At the critical moment, someone came to his rescue.
"Go!"
Daemon rode to the VIP seats and surveyed the situation in the front row.
The eldest son was sweating from nervousness.
Daemon's eyes showed mockery.
Bang!
Rhaenyra put down the empty plate, stood up, and walked to the fence of the VIP seats. She wiped the corner of her mouth halfway.
Laena took a look and followed suit.
Before the knights' duel, they ask for wreaths from the opposite sex to seek blessings and favor.
Whether or not they receive a wreath, they should welcome the gift out of courtesy.
As soon as the two women left, Aemon breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well, put it here."
Laenor forced a smile and placed the plate of pastries in front of Aemon.
Aemon was stunned.
Laenor did not hesitate, putting it directly on the small table.
The princess had wolfed down the food just moments ago and almost ate the plate.
He was scared and trembling.
Aemon's mouth twitched, and he turned to look at Joffrey.
The guy was even worse; his handsome face turned pale.
"Alas!"
Aemon looked up at the sky and sighed.
Of the three men, he was the only real man.
Under the VIP seats.
Daemon looked at the two beauties and was undecided about the wooden lance.
Rhaenyra was in a bad mood and said casually, "I wish you a victory, Uncle."
"Thank you, Princess."
Daemon smiled faintly, moved the lance in front of her, and said confidently, "I'm sure I can win the competition, Miss Rhaenyra."
"I will be more powerful if I get your token."
He still had a conscience and remembered his agreement with his brother.
His seemingly ordinary request implied that he disapproved of the relationship between Rhaenyra and his son.
He denied that he would not ask for the token.
Rhaenyra glanced at him and smiled lightly. "My token has an owner. I believe the princess is willing to give you her blessing."
Daemon did not force the issue and moved the wooden lance in front of Rhaenyra.
He was also attracted to this Velaryon beauty, but she was, at least, the enlightener of his son.
There should be a limit.
Rhaenyra took a deep breath and turned to retrieve the token.
On the small table where the cake tray was placed, two garlands of different colors were stacked.
Rhaenyra picked up a garland of red leaves and placed it on the raised wooden lance.
It had been prepared for Aemon.
Now, even if it were given to a dog, it would not be given to him.
Daemon didn't know what his niece was thinking and smiled freely. "I will do my best."
After saying that, he rode his warhorse to the arena.
Rhaenyra was confused and in no mood to respond.
Laena looked at the two of them, puzzled.
She vaguely sensed something.
Daemon's gaze at Rhaenyra was not innocent.
Ding ding!
The referee struck the gong, and contestants from both sides came onstage.
Rhaenyra and Laena didn't go back but stood by the fence and watched.
Returning would embarrass the three of them.
It would be better to take a breath.
The top position.
Viserys and the Sea Snake remained silent, competing with patience and resilience.
"I'll go out for a while."
Rhaenys couldn't bear it and walked down the aisle from the side.
She was going to teach her nephew a lesson.
As soon as she left, the back row became slightly more active.
Linman, one of the few ministers who showed up, waved to someone outside and called a servant.
He searched his pockets and took out a handful of gold royals, whispering, "Five gold royals for Daemon."
The old man was quite stingy and didn't take more than one at a time.
The servant took the gold coins and left.
Aemon sat in the first row and reached for the wine glass to take a sip.
But he didn't have one.
Rhaenys had finished Rhaenyra's, so he could only take hers.
Bang!
Rhaenys sat down and smashed her daughter's wine glass on the table.
"Aunt?"
Aemon was shocked.
"Don't call me 'aunt,' you bastard!"
Rhaenys sneered. "You took my daughter, and you're still holding on to Rhaenyra?"
The bastard in front of her was about to harm a daughter and a niece.
How could she not be angry?
Aemon smiled bitterly and said, "Aunt, I have my reasons."
"Stop talking nonsense! I only see Daemon in you!"
Rhaenys's eyes were sharp, and she didn't believe him at all.
He could fool those two stupid girls, but not her.
But he wanted to show off his skills in front of her?
Aemon was speechless.
Aemon was at the same level as her mother, and she couldn't tolerate any nonsense.
