A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms reinforces a powerful theme at the heart of A Song of Ice and Fire: authority is not the same as virtue. The Targaryens are treated like demigods at the height of their power, forgiven for cruelty simply because they sit on a throne and command dragons. Yet when Duncan the Tall stands before the royal family after striking a prince, the illusion cracks. The so-called noble system of justice is quickly twisted to protect those in power, revealing that crowns do not make people righteous — they simply give them influence.

The story mirrors our own world, where wealth and authority are often mistaken for moral superiority. From monarchs who led nations into catastrophic wars to modern leaders and billionaires shielded from consequences, history shows the danger of unaccountable power. While good leaders do exist, respect should never be automatic simply because someone sits at the top. Whether in Westeros or reality, power without accountability is dangerous — and those who hold it should always be answerable for how they use it.