Chapter 22:"We lack citizens"

The war came to an end with the majority prevailing, leaving House Dallaeron in ruins. War was never my preferred choice, but when there's no other option, one must act accordingly. So, I initiated a second war against the weary remaining three families. The opportune moment to strike your enemy is when they are at their weakest and most vulnerable. I dismantled their slaves, ships, castles, and dragons without batting an eye, justifying it by saying, "How can I allow my enemies to remain in my own land?" I didn't afford them a chance to confess their crimes.

After dealing with the aftermath of the war, I found some free time to enjoy a glass of wine. It was then that she appeared before me—the eldest daughter of House Dallaeron—concealing a knife. She had lost everything, her dragon and her family slain by the other dragon lord families. In her mind, I had betrayed her love. But in reality, I had only betrayed my enemy.

With a sobbing voice, she questioned me, "Why didn't you come for me? Why did you let my family die? How could you betray me?" Her eyes blazed with a fiery intensity, reminiscent of a dragon's wrath. After each question, her voice grew fiercer. It was clear she possessed the blood of dragon.

I responded with a smile, "Your mistake was placing your trust in your family's enemy. I didn't betray you; I betrayed my enemy. So, are you my enemy?" She couldn't contain her anger any longer and lunged at me with the knife. In the end, she was overpowered and pushed down into the courtyard, where she drew her last breath.

Turning to my servant, I calmly instructed, "Clean the courtyard."

Everything had ended quite well for me. Over the next few months, I seized the wealth of the fallen families for myself. Their people, businesses, towers, and castles—all of it became mine. It was finally time for me to officially become a dragon lord, and there wouldn't be much trouble this time. With no rivals left to challenge me, I held more than half of Valyria's properties. There was no one left to oppose me; I had become the uncrowned Dragon King of Valyria.

Keeping my secrets hidden had been a challenge all this time. To continue without others discovering my true identity as the Dragon King, many families had to fall. I had manipulated their dragons to betray them and controlled their trusted men to stab them in the back. No one capable of questioning me had a chance to see the sunrise one last time.

Today was my first time attending the council as a new dragon lord. It marked the beginning of my journey to build my own empire.

The council meeting began, and Vahaemorys entered with Ramoth, as Vaeloria was tending to the young dragons in Sorthoyos. Some of these dragons were as long as 30 to 40 meters, and Igneel was among them, with Drakaroth in disguise as Igneel, keeping a close watch over Vahaemorys  .

Vahaemorys  confidently took his seat at the main council chair, a position he had claimed many years ago. The other dragon lords present eyed him nervously, sensing that something significant was about to transpire.

The meeting kicked off with discussions about the progress of building the outpost in Dragonstone, an important topic on the agenda. Then the conversation shifted to increasing mining rates in the Fourteen Flames, a topic that seemed to make Vahaemorys  believe that some of the dragon lords were almost eager for their own demise.

Vahaemorys confidently voiced his intentions to the council, "I propose that we establish a city in Andalos, which will serve us well in the future." This declaration immediately piqued the curiosity of one of the dragon lords, who inquired, "Lord Vahaemorys, can you elaborate on how this port will benefit our cause?"

Vahaemorys  responded with clarity and purpose, "As we set our sights on Westeros, an outpost alone will not suffice. We require a city strategically positioned closer to Westeros within Essos. This city could potentially become a second seat of our power. And beyond the immediate advantages..."

He paused for emphasis before continuing, "We must acknowledge that while we currently dominate a world defined by fire and blood, this approach is unsustainable in the long term. We aspire to be more than just rulers who inspire fear and obedience in our subjects. We seek a legacy and a Empire that will stand as a testament to our might and glory. To realize this vision, we must make a deliberate choice: to build an enduring empire and offer our enslaved populace the opportunity to become citizens."

These words stirred strong reactions among the assembled dragon lords, with many expressing their opposition to the idea of granting slaves citizenship. However, Vahaemorys  swiftly silenced the council chamber with a simple wave of his hand, indicating that he had more to say on the matter.

Vahaemorys's impassioned speech continued, "Our history as rulers has been marred by terror and devastation. We aspire to be remembered for something far more enduring—an empire that will withstand the tests of time. As I mentioned before, the continued rule by fire and blood alone is not a sustainable path. Resources are depleting, and rebellions are constant. It is imperative that we transition to a more organized society where resources are managed efficiently."

He went on to explain his vision, "By offering enslaved individuals the opportunity to become citizens, we can unlock the untapped potential of their labor force. Citizens are more likely to be vested in the growth and prosperity of the empire. This will lead to economic flourishing."

Vahaemorys  paused briefly, allowing his words to settle among the council members, before emphasizing, "We may possess great power, but a united and content populace can be an invaluable asset. Having loyal citizens who are deeply invested in the well-being of our realm will only strengthen our empire. At present, this is what we lack—citizens.".

Another dragon lord voiced their concerns, asking, "Lord Vahaemorys, if we were to grant slaves citizenship, how can we ensure they won't flee once they become free individuals? And if they don't flee, won't we be left with an insufficient force for further conquest and expanding our dominion?"

Vahaemorys  responded with confidence, "My Lord, those who have experienced the horrors of slavery are unlikely to dare turning against us or fleeing. Besides, our reign will eventually come to an end. By constructing an empire with its own governance and citizens, they secure the continuity of our legacy beyond our lifetimes."

When questioned about the connection between his reform plans and the city he intended to build in Andalos, Vahaemorys  smiled and replied, "I am sure you are aware that Valyria's survival is doubtful for another century."

A dragon lord with a serious expression pressed further, asking Jay, "What do you mean, Lord Vahaemorys?"

Vahaemorys  explained, "Our land's foundation has been growing increasingly unstable over time. Our reliance on fire wizards to maintain it has its limits. What will happen when we are no longer able to control it? Placing our lives solely in the hands of the grand wizards managing the 14 flames is a gamble. When the time comes, we will need a safe haven for shelter.".

Another dragon lord raised a question, asking, "Wouldn't it be easier to develop the currently existing freehold cities rather than starting a new one?"

Vahaemorys  responded, "Those cities are our clients, not our subjects. If we were to take them over, it would likely lead to rebellion since we granted them the right to rule themselves. So, it's better to establish new cities. Furthermore, in case our control over the 14 flames falters, can you be certain we would survive the next day? Our enemies are numerous, and we have made the lives of the people miserable. When disaster strikes, we would be completely defenseless, with no choice but to flee. That's precisely why we need to build new cities that can serve as a second source of our power and provide us with safe shelter, even if we lose Valyria.".

Vahaemorys  responded, saying, "Valyria is a hell for others. Since there is a hell, we need to have heaven as well for others. We will make this city filled with free people, not slaves. I hope for your cooperation in this endeavor."

Another dragon lord expressed his reservations, stating, "Lord Vahaemorys, I'm not entirely sure about turning slaves into citizens. However, we can cooperate when it comes to building a new city."

The other dragon lords began to whisper among themselves. Vahaemorys couldn't help but smile, knowing that his plan was working. His intention was to drain the resources of the other dragon lord families into his own. When the time come, there would only be two dragon lord families left: House Targaryen and House Narnareon.