It wasn't until the other party came closer that Redd raised his head, but when he saw the person clearly, he couldn't help being surprised - the person standing in front of him was actually Alicent!
Why did this woman suddenly come to her if she didn't take good care of King Viserys?
Before Redd could ask, Alicent had already placed a book in his hand on the table and said softly:
"This is the detailed record I just found about the outbreak of the Red Death in Caugossus."
After saying that, she stared at Redd quietly, as if waiting for his reaction.
However, Redd did not immediately flip through the book. There was a trace of suspicion on his face and he said in a deep voice:
"Did you come all this way just to give me this book?"
Faced with Redd's question, Alicent smiled slightly and replied calmly, "Yes, it is true...
But besides that, I still have a few things I want to ask you. If possible, I hope to hear your explanations and suggestions."
Redd's eyes moved away from the slightly old book on the table and fell on Alicent's face.
The candlelight danced on her young and beautiful face. Under the gentle smile that she deliberately maintained, there was a trace of unnoticeable tension and... determination?
She chose to come alone late at night when the king was drunk, not just to deliver a book.
"Please sit down, Miss Alicent." Redd leaned back and made a casual gesture, with an attitude that was neither warm nor cold.
"I wonder what brings you to visit me late at night?"
Alicent did not sit down immediately. She first glanced around the room seemingly casually and confirmed that there was only Redd.
Then he sat down on a chair not far from the desk, folding his hands on his knees, his posture still elegant, but looking a little nervous.
"It's about... what happened at tonight's banquet." She spoke, her voice soft, but with a clear sense of temptation, "You and Princess Rhaenyra... seem to have very clear views on the future succession of the throne."
Redd didn't answer directly, just looked at her quietly, waiting for the next step.
He knew that Alicent was probably here to find out what was true on behalf of Viserys, or herself and House Hightower, and even try to make some kind of transaction or warning.
Seeing Redd speechless, Alicent took a deep breath and continued, "Your Majesty the King... he longs for a son, and there is nothing wrong with that.
A prince can make the kingdom more stable and unite all the lords.
Princess Rhaenyra is indeed excellent, but she is already married to you, and her focus... maybe more will be in the East."
She chose her words carefully,
"If she can support the future prince, as the eldest princess of the kingdom and your wife, she will still enjoy a high status and endless honor.
Why... must we compete for Iron Throne, which may cause turmoil?"
Redd I understand.
This person is here to act as a lobbyist, trying to use "high status" and "avoiding turmoil" to soften Rhaenyra's position, or in other words, to test his bottom line and price.
"Miss Alicent," Redd spoke slowly, tapping the book about Valyria with her finger, "you mentioned 'stability' and 'unity'.
But have you ever thought about tearing up a public and legal declaration of heir?
To turn to a baby that has not yet been born and whose gender is not even known is itself creating the greatest instability and division?"
Alicent's face changed slightly and he wanted to defend himself. "Your Majesty..."
Redd raised his hand to interrupt her, his voice calm but with unquestionable power. "As for Rhaenyra's focus...
She is Targaryen, the princess of Westeros, and the legal heir of Iron Throne.
Her responsibility and bloodline are tied to this place.
And I," he paused and looked sharply at Alicent, "my support is based on safeguarding my wife's legal rights and respecting the order and oaths of the kingdom.
It has nothing to do with where her 'center of gravity' is."
His body leaned forward slightly, and the pressure caused by it made Alicent shrink back subconsciously.
"You, and your father Sir Otto, may think that replacing Rhaenyra with a baby is a safer option.
But have you ever calculated the cost of doing this?"
"The price?" Alicent barely maintained his composure.
"Westeros is not monolithic."
Redd's tone turned cold, "The North, Vale, Riverlands... How many families would sincerely support a baby who broke their oaths and was established based only on the king's temporary preferences?
Not to mention, how will those forces who originally supported Rhaenyra, or remained neutral just because she is the legal heir, view the credibility of the royal family?
Civil wars are never caused by the lack of a male heir, but by unclear and arbitrary inheritance rights."
Alicent's face turned a little pale. Redd's words touched her and her father's deepest worries - forcibly promoting the prince's succession might lead to division and war.
"And if," Redd changed the subject, his tone softened a little, but it was more profound, "Rhaenyra's inheritance rights are respected and consolidated.
Then the power behind her - including me, and the eastern city-states and wealth I represent - will become the cornerstone of the kingdom's stability, rather than the source of turmoil.
The future prince or princess, as her blood relative, will naturally enjoy the status and blessings they deserve. Isn't this more 'stability' that is in the interests of everyone?"
He is painting a pie, and it is also a clear warning: support Rhaenyra, and everyone will have a good life;
The cost of trying to bypass her could be destabilization of the entire kingdom and the loss of support from him and the Eastern Powers.
Alicent was silent, clasping his fingers so hard that his knuckles turned white.
She was obviously shocked by Redd's blunt analysis and implicit threat.
She may have prepared more tactful words or hints of exchange of interests before coming, but those all pale in comparison to Redd's analysis that goes straight to the core.
After a while, she asked in a dry voice, "So... what do you and the princess want?"
"It's very simple." Redd leaned back in his chair and resumed his previous distant posture, "King Viserys fulfilled his oath and publicly reiterated that Rhaenyra·Targaryen is the sole legal heir of Iron Throne.
A hundred years after the king's death, she legally succeeded to the throne.
As for you, Miss Alicent," he looked at her with deep eyes, "you can become a queen, and your children will also be noble princes or princesses.
Enjoy all the glory of Targaryen - as long as all this is based on respecting the established inheritance rights. Otherwise..."
He didn't finish what he said, but what he didn't say was full of cold threats.