-Chapter 192-
-POV Daemon Targaryen-
"To think times change so quickly," I said, sitting on my bed, looking at the clear sky through my window.
I could see Urrax and Vhagar flying, one following the other, like every afternoon since Laenor's death.
"Aemon has truly established total domination at court," said Johanna as I felt her body press against mine from behind and a pair of arms wrap around my shoulders.
"That idiot Bryndon has doomed the Hightowers for generations," I said with a smile, as I hated those scum who acted above their station.
Johanna rested her head on my shoulder and whispered:
"I wouldn't be so categorical about that."
"You know something I don't?" I asked the beautiful brunette who smiled mysteriously.
Johanna nodded and then said: "I don't know if you're aware, but your cousin Princess Rhaenys didn't appreciate that only Bryndon was executed."
"How do you know that?" I asked, surprised that she knew.
"Because unlike you, I have eyes," she said, mocking me.
I rolled my eyes, and she said more seriously this time:
"This morning, Princess Rhaenys had a brief altercation with her daughter just before the execution of the Queen's brother. It was discreet, yes, but not unnoticed."
I squinted, but she wasn't done, so she continued:
"Furious, she then went to your son's solar and left there even angrier than she arrived, before heading to Rhaenyra's private chambers."
"And you know that because..." I asked, leaving the sentence unfinished because I wanted to hear her answer.
"Because I have eyes and ears," she said half-serious, half-playful.
'She brought some of her courtesans into the castle,' I understood.
I ignored her last joke, then said:
"Even so, you can't be certain about what you're claiming. Don't forget that Aemon is the father of her grandchildren, he won't stop until that House is wiped from memory."
Johanna shook her head and said:
"Aemon did what had to be done by killing Bryndon Hightower, but knowing him, he won't go after them. On the contrary, he might even help them if Rhaenys tips the scales toward Rhaenyra."
"He wouldn't turn against Rhaenys and House Velaryon," I said, convinced, since he more than anything wanted to see his eldest son head House Velaryon. That wasn't a secret to anyone anymore.
"As you've already said yourself, Aemon is the father of her grandchildren. Do you really think Rhaenys would turn against the only family she has left for revenge she could get in another way?" she asked me.
I didn't share her opinion, but it was true that Rhaenys and I were not alike. She was much more thoughtful than me. At one time, I could have beheaded each of those bastards for an affront like that.
"You think he's doing this for Alicent?" I asked, because I'd noticed that slut's little attempts to get her hooks into my son.
Johanna smiled and shook her head before saying:
"No, he's doing it solely to control the future queen or king. He perfectly balances both forces while increasing his own so that when the time comes for a potential succession war, he can choose who to support, extracting maximum benefit from them while crushing the others easily."
"That'll cause a real mess," I said, because the way things were going, I didn't see a world where Rhaenyra, Alicent, and their offspring wouldn't slaughter each other before that moment.
"You think that'll cause more or less chaos than when we tell him about us?" Johanna asked, moving in front of me, her face close to mine.
I smiled and said: "Probably more, but I don't want to tell him, because I know him. He'll start doubting me."
Johanna rolled her eyes and said: "Of course, since you're stealing the key to Lys and the mother of one of his dragonriders. With Rhaenys slipping away from this alliance, it isolates him again within his own."
"He has nothing to fear from me, he still has his children. They'll grow quickly, just like their dragons," I said, because I had observed the growth of my grandchildren's dragons, and it was clear their growth was abnormal — not as much as Urrax, but still faster than normal dragons.
Johanna slightly frowned because I hadn't mentioned Baelon, and then suddenly said:
"Baelon will never follow you, I hope you know that."
I was about to retort something, but Johanna didn't let me say a word, as she said:
"And don't even count on me to make him change his mind."
"I don't plan on going after Aemon anymore anyway, I've already lost enough fighting my own blood," I said before adding softly: "It's better for all of us to stay united."
Johanna nodded and searched deep in my eyes for my true thoughts, asking:
"Have you given up the crown?"
"What's the point of being king if you don't even get to decide your own fate," I said, feeling immense disgust for my brother who sat on his throne like a puppet, once moving to the will of his advisors, and now to Aemon's.
---
-POV Aemond Targaryen-
DRAGON ROAR
I stepped back quickly, falling on my back, crawling away across the floor, terrified by the sudden roar of the dragon in front of me.
Fortunately, the dragonkeepers quickly intervened to calm the dragon, who gradually moved away from me, allowing me to breathe a sigh of relief.
'I really thought it was time to join grandfather,' I told myself as the tension inside me released all at once.
"Hahahahahahaha"
"Hahahahaha"
"Hehehehe"
I turned just in time to see the three little bastards mocking me with no restraint.
I got up, furious, but seeing all three of them, I decided not to say anything and to walk away quickly, because even with the age difference between us, they were three, and I was alone.
