hotmtlnovel Chapter 534: Helaena is Not a Fool
Chapter 534: Helaena is Not a Fool
Chapter 534: Helaena is Not a Fool
“Roar...”
The shrill roar of the Blood Wyrm echoed around the Black Wall as it descended.
Clatter...
The crowd knelt in unison, their faces filled with fear as they gazed at the man and dragon before the tower. Rhaegar stood silently, accepting their reverence.
From the moment he encountered the first guard, he knew the people of Volantis had not forgotten their former emperor, even if his reign had been brief and fleeting.
Among the crowd, an old man crawled forward, tears streaming from his eyes. “Your Grace, I am grateful to you for killing Tesrio,” he said, his voice trembling with emotion.
With this proclamation, the power dynamic was clear. The garrison and guards, seeing the tide had turned, abandoned their weapons and knelt in respect.
Though the title of emperor might have once been considered a joke, the influence of the emperor’s authority had left a lasting impact on Volantis. The reduction of the division between the eastern and western districts, the cleanup of the harbor, and the suppression of deep-rooted crime were all Rhaegar’s initiatives, carried out by the Triarch of the Elephant Party for ten years. Even if the Triarchs had been lazy, these policies still left a significant mark on the common people and the slave class.
Rhaegar, with Truefyre with both hands, declared resolutely, “From this day forth, Volantis is under the protection and jurisdiction of the Iron Throne!”
Boom!
Cannibal leaped from the building, landing with a resounding thud and looking up at the sky with its large, green eyes. With a single leap, the already precarious power collapsed, exploding into a different kind of fireworks.
“Long live Your Grace, the Emperor!”
“Long live the Dragonlord!”
The crowd erupted with emotion, shouting for the emperor at the top of their lungs, gazing at the man and the dragon with a mixture of fanaticism and worship.
From the beginning, the people of Volantis had never wanted war. The Free Cities had once been purged of corruption by Rhaegar, allied with the Triarchy to trade and prosper together. Turning against each other was less appealing than uniting under a true Dragonlord.ALL new chapters on
Rhaegar's stern face finally revealed a hint of a smile.
On the Black Wall, Caraxes crawled slowly, like a large blood-colored snake. Daemon looked down at his nephew, who was receiving the worship of the people, with a complex expression. What truly defines kingship?
Boom!
The Black Wall gate opened, and warriors in red robes rushed in. Each bore a tattoo of a flaming sword, armed with spears and round shields. They were the Hand of the Holy Fire of the Temple of R'hllor.
Rhaegar glanced at them, thinking, Here come the ones who will clean up the mess.
With an inside ally and an outside army, Volantis had changed hands.
...
The Next Day
The Triarch of the Elephant Party, His Residence
In the serene garden, birds chirped harmoniously. Rhaegar reluctantly woke up, his eyes still half-closed.
A system prompt echoed in his mind.
“This exploration is complete. Please pick up the lost treasure.”
“...”
The door was knocked on, and Helaena called out, “Who is it? Come in.”
Creak. The door opened, and Mysaria, the White Worm, stood there with her slightly swollen belly.
“What are you doing here?” Helaena asked, seated on the floor, busy sewing little clothes. The two of them had no common ground and couldn’t get along.
Mysaria, the White Worm, appeared calm. “Laena is back, with Corlys Velaryon, who is seriously injured.”
Helaena turned around instantly, her nervousness evident. “How is he?”
“Don’t worry, he’s fine, better than anyone else,” Mysaria replied as she walked into the room, her eyes fixed on Helaena. She said tentatively, “You care a lot about your brother, even more than you care about other people’s opinions.”
Helaena frowned, suspicious. “What are you trying to say?” Her brother was fine. Why was Mysaria here?
Mysaria stroked her stomach. “We are both second wives. We should help each other.”
Helaena’s frown deepened, and she gripped the long knitting needles in her hands. Mysaria sat down on the floor, maintaining a calm expression. “We can't compete with the first Lady. You are a thorn in Rhaenyra's side, aren't you?”
“No!” Helaena retorted with contempt. “My brother loves me more than Daemon loves you, and I have no intention of undermining Rhaenyra's position.”
Mysaria was speechless. She hadn’t expected the usually talkative Helaena to be so sharp-tongued.
Helaena turned her head and issued a curt command. “Get out and don’t come back.”
Did Mysaria really think she was a fool? Rhaenyra had a firstborn and a secondborn as heirs, so she didn’t care about Helaena’s children. And for some reason, Rhaenyra’s resistance to her was far less than Lady Jeyne of the Vale’s.
When Rhaenyra learned of her pregnancy, she had a room specially fitted out for her in Summerhall and brought all her usual female companions and courtiers to Lys. Her attitude was clear: she was happy to accept the birth of the child in Helaena’s womb. Under these circumstances, and since she had no intention of competing for favor, why bother with the precarious White Worm? The dragon has three heads and they don't bite each other.
Mysaria, the White Worm, froze in place, unable to move. Daemon was leading the dragon on a campaign, and she felt like she was in constant danger.
She had tried to contact Lady Jeyne in the Vale, hoping for some camaraderie as they were both third parties rejected by the original wife. Unfortunately, The Eyrie did reply, but the letter was written to Princess Lyanna, ending with a special message: "An eagle does not associate with worms."
Early that morning, Laena had returned to Lys on Vhagar, bringing with her the badly injured and dying Lord of Driftmark. Mysaria, the White Worm, thought her chance had come. She took a risk and tried to win over the young princess Helaena, but was rejected even more decisively.
Helaena clenched her long needle, muttering, “Go away, don't bother me,” as she tried to keep her composure. She was afraid that if Mysaria stayed any longer, she would lose control and lash out. Pregnancy had made her nerves very sensitive.
Mysaria, the White Worm, stared at her for a long time, then got up in a daze. Born lowly, inferior to everyone, she couldn't even find a decent ally.
Creak!
The door opened, and two figures happened to block the way.
“White Worm?” Rhaenyra frowned immediately and checked to see if Helaena was all right on the carpet. Helaena only glanced at the three of them and then resumed sewing her little dress as if it were none of her business.
Rhaenyra glared at Mysaria, the White Worm, and demanded, “Mysaria, what are you doing in Helaena's room?” Rhaegar had entrusted her with Helaena's care before he left, and she was determined not to fail him.
Mysaria, the White Worm, was nervous but forced herself to look the two people in front of her in the eye. Laena, in her red armor, gazed at her coldly and steely.
...
As dusk fell, the sun began to set. In the bedroom where the model sailboat hung, the Sea Snake, with lips as pale as blood, lay on his back on the couch.
“How is it?” Laena asked impatiently.
Helaena looked up at her, locked eyes, and said, “He's not the type of Velaryon who would die in his bed.” A serpent with no eyes or ears crawled across her palm, hissing.