Accusation

At that moment, Viserys I spoke heavily from the Iron Throne: "Ser Vaemond, you are accusing the heir to the Iron Throne!"

"Precisely because she is the heir to the Iron Throne, Your Majesty!" Vaemond did not back down.

"Her actions are all the more unforgivable!"

"If even the Crown Prince can trample the bloodlines of sworn vassals at will, if even a Targaryen can casually usurp another house's inheritance with bastards, then where is the rule of law in the Seven Kingdoms?"

"Where is the dignity of the nobility?"

"Your Majesty, where is the justice under your rule?!"

"Evidence!" Viserys snapped, slapping the armrest of the throne, only to cut his finger on a blade. Blood seeped out.

"If you have such a grave accusation, produce your evidence!"

"Evidence?" Vaemond let out a bitter, indignant laugh.

He turned, spreading his arms to both sides:

"My lords! My knights! Open your eyes and look!"

He pointed again at the three boys, his fingers trembling with rage: "Silver hair and purple eyes—that is the most distinct mark of Targaryen blood!"

"House Velaryon also has Valyrian blood, but theirs is silver hair with blue or purple eyes!"

"I must ask: the Crown Prince has silver hair and purple eyes, and the Crown Prince's husband, Laenor, has silver hair and blue eyes."

"But these three children!"

He paused, then fury erupted as he jabbed a finger at Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey:

"Brown hair! Brown eyes! Flat noses!"

"Where is there a single trace of Velaryon or Targaryen features?!"

"Blood does not lie!"

"These are clearly the looks of House Strong!"

Whispers spread like a plague.

The nobles' gazes shifted between Rhaenyra and the three boys, and also toward the Master of Whisperers, Lord Larys.

And the Master of Whisperers, Larys Strong, stood in the shadow of a corner, his face expressionless as he watched everything unfold.

His brother Harwin and his father had both died in the fire two years ago.

"I accuse!" Vaemond's voice rang out like thunder splitting the clouds. "Princess Rhaenyra committed adultery during her marriage with her personal sworn shield, Ser Harwin Strong!"

"House Strong of Harrenhal—this is exactly their look: brown hair, brown eyes, flat noses!"

An even greater uproar erupted. Some nobles involuntarily studied Larys's appearance—indeed, brown hair, brown eyes, flat nose...

Viserys slapped the armrest again: "Enough! You dare slander the Crown Prince based solely on a resemblance in appearance?!"

"Then what evidence does His Majesty want?!" Vaemond was past all caution. He stepped forward.

"The Crown Prince did these things, and there were always people cleaning up for her, wiping her mess, maintaining her reputation as the 'Realm's Delight.'"

"Should I catch them in the act?"

"Or should these three bastards confess themselves that they are Jacaerys Strong, Lucerys Strong, and Joffrey Strong?!"

Daemon Targaryen moved.

Murder written on his face.

"Old man,"

His words silenced the entire hall in an instant.

"If you speak one more word slandering the royal family, I will cut out your tongue."

"Daemon!" Viserys shouted in restraint.

But Vaemond threw his head back and laughed: "Come on, my Prince! Kill me with that Dark Sister of yours!"

"In front of His Majesty, in front of all the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms, kill me—an old man fighting for his family's bloodline!"

He turned back to face the Iron Throne:

"Your Majesty! You want evidence? Fine! I'll give you evidence!"

"Laenor Velaryon—the only son of my brother, Lord Corlys, the rightful heir to Tidepool Island—he prefers men!"

"This is common knowledge on Tidepool Island! He has never shared a bed with Princess Rhaenyra since their wedding night!"

"There has never been a true marital union between them!"

"The timing of these three children's births aligns perfectly with the period when Harwin Strong served as Rhaenyra's personal protector!"

"And after Harwin Strong died suspiciously in the Harrenhal fire, Rhaenyra has borne no more children!"

"Your Majesty, if you do not believe me, summon the maids, guards, and maesters of Tidepool Island to confront the truth!"

"Check Laenor's medical records! Ask anyone who knows the inside story!"

Vaemond's voice was hoarse, his eyes rimmed red, but he still roared:

"My brother Corlys, a man of great renown his whole life, has lost his wits in his old age."

"To maintain ties with the Iron Throne, he chose to acquiesce, chose to cover it up!"

"But I cannot! I, Vaemond Velaryon, will never stand by and watch the thousand-year legacy of House Velaryon fall into the hands of these baseborn bastards of unknown origin!"

His knees gave way, and he fell straight to the ground.

Vaemond looked up at the King on the Iron Throne, tears rolling from his aged eyes:

"Your Majesty! I have come here today for one purpose only—to speak the truth!"

"I know the price of saying these words! But I would rather die in the Red Keep than live on in shame, watching the blood of Velaryon be defiled, watching the Seahorse banner usurped by bastards!"

"If you consider defending my family's bloodline a crime!"

"Then pass your sentence! Let my blood stain the floor of this throne room!"

"Let all the Seven Kingdoms see what happens to those who speak the truth under Targaryen rule!"

Dead silence.

A long, suffocating dead silence.

The crackle of burning torches, the whispers among the nobles, someone's suppressed cough.

Every faint sound was magnified in that moment.

Hundreds of eyes fixed on the Iron Throne, Viserys I frozen in place.

At last, the King spoke:

"Ser Vaemond Velaryon... you are old. Grief and stubbornness have clouded your judgment."

He swallowed with difficulty:

"Jacaerys, Lucerys, Joffrey... their identities were personally confirmed by me."

"The accusations you make today... are based on rumors and conjecture, a grave slander against the Crown Prince's honor."

A pause, his gaze sweeping across the nobles on both sides, carrying a warning:

"In consideration of your advanced age and confusion, in consideration of your impulsive act for family honor, believing the rumors..."

"If you withdraw your accusations and return to Tidepool Island, I may show leniency."

"Your Majesty!" Vaemond jerked his head up, the last glimmer of hope in his eyes extinguished, replaced by blazing fury and despair:

"You... how long will you keep shielding her?!

"Can you not see?! Can you truly not see?!

"Or have you seen it all along, and simply chosen to turn a blind eye?!"

"You..." On the Iron Throne, Viserys was enraged by Vaemond's outburst.

"Rhaenyra! Your precious daughter!! She is nothing but a whore!"

"A shameless slut!!!"

"She trampled on her betrothal!"

"She trampled on the law!"

"She trampled on the dignity of the nobility!"

Rhaenyra's face finally changed. She rose, her pregnant belly clearly visible beneath her gown, anger appearing on her face for the first time.

Queen Alicent's lips curled, a secret satisfaction in her heart.

Aegon sat up straight, respect in his eyes.

He had never seen anyone so reckless in his life.

Helaena turned her head to look at Aemond, and Aemond had already risen to his feet.

At this moment, his attention was entirely fixed on Daemon. The Prince's hand was already on his sword hilt, his body leaning slightly forward—the posture before a strike.