-Chapter 76-

-Chapter 76-

-POV Rhaenys Targaryen-

"How are you, my dear?" I said as I saw my daughter enter, her face closed off, unlike her usual self where she was always full of life and smiles.

"Everything is fine," she said, with a fake smile plastered on her face.

'You can't fool me with such a false smile, my daughter,' I thought before asking her:

"Did he mistreat you?"

Laena shook her head and said, "No, he was very courteous when it came to the bedding, but we had a disagreement."

"About what?" I asked, curious to know what could have caused conflict on their wedding night.

"Laenor," she said.

I closed my eyes for a moment before saying as I reopened them:

"It wasn't his fault; he couldn't have known that your foolish brother would listen and do exactly the opposite of what he advised your father."

'On that point, he was truly blameless.'

"I know, but that's not why we argued," Laena said, catching my attention, curious to know what could have led her to clash with Aemon if it wasn't for that reason.

"Then why?" I asked, confused.

Laena took a deep breath before she began to speak:

"I was worried about Laenor, so I asked him if he knew of anyone skilled enough to stand a chance against Criston Cole."

'Oh no…'

"I simply imagined he would give me a list of mercenaries who could fight for gold that we could pay in case of victory, or maybe even some who enjoyed the thrill of risk and would want to try their luck, so that Laenor wouldn't have to die for nothing," she said quickly to clarify her point.

"But I imagine that's not what he did," I said, pinching the bridge of my nose, slowly starting to understand.

Laena shook her head and said, "No, he didn't do that. Instead, he gave me a serious list of all the possible contenders he knew who could face Criston Cole."

'A rather short list,' I thought.

"And I assume he was on that list," I said, recalling his display in the training yard and his duel against Leowyn Corbray.

"No," Laena said, surprising me slightly in the process.

"He didn't nominate himself as someone who could defeat him; he simply said that now that Gunthor has Lamentation, he wouldn't even need to try hard to beat Criston Cole, even if he fought with a flail," she said.

"I can guess what happened next: you asked him to send his uncle to fight for Laenor, and he refused," I said.

Laena, indignant, replied, "He didn't just refuse, he told me he didn't want to take sides in this conflict."

I smiled sadly, knowing my nephew well enough, and I said:

"He's already taken Rhaenyra's side while making an alliance with the Queen behind her back. I don't know what he promised both of them, but it's not hard to imagine."

"What do you mean?" Laena asked, surprised.

"I imagine that for Rhaenyra, he promised to support her claim, while for Alicent, he probably interceded or even suggested to the King to reinstate Otto as Hand of the King. Acting against the Queen would break the balance he has set up so as not to be tied to either camp," I said.

A long silence hung between us before Laena, frustrated with the situation, said:

"Why did the King decide to accept this fight? It's ridiculous."

I hesitated before finally saying, "I think it suits my cousin just fine."

"How?" my daughter asked.

"If Rhaenyra becomes a widow, he will have to find her a new husband, and the only one of your generation with enough power to crown her queen…"

"It's Aemon," Laena said, understanding what I meant and cutting me off in the process.

I nodded, not commenting on her lack of politeness, and added:

"I don't want to jump to conclusions, but it wouldn't surprise me if he wasn't troubled by the outcome of this fight, whatever it is. If Laenor wins, his reputation will be made and Rhaenyra's position will be secured. But if Laenor loses, Aemon's children will inherit Runestone, Driftmark, and the Iron Throne."

"Aemon doesn't want the throne," Laena said.

"Don't be fooled about your husband; he's an ambitious man with the means to achieve his ambitions," I said seriously.

'Although I care for him greatly, I'm not blind to his true nature.'

I added: "Aemon has long claws, far too long not to be drawn to the Iron Throne."

"Then what can we do in such a situation?" she asked, almost desperate.

"I don't know yet, but Corlys is trying to find a solution as we speak. On my end, I've tried, but no one wants to cross the Queen or the King. I've asked many people, and they all share the same opinion, even the most seasoned knights: killing the Commander of the Kingsguard isn't worth it," I said.

"Can't we field a champion who… will sacrifice themselves for Laenor?" Laena asked.

I furrowed my brow, slightly surprised by her request, as she suggested that we order one of our men to sacrifice themselves for Laenor's foolishness.

'But if that were the only way, I would have already done it.'

"It's unfortunately not possible. Your brother isn't completely foolish; he knows he has no chance, but he still wants to fight. I've already proposed this idea once he sobered up completely, but he fiercely denied the possibility. He was very clear on this: he will only give up his place to a champion capable of defeating Criston Cole, no one else," I said, repeating the words of my foolish son.

"He said that?" Laena asked, disappointed and increasingly anxious.

"Yes," I said.

"Very well," she said before standing up and walking off decisively.

"Laena," I called, as she stopped with her hand on the door handle.

"Don't do anything foolish," I said.

She nodded, her back still to me, but I wasn't reassured at all: 'I know that expression, it's the same one she had when she bonded with Vhagar.'