-Chapter 146-
-19th day of the 4th moon of the year 121 AC-
-POV Aemon Targaryen-
"Aemond is doing quite well," I said as I arrived behind the Queen, which slightly tensed her brother.
He had been in deep conversation with her, but he swallowed everything he wanted to say, knowing very well that it was best for him not to wake the dragon.
"He is far behind his brother," Alicent said, slightly turning her gaze to observe her eldest before refocusing her attention on her second son.
I nodded, acknowledging her point of view, as I was, of course, in agreement with her.
'Training to become a knight of the Order of the Bronze Shield is far from easy for a good reason,' I thought, accepting the tacit praise directed at me.
"If you wish, I could make your second son a better fighter than his brother," I said, trying to take a more amicable approach with her.
What I had said managed to catch her attention, as she could see that Aegon was effortlessly defeating all opponents who agreed to fight him to perfect his training, whether they were squires or knights.
'He even manages to give Mark a hard time,' I thought, also appreciating the immense progress of the young apprentice butcher I had recruited a few years ago.
I had detected a glimmer of something I couldn't quite explain when I first met him, and I had not been mistaken.
'He simply had something extra that other boys his age did not,' I thought, pleased with this investment that was about to bear fruit.
'He could be Aerys' Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and his right-hand man if I manage to make him Lord of Driftmark,' I thought, already having someone else in mind for the role of guard and right hand for Viserys.
Even though he was not as talented as William with a sword, he handled himself extremely well with other weapons, and at times, he even equaled William.
However, he had always managed to get the upper hand over him by using whatever he could, particularly methods…
'unworthy of a true knight,' I silently finished, mimicking in my mind the tone that William used when he was younger, after each defeat against Mark.
'He reminds me a bit of Bronn in the way he fights—winning no matter the means,' I thought, smiling slightly as I watched an arrogant Mark stumble before falling to the ground and quickly throwing a handful of dust to obscure Aegon's vision.
'He has gotten so used to it that it's almost second nature to him,' I thought as I saw Alicent and her brother frown.
Fortunately for Aegon, he was not fooled and protected his eyes, but it took just enough time for Mark to use his remarkable agility to get back on his feet and engage Aegon in combat.
"Your sons, on the other hand, are not very good fighters," Alicent said in a flat tone, without mockery, though slightly confused as she briefly focused on Viserys and Aerys, who were learning the basics with Willem.
I shrugged and then said, "I wished to give them as much time as possible so that they could fully enjoy their innocence…"
"…But the capital has this effect on people, doesn't it? Corrupting everything it touches," the Queen said, interrupting me while looking me straight in the eye, her tone neutral and void of emotion, just like her gaze.
'Is she quoting me, or am I dreaming?' I thought, looking at her for a moment, silent, because she had struck a sensitive chord.
I looked away and repressed a faint chuckle before saying:
"You tell me. You have lived in this place much longer than I have and on a daily basis at that… do you think you have changed compared to the young woman you were back then?"
"You have no idea how much," she said after a few moments of reflection.
"Then it is necessary that we do everything in our power to protect our children from it, isn't it?" I said before adding, "It is our duty as parents."
She nodded without enthusiasm, and we remained in a long, tacit silence.
Alicent broke the silence by saying, "I hear that the Seven are rumbling a bit everywhere in the capital."
"I would say it is more than just a bit; it is across the entire kingdom. But no one rumbles louder than Urrax, I can assure you," I said calmly.
"Hmm," the Queen murmured softly before saying nonchalantly after a few moments, "I could intervene with His Holiness Supreme so that he does his best to calm the crowds."
"What would be the price I would have to pay for this gracious service?" I asked, scrutinizing the Queen, who had grown in maturity and experience.
"The life of my father," she said a bit too quickly.
'Surely faster than she would have liked,' I thought, observing her tense expression as she awaited my response.
I was not the least bit surprised by her answer, but I was still slightly disappointed.
I was disappointed that she did not take this opportunity to sever ties with Otto Hightower.
"I have not planned to execute your father," I said, noticing a brief hope flicker in both their eyes before adding, crushing that hope instantly,
"But I certainly will not spare him for your pretty eyes. If Otto Hightower has committed treason and is found guilty of it, it will no longer be in my hands… and I have a witness who can recount the long list of crimes your father has committed."
"Who?" Alicent asked.
"Who else but my little pet rat? It only took me a few days with him to loosen his tongue, and once he feels threatened, he can't keep his mouth shut. When it comes to his own life, he is ready to betray anyone," I said, looking straight into the eyes of the uneasy Queen.
'He knows so much about her that if I manage to break him, I will have her in the palm of my hand,' I thought.
Alicent clawed at her nails, a sign of her nervousness, and following my gaze, she hid her hands before saying in a more aggressive tone,
"You are about to start a war…"
I stopped her instantly and then said,
"All the dragons will be on my side if it comes to that. Your father built his own coffin by making this matter personal. If he had continued playing his role, tending to everything except my affairs, he could have continued living freely. We could have even been allies…"
Bryndon Hightower brutally interrupted me, saying,
"We will never be allies with a fucking murder—"
"Shut up!" Alicent shouted, ordering her brother, who could no longer contain his anger, to be silent.
She quickly turned toward me and then said,
"I beg your pardon. It is grief that—"
"No, I have had enough! I saw him, Alicent! Not you!!" Bryndon Hightower said before adding, pointing a finger at me,
"He is torturing him!"
'It seems someone is not doing their job properly,' I thought, throwing a small glance at Aegon, which Alicent caught, immediately turning pale.
Bryndon Hightower stepped forward and said through clenched teeth,
"You do not have all the dragons, only a fragile grip on the situation. And if you do not want that to change, you better release my father quickly!"
I gave a mocking smile and then said to the man I towered over,
"Or what?"
"Or, it will not be a revolt or a war that you will face," he said, not letting himself be intimidated before adding in a cold, quiet tone,
"It will be your downfall."
I raised my right hand to stop Gunthor, who was already ready to draw Lamentation and pierce the throat of this arrogant little man, and I curiously asked:
"How could you do that, Ser Bryndon? How could you clip the dragon's wings?"
"Nothing simpler. I would just have to make public the reason why my father opposed you…"
Seeing my confused frown, he added with a sneer:
"It is something that Laenor Velaryon would not appreciate, something that could even push you to face your brother-in-law and kill him. What would your mother-in-law, whom you seem so close to, say then? What would your wife say about it? What will you do? Kill them? Your children would never forgive you, and you would lose all the power you hold thanks to their dragons. Everything you have built would crumble into dust, and you would fall slowly but surely from the sky, crashing to the ground like the humble mortal that you are."
I observed the two of them, surprised, but mostly lost in my thoughts, immediately understanding what they were referring to.
What I could not understand was how they had figured it out.
'It doesn't matter much at this point. It's surely Larys who messed up as usual,' I thought, sighing inwardly, realizing how overly confident and arrogant I had been to believe that bastard would stay in his place.
'What a fucking disappointment,' I cursed, annoyed, before provocatively smiling at Bryndon Hightower, who was obviously waiting for a response that I did not give him as I left the room without another word.
I had learned interesting things, and I was already prepared for everything that was going to happen.
The only question was whether he was as well.