In the Morning
Despite Alicent's repeated requests for him to stay, Aemon declined. She hugged Helaena and wanted to stuff Aegon and Aemond into his arms, too. He appreciated the kindness. Given his relationship with Alicent, there was no need to bind them together emotionally.
Aemon hurried downstairs and walked through the crowded hall. Before leaving King's Landing, he wanted to eliminate a few pests. He didn't want to disrupt the current stability. First, though, he had to go back to the bedroom to see how Laena and Rhaenyra were doing.
The two female dragon riders were both strong-willed.
He was afraid they would pull each other's hair out.
In the hall.
Laenor was dressed gorgeously, and in front of him stood a wealthy merchant from Pentos.
"Look, these are all fine goods." The merchant introduced them enthusiastically.
Laenor and his lover exchanged glances and looked at several items.
Aemon passed by and took a liking to an expedition hat with a dark green background and peacock feathers.
"This suits you, cousin." Aemon, who was very mean, put the dark green expedition hat on Laenor's head.
In Westeros, there is no stigma attached to wearing green hats, and green is still considered a healthy color.
Laenor tried on the hat his cousin had given him and was excited. "Really? I think this hat suits my temperament too."
"As long as you like it." Aemon gave a thumbs-up and quickly left the scene.
Kept in the dark, Laenor admired the hat happily, ruffling the long peacock collar from time to time. He thought to himself that his little cousin was really kindhearted.
The prince's bedroom.
The room was quiet, and the atmosphere was strangely silent. Laena sat at one end of the bed and Rhaenyra sat at the other. No one spoke.
Before the tournament, the two were close cousins and good friends. It was normal to be embarrassed now.
Rhaenyra turned her head to look at the fireplace, clutching the hem of her black lace skirt with both hands and trying to maintain a calm expression.
They were good friends, as close as sisters.
After her mother died, Alicent became her stepmother and betrayed her trust.
While touring the continent, Laena had an affair with Aemon. She was the biggest victim.
Damn Daemon!
"Rhaenyra, how have you been lately?" Suddenly, Laena reached out her hand and took the initiative to talk.
Rhaenyra subconsciously retracted her hand and retorted like a hedgehog. "Many people follow me. I'm fine."
Aemon was right about one thing. The other woman was indeed bad, good at deception and disguise.
"I asked how you've been recently and if you have any friends who can talk to you." Laena sat sideways and turned back, revealing some sincerity.
She asked herself and realized that she still had a good impression of Rhaenyra. After all, Rhaenyra would be the first queen to sit on the Iron Throne, fulfilling her mother Rhaenys's unfinished legacy. She was a little stupid, but kindhearted.
Cleaning the streets and reclaiming new fields provided food for a large number of homeless orphans. King's Landing, which used to be a cesspool, now has clean streets, greatly improving the living environment. These things seem insignificant. Rhaenyra herself did not even discover the problem. However, with the king's, princes', and ministers' talents, they definitely would have discovered it, but no one cared.
Rhaenyra came forward and solved the problem. This is admirable.
Upon hearing the sudden concern, Rhaenyra felt conflicted and replied stiffly, "It's okay."
It's not okay at all.
She doesn't have any friends. In the vast Red Keep, she cannot trust a single person. Alicent, who used to be her closest friend, is now her enemy.
Laena's beautiful eyes flickered, and she whispered, "We're actually the same kind of people. Real dragons can't be friends with sheep."
"Are you a real dragon, too?" Rhaenyra said coldly, guarding against the Velaryons from the bottom of her heart.
"I have dragons, don't I?" Laena was calm. She put her hands on Rhaenyra's shoulders and closed the distance between them. "Outside, there are vultures spying on the true dragon bloodline. What you and I are pursuing is just support. We're becoming a family who knows and accompanies each other."
The ancient Targaryen tradition largely ensures that the bloodline does not die out. Therefore, family is a particularly important concept. Even though Daemon is a bastard, he longs to return to his family and be recognized by his brother.
"Do you think I will be your family?" Rhaenyra laughed dumbly. Family members will not steal her man.
"Now that things have come to this, we have to face reality." Laena sighed and laughed. "Guess how later generations' history books will record it. Will it be as the Conqueror's queen or Maegor's Black Bride?"
Rhaenyra was speechless. "You are so boring."
Such words could come out of her.
Laena didn't care and spoke freely. "Looking at the history books, Aegon the Conqueror married his elder sister, Visenya, out of a sense of responsibility, and his younger sister, Rhaenys, out of desire. The relationship between the two sisters was not harmonious."
Queen Rhaenys was a petty woman.
If Aegon the Conqueror spent one night with Queen Visenya, he would compensate Queen Rhaenys with ten nights.
On the nights Aegon stayed in Visenya's room, Rhaenys would summon male favorites to drink and have fun, deliberately provoking Aegon.
Laena had good reason to doubt.
If Queen Rhaenys had not died in the Dorne War, the two sisters might have fallen out one day.
