Dual Agent Aemon

Dual Agent Aemon

The sun set.

The flap of the Queen's Tent lifted, and a small figure stepped out.

"Ah, waiting on people really isn't easy."

Aemon sighed softly and stretched hard.

He'd gotten a face full of sorrowful tears and hadn't been able to dodge them.

"What did you say?"

Alicent followed close behind, bending as she stepped out.

Aemon immediately changed his tune. "I said waiting on the Queen really isn't hard at all."

"Is that so?"

Amusement filled Alicent's eyes, and she couldn't help but laugh.

Such a little rascal, always saying pretty things.

Aemon grinned, not daring to provoke her again.

Women really were miraculous creatures, especially beautiful women.

She had clearly just had a good cry, yet she turned around as if nothing had happened.

"Your Grace, the King has returned from the hunt. He seems to be in a poor mood."

Ser Alick bowed respectfully and reported the King's return to camp.

"Thank you, Ser."

Alicent thanked him politely.

Aemon looked over and quickly said, "Go on. I'll walk around a little longer."

After persuading one, there was still another round to go.

"All right, I'll head out first."

Alicent nodded lightly.

Yet her feet did not move. She tilted her head and stared at Aemon for a while, as though she wanted to strip away his clothes and see straight through him.

Aemon's scalp prickled beneath her gaze. He thought his grand plan had been exposed.

Just as the atmosphere grew strange.

Alicent suddenly spoke, her expression serious. "Do not trust Rhaenyra. She is selfish, self-serving, and foolish."

"If you grow too close to her, she will bring you misfortune. It will not end well for you."

Aemon froze at her words.

What a blatant attempt to scare him. But why did it contain a few grains of truth?

"Do you understand?" Alicent asked.

"I understand!" Aemon answered.

"Good."

A faint smile rose in Alicent's eyes, though she still kept a stern face. "King Jaehaerys entrusted you to me. I hope you will live more happily than I have."

"Mm-hmm, we're the best in the world!"

Aemon nodded like a pecking chick, putting on an utterly trusting expression.

Only then did Alicent leave in satisfaction.

Watching her graceful figure disappear into the distance, Aemon finally let out a breath.

He had managed to deal with her at last.

He was a man who intended to thrive between the blacks and the greens. How could he hang himself from a single tree?

Life was like a play; it all depended on acting.

"Farewell, Sers."

Aemon waved amiably and headed toward the bonfire feast in search of Rhaenyra.

The two White Knights nodded respectfully, full of admiration for the little prince who knew how to please the Queen.

At such a young age, he already possessed such skill at coaxing girls.

Unfortunately, the two brothers had sworn never to marry or father children. Otherwise, they would certainly have asked him for guidance.

Night gradually fell.

The bonfire blazed brightly as the nobles gathered around for a celebratory feast.

Aemon wandered about alone. When he passed the stables, he even washed his face at a water trough.

His face was covered in tear tracks. People would grow suspicious if they saw them.

"Aemon, over here!"

Rhaenyra sat on a dry tree stump, calling to him with a bright smile.

Having found his target, Aemon immediately moved.

As soon as he approached, he discovered that Rhaenyra was not alone on the stump.

Laena, dressed in a blue gown, sat with perfect poise, smiling at him.

She perfectly embodied the temperament of a girl-next-door older sister.

Aemon restrained himself slightly and greeted her politely. "Good evening, Lady Laena."

Laena rose and curtsied. "And to you, Prince Aemon."

That startled Aemon. He waved his hand. "No need to be so serious. That's far too formal."

Come to think of it, the two of them were cousins.

They shared the same great-grandfather. In the next generation were Great-Grandfather's third son, Aemon, and Prince Baelon, the "Spring Prince."

That Aemon had married Lady Jocelyn of House Baratheon, and they had one daughter, Rhaenys, the "Uncrowned Queen."

Prince Baelon, the "Spring Prince," was Aemon's grandfather. He had two sons, Viserys and Daemon.

By Aemon and Laena's generation, their blood relation was neither especially distant nor especially close.

