004 The Second Name Day (1)

A few days have passed, and it's Aegon's second name day. 

The red keep was bustling with workers arranging for the guests, and nobles and lords of various houses made their way to the keep, hoping to meet the prince.

"My cute baby is so handsome," Alicent said with a smile on her face as she looked at her son. 

Aegon was wearing red-colored clothes with black accents. His hair was neatly combed and his baby cheeks were slightly touched with makeup. His purple eyes shone brightly as he giggled at his mother's compliment. 

"Your Grace, it is time," one of the maids said with a bow. 

Alucent nodded her head at the maid; she was wearing a copper-brown dress with a green emerald necklace adorning her neck, matching her eyes. 

One of the maids picked up Aegon in her arms as Alicent got up from her seat. 

"Let's go, Aegon." She said as she began walking toward the ball room. 

...….

'Hmmm, she looks happy,' Aegon mumbled to himself as he watched Alicent; she had a bright smile since the morning. 

A few halls of walking and they have reached the ballroom, which is heavily decorated with Targaryen banners adorning the walls. 

In the middle of the room was a big table with meat and delicious food waiting for the guests to dine in. 

The room was filled with lords and ladies of various houses, who wanted to meet the prince and were also there to make connections. 

"Hahaha!" Viserys laughed heartily; he was wearing black robes and a crown on his head.

'Nothing but a weak man who couldn't control his own family, much less the realm!' Aegon muttered inwardly as he glanced at his father. 

"There he is!" Contrary to Aegon's disappointment, Viserys's face brightened when he noticed Alicent and Aegon walking in. 

The rest of the crowd turned toward the mother-son pair and soon enough, the room fell into a hush of murmurs as the lords and ladies ate each other's ears. 

Alicent's face crumpled a little with all the attention she was receiving, but she masked it immediately and put a bright smile on her face. 

Viserys walked toward his son and took him from the maid. "Hahaha! Look at you!" he exclaimed, his face beaming with happiness. 

The rest of the lords grouped around Aegon and started singing praises. 

"He has your eyes, Your Grace." One of them said, trying to curry favor with Viserys. 

Aegon almost rolled his eyes, 'Duh, I am a Targaryen; all Targaryens have white hair!'

Viserys laughed as he replied, "Yes, he does; he also has my nose!" He added. 

To the corner of the room, Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, was watching the scene with an amused smile on his face. 

His gray hair was slicked back as he stood tall and proud; beside him were a few lords who were chatting with him. 

"The king looks happy," one of them said, looking at Viserys. 

"Of course he is; Prince Aegon is his firstborn," Otto replied. 

"I shall hope that by the end of this hunt, like his Grace, the rest of the lords too are happy." Another said. 

"And why aren't my lords happy now?" Otto asked as he turned toward the man. 

"Prince Aegon is His Grace's firstborn son; we hope to see His Grace announcing that Prince Aegon will be his new heir." The man continued. 

"I believe that His Grace doesn't see it that way; he wants the princess to be his successor."

"Then it is your job as the Hand to make His Grace understand." With that, the man left along with the other lords. 

Otto stayed silent, watching Viserys showcase Aegon. His eyes glinted as he made plans—plans to make his grandson the king. 

... 

'Ugh! This is so boring; when will this end?' Aegon grumbled inwardly but kept a stoic expression on his face. 

Although it was amusing to watch Viserys showcase him to the rest of the lords, Aegon was utterly bored.

Just then, a man with blonde hair walked toward Viserys; he greeted him and Alicent and said, "I bring urgent news, Your Grace. The crab feeder has dug into Bloodstone while his men sabotage our ships in the dark of the night."

"It can wait, Tyland. It's my son's second name day; it can wait for another day," Viserys said with a smile, but a slightly annoyed look didn't escape the Lannister. 

He walked toward the food table, grabbing himself a plate. "Come, feast before we go for the hunt." He said while putting a slab of meat on his plate. 

Turning to the side, he asked, "Where's Rhaenyra?" 

"I don't know, Your Grace." The man answered. Just then, Alicent walked behind Viserys and said, "I know where she is; I will bring her."

Viserys looked at his wife for a moment before nodding his head, giving her permission, and going back to stuff his plate with meat. 

Alicent, receiving his permission, was about to go look for her friend when she heard her son cry, "Mama!"

Aegon furiously wiggled in the maid's arms; when he saw Alicent talking to the king and was about to step out, he knew this was his chance. 

"Mama!" he called out once again as he raised his arms, his purple eyes tearing up looking at his mother, 'please, get me out of here!'

"Aww!" the ladies in the room melted at Aegon's pleading look, 'The prince is so cute!' one of them thought.

The maid, noticing the prince struggling in her arms, walked toward Alicent to hand him over to her. She knew the prince would struggle no matter what she did to placate him.

Alicent turned toward her son, who had reached her before she could say anything. The prince latched onto her neck as if his life depended on it. "Mama!"

Alicent's green eyes softened when she looked at her son's pleading eyes. She took him from the maid and turned toward Viserys, who was watching her with amusement; he nodded his head at her, allowing her to take Aegon. 

The lords in the room smiled while the ladies fawned over the prince's cuteness. 

The mother-son pair walked out of the room, escaping the chaos within. 

'Hah! Success! Whoo! I got to tell ya! I thought I was going to suffocate there!' he mumbled inwardly. 

'Although the attention felt nice at first, it felt suffocating when half of them had some agenda against me.'

Alicent too had visibly relaxed and walked freely; her baby bump was becoming bigger, and it wouldn't be long before Aegon had a new sibling. 

They reached the godswood, where Rhaenyra was reading a book under the weirwood tree. 

Beside her was a dwarf singing songs while playing the instrument. 

The dwarf stopped playing when he saw Alicent signaling him to leave.

He bowed to her, "Your Grace," and left. 

"The king has been looking for you, Rhaenyra," Alicent said as she looked at her friend, the one whom she would have to fight against in the future.