Chapter 144: Green Aegon, Helaena, and Aemond
In front of the Red Keep gates in King's Landing, Princess Rhaenys's self-deprecating remark about being the "Uncrowned Queen" angered King Viserys, who believed Princess Rhaenys was making a comparison to Princess of Dragonstone Rhaenyra.
Princess Rhaenys quickly smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I have always believed that women can rule as well as men. Princess Rhaenyra will undoubtedly be an excellent queen."
Ser Otto Hightower, who was standing nearby, hesitated to speak.
Dragon Vhagar swooped down, and when she was only about a meter from the ground, Laena, who was on the dragon's back, leaped down, stepping on the rough dragon's spine.
Laena was wearing a silver-white hunting coat and dark green riding breeches; she was full of youthful vigor, and many Kingsguard soldiers and court nobles' eyes lit up when they saw Laena. Some young attendants were captivated, openly staring at Laena's curvaceous and graceful waist, while the handmaidens were filled with jealousy towards Laena.
Seeing the beautiful Laena, King Viserys smiled and said, "Laena, it's been a few years since we last met, you've grown up."
The Sea Snake said proudly, "Your Majesty, Laena has now had her moon blood and is a fully developed woman; she is already engaged."
King Viserys was a bit surprised and even more disappointed, because King Viserys had originally intended to have Prince Aegon marry Laena to mend the rift between the Iron Throne and House Velaryon. King Viserys looked disheartened, but he still concealed his inner disappointment, "Laena is engaged? That's truly good news, who is the betrothed? It wouldn't be one of those local nobles from the Three Daughters, would it?"
Princess Rhaenys smiled and said, "No, it's your nephew, Daemon's son, Prince of Myr Jaehaerys."
Upon hearing this news, King Viserys felt a mix of emotions. He was happy to see House Velaryon and House Targaryen intermarry, but he regretted that his son, Aegon, the Prophet Prince, would not have the opportunity to marry the woman who rode the most powerful dragon.
Ser Otto Hightower raised an eyebrow. He had always regarded Daemon as his biggest rival, and now that Daemon's son was engaged to Laena, it meant that Daemon's alliance with House Velaryon was becoming even more stable. Daemon's family would gain another dragon and a Dragon Knight in the future.
Ser Otto Hightower was worried. He stepped forward, "Miss Laena is marrying Jaehaerys, does that mean Prince Aegon, Jaehaerys's brother, is also engaged?"
Daemon said indifferently, "Prince Aegon is not engaged yet, but I believe that during his time in Westeros, he will certainly meet many noble beauties, and perhaps his future wife will be among them!" In truth, the only match Daemon favored for Aegon was Princess Rhaenyra.
Outside the Royal Sept in the Red Keep, Daemon met Queen Alicent and her children. The fertile Queen Alicent had given King Viserys a child almost every year since marrying him. In these years, she had given birth to three sons and one daughter, but she still maintained a slender figure, charming demeanor, and elegant grace. She wore a dark green velvet gown, embroidered with the three-headed dragon sigil of House Targaryen in black and gold.
Queen Alicent showed a charming smile, "Prince Daemon, my children are very eager to meet you. They grew up listening to your legendary stories."
Queen Alicent's children were all close in age. Aegon was six years old, dressed in a red and black formal suit, shyly hiding behind his mother's skirt.
King Viserys glared at Aegon, "Aegon, come and see your Uncle Daemon. Didn't I tell you the legendary story of Daemon conquering the Three Daughters?"
Daemon smiled as he looked at Aegon, but as soon as Aegon's gaze met Daemon's, he immediately recoiled like a startled squirrel, muttering, "I don't like him. My grandfather said Prince Daemon is not a good person. He's the Rogue Prince, he's a wicked dragon!"
These words made Queen Alicent and Ser Otto Hightower, who were standing nearby, extremely awkward, and even the senior members of the Small Council were deeply shocked. Master of Laws Lyonel Strong laughed, "Ser Otto Hightower, is this how you educate your grandson? How did Prince Daemon become a wicked dragon in your mouth?"
Ser Otto Hightower forced a knowing smile, "Children's words are innocent, Aegon is talking nonsense. I never mentioned Prince Daemon to the children at all."
