A deathly silence filled the room.
Only the sea breeze outside still blew, stirring the curtains with a soft rustle.
Sunlight fell across Viserys's face, leaving half in light and half in shadow, obscuring his expression.
He had never imagined the part his dear friend's eldest son, Harwin, had played in last night's events, much less that the boy would dare set his sights on his daughter.
But he still had to keep up appearances and reassure his friend. Only after a long while did Lyonel hear him speak again, his voice as hoarse as though it had been scraped with sandpaper.
"This is nothing but a lie."
Lyonel's head snapped up.
Viserys shook his head, forcing a smile onto his face that looked more painful than tears. "You've been deceived, Lyonel. I know Harwin. He may be a little reckless, but he is an upright young man. He would never do such a thing. As for Daemon... he may be a scoundrel, but he would never take Rhaenyra and Aegon to a place like that."
His words were firm, but his gaze kept shifting away. He dared not meet Lyonel's eyes, those eyes filled with sincerity and pain.
He knew perfectly well that Lyonel was not Otto. Otto would twist the truth for power and attack Rhaenyra to secure his grandson Aegon's succession, but Lyonel would not. He was the fairest man in the Seven Kingdoms, without a trace of selfishness in anything he said or did.
And this matter involved so many people: Aegon, Daemon, and Lyonel's own eldest son, Harwin...
If Lyonel said it was true, then it almost certainly was.
But he could not admit it.
If he did, his eldest daughter Rhaenyra's reputation would be ruined.
If he did, every noble in the Seven Kingdoms