Viserys's Pain

Late at night, by the campfire.

Viserys sat alone, his face flickering between light and shadow in the flames.

Sizzle!

He flicked half a cup of wine into the fire, and the logs crackled.

He was miserable—or rather, his heart was filled with stifled grief and anger.

Duke Jason and Hand Otto had provoked him during the day. He had gone out to clear his head, only to be forced into searching for the White Hart.

At this moment, he was utterly exhausted in both body and mind.

"Are you all right, Your Majesty?"

Alicent looked surprised as she slowly approached.

Without turning around, Viserys bared his heart. "I named Rhaenyra my heir because I wanted to prevent Daemon from bringing ruin upon the realm."

Alicent froze, never expecting to hear such words from her husband.

"She was my only child then, praised as the Light of the Kingdom."

Viserys seemed drunk. With a wistful look, he said, "I named her out of love, because I no longer believed..."

He stopped halfway, unable to continue.

He suddenly regretted everything, feeling that every decision he had ever made was wrong.

He loved Daemon deeply, loved the younger brother who had been by his side since childhood.

Before the Great Council of 101, he himself had not been confident that he could become the heir chosen by his grandfather and defeat his cousin Rhaenys.

That woman had inherited the wisdom and courage of his uncle Aemon. Her husband, Sea Snake Corlys, commanded wealth enough to rival a kingdom, and they had two children who were equally eligible to contend for the throne.

But!

Daemon had trusted him without condition. He had traveled everywhere to win over noble lords and spent vast sums recruiting mercenaries.

He had even made a bold declaration.

If his elder brother Viserys failed to win the election, he would start a war regardless of the consequences.

That was why his grandfather Jaehaerys, unwilling to see the family turn on itself, convened the Great Council of 101.

"But how did things end up like this?"

Viserys's eyes were red as he lowered his head, unwilling to show his weakness before his wife.

Searching his heart, he did not know when he had begun to fear his brother Daemon.

Daemon was impulsive and reckless. He had always seen himself as Viserys's heir, waiting to inherit his throne.

The death of his late wife Aemma and the "Heir for a Day" incident had finally ignited that apprehension into rage.

With Hand Otto's cooperation, he had personally driven his brother Daemon out of King's Landing.

From then on, the threat had seemed to disappear.

"But it also seems to be there at every moment."

Viserys felt bitter inside. He shook his head with a wry smile.

After Daemon, was Sea Snake Corlys not another threat?

While Daemon had still been on the Small Council, Sea Snake Corlys, as Master of Ships, had not dared act too boldly and had maintained at least a basic degree of respect for him as King.

But after Daemon left King's Landing, and Viserys rejected a marriage alliance on the grounds that Laena was too young—

Sea Snake Corlys could no longer restrain himself.

Viserys had keenly noticed this and once again worked with Hand Otto to solve the problem.

He married Alicent, won over the nobles of the Oldtown Faction, and forced Sea Snake Corlys out of the Small Council.

The nearby threat was gone, yet it had merely retreated to the other side of Blackwater Bay.

Fortunately, the Three Daughters Pirates had run rampant, drawing Sea Snake Corlys into sending troops to the Stepstones and allowing Viserys a few years of peaceful sleep.

But that was not enough.

A new threat had appeared yet again.

"What no longer believed?"

Alicent did not know what her husband was thinking. Her attention was entirely on matters concerning Rhaenyra.

Viserys swayed unsteadily and brushed it off. "Nothing. Just a dream."

He had once had a dream. In it, he had a son wearing the Conqueror's Crown.

That dream had been too real, as real as the flames dancing before him.

It was also because of that dream that he had pursued it day and night, costing his late wife Aemma her life.

After Aemma and her unborn child died, he had forced himself to forget that dream.

There was no son. It had all been a foolish dream.

With no other choice, he had named his only daughter, Rhaenyra, as heir.

He had thought that compensating Rhaenyra could make up for all his mistakes and ease his heart a little.

But he had imagined things too beautifully.

Naming Rhaenyra his heir had only brought him more worries and troubles.

He could not help wondering whether he had been drifting farther and farther down the wrong path all along.

Alicent watched silently before suddenly saying, "Rhaenyra is very good. She has always been working hard to become a worthy heir."

"What did you say?"

Viserys was startled, thinking he had heard wrong.

"Rhaenyra has always loved and respected you."

Alicent raised her eyes to meet his, feigning sincerity. "She does not want to speak with you only because she lacks confidence. She fears disappointing you and being rejected by you. In truth, she cares deeply about you."

That was right—she was lying through her teeth.

Anyone with eyes could see that the man before her still loved his daughter Rhaenyra more and was unwilling to replace her with his son Aegon as heir.