Still, House Targaryen was thin in numbers, and the bloodline of Rhaenys, the Uncrowned Queen, was equally precious.

After hearing him out, Laena smiled faintly. "All right, then shall I call you cousin?"

"No, just call me by my name."

Aemon still thought it would be better to be closer.

His name alone meant Aunt Rhaenys would likely think well of him. Since they were not entangled in the matter of the Iron Throne, there was no need to put on airs.

More friends and fewer enemies was best.

"Very well, then I won't stand on ceremony."

Laena nodded and returned elegantly to her seat.

Aemon frowned inwardly. With her here, it would be difficult for him to talk Rhaenyra around.

"Aemon, I've figured it out."

Just as he was worrying, Rhaenyra struck first and caught him completely off guard.

Aemon was shocked. What have you figured out now?

Rhaenyra looked deeply moved as she took his hand. "Thank you for helping me out today."

So many people had made things difficult for her. They all wanted to see her make a fool of herself.

When Aemon stepped forward, his small figure had seemed especially tall in her eyes.

"You don't need to thank me."

Aemon truly had not expected this.

Rhaenyra was even more moved. She clasped his small hand tighter and said solemnly, "You were right. So many people have sworn loyalty to me. I cannot simply sit and wait to die."

If those covetous vultures wanted to fight, then she would fight them to the bitter end.

She would prove to everyone that she was not merely the King's cupbearer, but the rightful heir to the Iron Throne.

One day, through her own efforts, she would tell her father that his choice had not been wrong.

She could become a qualified Queen.

Aemon: ...

What else could he say? Weren't those supposed to be his lines?

How had Rhaenyra fired herself up all on her own?

"What do you think, Aemon?"

Rhaenyra's eyes shone as she waited for his approval.

Aemon's little mouth fell slightly open before he obediently replied, "That's right. Exactly."

Having fighting spirit was good!

With fighting spirit, he would not need to waste so much breath teaching her to fight for what she wanted.

What Rhaenyra lacked was a sense that she deserved it.

Queen Aemma had died too suddenly, and Daemon, first in the line of succession, had been driven away. The inheritance had abruptly fallen onto her shoulders.

At the time, she had still been worried that once she had a younger brother, her parents would neglect her.

When she unexpectedly became heir to the Iron Throne, she herself scarcely dared believe it.

Now things were better.

Rhaenyra could face herself and properly assume her position as heir.

This was far better than the path of the original world, where she had been forced into it, abandoned herself to a night of indulgence, tasted its sweetness, accepted her identity as a woman, and began ruling the realm through a woman's methods.

Of course, this referred to accepting a political marriage and Strong's three bastards.

One muddled account smeared over and over became a pile of rotten debts.

Having many children was certainly powerful, especially if they were raised into Dragonriders to strengthen one's forces.

But their birth was improper. In the end, they could never sit the Iron Throne.

Still, why had she suddenly become so clever?

Filled with doubt, Aemon could not help looking toward Laena, the onlooker.

Could it have been her?

Sensing his gaze, Laena smiled sweetly and batted her eyes.

Aemon's expression stiffened. "I'll head back to sleep first."

This woman doesn't seem like a good person!

Vhagar's third rider definitely possessed no ordinary mind or methods.

He could not afford to provoke her. Time to run.

"Wait."

Rhaenyra refused to let go of his hand, not allowing him to escape.

Maintaining his honest and reliable persona, Aemon asked with concern, "Is there something else?"

"Of course!"

Rhaenyra looked stern as she warned him, "Stay away from Alicent. She has neither shame nor principles. She would even betray her best friend."

"If you stay with her, sooner or later she'll sell you off, and you'll still help her count the money."

Aemon was completely at a loss. Why did that sound so familiar?

"Did you hear me?"

Rhaenyra asked seriously.

"Mm-hmm."

Aemon nodded rapidly and patted his chest in assurance. "Don't worry. We're the best in the world."

Thanks to Summer Breeze, Reader 523049, and Reader 014439 for the 100-coin rewards.

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The dragon-taming arc has already been planned, so remember to keep reading~