Aerion grabbed the letter and opened it with a knife from the table. He read it quietly for a moment and then chuckled a bit as he read it to the family:
To the Lords of House Targaryen, Lords of Dragonstone,
Let it be known that I, Loren I of House Lannister, King of the Rock, and Lord of Casterly Rock, have entered into honorable accord with House Targaryen.
By my seal and sovereign word, I do hereby agree to provide and transfer ownership of thirty (30) ocean-going merchant vessels, stoutly built and seaworthy for long crossings, fit to sail the Narrow Sea and beyond. Each ship shall be provisioned and crewed for maiden departure and delivered to the harbor at Dragonstone or a mutually agreed port under Targaryen protection.
In exchange for this fleet, House Targaryen shall render unto House Lannister the sum of Fifty Thousand (50,000) gold dragons, in good coin and without delay.
This accord is entered freely and with goodwill between our two houses. May the seas be calm and the winds strong in the days to come.
In writ and seal,
Loren I Lannister
King of the Rock
Lord of Casterly Rock
"An eloquent form to say he agreed to sell, but he is robbing us at the same time," his wife said sneering.
"At least, he agreed to sell us a good amount," Rhaegon said shrugging it off as if it was nothing. "We have a bit more and we even need more."
"That guy doesn't have any shame," Rhaenys said in disgust.
"It is business, sister. Everyone wants something. We want the ships, he wants the coin," Aegon said, pensively.
"It is as you say, father, but aunt is not wrong either. He is charging us war galleys' price for merchant ships and even more expensive," Rhaegon said as he chewed the piece of food in his mouth. "But we need them, so it is a good deal even if he is robbing us."
"How many ships do we have by now?" Visenya asked her father, not bothered about the price. They are making a fortune recently and those coins are piling in their vaults. Now that they would do a big thing since their house came to this place, it was better to use them.
"Just enough," Aerion pondered for a bit. "30 ships from the king of the rock, 20 ships from Oldtown sold to us cheaply by Rhaegon's soon-to-be father-in-law and the girls' father, Manfred, lord of Oldtown. Lord Darklyn from Duskendale sold us 12 ships and White Arbor another 10 ships. House Velaryon would provide for the endeavor 30 ships and the Celtigars another 15 ships, as they need the rest to continue their hold on the sea, but both houses have given word that they will also provide the sailors to man the ships acquired. We have our 10 ships if we need to use them. That leaves us with more than a hundred ships."
Rhaegon's fiancées were delighted that their father was helping their husband's family, smiling happily.
"We could try to acquire more ships from the merchants in our port." Visenya pointed out. "With enough coin or benefits, they would give in."
"MAaa-Maybe, but let's not push them too hard, if they want, fine, if not let them be, after all, they are filling our pockets." Rhaegon said, had a slip of raised voice as a naughty hand was already inside his pants. "What about Braavos' Iron Bank, has the deal gone through?"
"They have accepted. Too much wealth to let it pass." Aegon said, raised his eyebrow at his son's raised tone, he looked at Evelyn at his side with a blushing face and sighed, knowing what was happening.
"Perfect, we have everything then for the voyage." Rhaegon said delighted in good humor.
Evelyn, blushing, looked at the family and saw that Visenya and Rhaenys were looking at her with a smirk, she blushed even more like an orchid, not daring to look them in the eyes.
Seraphina, who was eating beside Rhaegon, knew what her older sister was doing with their man's cock but didn't care, instead she ate and drank in relish the food served.
Seeing everyone looking at his side, Rhaegon was awkward for a moment as he tried to divert their thoughts. "Uncle, would you sail with us?"
"Of course I would." Orys knew what he was trying to do, but just smiled. "For this big endeavor, you would need as many capable people who can lead to be able to control so many."
"Indeed. But we will find capable men surely among the people we get who would relieve the burden."
"Look at us, dear." Valaena said to her husband as she took his hand. "Have you thought that we would be planning something like this?"
"Never. I didn't have great aspirations as our children's." Aerion said softly to his wife. "It was that letter that sparked the desire in them."
"And the kiddo, instead of leaving it at that, his hunger, who knows no limit, wants to devour everything." he said, looking at Rhaegon.
"Grandpa, don't bring everything on me; it was father who first liked the idea and pushed it forward. I just started adding other things to the table that are good."
"Who benefits in the long run from everything we are doing here?" Aegon asked his son.
Rhaegon just raised his hands as a gesture.
Aegon chuckled.
"Mom, the seamstress have made it?" Rhaegon asked his mother as he pushed his plate after being sated.
"They have," Visenya said as she was playing with a chalice in her hand while thinking. After hearing her dear boy she responded, looked at him and then at a servant and signaled him with her hand. "Bring it here."
The servant left after the order.
"It was done already before you came."
The servant brought a bundle of black cloth to Visenya's hands.
Visenya passed it to Lyanna and Cassandra. "Show it to him, girls."
The two cheerfully took it and showed their man the bundled cloth as they took one end of it and unfurled it. After a moment, a black flag appeared before his eyes.
"A red three-headed dragon on a black field." Rhaegon whistled as he observed for a while before taking it into his hands. "It looks damn good. It is our flag, and I want it raised and flying everywhere."
"It is indeed a good house flag." Aerion also liked it.
"Well designed, dear." Valaena praised her son again after seeing it again.
"Mother." Aegon blushed a little bit as he smiled.
"Are there enough of them to decorate the place for the seven-day festivities?"
"They are. By tomorrow, we will have this flag flying over all of Dragonstone. I have paid a good coin to every able woman who can sew." Visenya said.
"Nice." Rhaegon said, always liking to see a flag decorating everywhere, even more if it was their flag.
"A lot of people are already here, and even more are coming into the island for tomorrow's festivities," Aegon says. "After your wedding with your sisters today, we will celebrate it with festivities open to everyone, giving food and drink to the people along with tourneys for entertainment."
"The city-port is booming with joy from the expectations," Rhaenys said with a smile. Happy for her nephew and nieces.
Rhaegon smiled, but seeing the little hand in his cock stop for a moment before again continue caressing him made him look at Evelyn who looked a little bit jealous and sad. He looked then at the rest of the girls, and they were the same.
"Hey," Rhaegon said softly as he took Evelyn's chin in his grasp and made her look at him. "You and your sisters will have a grand wedding bigger than anything known when we marry. Don't be sad," he said as he kissed her lips.