Perhaps, in his heart, replacing Rhaenyra meant admitting that he had been wrong.

Since that was the case, she would tell him what he wanted to hear.

She would keep saying it until he believed it, until he was utterly convinced, until he removed her father Otto from office.

Viserys grabbed his wife's hand and asked, "You... Rhaenyra really thinks that?"

"Of course."

Their eyes met. Alicent's expression was certain as she quietly pulled her hand free.

Viserys's hands trembled with excitement. Failing to notice the small detail, he smiled. "Alicent, you truly are a thoughtful wife."

"It is only what I should do."

Alicent forced a smile and supported him as they walked back.

By going along with what he said, she always received such praise.

Viserys noticed nothing, his heart brimming with satisfaction.

He was delighted not only because Rhaenyra supposedly loved and respected him, but also because he was pleased with his wife's attitude.

Alicent did not oppose Rhaenyra remaining heir, which proved that the others were wrong—Otto, who had pressed him step by step, was wrong.

With Alicent's support, he could drive Otto away without any burden.

Then, with Alicent keeping the Oldtown Faction steady, life would be peaceful.

"Heh heh."

Viserys laughed as he walked.

Alicent lowered her head, the gentleness gone from her face.

Men. Heh heh.

"Mom, I'm a man too."

Inside the tent, Aemon protested loudly.

Lady Rhea bent over to make the beds and casually tossed him a blanket. "Sleep if you want. If not, get out."

Aemon caught the blanket, staring miserably at the large bed and the small bed.

During the Kingswood Hunt, lodging naturally could not be too particular.

House Royce had only sent his mother, and there was only one tent.

If he did not sleep here, he would have to squeeze in with William and the others.

"Who are you putting on an act for? Haven't you always wanted to sleep with me?"

Lady Rhea glared back at him and scolded, "Do not think I do not know you are close with both the Queen and the princess. There will come a day when it costs you."

A line of cold sweat appeared on Aemon's brow. He wisely gave in. "Mom, I'll take the small bed."

With that, he obediently lay down.

He had long passed the age of seeking maternal affection. All he wanted was to sleep alone while hugging his four dragon eggs.

If he kept making a fuss, his mother might expose some more of his embarrassing secrets.

Whoosh!

Lady Rhea blew out the candle and lay down fully clothed.

Time passed bit by bit.

Aemon tossed and turned, unable to sleep, his mind constantly turning things over.

After his persuasion, Alicent intended to break free and become independent, while Rhaenyra had rekindled her fighting spirit.

With the two of them working together, Otto would be out of office once this Kingswood Hunt ended.

By then, King's Landing would be theirs to command.

The two were constantly at each other's throats and could not stand one another.

If he stayed in King's Landing, his identity as a fence-sitter would be exposed sooner or later. He would be utterly finished.

The thought sent a chill down Aemon's spine.

On the other side, Lady Rhea rested with her eyes closed, a stark contrast to the way she had looked while hunting during the day.

Then she suddenly heard her foolish son's voice.

"Mom, are you asleep?"

"What?"

Lady Rhea was brief and to the point.

Aemon said, "Can I borrow a troop of Vale Knights tomorrow?"

"What for?"

Aemon said, "Rhaenyra invited me hunting. I'm worried it won't be safe."

That was a lie.

He had two schemes in mind.

First, he wanted to catch the White Hart. As an Auspicious Beast symbolizing royal power, it would surely provide essence.

Second, he wanted to stir up some trouble and make it easier to leave King's Landing.

His uncle Viserys had been quite frank about wanting him as a child husband, but he absolutely dared not stay.

It would be better to return to the Vale, where the mountains were high and the King was far away.

Only there could he develop steadily and cultivate his own power base.

Looking at the Dance of the Dragons as a whole, having a foundation and lacking one were two entirely different things.

His father Daemon and the future one-eyed Aemond were both incredibly formidable, practically the pillars of the Black and Green Parties.

Yet until their deaths, they had merely been retainers of their respective factions. After their leaders stopped trusting them or vanished, uncle and nephew joined hands only to leave the stage in regret.

He could not be like that. If he was going to do this, he would be the leader.

Once he returned to the Vale to build his foundation, he would find a chance to tame a dragon. Then it would be others who had to watch his expression.

Lady Rhea did not even open her eyes. Guessing that the boy was up to no good, she said calmly, "Get up early tomorrow. Gonsal will come find you."

Aemon's heart warmed. He wished her good night. "Love you, Mom."

"..."

After a while, Lady Rhea finally responded, "Mm."

I am rather looking forward to Daemon's appearance.

I need to keep typing code!