"Traitor," Lucerys spat as I passed him, making sure to get in my way and bump his shoulder into mine.
He failed, since he didn't even reach my chest, but he still collided with me.
I clenched my teeth and was about to ignore it like I usually did.
I had no desire to attract negative attention, already knowing Father would prefer to downplay anything that happened between us, unless I was at fault.
Since I was the uncle and eldest of these bastards, I'd surely have to 'bear the burden of responsibility for my actions' by accepting an unfair and undeserved punishment.
It was clear favoritism from my own father toward my sister, to show everyone that it was she, not my brother, who would inherit the Iron Throne.
"Bastards," I muttered softly, hitting where it hurt.
He turned quickly but froze under the commanding gaze of his sister who, even young, led their siblings with an iron hand.
I sighed, disappointed I couldn't trap them, then walked away with an idea forming deep in my mind.
I was determined to make them regret making me their enemy.
As I moved away, I wandered alone through the maze of corridors in the Dragonpit, still thinking about what I would do.
I was afraid, but beyond that fear, there was indignation, anger, and a deep rage that could no longer be contained.
Just as I was about to enter Seasmoke's cave, a hand grabbed my arm firmly and I met the gaze of a dragonkeeper who looked at me as if I'd gone mad.
"Your Highness, attempting to claim Prince Laenor's dragon is not permitted."
"By whom?"
"Princess Rhaenyra."
"Princess Rhaenyra has no say in—"
My loud voice was silenced when I saw the three siblings glaring at me.
"I knew it, your whole family are traitors," said Joffrey, the youngest brother, barely able to speak properly due to his two missing front teeth.
"You're a disgrace to our family. Your uncle killed my father and you dare try to become his rider," said Jacaerys, furious at me for trying to 'take' his fath—
"He's not even your father. You're nothing but vile bastards born from my sister's lust," I retorted, finding it ridiculous that he believed in the illusory parentage Rhaenyra had fed the court along with her bastards.
"What did you say?" Jacaerys screamed, shocked at what I had just said in front of the dragonkeeper who had heard everything.
"Take that back right now!" Lucerys shouted this time, approaching me in a threatening manner.
'Or at least trying'
I smiled and said: "Or what? You're nothing but Strong bastards and everyone knows it — false dragons."
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Lucerys screamed, throwing himself at me, catching me off guard but not enough to knock me down.
Remembering my lessons with Aegon over the past few days, I kneed my nephew in the groin, causing him to kneel down clutching himself tightly, then punched Jacaerys in the nose as he charged at me with momentum.
Joffrey, terrified, hesitated a few seconds before joining his brothers, but as I approached him to give him a lesson he'd remember for the rest of his life, I heard Alysanne — whom I'd ignored because she was a girl — scream as she attacked me.
"Aaaaah!"
I turned my head, sneering in disdain, but upon seeing what she had in her hand, the disdain I felt for her vanished, and I did my best to step back.
Unfortunately, since I had underestimated her, I couldn't completely dodge the blow and felt blood pouring from my right eye, blinding me in that eye.
Furious, I jerked my head up and stood.
I punched the girl, then kicked her, and did the same whenever one of her brothers tried to stop me.
I only stopped once I felt a pair of arms holding me back from continuing the carnage I was unleashing.
I had only one thought in mind: to kill them to make up for the loss of my right eye and to ensure they could never raise their heads to meet my gaze again for the rest of their lives.
---
✨ Thank you for reading this chapter and for supporting me every day! 🙏
Please note that I'm much more active on Patreon, where all community members get access to 5 FREE bonus chapters 📖 for all released fanfictions:
🐉 Aemon Targaryen - 🦅 Ronnet Connington - 🐺 Aegon Snow
---
💎 For paid community members, there are currently 3 patron tiers:
⚔️ Knight – $1.99/month
→ Access to 7 chapters ahead of public releases.
🏰 Baron – $4.99/month
→ Access to 10 chapters ahead of public releases.
👑 Viscount – $9.99/month
→ Access to all chapters in advance, including those not yet published anywhere else.
---
📚 Available Fanfictions:
🐺 Aegon Snow (GOT/ASOIAF) — 235 chapters ✅ (Completed)
🐉 Aemon Targaryen (HOTD/ASOIAF) — 220 chapters 🔥 (Ongoing)
🦅 Ronnet Connington (GOT/ASOIAF) — 128 chapters ⏸ (Paused)
🌳 Divine Tree (Naruto) — 14 chapters ⏸ (Paused)
🔫 Calvin Jasper (TWD/FTWD) — 12 chapters 🔥 (Ongoing)
⚡ David Copperfield (MCU) — 12 chapters 🔥 (Ongoing)
---
📍 Join me on Patreon: 👉 patreon.com/Ghostrider0002 💫