She, Rhaenyra, is never the only choice, or even the top priority.
She is just a "last resort" for her father when he has no better choice, and is an alternative plan before the birth of a male heir.
Once the "real" heir appears, all the status, favor and expectations she has may become as light as a feather in the face of "necessity" just like Queen Emma's life.
This silent class, which took place outside the delivery room, was bloodier than any martial arts competition, and more directly aimed at people's hearts than any palace conspiracy.
Redd successfully planted a seed called "insecurity" and "clear cognition" in Rhaenyra's heart.
This seed will take root and sprout in the storm of power in the future, and may grow into a vine that depends on him.
It may turn into a thorn of resistance, but no matter what, it will completely change this "Light of the Kingdom"'s view of himself, his family, and Iron Throne.
And all of this was quietly accomplished amidst the faint moans of Queen Emma's life gradually disappearing.
Queen Emma's funeral was held hastily the day after the celebrations, which was in stark contrast to yesterday's jubilation.
There is no grand ceremony, only solemn black clothes and silent bells.
Her body was placed on a platform piled with firewood, surrounded by withered flowers and solidified sorrow.
The person who lit the fire was not the king, nor any male relative, but her biological daughter - Princess Rhaenyra·Targaryen - personally executed it.
This may be a kind of cruel consolation, or it may be some kind of silent declaration.
Rhaenyra was wearing black mourning clothes, his face was pale but his eyes were unusually calm, even with a hint of emptiness.
She walked to the platform, didn't look at anyone, just raised her hand and pointed to the sky.
A long dragon roar broke the silence.
Her mount, Syrax, fluttered from the direction of Dragonpit and hovered over the funeral field.
Under the silent command of Rhaenyra, it lowered its head and aimed at the pile of firewood.
"Hiss--!"
A blazing Dragonfire spitted out accurately, instantly igniting the firewood.
The flame is not an ordinary fire, but a red flame with the magic power of the dragon, burning extremely quickly and completely,
It was as if all the pain, secrets and unfinished regrets were being purified along with the queen's body.
The firelight illuminated the faces of everyone present, with different expressions:
* Redd stood a little further away, folding his arms and watching coldly.
His eyes swept across the flames, Rhaenyra's stiff back, Viserys's painful face, and finally landed on Daemon's thoughtful expression.
In his eyes, all this is just an inevitable sacrifice and performance in a change of power.
* King Viserys stood at the front, his body slightly stooped, as if he had aged ten years overnight.
His face was filled with real sorrow and reluctance, but deep in his eyes,
Perhaps there is a trace of regret for the unborn son "Baelon" that even he himself is unwilling to admit, as well as deeper worries about future inheritance issues.
Flames danced in his cloudy eyes.
*Daemon·Targaryen Prince stood beside his brother, with a usual, almost cynical seriousness on his face.
But his eyes were sharp, as if examining opportunities and risks in flames.
Emma's death undoubtedly stirred up the muddy waters of inheritance.
*Rhaenyra looked directly at the flames that devoured his mother, his eyes gradually changed from empty at first to confusion, and finally turned into a bottomless darkness.
Flames burned in her purple eyes, but it seemed unable to dispel the chill in her heart.
What ignited this flame for her was not only Dragonfire, but also her father's choice, Iron Throne's cold logic, and a preview of her own future destiny.
The funeral ended in silence and ashes.
People dispersed with their own thoughts, and a thicker layer of dark clouds seemed to hang over Red Keep.
***
A few days later, the expected news of Viserys officially establishing Rhaenyra as the crown prince did not come, and there was a strange silence and speculation inside and outside the palace.
At this delicate moment, an unexpected visitor knocked on the door of Redd's temporary residence in Red Keep late at night.
The visitor is a woman, Mysaria.
She is like a pale phantom in the night, her skin is milky white after not seeing the sun for a long time.
She is tall and slender, almost skinny, but has a unique, civet-like skeletal beauty and lightness.
She moved silently, but her eyes were as sharp as a knife.
Redd didn't have a deep impression of her. He only vaguely remembered that she seemed to be a certain woman next to Daemon.
The other party was generous and revealed his identity directly. "Mysaria, was once the lover of Prince Daemon·Targaryen,
Also... a facilitator in some of his less bright affairs."
Daemon's mistress? Redd raised her eyebrows slightly, indicating for her to continue, but her tone was filled with a hint of impatience. "What do you want from me?
We seem to have no friendship and no common interests."
What he meant was very straightforward: If you're not familiar with me, tell me the key points and don't waste my time.
Mysaria took a deep breath, knowing that this was a desperate move. "I hope to get your protection, Your Highness.
The intelligence network I have in hand can become your ears and eyes in King's Landing, and even Seven Kingdoms."
"Shelter?" Redd leaned forward slightly, becoming interested, "Tell me in detail. Why do you need my protection? Daemon can't protect you?"
Mysaria's eyes flashed with pain and hatred, but his voice remained steady. "My existence... has become a problem.
Corlys·Varyrian Earl found out about my relationship with Daemon.
An 'accidental' assassination caused me to lose my unborn child."
She paused and her tone became colder, "And my existence was also known to Miss Laena Velaryon.
This seriously affected the political marriage between Targaryen and House Velaryon.
The marriage between Laena and Daemon is likely to fail because of me."
Redd I understand.
It is nothing more than the exposure of the "mistress", which angered the "first wife" family (Velaryon), and may even cause changes in the marriage relationship.
Now, both King Viserys (who needs Velaryon's naval support) and Driftmark Earl Corlys (Laena's father) want her dead,
And Daemon... is likely to have given up or is preparing to give up her chess piece for greater political interests.
This seems to be somewhat different from the original work. Redd remembers that this woman seemed to do well in the later period, but the ending did not seem to be good.
However, the intelligence network she mentioned made Redd's heart move - he really needed a pair of sharper eyes to keep an eye on Westeros's undercurrent.
"For you," Redd tapped his finger on the table with a playful tone, "to offend a king and a Earl who holds a powerful navy?
This deal doesn't sound like a good deal."