-Chapter 193-
-POV Viserys Targaryen-
BOOM BOOM BOOM
"Your Majesty," shouted Ser Steffon Darklyn, pounding on my door.
I got up immediately, frowning as I sensed the urgency in his voice, and opened the door in my dressing gown.
"What is going on?"
"Your son, Prince Aemond, and the children of Princess Rhaenyra have fought. They are all gathered in the throne room and some are threatening to take up arms."
I widened my eyes in disbelief at such madness, then said angrily: "What nonsense! Let's go. I want to hear the explanations of these fools ready to draw swords over a children's quarrel."
Ser Steffon wanted to add something else but finally didn't.
I didn't even bother to dress properly, walking quickly, furious at what my House was becoming since Aemon's return.
'He spreads discord and destroys my family. This cannot go on… I won't allow it any longer,' I thought, determined to put an end once and for all to all these quarrels.
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"How dare your son lay his filthy hands on mine?" I heard Rhaenyra scream before even entering the throne room.
"Yours attacked him first. Aemond only defended himself," Alicent replied calmly, but with a cold tone that chilled my blood as I saw Rhaenyra's children, their faces marked by Aemond's blows.
"How could I ever believe you could take responsibility for once in your life?" said Rhaenyra, disappointed, her face full of disgust, before adding: "All of this is your fault. You failed to raise your children properly, and your son nearly took the lives of MINE, heirs to the Iron Throne, and not only them but also those of House Velaryon."
"You have mastered the art of eloquence perfectly, given it's the only weapon—aside from what you use between your legs to ensure the loyalty of the sheep who follow you—that you can use to harm me. But I've had enough of hearing you constantly complain about your own mistakes!!!" shouted Alicent, frantic, flailing her arms.
I was about to step in, but she doubled down with even more fury, shouting this time:
"YOU are the problem! YOU tried to have your own brother killed through your bootlickers, and today your children attacked mine because he tried to claim a legitimate right on which you have no say..."
"But I can speak on the matter, as a mother, and also as the Dragonmaster," said Princess Rhaenys, cutting off Alicent.
The latter, still screaming with reddened eyes at Rhaenyra just moments before, fell silent like a frozen carp in the face of Rhaenys's calm yet commanding tone.
'This is the right time to intervene and ease tensions,' I thought.
I had been stunned, waking up with difficulty in the afternoon, to the news of Ser Bryndon's execution.
No one had consulted me, and he was still my brother-in-law.
'Even if he deserved his fate, I was surprised at how Aemon toyed with everyone at court like mere puppets.'
"I…"
Clap… Clap… Clap…
"Congratulations, truly, I applaud you! Once again whining and putting on a show before the entire court!!"
"Your Highness," said Harwin, stepping forward, trying to defend his squires.
"You shut up and get out of here," said Aemon, bluntly cutting off Rhaenyra's sworn shield, who today had become a well-known and respected figure throughout the realm—unlike his brother.
'But he doesn't care in the slightest,' I thought, watching my nephew with irritation.
'He cares about nothing and no one,' I told myself as I watched him walk past me without even pretending to respect me or apologize after silencing me before the whole court.
"Did you not hear the order I just gave you, ser? Will you follow in your brother's footsteps and join him at the Wall after the tournament?" he asked the young knight who had made the mistake of glancing at my daughter instead of listening silently to my nephew's orders.
'Times have changed,' I thought, because a subtle gesture like the one that young colossus had just made would have gone unnoticed under any other king, but not under my nephew's iron grip.
Ser Harwin lowered his gaze and walked away, humiliated not once but twice—and in front of everyone.
He would surely struggle to recover, but if he wanted to survive and serve my daughter well, he would have to find the strength to keep his head down for as long as needed until Rhaenyra secured her hold on the throne once I pass into the afterlife.
"Why are you all still here?!!!" shouted Aemon, unleashing his anger on all those who had come to witness yet another royal family conflict, before adding with renewed force: "ONLY FAMILY MEMBERS ARE ALLOWED TO STAY. THE REST OF YOU BETTER LEAVE QUICKLY OR I'LL HAVE YOU SERVED TO URRAX FOR SUPPER!!!"
The nobles who had come to watch the show quickly fled like a pack of rats chased by a cat, leaving only the members of our House… or almost.