Daemon didn't bother to expose Ser Otto Hightower's lie. He smiled as he looked at Aegon, "Aegon, you're almost old enough to be a squire. In the future, you can follow me to the court of the Three Daughters. I will train you to be an excellent squire, and in the future, you will become an excellent knight. You and I will spend time together day and night, and then you will naturally understand what kind of person I truly am."
Aegon was still too young, not old enough to be a squire for a few more years, but Daemon's suggestion still startled Ser Otto Hightower and Queen Alicent. Once a child was taken as a squire by Daemon, he would become a hostage in Daemon's hands at crucial moments. Ser Otto Hightower frowned, "Aegon is King Viserys's eldest son, he is the Prophet Prince in His Majesty's Green Dream, the rightful heir to the Iron Throne in the future. How can he go across the Narrow Sea to be a squire?"
While in the Three Daughters, Daemon occasionally mentioned the succession dispute in King's Landing in his letters to the nobles of King's Landing and his brother King Viserys. King Viserys had already crowned Princess Rhaenyra as Princess of Dragonstone, and in his eyes, Princess Rhaenyra was his heir to the Iron Throne, who would inherit his throne and rule King's Landing, Westeros, and the Seven Kingdoms in the future. However, his Hand of the King, Ser Otto Hightower, and some court nobles believed that the King's eldest son, Prince Aegon, was the only one qualified to inherit the Iron Throne.
Now, Ser Otto Hightower brought up Aegon's claim to the throne in front of Daemon, and Daemon quipped, "Rhaenyra is Princess of Dragonstone, the heir to the Iron Throne. If Aegon is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, then wouldn't we have to prepare two Throne Rooms, two Iron Thrones, and two Small Councils?"
King Viserys raised an eyebrow in annoyance, "What succession dispute? Rhaenyra is my heir. Daemon, today is a good day for your return to the Red Keep in King's Landing, let's not be bothered by such troublesome matters."
Then King Viserys called Aegon forward, but Aegon pouted and ran away. King Viserys sighed, "This mischievous boy always disappoints me."
Queen Alicent quickly smiled and said, "Your Majesty, Aegon is still too young. It's inevitable that he gets nervous when he sees strangers."
King Viserys snorted softly, "The stranger you speak of is Aegon's own uncle, aunt, and three cousins. Aegon is the Prince of the dream prophecy, why can't he act like a Prophet Prince?"
Daemon placed his hand on King Viserys's shoulder, "Brother, don't be angry. Aegon is just a child. Even if he's a bit mischievous, don't you have other well-behaved children?"
Princess Helaena, five years old, had porcelain-like delicate skin and wore a crimson gown. She was lively and lovely, with captivating eyes, and she happily bowed to Daemon.
"Uncle Daemon, I've seen you before."
Daemon knelt on the ground, his gaze level with Princess Helaena's, "Little darling, you must be mistaken. You've never seen me before, this is our first meeting."
Princess Helaena said seriously, "In my dreams, I've seen you. In the Green Dream, I dreamt of you riding a dragon, and the cheese vendors of the seaside castle, the ship-kings holding tridents, the officials riding elephants and tigers, the black goats in the forest, the bearded monks living on the mountains, the blind monks in the labyrinth, the hairy people on the frozen islands, the blue eyes in the ice and snow, the pale-skinned skeleton kings, and the ice dragons on the frozen coast, the centaurs and goat people of the Great Grass Sea, all trembling and kneeling before you."
King Viserys, who was standing nearby, said proudly, "Helaena has already shown the talent of a Dream Walker. Although her dreams have never come true, she is still too young, and her prophecies still need time to be verified."
Daemon stared into Helaena's beautiful eyes and smiled, "That truly is a precious talent. House Targaryen's Dream Walkers have found their successor. Helaena, tell Uncle Daemon, what else have you dreamt of?"
Helaena thought for a moment, "I dreamt that Uncle Daemon, riding a dragon, extinguished the lights on the high tower by the sea; grey-clad sheep and people in rainbow cloaks fled amidst the dragon's roar; I dreamt of blood-red sea monsters extending their tentacles, staining the sea; I dreamt of dragons fighting under the control of puppeteers, two dragons swallowed by the Godseye; I dreamt of a rat carrying blood-red cheese, sneaking into a nursery and biting a baby to death."
Queen Alicent frowned, "Helaena, don't keep telling your Uncle Daemon and Aunt Gael about your strange dreams. I don't want your Uncle Daemon and Aunt Gael to think you're a strange girl."
