At the same time:
The Queen's bedroom welcomed a special guest.
"Lord Larys?"
Alicent held her daughter and looked at the visitor in surprise. Someone who was almost invisible in the palace had actually come to the door on his own initiative.
Leaning on his cane, Larys glanced at his iron-braced boots and asked humbly, "May I have a seat?"
"Of course."
Alicent invited him in considerately.
"Thank you very much."
Larys smiled and walked into the room with effort.
Aemond sat on the wool carpet and looked up at the limping guest.
"Hello, little prince."
Larys greeted him and sat in the living room chair.
Aemond frowned and asked in a low voice, "Are you a toad?"
"Be polite, Aemond."
Alicent was surprised and quickly reprimanded her outspoken little son.
Aemond became stubborn and hid in the corner. "The one who walks with a hop is clearly a toad."
Alicent's eyebrows shot up in anger at her son's defiance.
"You can spank him."
Helaena nestled in her mother's arms and whispered, "Crickets."
Aemond: …
His mouth was pursed, and he looked like he was about to cry.
"You two."
Alicent rolled her eyes, her frustration evident.
"Haha, you two little princes are so cute."
Larys smiled indifferently. He had long been accustomed to being despised.
"I'm really sorry. They're just too naughty."
Alicent said helplessly.
"It doesn't matter. Innocent children aren't offensive."
Larys changed the subject and said in a half-concealed manner: "I heard that Prince Aemon made some mistakes and was imprisoned by the king."
"When did it happen?"
Alicent asked, confused. Was it after Aemon left Rhaenyra's room?
Larys feigned ignorance and said, "I'm not sure. It seems to be related to the princess's marriage."
"Shouldn't Viserys be happy to facilitate this marriage?"
Alicent said reluctantly, knowing her husband's thoughts.
"I've heard some unfounded rumors."
First distancing himself from the relationship, Larys said, "Prince Aemon is having an affair with Lady Laena, and the king is furious about it."
"They're both unmarried, so it's normal for them to have feelings for each other."
Alicent subconsciously defended Aemon. She didn't know that the two were actually in a relationship that lasted six months.
Larys tried to figure out the queen's attitude. He smiled and said, "Prince Aemon is young and promising. It's not surprising that Lady Laena loves him."
Alicent sensed something unusual. The other person seemed very optimistic about the relationship between the two.
However, Laena is the daughter of the Sea Snake, who is pressuring the royal family. Viserys wanted to tie Aemon to the royal family and would not agree to this marriage.
Larys could read minds and whispered, "Poor Prince Aemon. I heard there was a fire on Silk Street last night, and someone saw Prince Daemon and Her Royal Highness the princess."
He paused as if he had just realized something: "Some people from the lower classes said the fire came from a dragon. That dragon, Vermithor, just happened to break through the dragon lair."
In a few words, he described the incident.
Alicent was horrified and asked, "How do you know this for sure?"
This went beyond hearsay.
"You know, the Seven Gods didn't give me a healthy body."
Larys smiled and said, "If you want to be respected, you have to excel in other areas."
"What do you suggest?"
Alicent saw that the other party was about to make a proposition and immediately displayed her royal majesty.
In theory, the Strong family is royalist. In other words, they support Rhaenyra's faction. If the "bent-footed" Larys before her wants to serve, he must show enough sincerity.
Larys did not disappoint and said, "If you want Prince Aemon to marry independently, you must find him a suitable fiancée."
He had been in the palace for a long time and had seen many things. Her Royal Highness cares too much about His Royal Highness, developing a possessive desire for him. It will undoubtedly be challenging for Her Royal Highness the Queen to arrange the Prince's marriage. Destroying the marriage the king has been looking forward to for a long time must be something Her Royal Highness the Queen thinks about day and night.
As expected, Alicent became furious and asked, "You mean Laena? But she is the daughter of the Sea Snake!"
"The king and Lord Corlys are both seeking a marriage to stabilize the situation."
Larys said matter-of-factly, "The marriage between Runestone City and Driftmark Island ensures the King's checks and balances and satisfies Lord Corlys's appetite."
Everyone is happy about it.
Alicent listened carefully and couldn't help but feel that it made sense.
Larys continued: "As long as you can persuade Lord Corlys to ask the king for his son, things may be easier."
Ser Laenor married the princess, and the royal and Velaryon families became closer. In the short term, the relationship will definitely improve.
"But Ser Laenor..."
Alicent doubted whether the other party could do it.
Larys smiled and said, "Fish is tender; duck is a bit tough. But I will try both if they are served on the table."
Alicent was silent. She didn't quite understand people with alternative sexual orientations. Maybe he could swallow a sword, but he could also stab a woman.
"I'll take my leave first."
Seeing that he had achieved his goal, Larys stood up and left.
He had his own calculations. The kingdom had been peaceful for a long time, and there was no ladder for him to climb. The only way to stand out was to disrupt the court.
"I will seriously consider it."
Alicent held her daughter tightly, her mind a bit confused. She was firmly against the marriage of Aemon and Rhaenyra. Aemon was already married to Laena.
Although she still felt uneasy, it was better than allowing Rhaenyra to be happy.
Alicent kissed her daughter's fair face and said regretfully, "It would be better if you were a little older."
