-Chapter 60-

-Chapter 60-

-POV Viserys Targaryen-

I nodded, but without a hint of a smile, because I didn't appreciate the way Aemon had summoned me, as if I were a mere servant.

"I'm glad to hear it, but that's not why I came, and you know it perfectly well," I said, because in the letter he had sent me, containing all the instructions, the tone was somewhat…

'Urgent.'

"I understand. Please take a seat, uncle," Aemon said, pointing to the third empty chair.

I frowned as I observed young Larys Strong, the son of my current Hand of the King, but I said nothing for now, as I wanted to hear what Aemon had to tell me that was so important.

"So, what was so urgent that you threatened my personal servant to burn her in Urrax's fire if she opened the letter, that you prevented me from bringing the commander of my personal guard with me outside the walls of the Red Keep, and that you made me come out dressed in this ridiculous outfit?" I asked, pointing to the clothes Aemon had made my servant deliver to me and the ridiculous dye I had applied to my hair, without really knowing why, but following my nephew's instructions to the letter.

Aemon didn't appear ashamed, guilty, embarrassed, or even disappointed by my interrogation and the methods he had used, as he simply replied in a light tone:

"I'm sorry for covering this meeting in so much mystery. I already have all the answers to your questions. Let me just explain what's been happening from the start."

"I'm waiting for that," I said, slightly annoyed, hoping he had a good excuse for this behavior.

'Just because I like him and grant him certain liberties doesn't mean he can get away with anything.'

"I don't know where to start, so I'll just tell things in chronological order, as they happened," he said.

I nodded, and he began:

"After our conversation this morning, I felt particularly light, as if for once I had been able to talk with someone who truly understood the choices and sacrifices I make daily, while enduring a pressure similar to, or even greater than, mine."

I nodded because I had felt the same way.

'That conversation lifted a weight off my shoulders,' I thought, reflecting on the rest of my day.

Aemon continued in a darker tone, which worried me slightly:

"I decided to go have some fun with a few knights."

'Have fun? From the rumors, he completely humiliated my knights.'

"…But two people immediately came to speak to me at the end of my sparring."

"Who?" I asked, confused, as I could tell from my nephew's tone that it wasn't good news.

"Daemon and Criston Cole," he said, lowering his head.

"Why?" I asked, curious to know what could make him so uncomfortable.

"At the time, I asked myself the same question as you, Uncle Viserys. I didn't understand what they wanted from me."

'But,' I thought, waiting for him to tell me what was going to make me angry.

I raised my eyebrows, still not understanding, and Aemon continued his story:

"At first, I thought it was just a coincidence and that you and my father both wanted to see me for different reasons…"

'But that's not the case, because I haven't spoken to him since this morning,' I realized.

"…But I quickly understood that they were both just messengers."

I closed my eyes, finally understanding what had happened.

"Alicent and Rhaenyra," I sighed, realizing that the two women in my life had struck again.

Aemon nodded without saying anything, but I asked, sensing something wasn't right with this story:

"I understand why Ser Criston was Alicent's messenger, he was in charge of her guard for the rest of the day, but since when has Daemon been close enough to Rhaenyra to act as her messenger?"

Aemon shrugged before nodding toward the twins who were accompanying me and watching over me: "Ser Arryk and Ser Erryk are witnesses. Both of them came to speak to me this morning in the training yard."

I turned to the twins behind me, who nodded, and Aemon said:

"There's something else."

"What?" I asked, perhaps too aggressively, feeling like this was just the beginning.

"I didn't want to tell you because I was afraid of your reaction, but I have to admit it's my fault they got closer."

'That's why he's getting more and more uncomfortable as he speaks.'

"What do you mean by 'it's your fault'?" I asked, narrowing my eyes in anger.

"When you asked me how Rhaenyra and I reconciled, I omitted to tell you that I used my… father as a mediator, because we had gone too far for either of us to…"

"…Abandon their pride," I said, realizing that Daemon had probably planned everything to trap them later.

'He's clever and intelligent, but he's still just a boy. He has so much to learn,' I thought, slightly disappointed that I had overestimated my nephew.

"Yes, Daemon agreed, but he set a trap. He used his role as a mediator to take advantage of the situation by placing a condition. He set a condition."

"What condition?" I asked, feeling that the worst was yet to come.

"We have to…" Aemon closed his eyes, unable to continue, which irritated me even more.

'You little snake, I gave you everything, and you still have the nerve to trap my daughter and your own blood.'

"What do you have to do for my bastard brother?" I said, my jaw clenched.

Aemon took a deep breath before saying, in a tone disgusted by the idea:

"We have to force you to accept favorable tax laws that will serve the pride war between the Sea Snake and my father."