Chapter 470: Volunteering for Battle

For the young king, there were only three important matters to attend to next.

First was to hold the wedding as soon as possible. Arianne was already five or six months pregnant, and if they did not hold the wedding soon, their child would be born.

Though they could hold a belated wedding, and no one would dare say much about it, it would still be a stain, small or large, on the noble royal family. The common folk might not care, but for the royalty, it was a matter of honor.

Thus, the king's wedding was set for half a month later in the Great Sept of Baelor. The guests eligible to attend the wedding were not many, mainly members of the Targaryen family and their important ministers.

The bride's side had fewer people. Her uncle, Prince Oberyn, and the Sand Snakes would attend. Arianne's father, Prince Doran, had not left the Water Gardens for many years due to gout.

The bride's younger brother, Prince Quentyn Martell, had sailed to King's Landing long ago and arrived recently. Another prince, Trystane, was too young and remained in Dorne, not coming to attend his sister's wedding.

At the wedding, Prince Quentyn would join Aegon's two young boys as flower bearers, and Sansa Stark of Winterfell, whose age was just right, would be a bridesmaid to help the bride with her train.

Preparations for the king's wedding had begun in King's Landing even before Arianne's arrival.

However, the royal wedding process was extremely complex and high in rank, and even several months of preparation might not be enough.

After all, no king or prince would hold a wedding in such haste. Viserys's brief trip to Braavos gave the busy Master of Ceremonies a respite, adding a few more days for arrangements.

The second important matter for Viserys was to be crowned again, a matter that initially caused some controversy.

Viserys felt it was redundant and unnecessary to be crowned again, but some ministers and advisors suggested that the new king be crowned again in King's Landing to make it more legitimate.

After all, Viserys's first coronation was on Dragonstone, at a time when the Targaryen dynasty was on the brink of collapse. Queen Rhaella crowned her son herself, and it inevitably seemed hasty, perhaps even unnoticed by the gods.

As for his claimed second coronation, Viserys knew in his heart that it was pure fabrication.

The Seven Gods had not crowned him, and the Father had not plucked stars from the sky to set in his crown.

That time, it was the ministers' idea, to connect with the divine for a better foothold in the Andal plains and rule over this 'gifted land' of Braavos.

Viserys could not resist the ministers' advice, as holding such a seemingly useless ceremony actually had some help for the future war.

People in this world were very firm in their persistence and belief in certain things.

Finally, the young silver-haired king agreed to hold the coronation ceremony again, and the day was set for some time before the royal wedding.

However, that was not all.

Viserys had one last important matter: the trial of the usurper Robert Baratheon and his supporters, such as Eddard Stark.

Viserys had once declared that he would publicly try these people, exposing their crimes, including some secrets.

Although many of the culprits on the list had died over the years.

For example, Jon Arryn, the Duke of the Eyrie, who played a significant role in the Wolf-Stag-Fish-Eagle alliance, was assassinated. Hoster Tully, the Duke of Riverrun, was betrayed and beheaded by his own vassal.

And some had not been caught, such as Tywin Lannister, the Duke of Casterly Rock, who had escaped by boat from the battlefield of Riverrun.

These were the named culprits who were almost impossible to forgive.

But this trial could no longer be delayed, as Robert had been in his hands for so long, and further delay would only create more problems.

Viserys also feared that delay would lead to change.

Therefore, in Viserys's first formal court meeting after returning to the Red Keep, the public trial of the culprits in the War of the Usurper was set for some time after the royal wedding.

"If the respected Tywin Lannister is absent from the public trial, I think it would be a regrettable matter," said Oberyn, who sat with his legs crossed, looking somewhat flippant. He stroked his slightly curled beard, speaking in a mocking tone.

Then he turned his head and looked at Tyrion, the Imp, with interest. This dwarf was different from his appearance, with uncommon wisdom in his small body. His clear and logical analysis had just earned Oberyn's respect.

Tyrion, feeling Oberyn's gaze, shivered slightly and quickly lowered his head, playing with his fingers.

"Tsks," Oberyn shrugged his shoulders, withdrawing his gaze.

Though he looked frivolous, his dark eyes flashed with a cold light.

Clearly, he was not as calm inside as he appeared.

His sister Elia's death had little to do with Robert, the Baratheons, or Eddard Stark; they were only indirectly responsible.

Even Oberyn was willing to admit that if the Lord of Winterfell had taken King's Landing first, his sister would not have been harmed.

The actual murderer of Elia was the "Mountain," Gregor Clegane, and the real culprit behind him was Tywin Lannister.

He deceived the gates of King's Landing and led the Lannister soldiers to burn, kill, and loot in the city. Tywin had to use Elia and Aegon's heads as his credentials since the Lannisters were late, and Rhaegar's death and Robert's victory were inevitable.

And indeed, Tywin's tactics were brilliant, and he reaped the second-largest victory after the Baratheons.

But now Oberyn had voluntarily removed the Hand's badge and led the Targaryen's second legion across the sea to Westeros to settle accounts with the Lannisters.

"Your Grace, I wish to request to lead the troops to attack the Westerlands alone," Oberyn said, his face becoming serious, and his crossed legs straightening. "I promise you, I will 'invite' Tywin Lannister to attend the trial before the public trial."