-Chapter 179-

-POV Rhaenyra Targaryen-

After spending a few moments thinking alone, a dark thought crossed my mind:

'What if Laenor were to disappear?'

I immediately regretted the thought, feeling guilty for even considering the assassination of the father of my children.

But I couldn't forget what he had just said to me.

Even if he hadn't used explicit words, he had clearly threatened my boys, all because he clung to the illusion that they were somehow different from Alysanne.

'When in truth, it's all false, and he never managed to do his duty…'

Except perhaps on our wedding night — by which time I was already pregnant.

'If he ever comes to doubt that Alysanne is his daughter, he'll turn against me, and I'll lose all chance of getting my hands on the Velaryon fleet,' I thought, staring at the training yard floor, fidgeting with the folds of my dress.

'I should never have lied to him… Damn it!!!'

'But how could I have known that my first daughter would look exactly like me, while the next three would be the spitting image of their father?' I thought, hiding my face in my hands, resenting the cruel way the gods mocked me.

'If he were to disappear now, everything would be better,' I thought.

I couldn't bring myself to truly consider it, because despite everything, Laenor had always been loyal. But…

'I can't allow him to become a threat — under any circumstances,' I thought, remembering the "accident" that had befallen Arnold Arryn, Aemon's uncle, when he started straying from the path Aemon had carved out for him.

'To beat him at his own game, I have to be just as decisive and ruthless,' I thought, closing my eyes, then reopening them with renewed determination.

"Follow me," I said in a firm, authoritative tone to the two knights Harwin had trained to be my guards when he had to leave the capital.

---

-POV Aemon Targaryen-

"I'm not at peace away from the children," said Laena, sitting to my right, while Jeyne sat a little further away and mother took her place to my left, accompanied by Willem.

"Our children will be fine without you for a few hours," I said, then added in a lighter tone: "I've doubled the guards and the nurses looking after them — even a Faceless Man would have trouble getting to them."

I said it half-jokingly, so she could enjoy the event and relax a little.

For weeks, I had noticed the pressure of being a good matriarch was slowly weighing down on Laena's spirit, dimming the spark and joy that made her who she was.

'We're still too young to lose that flame… especially her,' I thought. 'I had lost it long ago. She's the one who brought it back.'

Laena rolled her eyes and turned away, silently conceding defeat and no longer trying to argue.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed aunt Rhaenys had chosen to sit off to the side, and I couldn't help but ask Laena:

"What's wrong with her?"

To my surprise, it wasn't Laena who answered, but my mother:

"She spoke with Laenor."

Laena looked just as surprised as I was, so I asked mother, "About Viserys?"

Mother nodded, and I immediately understood the tension I had sensed earlier when our eyes had met.

'It was time,' I thought. If that issue hadn't been resolved by the end of the tournament, I would've had to take more… direct action.

"Do you know what Laenor said?" I asked, curious to know which path he had chosen.

"He won't be a problem, if that's what you're wondering," mother replied, her tone full of resentment.

I narrowed my eyes, not understanding why she seemed upset with me.

"You seem reluctant about the matter."

She turned her head, then looked me in the eyes for a few moments before sighing in disappointment and saying:

"You know very well how I feel about the fact that you forced your aunt to choose between her two children."

"I didn't force anyone to choose," I replied, frowning, because that wasn't what had happened.

'It's just easier to shift the blame and deny their poor decisions — or, in her case, her inaction,' I thought to myself.

I continued:

"It was Corlys who tried to seize control of House Targaryen and its dragons. Unfortunately for him, he got burned. Dragons aren't slaves. And now that he has no control over where each of us is headed, we have to face the consequences of his foolish choices."

Seeing that she didn't respond, and sensing Laena agreed with her, I suddenly felt a deep frustration and irritation. I was genuinely trying to do what was best for us.

'Laenor was never worthy of his title, his station, or the duties expected of him. He's waking up too late… Far too late.'

"If you expect me to bow down to Rhaenyra for Laenor's sake…"

I didn't finish the sentence, out of respect for Laena, who deeply loved her brother.

But everyone knew my opinion of him, and I didn't want to argue with her.

'That's not why I wanted her here.'

A heavy silence settled before my mother broke it by saying:

"Whatever you think, your aunt just shattered the relationship she had with her son. Those are the consequences of your actions. I sincerely hope it was worth it."

I raised an eyebrow, slightly frustrated, but I understood the message my mother was trying to convey: 'Your ambition is starting to crush those around you.'

'Every action has consequences, good or bad. As long as I gain more than I lose, I will have done the right thing for my family,' I thought, understanding Rhaenys' frustration.

But in this kind of situation, sacrifices had to be made.

'And it won't be my family that pays the price,' I thought, watching Rhaenyra hurry up the stairs.

---

-POV Rhaenyra Targaryen-

As I climbed the stairs quickly to take my rightful place, I crossed paths with Aemon, who had moved to a higher box with the rest of his family.

I narrowed my eyes at the sight of Baelon, Rhaenys, and Daemon.

Those three didn't change the fact that Aemon was the most powerful lord in the realm, but they added so much weight to his side that it became suffocating at times.

'If only they had all known how to stand their ground, Aemon wouldn't be acting so casually in front of the actual power in place,' I thought, increasingly unable to bear watching my father be openly disrespected without doing a thing.

It drove me mad, because I knew that, despite their past disagreements, there had been mutual respect between them once.

And knowing that he had nothing but contempt for me, I didn't even dare to imagine what he'd make me endure once I became queen.

'And on top of that, I'm a woman.'

"YOUR ATTENTION, ALL! TODAY, YOU SHALL HAVE THE HONOR OF WITNESSING THE LONG-AWAITED MELEE OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS!" announced the herald.

He paused, waiting to capture everyone's attention, before continuing:

"THE MOST VALIANT KNIGHTS OF THE REALM HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO COMPETE IN THE ARENA IN HONOR OF THE NEW HAND OF THE KING — AEMON TARGARYEN, PRINCE OF THE VALE, RIDER OF URRAX — AND FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF HIS MAJESTY, HIS COURT, AND THE PEOPLE OF THE CAPITAL!"

As soon as he finished, a thunderous applause erupted, followed by loud cheers.

And I knew perfectly well that they weren't cheering for the king…

'Once again, he puts his name and accomplishments first, before the name of the king,' I thought through gritted teeth.

It was one of the many ways he undermined the king's reputation for his own benefit.

"EACH REGION SHALL SEND FIFTEEN KNIGHTS TO DEFEND THE HONOR OF THEIR LANDS. THE NORTH AND THE IRON ISLANDS, UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE, HAVE ABSTAINED."

The herald took a breath before continuing:

"THE PARTICIPATING REGIONS WILL BE… THE REACH…"

He paused as the finest knights of the Reach entered under the command of Alicent's older brother.

"LED BY THE QUEEN'S BROTHER: SER BRYNDON HIGHTOWER!"

Bryndon Hightower didn't acknowledge the cheering crowd, walking directly to the center and waiting silently for the battle to begin.

"THE RIVERLANDS, LED BY THE PRINCESS HEIR'S CHAMPION: SER HARWIN STRONG!"

My heart began to pound faster as I saw Harwin enter the arena, because I had initially prevented him from participating, fearing Alicent and her brother.

I knew my former friend well enough to know she would surely seek revenge for the assassination attempt I had orchestrated against her eldest son.

'And if she truly wants to hurt me, she'll target someone I care deeply about,' I thought.