Chapter 18

Chapter 18: The Brotherhood 

…

Richard POV

I stood by the window of my solar, the cool night air brushing against my face as I gazed at Lannisport. It was mine now—every street, every corner, every shadow. The Lionheart family had secured its grip over the city.

Over the past moons, I had gained more than control; I had gained enlightenment. And with it, I had set a new goal for myself, one far greater than what I'd originally imagined.

I thought back to my past actions, trying to decipher my motives. There was no guilt for the innocent blood I'd spilled, no pride in the power I'd seized. Just… emptiness. Not the kind that consumes, but the kind that clarifies. I hadn't lost my emotions after all—I had simply uncovered the truth of who I had always been.

Even before Wolverine's abilities coursed through me, I had stolen, I would have killed, I would have manipulated without a second thought if I had the power to do so. It wasn't out of cruelty or ambition, but out of survival and necessity. 

That primal instinct had shaped me into a creature of control, a creature of power. And now, with the means to take more, I would do exactly that.

Whether it was creating the Lionheart family, killing Rodric and his group, and dismantling rival factions—it was all part of that same pattern. I acted not out of kindness or vengeance, but because it was within my reach.

And now? Now I wanted more.

I would become more than a knight, more than a lord, and more than a king.

Because I could.

As I entertained these thoughts of domination, a knock sounded at the door. My underbosses had arrived.

"Come in," I said in a calm, measured tone, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips as the breeze from Lannisport swept through the room.

The door opened, and four young men entered. Conrad, just seventeen, wore a dark hood, his presence as quiet and deadly as the assassin group he led. He moved like a shadow, the youngest of the underbosses but perhaps the most dangerous of them all.

Laenor, eighteen, stood in contrast with his high-quality tunic and trousers, the picture of refinement. His sharp mind for politics and trade had earned him his place among my underbosses.

Then there was Jon—tall, broad, and imposing at seven feet, with a yellow and black tunic and dark trousers stretched over his massive frame. At twenty, he was a brute force, a man made for battle.

Finally, Addams entered, dressed in fine silk like a wealthy merchant. His mastery of disguise was unparalleled, and his network of spies kept us a step ahead of every move in Lannisport. He was also eighteen, but already a master in the world of shadows.

"Welcome, boys," I said with a grin, watching them take their places. "I wanted to congratulate each of you."

I let my eyes linger on each of them, the smile still on my face. These were my underbosses, my trusted men, each skilled in their own way. Together, we had taken Lannisport. But this was just the beginning.

I turned to my desk and took my seat. All of them watched me patiently, waiting for my command.

"Sit," I said calmly.

The four men immediately stepped forward, each pulling out a chair and sitting in unison. I couldn't help but feel a swell of pride. These men were the most loyal and ruthless of nearly a thousand members in the Lionheart family. 

They were smart, efficient, and capable of handling both blood and business. They feared me as much as they respected me—and they feared the other name I carried, the Hooded Man.

I opened the drawer of my desk and took out five cups, each made of cold, expensive rubies. These had once belonged to a wealthy merchant, now buried six feet beneath the streets of Lannisport. I had planned this moment carefully. I tossed each man a cup and kept one for myself.

"Lannisport is ours," I said, my voice steady. "Let's celebrate with a cup of Arbor gold." Rising from my seat, I moved to the shelves and retrieved a bottle of the finest Arbor Gold wine.

I walked over to them, popping open the bottle with a smooth flick of my thumb. Slowly and deliberately, I poured the wine into each of their cup.

"Thank you, milord," they murmured in unison as I filled each cup.

Once I returned to my seat and poured my own drink, I raised my cup slightly, looking at them with the satisfaction of a man whose plans had unfolded flawlessly. "I'm pleased with your performance. As you know, I've been preoccupied with the Lannisters lately." I spoke with casual authority, my tone almost nonchalant. "But you've all passed my test, completed the mission, and remained loyal. Drink."

I took a sip, and they followed, obediently raising their cups to their lips. I watched them closely as they drank.

"Conrad," I said, turning to the assassin first. "Are you satisfied with your position within the Lionheart family?"

"Yes, milord," Conrad replied quickly.

"Why is that?" I asked, probing deeper. 

"The Lionheart family saved me and my brother from despair. If it weren't for you, I'd still be a street urchin, begging for scraps. You gave us purpose, milord," Conrad answered, his voice steady and sincere.

