King Viserys did not send anyone to drive him away, although everyone could see that Viserys wanted him to leave Red Keep immediately, and it was best to fly back to Dragonstone directly.
Viserys didn't dare to speak because he didn't know if Redd would take that sentence as a signal to take action.
Those ministers did not dare to speak, because they had seen the speed of Redd drawing his sword in the conference hall, and they also knew what kind of scars King Ghidorah's size and weight had left on the walls of the castle.
Rhaenyra didn't dare to speak, and the relationship between her and him had almost dropped to freezing point.
She came to his study once, like a small boat on the water hesitating to approach, she stopped in the gap between the threshold and the desk, opened her mouth, closed it again, and finally turned around and left without saying anything.
When she walked out of the door, her shoulders were slightly pulled in, as if there was something under her tongue, but she couldn't find the right shape to spit it out.
Redd was looking at the new map of Valyrian Peninsula at that time and did not look up at her.
Until dawn on the third day, a burst of rapid and irregular footsteps sounded from the end of the corridor, breaking the sticky silence that had lasted for two days in Red Keep.
Redd looked up from the map.
The footsteps became messy as they approached the door of his study, and then stopped, followed by a rapid knock on the door. The knocking method was not as well-trained as that of a guard or maid, but rather as if someone was banging on the door with the whole palm or fist, with a panic and urgency that ignored etiquette.
Redd walked over and opened the door. Outside stood a deacon under the steward Red Keep. His face was pale, with a layer of fine beads of sweat on his forehead, and his lips were a little white from running so fast. When he saw him opening the door, he didn't even have time to salute. He just said intermittently, "Her Royal Highness the Queen has already started. The midwife and bachelor have all gone in. Your Majesty will let you go."
Redd looked at his flustered face and was silent for a moment.
He originally wanted to ask, "What does it have to do with me if she gives birth to a child?" But when the words came to his lips, he swallowed them back.
He indeed has no intention of participating in the production process of Alicent, but at this moment he is on the edge of the power field within Red Keep. Refusing such a summons will only give Viserys another basis for thinking that he wants to openly break with the royal family. Although the facts are almost there, at least before he sets off for Valyrian Peninsula, he does not want this layer of window paper to be completely broken.
"Got it." He said without any fluctuation in his tone. He closed the door of the study and without speeding up his pace, followed the deacon in the direction of Alicent's bedroom.
Many people had gathered in the corridor outside the palace door. King Viserys stood at the front, his back pressed against the wall, his hands clasped in front of him, his fingers constantly wringing, and his eyes staring at the closed door.
The expression on his face was as complicated as a cup of overstirred tea, with anxiety, expectation, and a bit of the kind of expression that can only be shown when after a series of blows, he finally sees a glimmer of something happening that can help him regain his feet.
His new crutch was leaning against the wall beside him, and the Ruby on the tip of the stick flashed slightly in the candlelight, like an eye that was blinking cautiously.
Alicent's father Otto·Hai Tarth was also standing not far away, further back than him, with a much calmer posture than Viserys. His hands were folded in front of him, and his eyes fell on the closed door. There were not many emotional changes on his face, only a calmness like an observer who was waiting for the outcome he had expected.
The midwife's voice could be heard faintly from inside the door, short and powerful, sometimes with a soothing tone, sometimes with a commanding tone urging Alicent to breathe accordingly.
Redd stood at the other end of the corridor, not leaning forward, leaning against the wall, arms folded in front of his chest, his eyes casually scanning the people present, like a person waiting for the next ferry.
He could hear the occasional muffled rapid breathing coming from inside the door, as well as the faint sound of clothing materials making when the midwife adjusted the equipment in the gap.
The sound insulation effect of that door was not very good. Although the sounds were vague, they left some unmistakable outlines in the air.
It's not screaming, it's not crying, it's just the kind of muffled, intermittent and restrained hum that occurs when a person is still trying to control himself not to make too much noise when he reaches the limit.
Then, a baby's cry came from inside the door.
The sound was sharp and short, as if a hole had been opened in the air. It continued for a few breaths, and then the sound became lower and became a more rhythmic breathing, as if adapting to the air of this world.
The midwife's voice came from the door, with a clear and relieved tone. "It's a boy, Your Majesty. A very healthy boy."
Viserys's arm kicked hard on the wall, as if his whole body was awakened from depression by the cry.
He walked forward quickly and squeezed to the door the moment the midwife opened it. With his push, the door opened mostly, revealing a part of the space inside the door illuminated by candlelight and the silhouette of the maid who was making the bed.
His voice was stronger than any time these days. "Let me see him." He spoke very quickly, like the first sound of a string that had been tense for a long time and was finally loosened.
Otto·Hai Tarth also took two steps forward, stopped by the door, leaned slightly, and looked through the crack in the door in the direction of the bed in the room.
There was still not much expression change on his face, but Redd noticed that his hands folded in front of him tightened slightly when he heard the midwife pronounce the word "boy", and then relaxed again.
Alicent's tired but slightly smiling voice came from the room, as weak as a piece of crumpled tissue paper. "Your Majesty, look at him, his hair is like the color of your hair when you were young."
Viserys did not respond with words, but his laughter and another voice came out from the door at the same time, with a kind of warmth that was filled with ease.
It was a sound that Redd had not heard in Red Keep for several days.
Redd leaned against the wall opposite the corridor and did not move forward.
He was not in the mood to join in the fun, nor did he want to add one more person to the room filled with concern and congratulations just to confirm that "this did happen."
He just stood there, looking at the open door, at the edge of the bed illuminated by candlelight and the small outline of the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.
The baby's name was announced after a moment. Daeron. Daeron·Targaryen. Alicent and Viserys are the fourth child and the third son.