Gael said softly, "Dream Walker is a very powerful talent. Helaena is a lovely girl, and in the future, she might become a legendary figure like Princess Daenys."
Queen Alicent took Helaena's small hand and stepped aside.
Aemond, four years old, thin and gloomy, with long silver-white hair, curiously observed Daemon, "Uncle Daemon, you are the Rogue Prince of the songs, the Liberator, the Father of Dragons. Can I see your Valyrian steel sword, Dark Sister?"
Daemon unfastened Dark Sister from his waist and handed it to Aemond, "This sword is very sharp, you can't draw it, just feel it through the scabbard." If history had followed its normal course, Aemond would have died by Dark Sister. Thinking of this, Daemon felt a strange sensation in his heart.
Young Aemond's eyes, as he caressed the dark scabbard, pulled it out a little. He stared at the sword, a strange fanaticism flashing in his eyes, "This is a legendary sword, can you give it to me?"
King Viserys scolded, "Aemond, you're becoming more and more ill-mannered. Your Uncle Daemon still needs Dark Sister to fight against those bad people, how could he give it to you? Besides, this sword is not a child's toy. If you want to play, I can have the Red Keep's master-at-arms give you a wooden sword."
Aemond rolled his eyes and retreated to the side.
Prince Daeron was still too young, and his wet nurse held him. The child had a pacifier in his mouth. Daemon played with Prince Daeron for a few moments, and the child let out joyful laughter.
Queen Alicent greeted Daemon's children, Aegon, Jaehaerys, and Baelon, in turn. After a few pleasantries, Queen Alicent took her children back to the royal chambers.
After everyone dispersed, King Viserys and Daemon went to the study. King Viserys dismissed his attendants and the Kingsguard. After the door closed, only Viserys and Daemon remained in the study.
King Viserys poured Daemon a glass of golden wine from the Arbor. He said happily, "Daemon, I have already ordered the kitchen to roast your favorite suckling pig, roasted peacock, and roasted larks. Tonight, we will enjoy a feast in the banquet hall!"
Daemon took a sip of wine, "Brother, you crowned Rhaenyra as Princess of Dragonstone, but your Hand of the King believes Aegon should be the heir to the Iron Throne. The King's heir not being acknowledged by the Hand of the King is not a good sign!"
The smile on King Viserys's face froze and disappeared. He was deeply troubled, "When Queen Aemma passed away, she told me that her child would become a great king. Of course, when Aemma died, her last son, Baelon, was still alive, but Baelon was only Crown Prince for one day, and the next day he followed his mother. Now Rhaenyra is Queen Aemma's only blood, how can I bear to take away her inheritance?"
"Ser Otto Hightower also initially supported Princess Rhaenyra as the heir to the Iron Throne, until Alicent bore me a son, and he began to believe that a son's claim was superior to a daughter's."
Daemon leaned forward, "Brother, do you remember who strongly urged you to crown Rhaenyra as Princess of Dragonstone back then? It was Ser Otto Hightower."
In those days, Daemon swept through the Stepstones, conquering Tyrosh, Lys, and Myr. Daemon's powerful civil and military achievements completely overshadowed King Viserys. Many nobles in the kingdom believed Daemon was the heir to the Iron Throne, with a higher claim than Princess Rhaenyra. At that time, Ser Otto Hightower kept urging King Viserys to quickly crown Rhaenyra as Princess of Dragonstone, otherwise, the succession to the Iron Throne would fall into Daemon's hands.
Viserys fell into thought. Daemon continued, "Ser Otto Hightower has always been ambitious. Back when our grandfather, King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, ruled the kingdom, he brought a young Alicent into the palace to serve as King Jaehaerys's handmaiden. After King Jaehaerys died, he had Alicent become Queen Aemma's handmaiden. As soon as Queen Aemma died, Alicent transformed into the Queen. Sometimes I even wonder if Ser Otto Hightower was behind Queen Aemma's death back then. House Hightower is, after all, a patron of the Citadel!"
Faced with Daemon's accusation, King Viserys seemed startled, "How can that be? Daemon, your accusation must be supported by real evidence, otherwise, it's slander. The one who delivered Queen Aemma back then was Grand Maester Mellos, and Grand Maester Mellos has never failed with Queen Alicent's children."
"Aemma often miscarried. Ser Otto Hightower told me more than once that it was those witches around you who cursed Aemma, but of course, I wouldn't believe such nonsense."
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