Legendary figures like them cannot escape worldly desires, let alone Rhaenyra and Queen Rhaenys.
They should learn from history and be tolerant. Even if they take a step back, they can't talk about it.
Laena has Vhagar, but Rhaenyra doesn't have a Meraxes of the same size.
If Rhaenyra can't control herself, she will suffer.
"Smooth talker." Rhaenyra snorted coldly, thinking about the future.
Laena saw through her disguise. She slowly leaned close to Rhaenyra's ear and whispered, "How is your sex life with Aemon?"
Rhaenyra turned around suddenly, her eyes full of disbelief. Why ask such a thing?
"I noticed you were walking a bit awkwardly a few days ago." Laena turned her head away, feeling a little embarrassed.
The best way for a woman to improve a relationship is to say something embarrassing.
She is older than Rhaenyra and Aemon and is considered the elder sister. It's also appropriate to teach them proper posture.
Rhaenyra's face turned red, and after hesitating for a moment, she whispered something in Laena's ear.
Laena listened carefully and frowned more and more as she heard more.
"Isn't it right?" Rhaenyra was very nervous.
She had lost her mother at a young age and didn't like listening to the old septa's teachings.
"Rhaenyra, you really need to improve in this area." Laena looked surprised and shook her head. "You spoiled Aemon too much."
Both of them were in relationships with older women and younger men. They should take the initiative and not let each other do whatever they want.
Rhaenyra is a character who can withstand anything.
"Then you teach me." Rhaenyra's face flushed. She was no longer stubborn and eased the tension.
Laena's eyes hid a smile as she pretended to sigh. "Since you asked sincerely, then okay."
As she said this, she moved her hands from the other person's shoulders to the front and whispered in her ear. At first, everything seemed fine, but the more she talked, the more off-topic she became. When she got excited, she almost clung to her.
Bang!
Suddenly, the door opened.
"I'm back." Aemon pushed the door open.
The two figures quickly separated, one on the left and one on the right. They lowered their heads, blushed, and bled, not daring to look at anyone.
Aemon looked at the two guilty people with surprise in his eyes.
Why is the atmosphere so weird?
Good news: no hair pulling.
The bad news is that it's better to pull hair!
After waiting a while, Laena and Rhaenyra buried their faces in their chests and remained silent. Aemon admitted that he had been wrong.
But you should say something!
After a moment of silence, he murmured, "I'm sorry. I came at the wrong time."
Laena: …
Rhaenyra: …
Bang! Aemon closed the door and left silently.
In the hall.
Laenor giggled as he played with the dark green peacock feather hat his cousin had chosen for him. Joffrey, his lover, stood by, dissatisfaction flashing in his eyes.
Ta-da-da…
A burst of hurried footsteps. Aemon came downstairs.
"Cousin, where are you going?" Laenor's eyes lit up; he wanted to find an opportunity to get closer.
Aemon had a blank expression on his face. When he passed by Laenor, Laenor snatched the adventure hat. "It doesn't suit you that well."
"why?" Laenor was surprised.
Aemon said nothing and put the hat on his own head.
With tears in his heart, he kept telling himself,
"It's okay.
Life goes on.
...
At noon, Aemon sat in the open-air corridor of Maegor's Tower, under the scorching sun. It was quiet.
A figure walked down the corridor, limping and holding a scepter.
"Prince, what a coincidence." Larys smiled, pretending to have met by chance.
Aemon said nothing, wanting to be alone.
"I still remember how you stole my scepter. That naughty child has grown up in the blink of an eye." Larys skillfully brought them closer together, revealing his signature shy smile. "The Sea Snake just stormed out of the Red Castle. According to the maids, he had a dispute with the king."
I was in the hall and saw the Sea Snake leave angrily.
Princess Rhaenys and Ser Laenor followed.
Coincidentally, Lady Laena did not leave.
Considering the current situation, it's easy to guess that the king and the Sea Snake reached a consensus or compromise.
Obviously, it is impossible to use Prince Aemon's marriage to cause a commotion.
The Black Party is strong, but his father and brother are there.
The Green Party is weak and must wait for an opportunity.
Prince Aemon is worthy of the potential power he has long desired, so the king can try to negotiate with him.
In the Seven Kingdoms, the prince is the pinnacle of power.
If he wants more power, he must sit on the Iron Throne.
"You're in a bad mood. Maybe I can help." Larys looked at him, analyzing why the other party had come here to relax. Logically, he should be in high spirits at this time.
Aemon raised his eyes and glanced at him. He patted his side and said, "Sit down."
"Thank you." Larys relaxed and walked to the balcony.
Due to his poor legs and feet, he gritted his teeth, supported the scepter, and tried several times before sitting up with difficulty.
"Huh." Larys took a breath and asked, "Prince, what trouble are you in?"
He didn't realize that Alicent had sold him out.
Aemon put his hand on Larys's shoulder, turned his head, and said seriously, "Tell me, what is the meaning of life?"
Larys was stunned.
