The trace of softness that remained at the corner of her mouth quickly cooled in the air, and returned to the expression that His Royal Highness should have: dignified, calm, and flawless.
"Otto Hightower." When she said the name, there was no emotion in her voice, as if she were reading an official document. "What's the content of the letter? Do you know?"
"I know." Redd said, "The king asked him to come back to King's Landing. The wording was very polite, but the meaning was very clear - he needs Otto to come back.
He needs someone to be by his side, think for him, make decisions for him, and 'balance' those voices in Small Council that he thinks are too biased towards you."
Rhaenyra's hands clenched slightly under the tablecloth.
She lowered her eyes, and her eyes fell on the half-eaten food on the table, on the tea stains remaining on the rim of the cup, and on any place where her eyes could temporarily escape.
Otto·Hai Tarth. Alicent's father. Aegon II's grandfather.
A person who is destined to stand behind Aegon II, whether from the perspective of blood or interests, will naturally become the most loyal supporter of Aegon II.
Once he returns to King's Landing, those nobles and lords who have been watching in secret, waiting to see the direction of the wind, will find a clear flag.
Those who were still hesitating whether to support Rhaenyra or Aegon will change faster than the weather vane after seeing the king personally recalling Otto.
They will interpret the signal - the king is shaken. The king does not want his daughter to succeed. The king wants a son, a son named Targaryen to succeed.
Rhaenyra's body is still sitting upright, her posture has not changed at all, but the fingertips of her hands on her knees are slightly white.
"What should I do?" she asked. Her voice was calm, even too calm.
Redd looked at her.
From yesterday to today, from the joy and enthusiasm when she threw herself into his arms, to the deliberate calmness on her face at this moment, her ability to suppress her emotions and regain her rationality so quickly shows that she is not the kind of person who just cries and waits for a man to give her advice.
She is a crown prince, a crown prince who has lived in the field of power for more than 20 years, a crown prince who has seen conspiracies, experienced betrayals, and maintained her position in the cracks between her father and stepmother for many years.
She knows better than most what is hidden under every stone in this Red Keep.
Redd leaned back in the chair, folded his hands on his abdomen, and relaxed his posture. "There are only a few people who are qualified to inherit Iron Throne. What you have to do is very simple - get rid of those who stand in front of you."
Rhaenyra's jaw tensed slightly.
Her eyes moved away from the table and fell on Redd's face. An extremely fast light flashed in those purple eyes, too fast to tell whether it was shock, anger or something else. "You want me to kill my brother?"
Redd raised his eyelids and said calmly, "Did I tell you to do it yourself?"
Rhaenyra's lips moved, as if he was choked by these words.
She didn't interrupt him, she just looked at him and listened to what he said that she had expected but still didn't know how to answer.
She knew he was right. Those brothers were indeed her biggest threat. No matter what she did, how well she did, or how hard she tried to prove to everyone that she was worthy of that position,
As long as Aegon, Aemon and even Daeron who is still in Alicent's belly exist, as long as Viserys is still alive,
As long as those nobles are still whispering in private "House Targaryen There has never been a queen" - she will never be able to sit in that chair peacefully and sit back and relax.
But that was her brother. He was the child she had watched grow up. He was a blood relative whom she had teased at the cradle, met by chance in the corridor, and shared a meal at the dinner table.
Redd looked at the change in her expression, and there was no warmth in those black and golden eyes.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, and his voice deepened, with an undeniable hardness. "Rhaenyra, I married you, supported you, and stood by you because you can sit in that position."
After that position, it belongs to our common child. Not because you are my wife, not because of how much affection we have.
It's because you are my chosen chess piece and can get me what I want."
Rhaenyra's fingers clenched tighter under the tablecloth. Her palms were already slightly moist.
Redd did not stop and continued speaking, his tone as calm as stating a mathematical theorem that has been repeatedly verified. "If you fail - you are deposed, you are overturned,
You were dethroned from the throne by your brothers who share the same blood as you - I can only solve this problem in my own way.
At that time, you will no longer be my partner.
Just go back to Dragonstone and be a vase, a wife in name only, a decoration with the title of princess but no real power anymore."
He paused, looked into her eyes, and made sure that every word fell into her heart. Then he leaned back on the chair again, folded his hands again, and returned to his previous relaxed posture.
"So the question now is simple: Do you want to win, or do you want to be a good person?"
The room was quiet for a long time.
Rhaenyra lowered his head and could not see her expression.
Her chest was rising and falling slightly, and her breathing was faster than before.
She raised her hand from under the tablecloth, picked up the cup of already cold tea, brought it to her lips and took a sip.
The tea has become cold, with a bitter aftertaste spreading on the tip of the tongue.
She put down her teacup and spoke in a hoarse voice than she expected, "I understand what you mean."
Redd looked at her and did not answer, waiting for her to continue.
"Get rid of them." When Rhaenyra said these three words, his voice was so soft that he was afraid of disturbing something, but the last sound of each word was pronounced clearly without any ambiguity. "You want me to take action directly."
"It's not a hope." Redd corrected, "It's a reminder. You can use any method, poisoning, causing accidents, blaming others, or letting others do it for you - I don't care about the means, I only care about the results.
The same goes for your father's side."
Rhaenyra's eyes flickered slightly, like the ripples on the water surface caused by a pebble being dropped suddenly. "What if my father... insists on replacing me?"
Redd looked at her and calmly said the words she least wanted to hear word by word, "If he makes any move to change the heir, get rid of him.
Do it cleanly and don't let anyone catch you."