Alicent's Deception

After being pressured by her father, Rhaenyra returned to her room in distress.

By this time, Rhaegar had long since departed.

The empty bedroom only amplified the loneliness of Rhaenyra's wounded heart.

She never understood why her father always insisted she marry.

Could she not inherit the Iron Throne if she didn't marry?

Would she face the opposition of the entire world?

Knock, knock, knock...

As she was trying to calm herself, a knock came from the door.

Rhaenyra turned her head, and Cole, clad in silver armor and a white cloak, had already entered the room.

"Cole, is something wrong?"

Facing the White Knight she had once fancied, Rhaenyra quickly wiped the corner of her eye and asked as if nothing had happened.

Cole looked at Rhaenyra with concern and said softly, "Princess, the Queen was just here and asked you to meet her in the rear garden for a talk."

"Alicent?"

Upon hearing it was Alicent's invitation, Rhaenyra felt a twinge of suspicion; the timing was too coincidental.

Adjusting her attire, Rhaenyra said, "I understand, I'll be there shortly."

The rear garden.

Rhaenyra arrived alone.

Alicent had already been waiting under the Weirwood tree for a long time.

As soon as they met, Alicent, with a face full of worry, eagerly asked, "What happened last night?"

"What do you mean?"

A flicker of suspicion flashed in her eyes, and Rhaenyra calmly retorted.

Alicent continued, "I heard someone made disturbing accusations against you. Were you with your uncle?"

At her words, Rhaenyra instantly became wary.

She smiled faintly and said, "I haven't seen Daemon in years. He took me to the city to have some fun."

"I am your sister, you must tell me the truth so I can help you, Rhaenyra."

Seeing that Rhaenyra wasn't telling the truth, Alicent played on their emotions, stepping forward with genuine affection and taking her hand.

Rhaenyra shot back, "What was I accused of?"

"Did I drink? Did I leave the castle at night?"

Alicent said urgently, "He said you and Daemon were at a brothel."

As she spoke these words, Alicent appeared very distressed, as if she were incredibly worried about Rhaenyra.

"These are purely vile accusations!"

Rhaenyra would never admit to it and retorted vehemently.

Alicent, however, did not believe her. "Is that so? Your Targaryen family does have strange customs."

"Daemon is clearly overconfident, a schemer with ulterior motives."

"Enough, Alicent!"

At this point, Rhaenyra sternly stopped her from continuing.

If she had truly made a mistake, she would not dare to scold her so loudly.

But she was innocent and would not allow Alicent to spout nonsense.

Shaking off Alicent's tightly clasped hand, Rhaenyra's gaze turned hostile. "Questioning my innocence is treason. Who told you this!?"

Alicent was startled by Rhaenyra's sudden outburst and her eyes darted away. "I... I was in your father's chambers this morning."

"Very well, my father and the Hand have already made their judgment, and yet you dare to question me!"

Rhaenyra seized on her words and said coldly, "Alicent, Your Majesty the Queen. We were once sisters who confided in each other, but you've changed so much I barely recognize you now."

Alicent's expression became flustered as she tried to salvage the situation. "It's not like that. I overheard something by chance, and I was worried about you..."

"So you accuse me with baseless slander and defame me!?"

Rhaenyra didn't buy her act, her words becoming increasingly heated.

Alicent was at a loss for words under the questioning and defended herself, "I just wanted to help you, Rhaenyra."

Rhaenyra gave a sarcastic smile. "We went to a tavern for drinks. As it grew late, I said I wanted to go home, but Daemon hadn't had enough fun and insisted on finding prostitutes."

"We parted ways on the street, each going our own way."

"When I returned to the Red Keep, the city was on fire. I don't know where Daemon ended up."

"I was taking care of Rhaegar last night."

Rhaenyra had already prepared a flawless excuse to deflect Alicent's questioning.

After speaking, she gave Alicent no chance to stop her, and left alone with a cold expression.

She had seen through Alicent's ill intentions.

Alicent wanted to trick her into admitting she had slept with Daemon, thereby tarnishing her reputation.

Unfortunately for Alicent, she had miscalculated.

Meanwhile.

Daemon, in tattered clothes, returned to the Red Keep, his steps unsteady.

It was clear he was still drunk.

Harrold, captain of the Kingsguard, led two Kingsguard knights, hurrying and running into him.

Without a word, the two accompanying Kingsguard seized Daemon's arms and apprehended him on the spot.

Harrold looked down at Daemon indifferently and said calmly, "The King wishes to see you, Prince."

The two Kingsguard then lifted Daemon and dragged him forward.

"Take your filthy hands off me."

Daemon, uncomfortable being restrained, twisted and cursed.

No one paid him any mind.

They dragged him hastily to the Hall of the Iron Throne and threw him onto the cold black stone floor like garbage.

Daemon seemed not to care at all.

Thrown onto the floor, he simply lay there face down, reeking of alcohol.

Harrold gestured and, with the two Kingsguard, went to stand guard outside the door.

Viserys, his face grim, emerged from the side.

The King, suppressing his anger, approached Daemon and said coldly, "My daughter, what did you do to her?"

Although he believed Rhaenyra's words, he couldn't help but want to confirm it again.

Daemon hiccuped drunkenly and remained silent, confused.

Viserys's expression changed slightly, and he asked, "Aren't you even going to deny it?"

"I need to know what the charge is before I can defend myself."

Seemingly a little more sober, Daemon asked back knowingly.

BANG--

Seeing his scoundrel's face, Viserys's rage ignited, and he delivered a fierce kick to Daemon's stomach.

He roared, "You lured her out, intending to defile her!"

Daemon grunted and curled up.

Viserys, unable to contain his fury, kicked him again, demanding, "Did you succeed? Did you assault my daughter!?"

Daemon rolled to the side from the kicks, still defiant, "What does it matter? When we were Rhaenyra's age, we had basically already visited every brothel in Silk Street."

Viserys laughed in rage, "We were young men then. She is a young girl, your niece!"

"Rhaenyra is already an adult. Whoever she's with first got a good deal."

Daemon continued to play the rogue.

"You damn scoundrel!"

Viserys was completely enraged, pounced on him, grabbed his collar, and landed two heavy punches to his face.

Daemon turned his head, blood mixed with a tooth flowing from his mouth.

Viserys still held his collar, shouting, "You will ruin her! With something like this, what respectable man would marry her?"

"Who cares what those damn respectable men think? You are the King, and your word is law."

The intense pain sobered Daemon, making him speak his true thoughts.

Viserys was greatly disappointed, "I have protected you my entire life, but your heart is more wicked than I imagined."

Daemon sneered indifferently, dismissive.

The brothers faced each other in the silent hall.

Viserys suddenly smiled mockingly, "You didn't succeed, did you? My child stopped you."

"What?"

Daemon was bewildered.

Viserys released his tight grip on the collar and stood up, looking down, "Rhaegar, my eldest son, he is a hundred times more accomplished than you."

"Not only did I see through your cunning schemes, but I also cherish my family more than you do and protect my siblings."

Daemon's expression stiffened, and he hesitated, "The men in black last night were sent by Rhaegar, and he also started that fire?"

"Yes, a very clever child, isn't he!?"

Viserys was extremely proud, looking mockingly at his disheveled brother.

Daemon shook his head and chuckled, "A 6-year-old child, if he's that smart, you really should disqualify Rhaenyra from inheriting and switch to your eldest son."

Fourth update of the day.

The previous chapter mentioned Harwin and the bastards; this is a loose end from Branch 1, to stay close to the original work.

As it stands, Rhaenyra's heart already leans towards Rhaegar, and outsiders have no chance.