The next second, he saw Aemon looking behind him. The open-air corridor was located on the fourth floor, more than ten meters above the ground. Below was the dry moat, densely covered with spikes.
Larys's face changed drastically, and he began to sweat profusely. He could smell danger.
"Speak up! Aren't you good at speaking?" Aemon urged, his face cold.
Larys was completely panicked and hurriedly replied: "Prince, you need to calm down."
"I am calm." Aemon held Larys's shoulders tightly, as if he were going to take him down.
In fact, he really did.
He didn't look for Larys but made his way to the door.
There happened to be iron spikes below, so he was pulled down and jumped together with them.
A ten-meter fall wouldn't kill him, and the iron spikes wouldn't pierce his skin.
Larys is dead.
They could pretend that the two of them fell accidentally, and Prime Minister Laenor would also have an explanation.
Larys's palms were sweating, but he kept his cool. "Prince, if you have any questions, I will tell you everything I know."
He saw it.
He must have been exposed somewhere and discovered by the other party.
Aemon's expression was cold. "You're well-informed. Tell me something useful that I don't know."
"Okay." Larys widened his eyes, not daring to neglect the task. "I heard that Prince Daemon stayed at Dragonstone for one night after leaving King's Landing. He appeared again in the Stepstones."
"I don't want to listen to you." Aemon said coldly.
"You'll be interested." Larys lowered his eyebrows and said, "The Three Women's Kingdoms are caught in internal strife. Prince Daemon has hired a group of mercenaries to regain control of the Stepstone Islands. Rumor has it that he has contacted the Rogare family in Lys."
Aemon frowned, which was unexpected.
The Three Women's Kingdoms are an alliance of three free trade city-states that are constantly fighting amongst themselves. According to the original world's trajectory, the internal strife and the Dance of the Dragons occurred one after another. The cause was a prostitute. Governor Lys and the commander of the Three Women's Kingdoms' fleet fought over her, and one of them killed the other, completely igniting the fuse.
Unexpectedly, the Black Swan flew to the Vale, and the internal strife of the Three Women's Kingdoms began early.
Larys explained, "After the Battle of Pentos, the Three Kingdoms suffered heavy losses. The bankers, led by the Rogare family, and the Tyroshi mercenaries had long resented each other, which led to internal strife."
Aemon nodded slightly. Of the three free trade cities, Lys and Tyrosh are undoubtedly the most influential. Lys is rich in brothels and female slaves and is the richest of the three city-states. Tyrosh mercenaries are everywhere, forming the backbone of the Three Kingdoms' pirate forces.
Money bags and knife handles are naturally incompatible.
"Did Daemon establish himself as king again?" Aemon asked.
Larys frowned and replied, "No, but the Rogare family donated a large number of craftsmen and money. It seems they intend to build fortifications in the Stepstone Islands."
Aemon's eyes flashed and his thoughts flew. The Rogare family of Lys is a prestigious noble family of Valyrian descent. If it weren't for him, one of his half-brothers would have passively married a Rogare daughter and ascended the Iron Throne, pushing the Rogare family to the pinnacle of power. But with him, those prospects are nonexistent.
"Daemon and the Rogare family..." Aemon said suspiciously. "Does Lys want to break away from the Three Women's Kingdom and support Daemon in controlling the Stepstone Islands?"
Daemon wouldn't be so depraved, would he?
"Governor Lys didn't show up. Everything was the private business of the Rogare family." Larys didn't dare assert this, only saying something ambiguous.
Aemon stopped asking questions and had his own suspicions. Daemon was driven out of King's Landing and would definitely not return to Runestone City. He didn't have the face to occupy Dragonstone. There is a precedent with "Black Bride" Rhaena Targaryen. Dragon riders without territories must wander and live a life of being coveted by others.
During his brother Aenys I's reign, the cruel Maegor rode "Black Death" Balerion east of Essos. Ultimately, he did not establish a career.
Daemon wanted a foothold independent of others, so the Stepstones were his only choice. The Rogare family may have recognized this and tried to win over Daemon. The Rogare family has money, and Daemon has dragons. An alliance between the two could have considerable influence.
"Daemon is trouble when he's alive." Aemon's face and heart were cold.
He had also considered launching a war of conquest against the Three Women's Kingdom on the other side of the Strait. However, Runestone City and Runestone's troops were insufficient, and the Vale was across the sea. Not to mention, the Three Women's Kingdom itself was not weak, and there were Dornishmen to help them. Therefore, his primary goal was to gain control of the Vale. Although he has the title of "Prince of the Vale," the Arryn family rules the Eyrie. If he wanted to take over the Vale, conflict would be inevitable.
Aemon's eyebrows were knotted with worry about this matter.
Larys silently moved to the side, trying to break free from the grip of the large hand.
"Tell me," he said. "If I want to gain the loyalty of the nobles of the Vale, what should I do?"
Aemon suddenly asked with a kind smile.
His Royal Highness is a loyal man.
If you meet someone who is not convinced, just push him over.
When it comes to conspiracy and intrigue, the "Bent Foot" beside him is an expert.
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