Chapter 327: Turn Aegon Into a Girl?

Lyonel lived up to his Strong surname, his bloated figure bursting with tremendous force as he delivered a powerful kick.

With a sickening crack, Larys crumpled to the ground, his body landing with a lightness that belied the force behind the blow.

"Cough... cough..." Larys's face turned as white as a sheet, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"Disloyal son, how many sins have you committed? Did you have anything to do with Lord Borros's death?" Lyonel wasn't done yet. He grabbed Larys by the collar, lifting his second son with one hand, his eyes cold and bloodshot with fury.

Lyonel was on the brink of exploding with anger. As the Hand of the King, his second son's lawbreaking was a direct affront to House Strong.

Crack! Crack! Lyonel slapped Larys hard, shaking him violently. "You've shamed your role as a royal inquisitor! How can you stand up to the King's trust?"

He wanted to question if his son had ever considered the family's honor but doubted the conscience of someone who had committed so many crimes.

"Ahem, I was just doing a job for someone. What crime could I have committed?" Larys coughed up blood, his eyes dark and defiant.

Even now, he refused to acknowledge his guilt. In his mind, everything he did was forced upon him.

Lyonel's face darkened as he released his grip, disappointed. "Larys, when did your heart rot and stink?"

He had expected his son to confess and beg for forgiveness. Instead, Larys played the victim.

"Oh, if you could look me in the eye, with your wisdom, you should have seen this end coming," Larys laughed bitterly.

"Seven hells!" Lyonel sighed in pain. "Prince, Larys has committed a felony. How do you wish to proceed?"

He had to redeem his house's honor.

Rhaegar watched, his expression serious. "The law will judge him."

Larys's existing charges were enough to warrant execution many times over.

"Will it be referred to the Small Council for trial?" Lyonel asked ruefully.

Rhaegar shook his head. "There's no need. The reason I called you here today is to deal with him discreetly and preserve the honor of the royal family and House Strong."

Lyonel nodded, defeated. "Thank you, Prince."

He understood the necessity of handling Larys privately to protect the family's reputation.

Larys coughed up a mouthful of bloody phlegm and laughed miserably, "Can I apply for a trial by combat?"

"What do you think?" Rhaegar replied indifferently.

Larys turned his head to his father, his eyes pleading like a chastised child.

Lyonel grimaced and clenched his teeth. "Don't even think about it. No one will fight for you, least of all Harwin."

He knew his second son's intentions. Harwin, his eldest, was the strongest and could potentially win a trial by combat.

At that moment, Rhaegar signaled to Grey Worm and silently turned away.

Grey Worm approached, raising his spear with a steely expression.

"Wait, I have one more thing to say," Larys stammered, struggling to back away.

Rhaegar gazed out over the lush canopy of the Godswood, ignoring him.

He had no interest in the pleas of a dying man.

As Grey Worm drew closer, spear aimed at his heart, Larys's voice wavered, "Prince, some things are like broken glass. I'm just the one picking up the pieces, but broken glass is always broken."

He was stating the truth; he was a conspirator, but there had to be an opportunity for him to act.

Rhaegar remained silent.

Grey Worm stepped closer, his spear ready for the kill. "Farewell."

"No, no, no..." Larys shuddered and swallowed. "I don't want to die yet. I'm applying for Brother of the Night's Watch."

Lyonel stepped in and grabbed Grey Worm's spear. "Prince, every prisoner has the right to go to the Wall to atone for his sins."

He softened at the critical moment.

Rhaegar turned and looked at Larys' limp foot. "It will be difficult for you to survive even if you reach the Wall."

"Then please cut off my limp."

Larys' eyes closed tightly, his voice depressed. "It dragged me down for the first half of my life. At least let me be free of it for the second half."

Rhaegar watched him, his mind racing. To be fair, he wanted to kill him right now. But Lyonel's pleading eyes offered a chance for loyalty.

"Hold him."

Rhaegar unclasped Truefyre at his waist, gripping the hilt of his keeled sword, and handed the ebony scabbard to Lyonel.

"Prince?" Lyonel held the scabbard, puzzled.

Swish—

Rhaegar drew his sword violently, the blade shining with a silky ebony light.

He swung down at Larys's limp leg.

Crack...

The sound of breaking bones echoed, and Larys couldn't suppress a miserable scream. His calf was severed cleanly from the patella.

Rhaegar twirled his sword, shaking off the blood, and said indifferently, "Bandage him up, and select a group of criminals to escort him to the Wall."

With that, Rhaegar handed Truefyre to Tormund and turned to leave.

Larys could still serve a purpose; he would ensure he died reasonably along the way.

Grey Worm nodded and ordered two Unsullied to drag the wailing Larys away.

Lyonel's face was ashen as he fell to his knees before the weirwood, praying to the old gods.

...

Meanwhile

Inside one of the Red Keep's bedrooms, the girls cried out in grief.

Outside the door, Aemond lowered his eyes and walked away in silence.

The news of Borros' death finally reached the Four Storms. They huddled together, breaking down in tears.

Aemond had no interest in comforting them; he had business to attend to.

