-Chapter 88-
-The Next Day-
-POV Aemon Targaryen-
Seated on my horse's saddle, I watched as Aegon and Cregan approached us, escorted by the knights I had personally assigned to protect them for the duration of their apprenticeship under my care at Runestone.
Unlike Cregan, who seemed accustomed to early morning wake-ups, Aegon walked forward grumpily, still seemingly lost in his dreams.
This made me smile because today marked the beginning of the long and slow task of reshaping the minds of these two young men who might very well shape the future of the kingdom.
'The future is not written; no one is safe from falling dead with a broken neck after a fall from a horse.'
I said nothing to the two of them and signaled the hundred knights to set out once the boys had been placed on horses with a knight behind each.
'I'll need to ask Rogar to bring some ponies as well as young horses to start their training,' I thought, watching them clumsily cling to their saddles despite the knight behind them.
It took no more than half an hour on horseback to reach the nearest village to Runestone, a village that, over time, was slowly transforming into a small town.
I had invested many golden dragons to ensure people here lived better and that the families of knights in my service could settle here if they wished. It was a way to make sure they were always content to serve me and to maintain a close connection with them.
'While also giving me leverage to prevent any potential betrayal.'
Even from horseback and a bit of distance, I could easily hear Aegon complaining, as could the rest of the entourage, which made me smile gently; it would make introducing today's lesson much easier.
I ordered the entourage to slow down, clenching my fist as we approached the village of Blackstone.
"Watch it, peasant. If you hurt me, my father the king will make you regret it," the cranky little dragon grumbled, clearly sleep-deprived and taking it out on his guardian, Ser Benett, who helped him down from his mount once we dismounted.
I made no comment to the young prince, who seemed to be quite a little terror to the servants, probably accustomed to being surrounded by people who keep him in this blind culture of pride.
'Perhaps to manipulate and control him more easily.'
Alicent has truly been foolish in this regard; she neglected her son's education in favor of her petty ego battles with Rhaenyra.
"Aegon," I said, calling my cousin.
He, who was about to make another remark, fell silent and turned to me, his arrogance evaporating instantly, replaced by a look that was both fearful and admiring.
'It seems I underestimated the influence my actions in the capital had on people's minds.'
I motioned for him to come closer and follow me, which he did without argument, joining Cregan, who didn't need me to say anything to stay close.
'He's had more time with me; he's learned to follow silently,' I thought, recalling how easily Cregan had adapted to my presence and learned to obey without unnecessary questions.
We entered the village on foot, and every villager who saw us immediately stepped aside and bowed. They did not do this out of fear of what I might do, but out of respect and gratitude.
'The atmosphere has truly changed,' I thought, noticing that the emaciated faces and worn, dirty clothes were gone.
With the small laws I enacted to promote better hygiene, the soup kitchens, and the higher wages I provided, this village, which almost a decade ago barely housed a few hundred unhealthy people, now breathed life and joy with a population of a few thousand.
"Your Highness," said a man running over, visibly eager to meet me.
"Thank you for allowing the master of the stables to employ my eldest son and me. Thanks to your immense generosity, my son has been able to begin his squire training," said the man, who appeared to be in his fifties—a rather advanced age for this era.
Without revealing my internal confusion, I maintained a friendly expression while quickly searching my memory for a conversation with this man.
'Ah, the brother of one of my knights, whose nephew is a young giant at nine years old,' I recalled, seeing the man look for his brother among the entourage I had brought.
"If I remember correctly, you're Ser Yoren's brother," I said, smiling at the man, who knelt with his eldest son, who couldn't have been more than 14.
The man's face lit up with a big smile, and he said, "It's a great honor for me that you remember a simple commoner like me."
I approached the man and raised him myself, saying:
"You're a man of House Royce. You may no longer be of fighting age, but you've instilled in your son the protective and warrior spirit that House Royce has carried for millennia."
"Thomas will serve you well when the time comes," the older man said, flattered.
I nodded before moving on, under the curious gaze of Aegon.
"Do either of you know why we're here today?" I asked the two boys following me.
They shook their heads, so I said with a smile:
"We came here to teach you about the world around you. Whether as a lord or not, understanding the world will be crucial to help you make the right decisions in any circumstance."
Seeing that they were still confused despite their precociousness, I added:
"All right, let's leave theory behind and move on to practice."
I motioned for them to follow, and we entered the establishment I had been eagerly searching for.
'Finally, we've arrived,' I thought, relieved to have reached the slaughterhouse at last.
'I need points to heal my arm as quickly as possible. The pain and discomfort I feel must end as soon as possible,' I thought as I entered, catching the gaze of the butcher I knew well.
"Hugh," I said upon entering his slaughterhouse.
'Which is technically mine, as I own two-thirds of it,' I reminded myself, recalling when I had decided to help him expand to meet the growing demand by hiring staff and buying better equipment.
'Not to mention this new place I found for him.'
"Your Highness," he said, quickly kneeling upon seeing me.
I nodded and gestured for him to stand, which he did, and I said:
"I asked Rogar to bring several hundred chickens, a few goats, some pigs, and a cow. I intend to treat our guests with our specialties."
"Everything arrived this morning, and I started working as soon as the animals arrived," Hugh said.
"Perfect," I said, trying to move on, as I was eager to start.
"You came to check the work was done properly yourself?" asked Hugh, smiling happily that I had come to inspect his work.
'In my previous world, people wouldn't take this so well, fortunately,' I thought, as it was considered a sign of distrust there, while here, Hugh seemed almost…
'Honored that I would come to see his work,' I thought, though that wasn't the reason for my visit.
Hugh's eyes lingered on Aegon for a few seconds, probably because of his Valyrian features, then I said, placing a hand on each of my two wards' shoulders:
"I didn't come here to supervise you; I came to get my hands dirty and teach a lesson to these two privileged young ones."