The two brothers walked away arm in arm.
Aemon sighed softly; he knew their feelings had faded.
He turned around and went to find the two women at the table.
Alicent stood up suddenly and walked away without looking back.
Rhaenyra stood steady as a dragon mountain with a triumphant smile.
I don't know what she said.
"What's wrong with her?"
Aemon walked silently behind the bench.
"You scared me."
Rhaenyra screamed and twisted her body. "Do you care about her or me?"
Aemon lowered his eyebrows and stared at the small, white hand he was reluctant to move away from. He was taking advantage of her too openly.
She saw through his game, and Rhaenyra withdrew her hand in dismay. "You pinched me too; it's not a loss."
Aemon raised his hand to cover his face.
"What you said makes a lot of sense, and I have no way to refute it."
The two had been separated for more than a year and had both changed somewhat.
Rhaenyra is more confident.
The corners of her beautiful face curved up, and she no longer frowned.
Aemon had grown taller and was nearly six feet one inch.
That's about 185 centimeters.
He had experienced the baptism of war and held a high position in Runestone City for a long time.
His handsome face lost its youthfulness, and he exuded authority.
His long, golden, and silver hair fell onto his shoulders. He wore red and white clothes that made him look noble and majestic.
He was the most popular among girls in the Seven Kingdoms.
Rhaenyra looked at him secretly and swallowed.
Her friend said her father would arrange her engagement when she returned.
Then she could...
"Hehe."
Rhaenyra covered her mouth and laughed.
Aemon glanced at her and wondered what was wrong.
Rhaenyra was full of joy. The more she looked at Aemon, the more satisfied she became. She didn't know it yet.
In the past six months, Aemon had been her good friend Laena's...
He had been betrayed again.
"I'll go back and change into a clean outfit."
Rhaenyra realized she hadn't changed her clothes yet, so she decided to put on a stunning dress befitting her status.
Beauty-wise, she couldn't be outdone by Alicent, a married woman.
Aemon reminded her, "Be careful of Daemon. Keep your distance from him."
"Huh?"
Rhaenyra was full of questions again.
In the throne room, she had discovered that Aemon had a problem with her uncle, and now she was finally sure.
Aemon didn't explain much more, only adding, "He's dangerous. I don't know what he's up to. Just be careful."
He couldn't explain why.
He always felt that his father, Daemon, didn't come back early or late, but at this time. He must be causing trouble.
"I'll pay attention."
Rhaenyra's eyes widened, and she smiled and nodded.
Her uncle was an erratic and dangerous person known throughout the Seven Kingdoms.
She still had some experience with him.
Aemon watched Rhaenyra walk into the corridor, thinking about how to stay alert.
He thought his uncle's urging for marriage was difficult to handle.
He didn't expect there to be a master.
How could a scumbag who played both sides behave in front of others?
"Are you satisfied in Runestone City?"
Daemon's magnetic voice suddenly came from behind.
Aemon turned around and emphasized, "It's Runestone City, my territory.
"It's the same. Stay in the valley."
Daemon shook his head, walked to the bench, and sat down.
He clapped his hands, motioning for his son to join him.
"Is this our first father-son talk?"
Aemon said with a smile.
He sat on the bench, accepting the invitation.
In either life, it's an honor for a son to be on an equal footing with his father.
"She is beautiful, isn't she?"
Daemon pointed with his finger.
Aemon avoided answering and asked, "You bypassed my mother and got me engaged without my permission."
He wanted to know if the other party's target was Rhaenyra.
Daemon sneered and said sarcastically, "I'm doing this for your future. That bronze bitch will only arrange for you to marry a woman from the valley."
From his words, it was clear that he had nothing but contempt for his original wife.
Aemon felt a little relieved and defended her. "I don't care what arguments you have with my mother, but I don't want to hear you speak rudely to her again."
"Do you love her very much?"
Daemon didn't understand. "As far as I know, she's as incompetent as I am."
Aemon looked him in the eyes and said seriously, "I believe that you love my mother as well.
"Can you bear the torture of your conscience?"
Daemon put away his smile and touched the soft side of his heart.
He had to admit that he was proud to have such a father and mother.
Compared to his son, he had a complete family.
"Okay, don't think too much."
Aemon smiled.
Grandmother Alyssa was an unremarkable Targaryen with a carefree personality.
The noise she made on her wedding night with Grandfather Baelon attracted crickets from behind half of the guests in the Red Keep.
The following year, it was a perennial dirty joke in Flea Bottom.
After giving birth to her third child, my grandmother died of puerperal fever.
The fetus did not survive and died with her.
At that time, Daemon was only three years old.
He probably didn't remember his grandmother's voice or smile.
Daemon seemed to be able to read minds and said silently, "I miss the past more than some people think. Viserys is right. Mother loved me more than him."
At the end, there was a hint of pride. Aemon lost his smile.
"So you held an umbrella and let me get wet in the rain, right?
If my grandmother were still alive, I would tie you to Melarys's back and let you fly."
Daemon took a sip of wine and calmly said, "I promise that I will show your mother the least respect when you're around in the future."
"Do you want me to say thank you?"
Aemon couldn't help but ask.
Daemon remained calm. He glanced at the bronze sword on his son's waist and said unforgivingly, "Did your mother let you wear this broken copper and rotten iron?"
He would be better off melting the two Valyrian steel daggers he had given him.
Reforge them into a Valyrian steel blade.
Aemon smiled and said, "A son is no longer under his mother's control."
After Lady Rhea found out that Laena had moved from Driftmark Island to Gulltown, her son ran to Gulltown to visit her every two weeks.
