Red Keep On the fifth floor of the dungeon, there was no light, only the torches on the stone walls were shining.
Those who can be imprisoned in Red Keep dungeon are all nobles who have committed crimes, or their descendants...
Time here is not measured by sunrise and moonset.
The person in charge of this floor is a Kingsguard, and dozens of guards guard the door of the claustrophobic cell.
In the cell, Aemond picked up the wooden sword, put it into a stance, and swung it quickly and slowly according to Cole's instructions.
This is what he asked the guards to do, and even though he was in prison, he still insisted on training every day.
The king did not object.
His cell was much more spacious than the others, with grooves cut into the rough stone walls for placing books.
At this time, there were dozens of books there, all sent by Archmaester Meuros on the order of the king: <Targaryen lineage><The Fall and Legacy of Valyria><Andal Bloodline Origins><Dragon Lore>... There were also a few Knight legends at the bottom, probably because they were afraid that young Prince would be too lonely.
Spread out on the table is <Valyrian Blood and Dragon Connection>
His silver hair was simply tied up at the back of his head, and a month of dungeon life had made his face thinner, with contours as sharp as a knife.
Only those purple eyes were still bright under the firelight on the wall.
"Clang, clang, clang."
Immediately afterwards, a figure struggled to open the door and walked in.
It was a dwarf. He had roasted chicken legs, white bread, and a few spoons of mushy peas on his plate.
"Your dinner, Your Highness Prince! Paired with King's Landing today's freshest rumors and most outdated jokes!"
Mushroom, Red Keep are palace dwarfs whose bodies are less than four feet tall and wrapped in colorful patchwork clothes. The small bells on the brim of their hats jingle with their movements.
He neatly laid out his own plate and cutlery, which was his routine preparation for Aemond's poison test.
Since Aemond was imprisoned, King Viserys made arrangements for Mushroom to eat with him every day, both to test the poison and to keep him company.
The king's original words were that he did not want his son to encounter any accidents in the dungeon or go crazy due to loneliness.
Mushroom placed the two plates on the small wooden table, arranged them quickly, and then climbed onto the elevated stool.
It was specially made so that he could reach the table.
He took a sip of wine first, then cut off a small piece of chicken from Aemond's dinner plate, chewed it exaggeratedly, stared, and then swallowed.
After a moment, he opened his arms and announced dramatically:
"Look! Not dead! Your food is safe, respected prisoner Prince!"
Aemond put away his sword and came over and sat down at the table.
He took a sip of wine before speaking, "What's the news outside today?"
"Oh, there's so much news!" Mushroom gestured with his hands and feet.
"Tidepool Island, Mrs. Rhaenys finally made a public statement that House Velaryon will not be divided by baseless accusations."
"However, there are already many Velaryon clansmen gathered in High Tide, and they are waiting for Lord Corlys to wake up..."
Aemond listened quietly and cut the chicken on the plate.
Mushroom continued with a smile:
"Also, Miss Aelin·Velaryon of Lys's House Velaryon, who is married to Prince Aegon, has arrived at King's Landing."
"She Silver hair and purple eyes, so beautiful!"
"House Velaryon also made a carriage-sized statue of Gold Dragon out of gold, and everyone in the city went to the port to watch the excitement."
"Queen was very happy about this and rewarded her with a lot of gold coins. Now King's Landing civilians are praising Prince Aegon and Miss Aelin as a match made in heaven."
"Where is Dragonstone?" Aemond asked.
Mushroom's smile paused for a moment, then quickly rose again. "Crown Prince... a few days ago, the child in her belly was born."
"Prince Daemon named him, Aegon."
Aemond smiled softly, "Then in Targaryen's family now, wouldn't there be two Aegon?"
Mushroom clicked his tongue and didn't dare to answer.
The name "Aegon" comes from Aegon the Conqueror, and everyone knows the importance of its name.
Aemond stopped asking questions and continued eating.
He knew much more than that. Through the occasional note, he knew that Daemon proposed to the king to exile him one month ago.
I know that my mother Alicent goes to the Red Keep church every day to pray for him, I know that Helaena starts to dream again, I know that Aegon hangs out with those maids...
"That's right!" Mushroom suddenly remembered something and took out a neatly folded silk handkerchief from his arms, "Princess Helaena asked me to bring you this yesterday."
Aemond took it.
The corner of the light blue silk handkerchief is embroidered with tiny silver thread flowers, which is the craftsmanship of Helaena, and a line of slender handwriting:
"I miss you so much. Remember, don't disobey your father..."
Aemond stared at that line of words for a long time. Did she foresee something?
He raised his eyes. "What else did she say?"
Mushroom shook his head. "No, that's all."
The two continued to eat in silence.
Mushroom tried to liven up the atmosphere.
Let's talk about today's joke inventory, a crude joke about Dornish and a camel, a funny story about a bachelor's chain link knotting, and a satirical joke about an illegitimate child walking into a tavern.
But halfway through, he choked and coughed awkwardly.
Mushroom reminds Throne Room not long ago of the controversy about illegitimate children.
"It's not funny, this isn't funny." Mushroom hurriedly stuffed a piece of bread into his mouth.
Aemond raised the corner of his mouth slightly. "Why don't you finish speaking?"
"Uh, because..."
Aemond put down his knife and fork, folded his hands on the table, and looked at the dwarf with a calm gaze:
"You've done a great job this month and relieved me of a lot of boredom."
Mushroom looked at Prince blankly.
"I heard that you have younger brothers and sisters in King's Landing?"
The dwarf nodded.
"I will send someone to arrange a decent job for them in return for you."
Mushroom had a grateful smile on his face.
For a month, as the king's jester, he knew how to please the superiors and provide them with the emotional value they needed.
But this Prince always eluded him. When those purple eyes looked at him, they were like a giant dragon looking down at an ant, calm and cruel.
At this moment, Mushroom suddenly fell silent.
It wasn't like he stopped actively, but it was like his throat was being strangled.
He turned to look at the cell door - on that heavy iron door, the normally closed viewing window had a gap opened at this moment.
One eye is stuck there.
Aemond also noticed it.
He leaned back on his chair, picked up the wine glass and took another sip. Although this ordinary wine was sour, it was refreshing.
The sound of a key being inserted into the lock was heard from outside the iron window, the metal was rubbing and turning, and then there was a heavy muffled sound of the door being pulled open.
The cell door opened inwards.
Viserys I stands outside the door.
The king was wearing a heavy black cloak but could not hide his body trembling slightly. I don't know whether it was due to the coldness of the dungeon or the erosion of a stubborn disease, but his left hand was still wrapped in a bandage.
He did not come in immediately, but just looked at his son in prison.
Mushroom had slid off the stool and knelt on the ground, his forehead pressed against the cold stone surface.
"Back off." Viserys said.
Mushroom almost crawled out of the door as if he had been granted amnesty.
The guard closed the door again.