Chapter 47: Alicent’s Coaxing

Frustrated after being cornered by her father, Rhaenyra returned to her room to find it empty without Rhaegar's presence. The loneliness of the room only deepened the pain in her heart.

She thought about her father's incessant pressure to marry. Did he think she could not inherit the Iron Throne without a husband? Would the world turn against her if she remained unmarried?

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Rhaenyra turned to see Cole, dressed in silver armor and white robes, entering the room.

"Cole, is everything all right?" Rhaenyra asked, hastily wiping away any traces of tears and feigning nonchalance.

With concern etched into his face, Cole replied quietly, "Princess, the queen wishes to speak with you in the back garden."

"Alicent?" Rhaenyra's skepticism remained, finding the timing too coincidental.

Straightening her clothes, Rhaenyra nodded. "Understood, I will leave immediately."

...

In the secluded back garden, Rhaenyra arrived alone and found Alicent already waiting under the canopy of fishwood.

When they met, Alicent's face was etched with concern. "What happened last night?"

Rhaenyra's brow furrowed in suspicion. "What do you mean?"

Alicent continued, her concern palpable. "Disturbing rumors have been circulating about you. Have you been with your uncle?"

Rhaenyra's senses sharpened at the mention of her uncle, and she was instantly on guard.

With a gentle smile, Rhaenyra replied, "Daemon and I haven't crossed paths in years. He simply accompanied me to the city."

"I am your sister. You must confide in me so that I can help you, Rhaenyra," Alicent urged, her tone pleading as she reached out to take Rhaenyra's hand.

"What exactly am I accused of?" Rhaenyra countered rhetorically. "Drinking wine? Sneaking out of the castle in the middle of the night?"

"According to the allegations, you were seen in a brothel with Daemon." Alicent continued, her expression feigning concern and embarrassment as she spoke.

"That is an outrageous accusation!" How could Rhaenyra admit it, she replied verbally.

Alicent, however, did not believe it, "Is that so? You Targaryens have strange customs."

"Daemon obviously doesn't know any better; he's a conniving man with ambitions that know no bounds."

"Shut up, Alicent!" The words came out, and Rhaenyra sternly stopped her from continuing. If she had actually done something wrong, she would not have dared to scold her so loudly. But she was too innocent to let Alicent take her word for it.

Shaking off Alicent's hand, Rhaenyra said, "Questioning my innocence is a treasonous offense, who told you that?"

Alicent was taken aback by her sudden outburst, his eyes darting, "I ... was in your father's bedroom this morning."

"Very well, you come to question me about something that both my father and the Hand of the King have already jumped to conclusions about!"

Rhaenyra's voice was clear and cold as she caught her words, her gaze piercing. "Alicent, Your Majesty the Queen. We used to be sisters, sharing everything, but you've changed so much, I hardly recognize you anymore."

Alicent seemed flustered and tried to backtrack, "It's not what you think. I overheard it and I was worried about you..."

"So you're accusing me and tarnishing my reputation with unfounded accusations?" Rhaenyra's tone became more heated, her frustration obvious.

At a loss for words, Alicent tried to defend herself, "I was only trying to help you, Rhaenyra."

Rhaenyra's smile was tinged with sarcasm, "We went to the tavern for a drink, and when it got late, I wanted to go home. But Daemon wasn't finished and insisted on visiting a brothel."

"We parted on the street and went in different directions."

"I returned to the Red Keep just as a fire broke out in the city, unaware of Daemon's whereabouts."

"I spent the night tending to Rhaegar."

Rhaenyra had meticulously prepared these statements to deflect Alicent's probing questions with unwavering certainty.

Without giving Alicent a chance to respond, she walked away alone, her expression cold.

She saw through Alicent's intentions, realizing that she was trying to discredit her by implying a connection to Daemon.

But Alicent had miscalculated.

...

The disheveled Daemon staggered back to the Red Keep, his steps unsteady, indicating that he hadn't yet sobered up.

As he made his way, Harrold, the captain of the Kingsguard, and two of his men rushed to intercept him.

Without a word, the two guards flanking Daemon grabbed his arms and promptly arrested him.

Harrold regarded Daemon with indifference, his voice devoid of emotion as he spoke, "The King wishes to speak with you, Prince."

Ignoring Daemon's protests, the guards lifted him up and began to escort him to the Hall of the Iron Throne.

"Release me, you filthy mongrels!" Daemon struggled against his bonds, his discomfort evident as he writhed and spat.

But his pleas fell on deaf ears as he was swiftly transported to the Hall, where he was unceremoniously thrown to the cold, black stone floor.

Daemon showed no sign of concern, simply lying face down, the smell of alcohol clinging to him.

Harrold motioned for two guards to stand guard at the door before a stern Viserys emerged from the shadows.

The king, struggling to contain his anger, approached Daemon in a cold voice and demanded, "What have you done with my daughter?"

Despite his belief in Rhaenyra's words, Viserys couldn't resist the urge to seek confirmation once more.

Daemon, in a confused state, let out a hiccup and remained silent.

Viserys' expression changed slightly as he pressed, "Have you nothing to say in your defense?"

"I cannot defend myself if I do not know the charges against me," Daemon replied, showing signs of sobriety.

Viserys, overcome with rage, delivered a powerful kick to Daemon's stomach.

His voice dripping with rage, he charged, "You kidnapped her from the safety of our home to defile her!"

Daemon recoiled from the blow, but remained defiant. "What does it matter? We roamed the brothels of Silk Street when we were Rhaenyra's age."

Viserys, his anger undiminished, retorted, "We were young men then. She was a child, your own niece!"

"Rhaenyra is a grown woman now, the first to ever show me any kindness," Daemon continued callously.

Enraged beyond measure, Viserys lunged at Daemon, grabbing his collar and delivering two powerful blows to his face.

Blood spurted from Daemon's mouth, a tooth knocked loose by the impact.

Viserys, still gripping his collar, seethed, "You will ruin her. After what you've done, what lord will want to marry her?"

"Who cares about these useless lords? You're the king, your word is law," Daemon shot back, the pain stirring a glimmer of sincerity in his words.

Viserys was taken aback. "I have defended you all my life, but your heart is darker than I ever imagined."

With contempt evident in his expression, Daemon sneered in response.

The two brothers locked eyes in the silent hall.

Suddenly, Viserys burst into laughter and taunted, "You didn't get it, did you? My son has foiled your plans."

"What?"

Daemon's confusion was palpable.

Viserys loosened his grip on Daemon's collar and stood tall as he continued, "Rhaegar, my eldest, he outshines you in every way."

"Not only did he see through your cunning schemes, but he values family and loyalty more than you ever could."

Daemon paled, his expression wavering. "Rhaegar sent the mysterious figure last night and he started the fire?"

"Indeed. Quite the clever boy, isn't he?"

Viserys' smugness was evident as he mocked his brother.

Daemon shook his head, his smile fading. "For a boy his age to be so astute, perhaps it's time to reconsider Rhaenyra's inheritance and name your eldest son as the rightful heir."

(Word count: 1271)