The mother and son have been at odds for six months.
Daemon guessed half of it and sneered, "She's such a stingy woman. She's so stingy with her son."
Aemon: ...
"You are right.
His mother, Lady Rhea, wants him to escape his father's shadow and become the legitimate "Heir of Runestone City."
In this regard, she is similar to Alicent in her possessiveness of him.
But it's pointless to try to reason with a woman.
There is a moment of silence.
Aemon asked seriously, "Father, what is your purpose in coming back this time?"
He was doing well in the Stepstones.
It is better to tease his uncle's feelings than to return to the family.
Daemon disdained to lie and said lightly, "To take back what belongs to me."
"King's Landing is my uncle's home. There is nothing of ours there."
Aemon's eyes flickered.
He belongs to the Valley, while the other party is still a rootless duckweed.
"Even you think so."
Daemon laughed dumbly and then suddenly coldly.
"Do you really think your relationship with Laena is a secret?"
Aemon was stunned.
The abrupt change in topic caught people off guard.
Daemon continued, "My spies have learned that the Sea Snake will be coming to King's Landing with his entire family soon to discuss the matter of their children."
"What does it matter?"
Aemon remained calm.
Daemon responded coldly, "You slept with the Sea Snake's daughter, yet you thought he would let it go."
He admitted that his son was quite capable.
At such a young age, he managed to handle two grown women with the blood of a true dragon.
However, the Sea Snake lives up to its name, lurking in the dark and striking without warning.
He will bite you out of the blue.
"I'll give him an explanation."
"What about Viserys?"
"Same."
Daemon didn't believe it and asked, "How can you give a satisfactory answer to both parties when the Sea Snake is coming?"
According to his thinking.
His son could possess Rhaenyra and stabilize Viserys first.
As for the Velaryon family, they could leave and argue later.
Aemon raised his chin slightly and said arrogantly, "Only children make choices. I want both."
"..."
Daemon was speechless, but eventually laughed.
He is worthy of being his offspring, and his courage is commendable.
"Boy, do you think you are a conqueror?"
Driven by his remaining fatherly love, Daemon didn't want to see his son's body exposed on the street.
His son had really dared to do this.
Viserys and the Sea Snake would not let him go.
His plan to claim the Iron Throne through marriage would also be thwarted.
Aemon negotiated, "If you want to fulfill your fatherly responsibilities, delay my marriage until I'm an adult."
"No, I don't want to be driven out of King's Landing by Viserys again so soon."
Daemon refused without thinking.
"Not helping?"
Aemon confirmed.
Daemon shook his head.
Not even his own son could do that.
"Then there's nothing to talk about."
Aemon stood up and said goodbye: "Father, see you at the tourney."
He knew he would be rejected.
When they arrived at the tournament, the father and son would meet face-to-face.
He didn't beat him up to vent his anger.
His son could be whoever he wanted.
"Impulsive boy."
Daemon raised his wine glass slightly to his mouth. He is brave and has good ideas.
But he lacks societal punishment.
This scene happened to catch the attention of onlookers.
It happened next to the flowering bushes.
A thin man with brown hair and eyes held a scepter and bowed his head to admire the flowers without leaving a trace.
It was the royal interrogator, "Bentfoot" Larys Strong.
"What a model of fatherly love and filial piety."
Larys secretly sighed, dragging his lame leg as he disappeared into the crowd.
...
After dinner,
Aemon went back to his room to rest.
Viserys called for his daughter and held a private royal meeting.
Sea Minister Tyran said, "Prince Daemon gave up the Stepstones. It seems like he's just handing them from the crab feeders to the Sea Snake, and they don't belong to the kingdom."
The Sea Snake will not give up the pie that fell from the sky. Controlling the Stepstones is like strangling the key road to the strait sea."
Grand Maester Mellos agreed.
The two of them, one in front and one behind, were targeting Daemon and the Sea Snake.
Viserys asked, "It's been years since Rhaenys's name day. Is he still brooding over it?"
Mellos affirmed, "There is no doubt that the Sea Snake is too conceited. Your previous refusal hurt his self-esteem."
Remember the two marriages proposed by the Velaryon family that were rejected by the king?
How can this scar heal easily?
Finance Minister Lyman frowned and disagreed. "I'm afraid Lord Corlys's self-esteem is the least of our concerns right now."
He looked at the princess sitting on the king's right.
"That's right."
The hand Lyonel added, "With Prince Daemon's return and the princess's marriage, the royal family does not need to worry about what Lord Corlys will do."
Viserys nodded with deep concern upon hearing this.
He wanted to hear this.
Unexpectedly, Mellos poured cold water on him, saying slowly and methodically, "I'm sorry, but according to disturbing information I received from Oldtown, Prince Aemon seems too close to Miss Laena, the daughter of the Sea Snake."
To prevent the king from feigning confusion, Mellos emphasized, "In the past six months, Laena has moved to Mary's Convent in Gulltown. It's not an ideal place for them to meet."
Viserys's face changed slightly, and he looked unnatural.
Mellos continued, "This tournament has invited nobles from all over the country. If the Sea Snake is invited..."
The rest is needless to say.
For the sake of his daughter's innocence, the Sea Snake will make a huge mess with his character.
"I know. This matter must not be spread."
Viserys's eyes were cold as he turned to warn his hesitant old friend.
Mellos shuddered and quietly lowered his head.
It seems he had talked too much. The king should have heard about it a long time ago.
Everyone present fell silent, tacitly ending the meeting with the king's consent.
Only Rhaenyra remained seated, her face full of confusion.
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