-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 seed accustod to early morning wake-ups, Aegon walked forward grumpily, still seemingly lost in his dreams.
This made smile because today marked the beginning of the long and slow task of reshaping the minds of these two young n 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 so 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 ti, 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 and to maintain a close connection with them.
'While also giving 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 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 , 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 comnt to the young prince, who seed to be quite a little terror to the servants, probably accustod 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 , 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 co closer and follow , which he did without argunt, joining Cregan, who didn't need to say anything to stay close.
'He's had more ti with ; 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 imdiately 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 et .
"Thank you for allowing the master of the stables to employ my eldest son and . Thanks to your imnse 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 mory 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 rember 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 that you rember a simple commoner like ."
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 ti cos," 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 .
They shook their heads, so I said with a smile:
"We ca 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 establishnt 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 et the growing demand by hiring staff and buying better equipnt.
'Not to ntion this new place I found for him.'
"Your Highness," he said, quickly kneeling upon seeing .
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, so 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 ca to check the work was done properly yourself?" asked Hugh, smiling happily that I had co 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 seed almost…
'Honored that I would co 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 co here to supervise you; I ca to get my hands dirty and teach a lesson to these two privileged young ones."
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