Dismissing his squire, Aemond exited the Maegor's Holdfast alone and made his way to the stables.

In the hayloft where horse manure was piled up, two tattered, thin men waited nervously.

"Have you thought it over?" Aemond scrutinized them.

The two men nodded repeatedly, fawning. "All at your command, Prince."

"Follow me."

Without further ado, Aemond avoided the sight of bystanders and led the two men into the Red Keep.

...

On the Other Side

Aegon lay in his bedchamber, panting. Under the thin quilt, he was unclothed, cradling a plump woman in his arms.

He had spent the night at a brothel on Silk Street and had brought a prostitute back through a secret passage to continue his debauchery.

Click-click...

As noon approached, the room's door knob gently turned from the outside.

Two ugly-looking men sneaked into the room, approaching the drunken boy on the bed.

"Gulp..."

One of the men swallowed, his triangular eyes revealing a ferocious light.

Raising his head, he exchanged a glance with his companion, their eyes filled with the desire for money.

Together, they raised their hands and brought them down forcefully.

"Oooooooo..."

Aegon shrieked and struggled, suddenly realizing that his hands were tied to the bed with twine, and his mouth was covered by a large, dirty hand.

"Ah..."

The whore woke up to the sound and was about to scream when her mouth was covered. A trembling voice whispered, "Be good and obey, it will better for everyone that way."

The whore nodded in fear and closed her eyes, not daring to look away.

One man ripped the sheet, gagged her, and threw her to the floor.

"Who are you and what do you want!?"

Aegon screamed indistinctly through his gag.

Bang—

The door to the room slammed heavily, drawing everyone's attention.

Aegon struggled to see a bemused Aemond standing in the doorway.

"Run, go get the guards to save me..."

Aegon's eyes erupted with hope as he cried out wildly in excitement.

With a gentle pace, Aemond calmly said, "Aegon, you owe me an apology, and I told you I would make you pay."

Aegon froze at his words, giving up his struggle, and stared incredulously at Aemond.

Suddenly, he realized that this brother was unfamiliar to him.

"Don't look at me like that. I'm about to leave, and we need to finish this before I go."

Aemond's face was expressionless as he sat on the edge of the bed.

The Four Storms knew of their father's death, and once the saddle was ready for Sheepstealer, he would have to travel to Storm's End to finalize the marriage contract.

Aegon struggled to his feet, glaring at his brother, a muffled whimper escaping his covered mouth. The curses were clear despite the gag.

"Remove your hands, I need to hear what he's saying," Aemond said, ignoring the man covering Aegon's mouth, his tone a poor imitation of Rhaegar's.

As the dirty hand moved away, Aegon took a deep breath and cursed, "Aemond, if you dare to mess with me, I'll break your legs!"

"Aegon, you really don't get it," Aemond replied calmly. He waved his hand, and the two men holding Aegon acted swiftly, pulling the thin quilt off his face and pinning his legs apart.

"Bastard, let go of me! What do you want?" Aegon shouted, kicking furiously.

Aemond's eyes were icy as he silently drew a cold, gleaming dagger from his waist. "Apologize, or I'll chop off one of your legs," he whispered, pressing the dagger against Aegon's crotch.

"No!!!" Aegon screamed in terror, the cold blade against his skin making him freeze in place, too scared to move.

Aemond ignored his brother's pleas, circling the dagger menacingly. "Aegon, sometimes I envy you. Mother always gives you the best."

"Aemond, let me go, and I'll forget this ever happened!" Aegon pleaded, his voice trembling.

Aemond's eyes darkened as he poked the dagger slightly. "Rhaenyra has Rhaegar, mother left Helaena to you, and Daeron and I are stuck into marrying other women."

"I don't want to marry that idiot! You can have her!" Aegon's heart pounded, sensing the seriousness in Aemond's voice.

Shaking his head, Aemond's voice was low, "Aegon, do you think it'll be better if I turn you into a girl?"

Turn him into a girl? Damn it, the other party really wanted to cut off his little brother.

Aegon stiffened, cold sweat pouring out as he realized Aemond was serious. "Have you lost your mind?"

Aemond's gaze hardened, and the dagger came down.

"No! I was wrong, I apologize!" Aegon screamed, closing his eyes and begging frantically.

Aegon was so frightened that he hastily closed his eyes and begged for forgiveness with his mouth open.

He couldn't lose his little brother, any more than the Targaryens could lose their dragons.

The sharp blade stabbed into the bed beside Aegon, not him. Aegon fainted from the shock.

Aemond laughed maniacally, pulling the dagger out and watching as snow-white feathers drifted from the cut bed. "That's all the guts you've got, dear brother!"

He wasn't actually insane; he knew that cutting off Aegon's manhood wouldn't turn him into a girl. Even if it did, Aemond had no interest in marrying a sister with a beer belly.

After laughing for a while, his stomach hurting, Aemond collapsed onto the bed, waving dismissively at the two men. "Get out. I'll hide the money bag in the stables."

"Thank you for your generosity, Prince," the men said, eager to collect their reward.

Aemond lay back, resting his head on Aegon's lap, savoring the sweet feeling of revenge.

(Word count: 1,874)