The Ultimatum

"Rhaenyra, someone claims you sneaked out of the Red Keep last night and went somewhere you shouldn't have with your uncle Daemon."

"What do you have to say for yourself?"

Viserys sensed something was amiss and asked tentatively.

Rhaenyra tapped her chin with a finger and said apologetically, "I did sneak out of the Red Keep with Daemon last night. We went to Silk Street to watch a play."

Viserys pressed her. "And that was all?"

"That was all!" Rhaenyra replied with complete confidence.

"Very well. I've asked all I have to ask. I believe the Prime Minister still has some questions for you."

Reassured by his daughter's unequivocal answer, Viserys was in high spirits. He turned the conversation to Lyonel.

Rhaenyra glanced at the Prime Minister and asked, "What would you like to ask me, my lord?"

Things had taken a puzzling turn. Lyonel gathered his thoughts, then said slowly:

"Princess, someone saw you and Prince Daemon enter a brothel last night..."

"Of course, this is all hearsay, but I still hope you'll tell us the truth yourself."

Rhaenyra denied it outright. "If you know it's hearsay, doesn't that mean it's false?"

"Someone is trying to besmirch my honor. That is treason."

Lyonel nodded to show he understood, then said solemnly, "I'll find out who started these rumors and see that the Princess gets justice."

At this point, the truth no longer mattered.

At most, the information could prove that Rhaenyra and Daemon had sneaked out of the Red Keep. All the other evidence had already gone up in flames.

As long as Rhaenyra insisted she had never been to a brothel, no one could question her virtue.

Lyonel nodded at Viserys and said solemnly, "I'll put a stop to the rumors."

With that, he left the room.

Father and daughter exchanged a look. Viserys couldn't hold back any longer and spoke first.

"Rhaenyra, there was a great fire on Silk Street last night. Did you know?"

"Thanks to the fire, I escaped the eyes watching me in secret."

"You knew?"

"Rhaegar told me. Someone sent word to him, and he had people start the fire. They secretly brought me back to the Red Keep."

Rhaenyra didn't hide anything. She told him the whole truth.

Viserys was deeply shocked. His eyes widened, unable to believe his young eldest son could be so clever.

After a long moment, Viserys recovered from his shock and smiled proudly.

"Rhaegar is a good boy, and a good brother."

"There's no doubt about that." Rhaenyra smiled brightly.

She had come here first thing in the morning to accept Rhaegar's suggestion.

The best way to foil a plot was to strike first.

Rhaenyra was entirely innocent. As long as she was confident enough, no one could slander her.

As it turned out, that was exactly right.

Watching his daughter smile so happily, Viserys abruptly asked, "Have you made up your mind?"

"About what?"

Rhaenyra didn't understand at first.

"About Rhaegar. Having him support you from now on, just as he did last night."

"Rhaegar is still very young."

"So what? He'll soon grow into a fine young man."

"But I only think of him as... I haven't made up my mind..."

Rhaenyra faltered, unable to explain herself clearly.

After what had happened the night before, her thoughts were in turmoil.

She didn't know what to choose.

Viserys frowned and said sternly, "Then who do you have your eye on? Don't tell me it's some shameless fool."

"No! Of course not."

Rhaenyra hurried to deny it. "I admit that Daemon's constant care for me once made me feel fond of him, but what happened last night showed me his true, treacherous nature."

"You don't like any of the men I've chosen for you, and you're rejecting Rhaegar too. What am I, your father, supposed to do about your marriage?"

Viserys's eyes were full of disappointment.

The thought that Daemon's malicious plan had nearly succeeded the night before sent a chill through him.

He steeled himself and delivered an ultimatum:

"Lyonel once suggested that you marry Ser Laenor, the Sea Snake Corlys's son. I think he'd be a fine choice."

"Marrying him could repair the relationship between House Targaryen and House Velaryon, and help you secure your power in the future."

After a pause, Viserys fixed his gaze on his daughter, his royal authority in full display. "Rhaegar or Laenor? You must choose between them!"

"Can you give me some time to think?"

Faced with her father's unexpected forcefulness, Rhaenyra's expression changed. She pleaded in a quiet voice.

Viserys had made up his mind and would not accept a refusal.

His love and guilt toward his daughter finally gave way to a sigh, and he agreed to give Rhaenyra some time.

He stressed, "The rumors won't die down in a day. In the meantime, I'll take the whole family back to Dragonstone to stay for a while."

"There are Young Dragons on Dragonstone suitable for taming. Rhaegar and Aegon can each have one."

"Once they've tamed their dragons, I'll go to Driftmark."

"I can either ask Laenor for your hand in marriage or send the Sea Snake an invitation for you and Rhaegar to become betrothed."

"Either way, you must give me an answer!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he waved her away, leaving Rhaenyra no chance to argue.

"I have things to take care of. Go back and think it over."

Seeing that her father had made up his mind, Rhaenyra bit her lip, rose, and hurried out.

The room made her feel suffocated. She just wanted to escape as quickly as possible.

After Rhaenyra left, a graceful figure emerged from the back of the room and wrapped her arms around Viserys from behind.

"You heard everything?"

"I had nowhere to go."

"Rhaenyra should marry Rhaegar. The two of them would be good for stabilizing the throne."

"But Rhaenyra doesn't think so. She's still a young girl with lovely illusions."

"The heir to the Iron Throne can be a woman, but she can't be an ignorant girl."

Viserys stopped Alicent from continuing to plead and gently kissed her cheek.

"Enough. I have to deal with my good-for-nothing brother."

With Alicent's help, he got dressed, took up the sword Blackfyre, and stormed out.

In the end, only Alicent remained in the room, dressed in a flimsy gauze gown.

Alicent picked up the half piece of bread left on the table and took a small bite, her inscrutable eyes gazing out the window.

Morning light filtered through a curtain and fell in thin shafts across Daemon's face.

After a night of heavy drinking, Daemon's head throbbed. He muttered that he was thirsty.

Mysaria, dressed in white, came through the door, pulled aside the curtain blocking the light, and let the glaring sunlight wake Daemon.

Roused from his sleep, Daemon irritably cursed under his breath and raised a hand to shield his eyes.

Mysaria crouched down and poured him a bowl of water.

Daemon drained it in one gulp, then asked in a low voice, "Any news?"

"My informant was beaten badly. It's obvious someone deliberately started the fire last night."

Mysaria spoke in her raspy foreign accent, sighing for her informant.

He was only a little boy, and the cost of treating him wouldn't be cheap.

Daemon sat up, rubbed his face with both hands, and said with some frustration, "Someone took Rhaenyra away. Looks like my brother never trusted me. He had people watching my every move."

"If no one had stopped you, would you have seduced your own niece?"

Mysaria's voice was flat.

"Who knows? Power is always a tempting poison."

Daemon stretched, pulled Mysaria close by her slender waist, and nibbled at her cheek.

"And you're still in the mood at a time like this?"

"Not really. I got kicked last night, so I wanted to see if I still had my vigor."

His eager manhood gave Daemon plenty of confidence. He let the beauty in his arms go, got dressed, and headed out.

Mysaria remained expressionless as she reminded him, "Remember to pay for the room on your way out."

This chapter is from the backlog. Rhaenyra has to choose between Rhaegar and Laenor.

Whatever she decides will affect the course of events that follow.