Viserys sighed, the golden wine in his mouth suddenly unappetizing.
Fortunately, a few old advisers were seated nearby, sharing wine and conversation.
...
The dinner went on all night.
At this point, Rhaenyra had long been sleepy and yawning, using Rhaegar as a pillow and dozing off.
There was no way around it—her stomach was growing bigger by the day, and she often felt sleepy after eating and drinking.
Rhaegar was happy and looking forward to the birth of their twin children.
Through the cool evening breeze, the two embraced each other and slept.
...
As the night deepened, dark clouds spread, covering the moon.
In the Queen's bedchamber, Arryk, dressed in silver armor and white robes, stood dutifully on night duty.
Through the door, the sound of a heated argument came out.
"She's a good girl; she will make an excellent wife!"
"On what grounds? I don't like that girl."
"..."
Snap!
The argument over marriage had just begun when a crisp slap suddenly rang out.
The retort was abruptly silenced, as if grabbed by the throat.
Arryk's face remained expressionless; he had long grown accustomed to this.
A long moment passed.
The door to the room slammed open, and Alicent stormed out, her green dress swaying.
When she looked back, Aegon was sitting on the floor in a disheveled heap, a red, swollen slap mark on the side of his face.
Apparently, mother and son had had a "good-natured" talk.
"Aegon, when are you going to grow up!"
Alicent gritted her teeth, full of anger.
Her husband was traditionally biased and neglected their children.
Aegon, who had started with so much promise, had settled for the status quo and indulged in idleness all day long.
In the long run, their downfall would only worsen.
Listening to his mother's reprimand, Aegon froze in place, feeling incomprehensible.
Alicent grew more furious, and coldly said, "Think about it, will you accept my proposal, or will you just arrange for a minor noble's daughter?"
Aegon reddened and stared at the floor for a moment, lost in thought.
He was contemplating whether his mother's words were right or wrong.
Alicent rolled her eyes in exasperation and extreme disappointment, "You are so unlike my son!"
Turning on her heel, she strode towards the hallway beyond.
Arryk stayed quiet the entire time, lifting his foot with the intention of following.
With a wave of her hand, Alicent shrugged without looking back, "No need, Ser. I'll take a walk alone."
"Yes, my lady."
Arryk's face was expressionless, standing straight in place.
Alicent sighed deeply, pressing her chest to calm her anger, and walked away.
Taking advantage of the lull, Arryk glanced slightly into the room.
Aegon was pale and clutching his long hair jitterily.
One didn't have to listen specifically to hear the muttering tinged with misery.
"How dare I marry a Hightower woman if all Hightowers are like this?" The voice held fear, as if he were about to be forced into drinking poisoned wine.
Arryk retracted his gaze, secretly poking and prodding.
On duty for the Queen's service, there was no avoiding hearing a lot of news.
Ever since the God's Eye Lake tournament, Lord Otto had been at loggerheads with Ormund Hightower, and the two brothers had argued several times.
In order to gain further assistance from her family, the Queen agreed to marry Prince Aegon to solidify their relationship.
Although the marriage partner was only a cousin, she had been adopted by Lord Ormund, who had scarce heirs.
It was indeed more honorable than marrying the daughters of some second-tier nobles.
Alicent walked up the stairs alone, her frustration simmering like oil on fire.
The Narrow Sea War had ended, and the kingdom now had three more overseas city-states.
The Hightower House had sacrificed much for this battle, and several of her children had each defended one side.
Yet, in the end, nothing good had come of it.
Aegon's twin castles hadn't materialized, which should have strengthened the roots of the outward-bound princes.
The more powerful Rhaegar became, the more uneasy she felt.
While her husband still sat on the Iron Throne, she needed to hold on to the benefits that were rightfully hers.
The marriage of Aemond to the Lady of Storm's End was no longer a concern for her.
As long as Aegon's marriage to Helaena was properly arranged, she would be able to pull in powerful allies and strengthen her side's power.
At that time, even if the position of the Iron Throne changed hands, she could secure her status with the identity of the Queen and the influence of her children, distancing herself from Rhaenyra.
Alicent rubbed her face and murmured to herself for emphasis, "Everything I do is for my family!"
Muttering to herself as she walked, she climbed the stairs to a particular attic.
At the entrance of the attic, a lean knight clad in leather armor stood guard, his gaze grim and sharp.
Beside him, her personal maid, Terra, waited attentively.
Seeing her arrival, Terra stepped forward and introduced in a low voice, "This is Ser Mervyn Flowers."
Flowers was a bastard surname of the The Reach.
Alicent adjusted her appearance and looked him up and down with cold eyes.
He was a young man with long, athletic limbs and calluses on his hands from holding a sword and drawing a bow.
On the collar of his leather armor was a coat of arms in the style of "Three Black Castles on an Orange Background."
It was from an ancient and long-established House of the Reach, known as the "Three Castles" of House Peake.
Mervyn lowered his head and respectfully greeted, "Your Grace the Queen."
"Uh-huh."
Alicent responded coolly and walked into the attic with Terra pushing the door.
She had been invited to this meeting.
Since they were both nobles of The Reach, they had humbly consented to summon her.
Inside the attic, the familiar decorations were in place, and the evening breeze blew through the open screened windows.