Rhaenys took a sip of wine and asked, "How are you going to explain this to Corlys and Viserys?"
"I can't let go of either of them."
Aemon replied.
"Bah!"
Rhaenys spat at him, not being at all polite.
"Why don't you just tame two dragons?
The mortality rate would be lower."
Aemon closed his eyes and wiped his face helplessly.
Aunt and mother-in-law. We can't afford to offend them.
Deep down, he also hated himself for not being loyal.
Whenever he thought of this, he felt guilty for three seconds.
However, he thought he was excusable.
Man chooses dragon; dragon chooses master.
After forming a bond, man and dragon complement each other.
Vermithor is a very special and rare dragon.
Dragons are solitary creatures with a strong sense of territory.
But the partnership between Vermithor and Silverwing is unique.
Dragons know how to form a family.
Aemon, as the driver, what's wrong with finding an extra wife?
"I'm not kidding, you're in danger now."
Rhaenys pointed to her daughter and niece in front of her and said with great sorrow, "They're all stupid girls. Do you have the heart to deceive them?"
"I don't need lies."
Aemon said frankly.
He didn't tell Rhaenyra the truth, but he didn't think to hide it either.
Laena was a latecomer; there was no deception.
As long as he won, everything would be fine, even if he had to kill his own father.
"What do you mean?"
Rhaenys asked in shock. "You don't really want to imitate the Conqueror and have two wives?"
Aemon nodded solemnly.
Rhaenys stared at her nephew for a long time and said absentmindedly, "I will never believe your bullshit about family, honor, and unity again, boy."
He was a little bastard who kept talking nonsense.
He used these words to calm her down, saying that they would protect the family together.
In reality, he was blaming her daughter and hooking up with the heir to the Iron Throne.
It was clearly to satisfy his own selfish desires.
"Aunt, I didn't tell a single lie."
Aemon assured her again and again.
He admitted that his heart was not pure, that he was a bastard who played two games.
However, his actions were beneficial to the family.
There was a struggle between the Black Party and the Green Party, as well as a game between the Velaryon and Targaryen families.
Even Daemon, an outsider, has been exerting pressure on the situation.
The tragedy of A Dance with Dragons is the accumulation of mistakes.
Marrying Rhaenyra and Laena would not only stabilize the Black Party's power, but also win over the Velaryon family.
His mother, Lady Rhea, is still alive.
Daemon has a complete family, so he should not consider marrying a second or third wife.
There are too many factors at play here, and he can't control them.
As a son, he should do it for his father!
Rhaenys was stunned and could tell he wasn't faking it. With mixed feelings, she said, "Aemon, if I didn't know your mother's character, I would definitely think you were Viserys's son."
"Such a shameless person is rare in the world."
Aemon sighed helplessly.
If possible, he would rather throw himself into the belly of Queen Emma or Alicent.
Although the Black Party and the Green Party occupy the orthodox righteousness, they can still be manipulated.
Daemon dared to mess around and was locked up in the Red Keep dungeon.
"Good luck to you, Aemon."
Rhaenys stood up and said at last, "The Faith of the Seven Gods has suppressed the Targaryen family for many years. If you are truly capable, don't end up like my father or your grandfather."
Aemon frowned slightly.
Did she mean to support him?
Rhaenys said no more and turned back to sit beside her husband.
She has her own unique vision.
A marriage is urgently needed to ease the imminent conflict between the Targaryen and Velaryon families.
Rhaenyra's claim to the Iron Throne is tempting.
However, Laenor is not fit to be a king's husband, nor can he bear the burden of balancing the interests of the realm's nobles.
Even if they are reluctant to be together, there is the problem of producing heirs.
When the children of the new queen grow up, there will inevitably be family infighting.
Aemon, the nephew, is obviously not an honest guy.
Rhaenyra will not marry him.
No matter whom she marries, she cannot escape the rebellion of his family in the valley.
Sooner or later, the Iron Throne will change hands.
"What did you say?"
Corlys tilted his head and whispered in his wife's ear.
Rhaenys looked ahead and calmly said, "Nothing, just a warning."
Ding-ding!
The referee struck the gong, marking the end of the first tournament.
