The morning air in King's Landing was heavy and still. Word of Lady Laena Velaryon's death had just reached the court. The castle felt muffled, as if draped in thick grey cloth. No one spoke loudly. Even the usually busy servants moved slowly, careful not to break the silence.
Aegon blinked as he sat in his chamber, feeling sweat on his neck. He remembered darkness, a sudden accident… and then opening his eyes here. But here was not his world, and when he looked at his pale hands, they were not his hands. He was Aegon Targaryen—a prince, the son of King Viserys and Queen Alicent.
He stared at the cold stone wall, trying to catch his breath. So much was different, but he had no time to process it now. The castle was waiting. His mother was waiting.
He listened to footsteps in the hall. Someone stopped outside his door and knocked twice, sharp and quick. "Aegon, get up," called Alicent. Her tone was direct—no softness.
He stood, pushing back stray thoughts. "Coming."
She opened the door, not waiting for permission. Alicent wore a dark green dress, her face set and calm, but her eyes looked tired.
"The King will gather us soon," she said. "There are things to discuss. You mustn't wander around today. Stay with us."
Aegon nodded and dressed quickly. His hands shook a little, but only he would notice. The memories in his head—one world's knowledge, overlays of this new identity—felt messy, but all that mattered was acting the part now.
They walked the silent corridors together. On the way, they met Aemond, his younger brother, standing near a window. Aemond's expression was tight, his eye cold. "Mother," he greeted without smiling. "Brother."
Aegon just nodded. There was no easy conversation between them.
As a family, they entered the King's solar. King Viserys sat by the window, staring at the city's rooftops. He looked older than Aegon remembered from the screen—sick, sad, and distracted.
He turned as they entered. "We lost a good lady last night. Lady Laena was strong, and her loss will be felt on Driftmark and at this court."
He looked at them, and Aegon felt the weight of expectation. There was nothing he could say—Laena was only a distant relative, but the whole realm reacted when a Targaryen died.
Alicent spoke first. "We will hold prayers for her, and send condolences to Prince Daemon and their daughters."
Viserys nodded, but his gaze lingered on his sons. "You all must behave well these days. There must be no trouble. I will not have another fight between the children."
Aegon's mind sharpened. He remembered what happened after Laena's death—Daemon would be unstable, the children's quarrels would soon become everyone's problem, and already, whispers about succession crept through the court.
"I will be careful," Aegon said simply, watching his mother for a sign. Alicent just nodded.
Later, as the family gathered for a small meal, no one ate much. Helaena, his sister, played with a silver bug, mumbling to herself. Aemond picked at his bread, looking angry.
Aegon watched and listened. He noticed the way the servants glanced at him, the guards posted at each door, the way even familiar faces seemed unsure. The calm in the Red Keep felt like a storm about to start.
After the meal, Aegon walked the halls with Aemond beside him.
"Are you afraid of her ghost?" Aemond asked suddenly, meaning Lady Laena.
"No. Why?" Aegon replied.
Aemond shrugged. "Everyone is jumpy. The girls cry in their rooms. Mother prays all day. You seem… quieter than before."
Aegon managed a small smile. "Maybe I have more to think about now."
Aemond looked at him sharply, but then just nodded. "Today is not a day for games. We mustn't give Rhaenyra or the royal cousins any reason to complain about us."
Aegon absorbed this advice, surprising himself by how much sense it made. He felt the urge to say something supportive but kept it simple. "You're right. We should keep out of the way for now."
When they parted, Aegon slipped away for a moment's peace in the castle garden. He thought about Lady Laena—a dragonrider, courageous and proud, dead too young. He didn't know her well, but loss changed everything here. It made people nervous. It changed loyalties.
He looked at his reflection in a pond. The hair was silvery-white, the eyes violet—nothing like the face he remembered from his old world. But this was the face everyone would now judge. How he acted from today forward could shape everything: his mother's respect, his brothers' trust, the court's belief in him.
He closed his eyes. No grand statements. No talk of fate or destiny. Just small steps, careful choices, watching and learning.
Footsteps crunched on the gravel behind him. Alicent stood there, her arms crossed as she watched him.
"We have to be strong," she said softly, voice more tired than before. "Not all eyes on us are friendly anymore."
"I understand," Aegon replied.
She let out a breath. "We'll talk with the council after the King rests. Be there. Listen. Don't speak unless spoken to."
Aegon nodded.
The day moved on—a blur of whispered news, anxious faces, and careful silences. By evening, candles glowed in every window. Aegon stood at his own, looking out at the city below. He didn't know what tomorrow would bring, but for now, he made himself ready to answer, to watch, and—when the right chance came—to change what he could.