A young man, dressed in fancy clothes, with dark brown curly hair and a fine beard, was waiting for her.
Alicent looked at him and frowned slightly.
His complexion was yellowish, with a pair of inverted triangular eyes, and the arrogance in his eyes and his extravagant clothing emphasized his extravagance.
"Sincere greetings from Unwin of House Peake, My Queen!"
The young lord who called himself Unwin bowed deeply, his gesture well-rehearsed.
Alicent raised her hand to stop Terra from closing the door, taking a dim view of the invitation from someone who appeared to be a burgeoning rich man.
"What is your business in seeking an audience with me, Lord Peake?"
Alicent put up a front, exuding nothing but pride.
Unwin's eyes gleamed with a dark cunning, though his demeanor remained sincere. "I heard that Your Grace is troubled, and I am more than willing to serve."
Alicent's eyes narrowed slightly; she wasn't receiving a direct answer. "House Peake is powerful. How much sincerity do you offer?"
She needed allies, but not just anyone would be suitable.
Unwin smiled, self-assured. "My house has three castles, with a very rich annual output."
He paused, adding with a hint of pride, "As a warrior houses with a long history, I command one hundred knights and nine hundred infantrymen. If needed, I could recruit several times that number."
While the number of infantrymen was not particularly impressive, the focus was on the one hundred knights. Knights were elite, specially trained to mount horses, bend bows, and lead soldiers effectively. A single knight could lead a hundred ordinary soldiers and easily form a substantial force.
Alicent found his arrogance off-putting and said impatiently, "You have many castles, but how many times can castles and soldiers withstand Dragonfire?"
House Peake was once a top powerhouse in the Riverlands, but times had changed. Even with three wealthy castles, they were still only second-tier nobles, far inferior to House Hightower.
Unwin, annoyed by her dismissal, momentarily lost his temper. He wanted to retort with something vulgar but caught himself in time, seeing the queen's icy gaze. He took a deep breath and forced a conciliatory smile. "Your Grace, as long as you are willing, HousePeake is ready to go through fire and water for you."
"State your purpose. I don't have time to waste," Alicent said coolly, crossing her arms. "My husband needs my care, and angering him could see you hanged."
Unwin suppressed his irritation and fawned, "I understand you wish to facilitate Prince Aegon's marriage. I have a way to help."
"Who told you that?" Alicent's eyes narrowed.
"With all due respect, your intentions are as clear as an ox pulling a millstone," Unwin replied bluntly.
Alicent signaled him to continue without further comment.
Unwin chuckled, "My father used to say that a disobedient child needs a lesson, and proper means must be applied."
Alicent looked skeptical.
Unwin coughed lightly and adopted a more sophisticated tone. "Your Grace, I have recently made a new friend in Volantis who has acquired potions from Lys's Pleasure Houses."
The mention of such harsh methods instantly chilled Alicent's expression. She felt offended by the implication and looked at Unwin with renewed disdain.
"Hold your horses," Unwin hastily explained. "Prince Aegon may be immature, but he still has feelings for that girl. He just needs a little push."
"A push?" Alicent queried.
"Exactly!" Unwin pressed on. "If the girl is willing, leave this matter to me. I will ensure a satisfactory outcome."
Alicent pondered deeply. Since it was a marriage proposal, she assumed her niece would be compliant. However, she suspected the methods proposed by Unwin would be less than honorable.
Seeing Alicent's hesitation, Unwin added, "Lord Tyrell of Highgarden is loyal to the Heir Prince. Half the nobles of the The Reach follow his lead. There's no better marriage partner."
Alicent couldn't help but fidget, picking at her nails in thought. Unwin's argument held weight. Rhaegar's prestige was immense, with loyalty from the Crownlands, the Riverlands, the Vale, and the Reach. After the Narrow Sea War, his influence would only grow.
Even the House Beesbury of Honeyholt, direct bannermen to House Hightower, were leaning towards Rhaegar.
Alicent considered this carefully before asking, "What do you want after this is accomplished?"
She assumed House Peake were opportunists, seeking to align with the Green Faction. House Peake's key castle, Starpike, was in the Dornish borderlands. Her son, Aemond, could be a significant help in the ongoing Dornish Rebellion.
Unexpectedly, Unwin shook his head, revealing his true intentions. "My wife died last year, and I heard that Princess Helaena is not yet engaged...."
He trailed off, but the implication was clear.
Alicent's eyes snapped open in surprise. Helaena was her heart. The idea of her marrying a man like Unwin, with his rural manners and cunning schemes, filled her with discomfort.
Without hesitation, she spoke firmly, "Helaena will choose a husband she is satisfied with. I will not force my daughter."
"I am sincere in my desire to marry the princess. Please give me a chance to prove my loyalty," Unwin pleaded.
Alicent, full of resistance, turned away. "I will organize a banquet on Maiden's Day. You can attend and participate."
The so-called exhibition banquet was actually a matchmaking event for Aegon and Helaena. Nobles would present their children of the right age to meet the prince and princess separately.
Unwin might stand a chance in a crowd of young suitors, but Alicent was firm. "Terra, let's go," she said, signaling to her maid.
As she exited, Unwin's face was filled with frustration and urgency.
(Word count: 1,940)