Daemon dropped his broken shield and rode on his warhorse, raising his arms and shouting.
His opponent was lying on the ground, having already been thrown from his horse.
Rhaenyra watched for a while, then quietly returned to her original position.
There was nothing to see.
Laena followed.
She had just noticed her mother chatting with Aemon and had been eager to join them.
Ding-ding!
The referee struck the gong again, arranging a new challenger for Daemon.
Someone came late until then.
Alicent, trailing a long red dress, slowly walked from the aisle to the VIP seat.
Rhaenyra glanced at her, and the color of her dress clashed with hers.
But Rhaenyra was in no mood to pay her any mind.
Alicent had only taken away her father, but Laena was trying to steal her man.
It was hard to say which was worse.
"Aemon, why didn't you leave?"
Alicent asked curiously.
At her feet, a group of children followed.
Little Aegon was seven years old with cunning eyes.
He quietly crawled under the maid's skirt, chuckling from time to time.
Helena and Aemond tugged at their mother's skirt on either side, like two little bugs following their queen.
Aemon didn't rush to answer; he looked at Aegon first.
He is worthy of being the King of the Green Party in A Dance with Dragons. He has been lustful and wicked since childhood and is adept at stealing and finishing off the enemy. Even at a young age, he has already revealed his royal qualifications.
The king of mediocre kings!
Aemon slapped his forehead and said sadly, "My younger brother is showing off his power, and my uncle won't let me go."
"He is also biased."
Alicent joked as she picked up her daughter and stuffed her into his arms.
"Huh?"
Aemon's vision blurred, and a cute little girl appeared on his lap.
Helena frowned and looked up at her cousin.
Her baby was still in his arms.
"Want to come back?"
"They miss you very much, so I'll take care of you."
Alicent acted as a hands-off shopkeeper, without any selfish intentions.
Then, she pushed her two sons in front of Laena and Rhaenyra.
Laena's eyes widened in surprise.
In front of her was the dazed Aemond.
"Don't move!"
Rhaenyra, in a bad mood, held down the twisting Aegon.
Aegon was yelled at, his blood suppressed, and his neck shrank.
"Rhaenyra..."
Alicent felt distressed but held back her words.
She smiled at Aemon, walked to her husband's right, and sat down.
Ding ding!
The gong sounded, and the duel began.
"Forget it. Let's watch the duel."
Aemon smiled helplessly and picked up a piece of cake, putting it in Helena's hand.
"Thank you."
Helena opened her little mouth and raised her chubby hand to catch it.
But her arms were too short; she could only touch her ears when she raised her arms above her head. Aemon laughed and fed the cake to the little girl.
Bang!
In the arena below, the first round of knights from both sides fell to the ground.
"Sword!"
Daemon climbed up and called for his servant to deliver the sword.
Opposite him stood a sturdy man in silver armor and a yellow robe with the emblem of the "Crowned Stag" engraved on his chest.
"Who is this?"
Aemon had never seen him before.
Laena whispered, "Boros Baratheon, my cousin."
"Lord Boremund's son. A completely reckless man."
Rhaenyra spoke at the same time in a contemptuous tone.
Aemon's expression was subtle, and he sensed that the two women's attitudes had changed.
"Let's fight!"
With determination, he stretched out his hands to both of them.
Laena's eyes flashed, and she pulled her white hand back hard.
Aemon's expression remained normal, and he refused to let go. He was so shameless.
Laena rolled her beautiful eyes and gave up the useless struggle.
He was just a rogue.
Rhaenyra's delicate hand was also held, and her calm face suddenly became gloomy.
She pulled her hand back hard, wishing she could bite it.
Aemon said nothing.
"Hmph!"
Rhaenyra snorted coldly as she looked toward the arena, unable to break free.
"I'll settle with him when I get back."
Aemon's lips curled up slightly as he suppressed his excitement.
He knew she was soft-hearted.
Laenor looked over at Aemon and was immediately in awe.
Sandwiched between two women, he could hold one in each hand.
His little cousin is simply a man among men, a truly masculine man.
"How can such a man exist in the world?"
For some reason, Laenor felt a little restless.
He suddenly found his cousin's profile very attractive.
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