I nodded at his response, already knowing the truth of it. I turned to Laenor next. "And you, Laenor?"

"I'm more than satisfied, milord. Without the family, I'd be scraping by, stealing to survive like Conrad. Now, as an underboss, I have power and wealth I never dreamed of," Laenor said, emotion shining in his eyes.

I gave him a nod of approval, then shifted my gaze to Jon. His face bore three scars across his face, which I had given him personally, scars that made him look menacing to the world. But to me, those scars marked something deeper—fear.

"And you, Jon?" I asked, my tone serious.

Jon straightened in his chair, the weight of my question evident in his posture. "I'm grateful, milord. I'd be dead if it weren't for your mercy. Every day I live is because of you. I'm happy to no longer serve under mindless thugs with no vision for the future." His voice trembled slightly, revealing the remnants of the trauma he carried.

Satisfied, I finally looked at Addam, the last of them.

Addam grinned. "What more can I say, milord? The day you tossed me those coins, I knew I wanted to follow you. The Lionheart family has given me everything—purpose, loyalty, and the will to serve. I'll continue to be your eyes and ears across Lannisport." He said with a bow.

"Good, good," I replied, satisfaction evident in my tone as I stood up. "Now, push your cups to me."

Without hesitation, they obeyed.

"From this day, you no longer need to fear me," I began, my voice steady and calm. "Don't think of me as your boss, but as your brother."

I paused, letting the weight of my words settle. "We've built something greater than power and wealth. What we have now is a bond—a brotherhood. And from today, we stand as equals." 

I proceeded to slit my palm with a dagger. A dagger I had taken from my side. I let the blood drip on each cup. I had to redo each because of my healing factor. 

Jon wasn't surprised by my healing factor since he had witnessed something even more remarkable—my metal claws that had caused the scars on his face. 

On the other hand, Conrad, Laenor, and Addam looked on in fascination, their eyes wide with a mix of awe and apprehension. It was clear they were still grappling with the reality of my abilities, their expressions reflecting a complicated blend of loyalty and fear.

"Now, do the same," I said, pushing my cup next to theirs.

One by one, they followed my lead, each adding their blood to the cups. There was no hesitation, only loyalty in their eyes.

I remained standing, lifting my cup high. "A toast to our brotherhood."

"A toast to our brotherhood," they echoed, but this time, their faces were different. Gone was the usual seriousness, fear, and respect. Instead, I saw relief, happiness, and satisfaction—bliss at being acknowledged as equals, as my brothers.

…

Alicent POV

I waited by the door to Richard's solar. It had been a while since the underbosses entered, and the anticipation of their meeting seemed endless. The reason for my presence wasn't about the business they discussed, though. 

I was here because I wanted to spend time with Richard. Lately, our conversations had dwindled to nothing more than formalities, overshadowed by his dealings with the Lannisters, which consumed all his time.

Thinking of the Lannisters made my thoughts drift to Cersei. The jealousy that had once simmered whenever I saw them together had faded over the past moons. Now, I found myself longing for Richard's attention again, just like before.

I missed our shared laughter and the moments we could just be ourselves. The last time I could recall us truly enjoying each other's company was during our name day, nearly eight and a half moons ago.

Waiting another three and a half moons to celebrate with him felt unbearable. I didn't want to wait any longer. I wanted to talk to him now, to spend time with him before the distance between us grew any larger.

Lost in my thoughts, the door to Richard's solar creaked open, and laughter spilled out—a rare, startling sound from the usually grim men who followed him.

"We're now brothers with the boss. Can you believe it?" Laenor said, grinning as he stepped into the hallway with the other underbosses close behind.

"Yeah, now as brothers, let's make him even more proud," Addam responded with a chuckle.

I watched in surprise. These men had always been so serious, so composed. Seeing them like this, laughing and at ease, was an unusual sight.

"My lady," Conrad was the first to notice me standing nearby, nodding with respect. The others followed suit, offering their nods as well. I knew they held me in high regard because of my connection to Richard—their boss, and now, it seemed, their brother too.

I returned their nods in silence, and they moved past me, still exchanging smiles and laughter. As they passed, I caught the faint scent of wine lingering on them. They were drunk, I concluded. 

The door to Richard's solar remained ajar, left open in their haste. I took a deep breath, steadying myself. This was the moment I had been waiting for—my chance to finally have time alone with Richard.

…