"Don't try to turn my children against me. I have plans for them."
Viserys pointed at him in warning.
Daemon took a deep breath. "Marry Rhaenyra to me. When I offered you the crown, you said I could ask for anything I wanted. I want her!"
"I'll cherish her as my own life and take her as my wife, according to our family traditions."
Viserys sneered. "You're already married."
"Even so, King Aegon the Conqueror took a second wife," Daemon insisted.
Whoosh—
Viserys drew the Dragon Horn Dagger and pressed it to Daemon's neck. Furious, he said, "You're no Conqueror. You're a plague sent by the gods to torment me."
Daemon wasn't afraid. He thrust out his chin and said, "Marry Rhaenyra to me, and we'll restore the dragonlords to their former glory."
"Of course, you're not after my daughter, are you?"
"You're after my throne!"
Viserys no longer wanted to speak with his detestable younger brother. He said scornfully,
"I'd sooner marry Rhaenyra to Rhaegar, or even betroth both my daughters to him, than let you defile them to get a glimpse of my throne."
Viserys withdrew the Dragon Horn Dagger and looked at Daemon with pity. "Go back to the Vale, Daemon."
"Return to your lawful wife and do everything you can to restore what remains of your honor."
"Or throw caution to the wind. I don't care."
"Just never let me see you again."
With that, Viserys wiped the Dragon Horn Dagger on his sleeve and left in disappointment.
His brother's words broke Daemon's resolve. He stared blankly at the ceiling.
He murmured, "It hasn't come to that yet, brother!"
At dusk,
Viserys stood alone by his bedroom window, gazing out at the distant coastline.
The people of House Targaryen seemed born without a fear of heights. They loved standing up high and looking into the distance.
Viserys was no different.
Alicent approached softly, put a hand on his shoulder, and said quietly, "Daemon's gone."
"Good. I never want to see him again."
Viserys seethed whenever Daemon came up.
"I spoke with Rhaenyra. She denied sleeping with Daemon."
"Of course. Rhaenyra has her brother to protect her, so Daemon's scheme couldn't succeed."
"Yes. If only I had a brother like that..."
"What did you say?"
Viserys turned back, confused.
"Nothing... I just envy how close Rhaenyra and her brother are. I hope Aegon and the others can be like that too."
Alicent blurted it out. She held one hand behind her back, unconsciously picking at a fingernail.
Viserys noticed nothing amiss and continued, "The blood of House Targaryen is unlike any other. They're restless, chaotic, and unruly. Only the truly wise can control them."
"Our children will surely be wise and united," Alicent said with a smile.
"I want to marry Rhaenyra to Rhaegar."
Viserys changed the subject, bringing up the troubling matter.
Alicent's eyes flickered. She lowered her gaze. "It's a good decision. Rhaenyra is an honest, straightforward girl, and when Rhaegar grows up, he'll be just the sort of young man she likes."
"You think Rhaenyra doesn't like Rhaegar now?"
Viserys, ever perceptive, picked up on the implication.
Alicent hesitated. "I know Rhaenyra. I know what sort of man she likes."
"Yes, you know her. She also likes defying her father and showing him no consideration."
Viserys lowered his head with a bitter smile.
"You could try talking to her. Whoever Rhaenyra chooses, it'll be a good choice."
"I hope so. I hope she doesn't forget the responsibility on her shoulders."
Viserys turned around, led his wife to the table, and poured them each a glass of wine.
They looked at each other and drank together as evening fell.
Alicent lay expressionless in bed, ignoring the panting beside her as she repeatedly turned over in her mind how poorly her conversation with Rhaenyra had gone that day.
Half a month later,
"Move faster! Get those crates onto the ship!"
"Here's the inventory for the last batch of supplies..."
"..."
At River Gate, the shipping officials shouted orders as sailors carried one item after another.
Not far away, Viserys stood with his hands behind his back, calmly watching a great ship on the water, flying a black banner emblazoned with a red three-headed dragon.
"Your Grace, the supplies are ready. We can set sail at any time."
Lyonel came up from the dock, holding a list as he gave his report.
Viserys nodded. "Understood."
On the open ground behind him, Alicent stood with Aegon and Helaena, a baby in her arms.
Rhaenyra had stopped with Rhaegar at a fruit stall, smiling as she picked out fresh fruit.
After nearly twenty days of recuperation, Rhaegar's burns had almost completely healed and no longer hindered his movements.
Viserys often marveled at it. Rhaegar must have the Seven's favor; his ability to heal was far beyond that of an ordinary person.
"Come over, everyone! We're about to set sail!"
Viserys called to his family.
Rhaegar pricked up his ears and hurried over at the sound, arriving first.
His father had said their destination was Dragonstone.
Two young dragons were waiting there for him to tame.
The thought of having a dragon of his own filled Rhaegar with excitement. He could hardly wait.
Viserys stroked his eldest son's hair and asked with a smile, "We've prepared plenty of fruit aboard. It's much better than what they sell at the stalls."
"I wanted to see how the fruit in the Red Keep differs from fruit outside."
Rhaegar grinned.
"And did you figure it out?"
"I did. Fruit in the Red Keep costs more, even though it's the same quality as the fruit at the stalls, which is much cheaper."
Viserys's smile froze. He was at a loss for words.
Lyonel stepped in just in time. "The Red Keep's fruit is bought from all over the realm, unlike the local fruit."
"It all tastes the same. The price is different because the people eating it are different," Rhaegar muttered.
Lyonel: ...
The prince really was clever.
Sometimes, a little too clever.
As they spoke, Alicent and Rhaenyra arrived hand in hand.
After their argument that day, they had given each other the cold shoulder for a while.
Their relationship only began to thaw when Alicent took the initiative to invite Rhaenyra to a tea party.
If the tension continued, Viserys, the head of the family, would grow displeased.
Now that they had a chance to make peace, they should take it.
Night fell.
The ship, carved with dragon-shaped patterns, sailed through Blackwater Bay on the sea breeze.
In the lavishly decorated cabin, Viserys was deathly pale, clutching a wooden bucket as his throat gagged.
Alicent and the siblings, Rhaegar and Rhaenyra, stayed by his side, their faces full of concern.
As it happened, Viserys had tamed the largest and fiercest dragon in the history of Westeros: Balerion, the Black Dread.
Yet he was seasick.
For that reason, Viserys hated sailing.
If not for wanting to see his son tame a dragon and hoping to ease tensions with the Velaryon family, he would never have put out to sea.
He much preferred hunting in the Kingswood and attending tourneys.
"Father, the Grand Maester gave me some special medicine before we left. One pill should help."
Rhaegar handed over a glass bottle, feeling sorry for his old father.
Viserys glanced at it, took the bottle, opened it, and swallowed a pill.
"I've taken too much medicine already. I hope this one works."
"It will. I also have medicine to help you sleep. Would you like some?"
Rhaegar took another glass bottle from his pocket.
He had been bedridden for a while and had spent a lot of time with Grand Maester Mellos.
When Mellos learned that Rhaegar often had nightmares, he had prepared some calming medicine for him.
Rhaegar had secretly had someone check the ingredients. They were harmless, so he could take it with peace of mind.
The fifth update of the day. I hope you'll continue to support me!
No matter how the plot unfolds, when I saw King Aegon the Conqueror marry Visenya and Rhaenys, the scales in my heart began to tip.
I'm truly conflicted about Rhaenyra, because I'm rather uncomfortable with siblings being together.
I'm much more accepting of Helaena and her brother.
For now, my resolve is firm. I'll keep my head down, write, and create the future.
The prelude to the journey to Dragonstone has begun.
Before you continue