"Lord Baratheon, as far as I know, you are not part of our House, so…"
"Lord Hand," said Alicent in a cautious tone, stepping forward, her head slightly bowed in reverence.
Aemon frowned but said nothing, waiting to hear the reason for Alicent's interruption, and she didn't hesitate to explain:
"I requested Lord Baratheon's presence as a witness, for he will be Aemond's father-in-law. He is very concerned about what fate awaits the vile beings who tried to take the life of your ward's brother."
I squinted hearing the way she addressed my nephew, and a wave of revolt rose within me, as I could not ignore the way she was trying to win his favor. Ever since he had locked up her father in the dungeons, she had reduced the frequency of our meetings—initially claiming sudden illnesses—until she only came to my chambers when she needed something.
The question now burning in my mind was how far she was willing to go to win my nephew's favor.
'And when did she offer my son's hand in marriage?' I wondered afterward.
Aemon remained silent for several moments before finally nodding, then motioned for Aemond to step forward.
He grabbed his face and then asked him, challenging him to lie:
"Is your eye okay?"
Aemond, unlike usual, did not avoid Aemon's gaze. On the contrary, he met it calmly, as if in a trance, and nodded before explaining his condition:
"The maester said only my eyelid was hit."
"Very well," said Aemon, letting go of Aemond. He turned toward Rhaenyra, but before he could say anything, Rhaenyra said in a loud, angry tone: "Aemon, my children were savagely—"
Aemon didn't need to say a word. He glared at my daughter while placing a finger over his lips until she fell silent—which didn't take long.
"Rhaenyra, don't forget that I am not only your cousin. So when you speak to me, be sure to use the proper terms and tone. I won't repeat myself," he said in a soft, almost gentle voice.
A chilling silence allowed everyone to hear not only what he had just said, but also Rhaenyra's faint voice as she responded almost in a whisper: "Yes, Lord Hand."
Aemon nodded, then turned away from his cousin and motioned for Rhaenyra's children, who were standing beside her, to come forward.
The children, having seen how Rhaenyra had cowered, didn't protest and quickly stepped within two paces of their uncle, whom they clearly feared.
Aemon silently inspected their faces for a few moments, then asked Alysanne:
"What happened?"
Alysanne glanced furtively in my direction, then stammered slightly:
"Aemond shouted that we are lust-born bastards."
'What?!' I thought, shocked by Aemond's behavior, who used the kingdom's vulgar gossip to undermine Rhaenyra's standing.
Aemon raised an eyebrow, then asked Aemond: "Did you say that?"
Aemond nodded, and Aemon asked: "Why?"
"They said I belonged to a family of traitors, that I was one, and that I couldn't claim a dragon. I didn't strike first—I only defended myself," said Aemond.
'The problems in this family are too deeply rooted. These feuds won't be resolved in a day,' I thought, as Otto's and Bryndon's betrayals had only deepened the constant hostility between Rhaenyra and her brothers.
Aemon said, looking at Rhaenyra: "The matter of claiming a dragon is not under the authority of the Princess Heir—let alone four children bullying a member of their own family."
Rhaenyra nodded with difficulty, and it was Rhaenys who spoke:
"As Dragonmaster, it is my task to assign dragon eggs and dragons."
"No!" said Aemon, before explaining:
"As Dragonmaster, you have the power to assign dragon eggs, but not to selectively deny a Prince of House Targaryen—guilty of no crime—his rightful claim to a dragon. You yourself possess my grandmother's dragon, if I'm not mistaken?" Aemon retorted.
Rhaenys said nothing more, realizing Aemon was firmly set on defending Aemond's position.
Just when I thought he'd continue berating Rhaenyra, he turned to Aemond and said:
"The rumors circulating in the kingdom are no proof of the Princess Heir's infidelity. The only person who could have shed light on the truth is dead, and with her, the doubts regarding the true parentage of your sister's children. Regardless, Rhaenyra is the Princess Heir, which will make her the future queen, and her word will serve as law. So if she declares her children legitimate, no one has the right to challenge her word."
Aemond nodded, satisfying his cousin.
Then Aemon raised his head to observe the entire family gathered in the throne room and said:
"Am I clear?"
Everyone nodded—and even I did so unconsciously, impressed by my nephew's composure and cold-blooded ability to resolve this conflict in moments, along with the authority he displayed.
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