Helaena looked confused; she didn't quite understand. But she could tell that her mother was a bit unhappy.
She hugged her mother's neck with her two chubby hands and pressed her face against hers. She hoped her mother would be happy.
Alicent's eyes were gentle, and she rubbed her daughter's fair face.
In the evening, the tournament was at halftime.
Exhausted, Viserys dragged himself into his wife's room. He wasn't looking for comfort. He simply went there because his nephew was locked in the room, and there was nowhere else to go.
"It's a pity you didn't go. The fight was exciting today."
Viserys smiled and sat in the recliner to enjoy the wine. Finally, he could relax for a while.
Alicent sat aside and asked, "Did you lock up Aemon?"
"That kid is a jerk. Let him wake up."
Viserys's face darkened when he mentioned his disobedient nephew.
Alicent said dissatisfiedly, "Aemon is already a man. If you want his help, you should respect his choices."
"His choice? Do you know what he chose?"
Viserys was very depressed.
Alicent said, "He may prefer Laena to the marriage you arranged."
"You must be crazy."
Viserys's face changed, and he sat up from the recliner. He was angry today and ready to ask for an explanation.
Alicent calmed down and said, "Lord Corlys proposed to you, but you refused?"
"Laenor is not qualified to be a husband."
Viserys sighed.
Oh my God! The Sea Snake's coercion is troublesome enough; why does his wife have to intervene?
Alicent said, "Even if you force the marriage, I think it will only backfire."
Viserys was stunned when he heard this. This advice is somewhat sound. The nephew is too stubborn and difficult to control.
Taking advantage of the victory, Alicent pursued: "Rhaenyra needs a husband with a strong family, and it's important to win over Lord Corlys."
"Then what?"
Viserys looked surprised.
Alicent thought he was impressed and smiled. "Aemon could marry Laena or wait until he's older to decide." It would be better to wait until he is about twenty years old and Helaena has grown into a young woman.
"That's what you think."
Viserys stared into his wife's expectant eyes.
Killing the chicken to get the eggs. This approach can be effective in the short term, but its disadvantages will become apparent after ten or twenty years.
The two most intuitive points are: Laenor cannot reproduce, and the Iron Throne will face extinction. Unable to bind his nephew, the royal family is weak.
Alicent tried to persuade: "A woman's responsibility lies in marriage and childbearing. Rhaenyra will always face it."
"You are right, but she should face Aemon."
Viserys didn't want to listen anymore and angrily said, "Did you know that Aemon stayed in her room last night and ruined her reputation?"
Alicent's expression stiffened. She didn't expect her husband to know about it.
"You know?"
Viserys said disappointedly. "Alicent, you have selfish motives."
Alicent bit her lower lip and secretly scratched her nails. She was very nervous.
"Forget it. I don't want to listen to your political discussions anymore."
Viserys closed his eyes, giving his wife an out. Since Alicent gave birth to their eldest son, Aegon, it is inevitable that she has selfish motives. She just shouldn't interfere in political affairs.
Alicent lowered her head silently.
The king's bedroom.
Aemon lay on the table and snored softly. He was dreaming again.
Endless mountains, one peak after another. Mountains formed valleys, and lakes were scattered everywhere.
"Hiss—"
A pair of lava-like eyes stared at him, spewing endless flames. Troops were gathered in front of Aemon. A female eagle flew through the air, only to be shot down by an arrow tied with red cloth. The valley burned with fire, and green wheat fields grew from the ashes.
The dream was disorganized, as if pieced together.
The outside world.
Aemon moved his fingers and woke up.
"Hiss! How long have I been sleeping?"
His head hurt as if something had been stuffed into it roughly. He looked up at the sky; it was dusk outside the glass window.
Aemon banged his head and said contemptuously, "It's so late, and you're still sleeping."
But this dream gave him a hint of inspiration. His roots, power, and reputation are in the valley. To make his uncle understand that he is not a young dragon to be raised, he must show his fangs.
Snap!
His arm moved casually and hit the glass wine jug, breaking it on the ground.
"No destruction, no construction."
Aemon glanced at the broken jug and thought it was a good sign.
Ignoring the family sword, Blackfyre, he hurried out of the room.
"Prince, you can't go out."
Two Kingsguard stopped him.
Bang! Bang!
There were only two muffled sounds, and someone fell to the ground.
"Sorry."
Aemon didn't have time to stop and stepped over the wrinkled white robe.
He took the golden-nosed rat out of his pocket, took off the black robe used for bad things, and put it on. He took a detour to the crypt. He looked at the skull of Balerion enshrined in the offering. The secret passage led outside the Red Keep.
He had walked this road last night up to Rhaenyra's bedroom.
After leaving the Red Keep, he arrived at the Dragonpit.
"Roar—"
A huge monster crawled on the ground, roasting a group of sheep and swallowing them whole.
Laena, wearing a dragon-riding suit, stroked Vhagar's thick wing membrane.
"Someone saw Vermithor flying to Blackwater Bay."
She was not surprised to see Aemon approaching.
His mouth curled up slightly as he said, "I'm not looking for it."
He wasn't stupid; he had locked Vermithor in the Dragonpit. With the dragon outside, he could move freely.
Laena leaned against Vhagar with a searching look in her eyes. "So you are here to find me?"
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