, narrowing his eyes as he watched the man's reaction. Despite his gentle tone, Hizdahr felt a chill run through his body. For a moment, he felt naked before those eyes, as if there were no secrets that could remain hidden.

"It's a pity what's about to happen, but Your Grace should have expected it. After all, after the ban on slavery, many lost their sources of income. The Great Masters of Meereen, and the other rulers of the Two Slave Cities were completely furious at the news." Calming his turbulent feelings, Hizdahr replied calmly, as if he himself had not encouraged The Great Masters of Meereen to attack Volantis.

The Good Masters Astapor and the Wise Master of Yunkai merely followed Meereen in the attack.

Aenar almost laughed when he heard the man's false words. If he hadn't seen the past with his Prescience, he might have believed his words to be legitimate. However, he knew that the facts were quite different from what Hizdahr said. The Good Masters were indeed furious, but the news of the Second Field of Fire had extinguished any anger they might have had.

Fear of death was often an effective price to pay for clarity.



"Yes, a pity. But what you're doing in my city right now is what intrigues me." Aenar commented, fixing his eyes directly on Hizdahr's. "I could kill you and send your head to the Good Masters of Meereen, as a warning of the fate in store for those who dare oppose me."

"Your Grace is a man of honor and heroism. How could I do such a thing?" Hizdahr replied with a smile on his lips.

"Am I?" Aenar retorted in an amused tone, while his increasingly cold gaze pierced Hizdahr like an invisible blade.

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A note of repudiation of the Oscar snubbing of Dune Part 2:

Dune Part 2 received 5 Oscar nominations, while Emilia Perez's mediocre film received THIRTEEN OSCAR NOMINATIONS.

Do you have any idea that this mediocre movie got more nominations than The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, alongside great films like Titannic, Ben-Hur, The Last Emperor and Schindler's List.

What a bad joke.

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