POV: Aemon Targaryen
Alright, I got myself into a huge mess. I'm lost. It's already a challenge trying to explain how I'm suddenly swimming in gold—expanding like a madman, hiring workers, commissioning construction like I'm trying to build Valyria 2.0. I know for a fact that people are keeping an eye on me. On me and on the company. If the spending doesn't look sensible, if the money flow seems shady, people are going to start whispering. And if those whispers reach my father, then I'm cooked.
Now Rhaenyra's on my back, dancing around for some grand adventure. I love her, I do, but she's six. I can't take her on a dragon to the middle of nowhere chasing treasure maps like some traveling bard's tale. If something goes wrong, I'll have to explain... a lot.
Only one person could save me now. Aunt Gael.
She's been living on Dragonstone for a while now. Well, it's not just her. My mother and Lady Saelora Celtigar are with her too. They've formed some unofficial girl gang, running the soup kitchens and orphanages Queen Alysanne left behind. They're actually doing a great job. Gael also drops by Forgehold sometimes to check on the women in my factories. She makes sure they're safe and not being treated like trash. She's been more involved than I expected.
{A/N: Saelora Celtigar was introduced back in Chapter 18.}
Dragonstone
I reached Dragonstone on Zalrazar and went straight to find her. But of course, it was lunch time. My timing is always perfect like that. So I figured—fine, we'll talk over food.
When I got to the table, she was already sitting, about to eat. She saw me and sighed like she already knew what kind of headache I brought with me.
"Well, I was expecting you," she said, stabbing her food like it personally offended her. "I heard you rented land in King's Landing. Bought more near it too. But the money doesn't add up, does it?"
The glint in her eyes said it all: You better start talking, or I will throw this plate at you.
I'm busted.
"Maybe we can talk somewhere private?" I said, trying not to sound like a scared little kid.
"Eat first. You shouldn't skip meals."
We ate. Some small talk about her work and the progress at the kitchens. I nodded through most of it. Then we went straight to her chamber.
"Explain," she said the moment the door shut. "There's a lot of money flowing into your company. Money you didn't earn. And it didn't come from your father either. I was this close to telling your mother. The expansion rate didn't make sense. Then suddenly a pile of gold shows up and keeps your company afloat."
I let out a long sigh. "Alright. It's from the Iron Bank. Around thirty thousand gold dragons."
"What?! You took a loan? That much?! Are you insane? How? Did they trick you??"
She started firing questions like arrows.
"No, no—it's not a loan. I showed them some future products. Stuff I haven't released yet. It's a secret, but they believed in it enough to give me the gold in advance. No strings. No profit-sharing. Just… an early investment."
I lied like it was second nature.
She gave me a look. The kind that made me feel five again. You really think I'd believe that?
"Fine," I said, holding up my hands. "You don't believe me? I'll show you the products later. Once you see them, you'll get it."
She didn't answer right away. Just paced a bit, arms folded.
"Don't make decisions like that without telling me first," she finally said. "If the Iron Bank hadn't given you the money, everything you've built would be dust. You promised people jobs. You gave them hope. You can't mess with that."
"I know. I'll be more careful next time," I said. "And I had... backup plans."
"Oh? Then let's hear those brilliant 'backup' plans," she said.
I pulled a folded paper from my cloak and placed it on the table.
"Here. This is a treasure map I found in the Citadel. I'm serious. There's treasure out there. I would've just dug it up and paid the company's bills."
(╯▔皿▔)╯
She smacked me right on the head.
"Ow! I'm not lying! That's why I came here. I want you to come with me and Rhaenyra to look for this treasure. Please... 〜(￣▽￣〜)"
"You—!!" she started, but I cut her off.
"Wait, wait. You're technically working in my company now, and it's about time you did some serious field work. I'm not saying you're a freeloader, BUT—"
(¬_¬ )
"Go on. Say it." she said
"Please? Do it for your niece and nephew. Let's go on a little adventure!"
She stared at me. Long. Hard.
"Fine. But how exactly are we supposed to do this? Dragons can't protect you from everything. Even if we find the treasure, how do you plan to carry it? Who's going to search the land? Dig it up? Guard it?"
"Hmm… yeah, good point…"
We looked at each other.
And in perfect sync, both of us said:
"Daemon."
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This chapter doesn't contain much so in few hours I will upload another chapter . Happy Reading.