Alicent's three children were also present.
Aegon II is sitting next to Alicent. He is about five or six years old. He has House Targaryen's signature silver-blond hair and his eyes are light purple, like violet diluted with water.
He was sitting upright, but his eyes were moving around, as if he was secretly looking at Redd, but he didn't want him to find out that he was looking at him.
Helaena is sitting next to Aegon, who is a year or two younger than him. Her silver hair is tied into two thin braids and hangs down on her chest. There is a quiet indifference in her eyes that is inconsistent with her age. It seems that she is not too interested in everything around her. She is only concentrating on poking a piece of grilled fish on the plate with a silver fork, poking the fish meat into fine powder, but not eating it.
Aemon Deze is sitting next to Helaena. He is younger, with a stubborn and unwilling to admit defeat in his dark purple eyes. His chin is slightly raised, as if silently declaring "I will also ride a dragon in the future."
Alicent is still pregnant with her fourth child. Viserys mentioned this name a few days ago - Daeron.
When Redd glanced at Alicent's belly, he had to admit in his heart that Alicent was indeed a capable person.
The former Queen Emma was married to Viserys for many years, and she only gave birth to one daughter, Rhaenyra, and then had nothing to do with anything. And after Alicent married Viserys, her stomach was almost empty.
Aegon, Helaena, Aemon, and now Daeron, one after another, like seeds that have been lined up, taking root, sprouting, and growing step by step, never failing.
Redd picked up the wine glass and took a sip. His eyes moved away from Alicent's belly and fell on the three small faces across the table.
This meal was extremely harmonious.
No one mentioned politics during the banquet, no one talked about Iron Throne, inheritance, Dorne, Stepstones or any other topic that might make the atmosphere tense.
Like an ordinary, kind father-in-law, Viserys asked Redd how he would get used to living in Dragonstone, whether the sea breeze there would be too strong, and whether it would be too cold in winter.
Like an ordinary, filial son-in-law, Redd answered these insignificant questions with a gentle and patient tone. Occasionally, he would take the initiative to ask about Viserys's physical condition, suggesting that he drink more warming soup and worry less about unnecessary worries.
Rhaenyra sat next to Redd and put her hands on his thighs under the tablecloth several times, as if to confirm that he was still there, or to convey some kind of signal to him that she was embarrassed to say clearly in front of everyone.
Alicent also took over the conversation from time to time and talked about the children's recent interesting stories - Aegon accidentally cut his finger while practicing sword practice, Helaena caught a colorful butterfly in the garden, Aemon insisted on riding the smallest dragon in the family and almost slipped off the dragon's back.
When she told these stories, her tone was gentle and vivid, with just the right amount of motherly pride and helplessness on her face, making it sound like she was just an ordinary, caring mother who liked to share interesting things about her children with others.
But beneath all this calm appearance, Redd noticed those subtle, carefully hidden undercurrents that could not be completely concealed.
Alicent glanced at him secretly several times while he was talking.
It wasn't the kind of upright and polite questioning look, but when she lowered her head to pick up the vegetables, picked up the wine glass, and turned her head to talk to Aegon, her gaze slipped out of the corner of her eyes, stayed on his face for a moment, and then quickly moved away.
There was something complicated and meaningful in that look, like it was silently confirming something, and it seemed like it was conveying some kind of silent invitation to him.
And the foot she placed under the table made a whole secret path on the edge of provocation.
For the first time, her toes touched the outside of his calf, as if unintentionally, as if she accidentally stretched her legs. After touching her, she retracted and lowered her head to eat, her expression natural.
The second time, the toes touched the inside of his calf again, staying a little longer than the first time, and then lightly rubbed it before retracting.
The third time, she stepped directly on the toe of his boot with very slight force, as if she put her foot in a place where it shouldn't be, and then put it back pretending to be nonchalant.
Every touch was accurately placed in an inconspicuous gap. The tablecloth blocked everyone's view. She did it extremely secretly and did not let anyone else notice.
Redd put a piece of roasted venison into his mouth, chewed it slowly, and his eyes fell on the candlelight reflected by the silver tableware on the table.
This naked hint of seduction, how could he not know what this woman wanted to do.
But he didn't have time to look for her tonight.
Rhaenyra's hand was placed on his thigh again, this time closer than before, and his fingers were slightly closed, as if he was urging something silently.
Her eyes were still dignified and calm above the table, and she was tilting her head to respond to Viserys's inquiry about the Dragonstone pier, but her fingers were drawing circles on his thigh, once, twice, and three times.
It was better to say goodbye than a newlywed. Before the meal was finished, she had already touched his leg no less than five times. She was not hinting, she was directly saying that tonight, she was his.
Redd's eyes moved away from Alicent and landed on Rhaenyra's side face.
Her side face had soft and graceful lines in the candlelight, her eyelashes cast a fan-shaped shadow on her cheeks, and the corners of her mouth were slightly raised, with a secret, somewhat triumphant smile that only he and she could understand.
It was as if she had known for a long time that she would get him first tonight.
She retracted her disturbing hand under the tablecloth, picked up the wine glass and took a sip of wine. Her eyes briefly met with Redd in the air for a moment, and then moved away.
The dinner ended in a harmonious atmosphere.
Viserys looked a little tired. His face was paler in the candlelight than at the beginning, and his smile was not so natural. The corners of his mouth would occasionally twitch slightly, as if he was enduring some kind of discomfort.
Alicent noticed the change in his face, wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin, stood up, and said to everyone, "Your Majesty is a little tired today, I will help him to rest first."
Her voice was gentle and decent, with just the right amount of concern from a queen to a king.
Viserys also stood up and said to Redd and Rhaenyra: "It's rare for you to meet each other, so there is no need to be formal tonight. Have a good rest." His smile was still decent and gentle, without showing any unnecessary emotions.
Alicent helped Viserys leave the banquet hall. Her pace was slower than when she came. She held his arm with one hand and put the other hand on her swollen belly, as if she was supporting two people at the same time.