Chapter 288: The Golden-Haired Infant

Dong—

The melodious tolling of the bells echoed throughout Pentos once more.

Envoys from various trading city-states stepped forward, presenting their gifts and letters of congratulations.

Then, Viserys led the nobles of the new dynasty and the envoys on a tour around the entire city of Pentos.

However, Viserys did not ride in the ostentatious throne of ivory and gold, but on his own warhorse, bringing him closer to the people.

The silver-haired, handsome young man was dressed in a magnificent robe, his long hair fluttering in the wind, a golden crown on his head, exuding a heroic aura.

The three massive dragons also danced above his head, exuding an extreme dominance. All the nobles of the new dynasty and the envoys, dressed in their splendid attire, obediently followed behind him.

The long procession grandly exited the Nine Towers Palace and toured around the city of Pentos.

"Stop pushing!"

"Hey!"

"Back off!"

On both sides, soldiers of House Targaryen were maintaining order, keeping the onlooking citizens of Pentos at bay.

The citizens of Pentos were enthusiastic.

They all crowded at the front to catch a glimpse of their legendary true dragon king, the savior who saved Pentos, the liberator who shattered the monopoly of the Magister's family and saved the people from their exploitation.

When they saw Viserys riding his warhorse past them, the citizens blocked by the soldiers outside cheered, wave after wave, surging forward.

The weather in Pentos was good that day, a blessing from the heavens.

The sky was clear, cloudless, sunny and pleasant, without the biting cold wind. The people kept pushing forward, cheering, waving at Viserys.

Viserys, holding the reins of his warhorse in one hand, waved to the people in acknowledgment, a smile appearing on his calm face.

Being embraced by the people was indeed something to be proud of.

What he did was not much.

First, he liberated the monopoly, causing prices to drop and people's income to rise, essentially giving them money.

Second, he won a war, satisfying the people on a spiritual level, allowing them to speak up against foreign merchants with their chests puffed out.

...

"This exiled Targaryen king is quite popular in Pentos."

In the convoy following behind, the envoy of House Tyrell looked at Viserys's popularity among the people of Pentos and spoke with some concern.

On the other side, an official from Braavos heard the Tyrell envoy's words and shook his head slightly.

"King Viserys III is even more popular in Andalos."

In Andalos, Viserys was almost a 'demi-god', even more adored by the people, because he was deified and created miracles.

In Pentos, Viserys led the city to victory, ended the monopoly of the Magister's family, and naturally, his prestige was extremely high.

The national sentiment of the people of Pentos was also at its peak, after all, the city had a history of humiliation for nearly a hundred years.

However, while the people of Pentos were happy, their neighbors were worried.

A dictator embraced by the people would unite a more powerful force. If this king was warlike, it would not be a good thing for the neighbors.

Looking at the history of Viserys's growth, this exiled Targaryen king could not be called a 'tyrant'.

But he was at least an active warmonger.

Under his rule, House Targaryen hardly had a year without war, constantly expanding its territory.

During Viserys's tour of Pentos, many interesting incidents occurred.

For instance, a group of orphans loudly begging, a startled warhorse damaging a fruit stand.

A certain knight's horse became infatuated, ignoring its master's attempts to stop it and nuzzling another horse nearby.

There was also a discarded mistress of an unknown noble, holding her illegitimate child, seeking justice.

Someone even stopped the procession in the street to complain that his employer owed him wages. And so on.

After all the commotion, Viserys's city tour was still considered successful, leading the procession back to the palace.

Next was the grand banquet, and the next day, according to plan, there would be a tournament to celebrate the king's coming of age.

A group of knights eager for honor and ready to make a name for themselves at this opportunity were naturally prepared and ready.

Viserys was interested, but he naturally didn't need to add luster to his title with a tournament championship.

Otherwise, if he were to participate, the championship would be within easy reach.

After all, Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane, known as the first villain of the Seven Kingdoms, is now imprisoned in a water cell with five broken limbs.

He was unable to live or die.

...

This happened not long ago.

Oberyn forced him to admit his crimes and write a confession.

Accusing usurper Robert Baratheon and Lord of Casterly Rock, Tywin Lannister, as murderers.

As for the details of the invasion of the Red Keep, Gregor Clegane himself couldn't explain clearly.

He only stated that he indeed took a golden-haired male infant from the arms of Princess Elia Martell and smashed him against the wall, causing a bloody head injury.

A golden-haired male infant?

Oberyn pried this important piece of information from The Mountain's mouth.

But The Mountain himself couldn't remember very clearly, after all, it was a long time ago.

Then Oberyn told Viserys about this.

"Golden hair?"

"How is that possible?"

Viserys was also a bit taken aback, then tried hard to recall the hair color of Aegon when he was just a baby.

But Viserys had traveled back in time just a few days before the fall of King's Landing, and he couldn't quite remember Aegon's hair color.

The hair of a male infant is very short, just a little bit.

Viserys was just newly arrived and in a state of chaos, he didn't observe carefully. Now, trying to remember, it was a bit hard to confirm.

He remembered... it should be silver.

But fortunately, there was another important person who could confirm it.

That was the old maid of House Targaryen.

Sophia had once served Viserys's mother, Queen Rhaella, she must remember what color Aegon's hair was.

This matter was very important.

If Aegon's hair was not golden, it meant that the male infant who was smashed against the wall might not be the real Aegon.

Later.

Viserys sent a letter to Andalos, but the reply from Sophia denied that Aegon had golden hair. 'Aegon looked like a Targaryen, but his hair was not golden. How could a prince and princess without golden hair give birth to a boy with golden hair?'

However, in the reply, Sophia did explain this point.

Aegon's hair in a dimly lit room lit only by candlelight might indeed look a bit 'yellow'.

Sophia had personally taken care of Aegon for a long time, and she knew him very well.

Aegon's hair was a bit yellowish, which at a quick glance might look a bit like gold, but it wasn't entirely gold. Under the ample sunlight, it was still silver.

This might have something to do with Aegon's mother, Elia.

Elia's health was very unstable. When she gave birth to Rhaenys, she was bedridden for half a year.

And when she gave birth to Aegon, she nearly lost her life and was diagnosed by the maester as unable to bear children ever again.

Elia's physical condition might have led to Aegon being a bit malnourished at birth, causing his hair to be a bit dull and yellowish.

And it was in a room lit only by candlelight that The Mountain killed Elia and her child.

Finally, when Tywin presented the child's body wrapped in a red cloak to Robert, it was under the ample sunlight outdoors.