-Chapter 16-

-Chapter 16-

-POV MC-

While I was explaining, I heard people starting to get heated, and then I saw a young knight laughing loudly for everyone to hear:

"How could a child like you hope to win the princess's hand in marriage?"

"I am the heir to House Blackwood, and..." began the young heir of House Blackwood, one of the last houses still following the old gods in the Riverlands, where the presence of the Seven was far too prevalent for my liking, much like the current House Royce.

The man wearing the emblem of House Bracken sneered and then said, "The heir of a house of thieves and cowards. The princess will only marry a real man, a man capable of defeating Ser Criston Cole of the Kingsguard, the only one to have defeated Prince Daemon Targaryen not once but twice."

I noticed the king tremble before turning to Criston Cole, who wore the princess's favor around his arm.

"Is this true?" my uncle asked his daughter, who raised her head like a swan and nodded.

Although the king was furious, he couldn't say anything because it was his wish that his daughter marries, and although he wanted it to be with me, given that I had refused several times, he couldn't block his daughter's hand for an illusory union.

The king turned to me and then shook his head slightly, frustrated, because even though I was tall and robust, I was only 12 days old. I was still far from being a real contender for the knights and more experienced fighters in this tournament.

"I imagine that as the favorite among the princess's suitors, we will see you participate in the tournament," said Ser Criston Cole loudly enough for everyone to stop talking and look at us.

Seeing that everyone was drawn to Ser Criston's words, Rhaenyra added with a sweet smile:

"Unless you are afraid, dear cousin."

"I must admit that I am quite afraid of Ser Criston. I do not match up to my father, who was defeated in each of your encounters. I would not dare cross swords with a man of your skill at my young age. However, I hope to have the opportunity to do so once I am an adult," I said, dismissing Rhaenyra's childish provocation with a modest smile.

The crowd, seeing me back down before even fighting, quickly lost interest in me, but out of the corner of my eye, I could see that the king looked relieved and happy with my response.

He signaled Criston Cole to leave, which he did, and then he took me by the shoulders and led me away to talk in private.

I smiled and then winked at my cousin, who seemed annoyed that her little scheme had been discovered and foiled so easily.

---

-POV Daemon Targaryen-

I smiled, seeing my son foil Rhaenyra's little schemes, thinking, 'Trying to outsmart Aemon was far from the smartest idea.'

"You shouldn't have done that; your cousin is smarter than you."

"He's not even a real Targaryen; he's barely half a Targaryen," said Rhaenyra.

'Did she really take my words seriously?' I thought, feeling that she was using words I had used when I was angry about the choice that little fool had made.

"That doesn't make him any less of a dangerous adversary," I said before adding, "If you ever want to be queen, you'd better have him in your pocket; otherwise, I can promise you that your ass will never touch the Iron Throne."

She looked up at me, shocked by the words I had used, then turned and stormed off. I shrugged before sighing as I saw my bronze bitch approaching me.

'Damn it, what does she want?' I thought, stopping a servant carrying a jug of wine.

I was going to need it.