Seeing that neither Rhaegar nor Viserys responded, Corlys sensed something was amiss, and his anger grew. He had shed blood for the realm and lost his firstborn son to the Targaryens cause. Their silence stung. Do they despise House Velaryon?
In Westeros and on the continent of Essos, pride is always the greatest enemy of the nobility.
Just as Corlys was about to press further, Daemon spoke up again, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "What do you want an explanation for? To tear up the peace terms and reignite the war?"
Does House Velaryon have the right or the strength to do so?
Corlys glared at him, his expression darkening. "Daemon, if you dare challenge my authority again, I won't care about our old friendship."
Daemon looked ready to retort, but Laena's voice cut through the tension. "Daemon!"
Her eyes were brimming with anger. Daemon and his wife exchanged a look, and Daemon reluctantly fell silent. Laena, pained, raised a glass of wine to her father and drank it down. Daemon's disrespect for her father felt like disrespect toward her as well.
Viserys, observing the exchange, felt puzzled. What is Daemon up to now?
Ignoring his daughter's apology, Corlys focused on Viserys, his voice deep and resolute. "Your Grace, I want to know your stance."
His words were laced with coercion. If he did not receive a satisfactory answer tonight, he would have to reconsider the relationship between the two houses. He would resign as Master of Ships and withdraw Velaryon's fleet. He couldn't control Daemon, but he wouldn't allow his wife Rhaenys and daughter Laena to serve the Iron Throne on dragonback again. This would prove the indispensability of House Velaryon.
Viserys frowned, clearly displeased. "Sacrifice is part of war. Even I nearly lost my life, and one my children paid for it an eye."
"Compensation is also part of war!" Corlys's eyes burned with determination.
Rhaegar, having finished his half bowl of goat's milk, put Baelon to sleep with a little milk. He gave a subtle wink.
Aegon, catching the signal, slowly got up with a light cough.
Rhaenyra and Alicent both looked at the boy, their eyes filled with surprise.
What is this kid up to?
Aegon pushed his chair back, walked around the table to Corlys and Rhaenys, and tugged on Helaena's hair.
Helaena: ...
Aemond glared at him, thinking, This guy is really sick.
"Ahem."
Aegon licked his lips, bent down, and toasted Rhaenys with a glass of wine, whispering, "Aunt, I am very sorry about what happened to cousin Laenor. I hope you recover soon."
Rhaenys glanced at him and replied politely, "Thank you. I will."
"Hmph!" Corlys snorted, clearly unimpressed.
He could see through Aegon's insincerity.
Aegon turned to Corlys, a gleam in his eye. He poured another glass of wine, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.
Leaning in slightly, Aegon whispered, "Lord Corlys, I'm sorry for your loss of your eldest son."
Corlys straightened his collar and ignored him.
Undeterred, Aegon stole a glance at Rhaenys, ensuring she wasn't paying attention, and leaned closer to Corlys. In a tactful tone, he said, "If you truly regret losing your heir, why not remedy the situation yourself? Although my aunt is older, I believe you're still in good shape."
Corlys froze, unable to believe what he had heard.
Aegon continued with a lewd smile, "Don't worry, even if you have a bastard child, it's not uncommon among the nobles."
Bang!
Corlys exploded like a firecracker. He stood up, his eyes filled with rage, glaring with murderous intent.
He promised himself that the second son of the king, who had no filter, would pay the price.
The table was slammed so hard that it startled everyone in the room. The Baela and Rhaena sisters looked at their grandfather timidly. Helaena and Aemond looked puzzled. Little Daeron, who was eating, choked and turned red.
Only Daemon remained calm, watching the scene with interest. He was curious to see what his second nephew had said to provoke the Sea Snake's fury.
"Gulp…"
Facing Corlys's terrifying aura, Aegon subconsciously swallowed and retreated guiltily. He quickly slipped away.
"Aegon, what did you say?" Alicent looked at her son in surprise, unable to understand why hewould provoke Corlys.
Rhaenys and Rhaenyra were equally surprised, their eyes darting back and forth between the two.
Aegon shouldn't be so foolish as to provoke Corlys. And with Corlys's ability to control his temper, he shouldn't be provoked by a young kid.
At that moment, a creak echoed through the hall.
Rhaegar handed Baelon to Rhaenyra, pushed his chair back, and stood up decisively. Corlysglanced at him with a hint of coldness.
Rhaegar met his gaze calmly, openly provoking a confrontation. It was as if he was saying, 'Come at me if you dare!'
He was the heir to the Iron Throne, the leader of his brothers and sisters, and the strongest dragon rider of the Targaryens. If the Sea Snake had any complaints, he could bring them directly to him.
Aegon, head down, walked back to his seat, looking innocent. He had said all he needed to say.
"Prince, do you have anything to say?" Corlys asked coldly, his anger barely contained.
Rhaegar's expression was impassive. "Who are you talking to, Sea Snake?"
It was a tit-for-tat negotiation, and the first to lose their temper would lose the upper hand. Corlys was asking for something and couldn't afford to act superior. He had to understand that he couldn't press a Targaryen without consequences. If he couldn't figure out his place, Rhaegar wouldn't hesitate to treat him like a second Ormund Hightower.
Creak—
Daemon also stood up from his chair, grabbing Laena's hand as he fixed Corlys with a burning gaze. His expression was like a hunter eyeing its prey.
Corlys glanced away, his eyes dark as they swept over the uncle and nephew, and he sneered inwardly. So, they were waiting for him to slip up, hoping to catch him in the act.
For a moment, the atmosphere at the dinner party froze, and the air seemed to drop to zero. Rhaegar stood like an insurmountable wall, his gaze unyielding.
Corlys clenched his fists. Despite his age, his tall frame still exuded the aura of a seasoned warrior. Daemon didn't need to say anything; he was already itching to start.
Tonight, someone would pay the price.
Bang! Bang!
Suddenly, a knocking sound echoed through the room. Viserys's fingers tapped on the table, his expression solemn as he slowly and stiffly stood up.
"Be careful," Alicent, standing next to him, offered her customary reminder.
"Don't worry, I'm not that fragile," Viserys reassured her, patting her hand on his arm. He looked at the three men standing in the room. "I'm not dead yet, and you argue in front of an old man who is about to die?"
He glared particularly at Daemon, his tone growing harsher. "You can't even tolerate a dinner party? Must everything be so tense?"
Daemon's face fell, and he sat back down in his seat. Viserys turned to Corlys. "Lord Corlys, you sit down too."
Corlys remained unmoved, his gaze unfriendly. Rhaenys glanced at her husband and looked away helplessly.
Viserys's displeasure grew, and he almost shouted, "Your king commands you to sit down!"
Corlys hesitated for a moment, weighing the pros and cons, then sat back down in his chair.
"Very good," Viserys said, taking a few breaths. He looked at his eldest son with a complicated expression, then addressed the room sincerely. "Everyone, I know that our family has many hidden dangers and misunderstandings."
Alicent lowered her head in disappointment. Little Daeron noticed his mother was unhappy and said, "Father…"
"Don't interrupt me!" Viserys snapped, and his youngest son's neck retracted, his face turning pale.
The dinner hall fell silent, all eyes on the king.
Viserys took a deep breath and continued, "We are the dragons, descendants of the ancient Valyrians, and unity is the core of our strength. I hope everyone will set aside their resentments and forget the past."
Rhaegar remained standing, listening intently to his father's words.
Viserys understood Corlys's request and said, "Lord Corlys, I understand your request, and the Iron Throne will respond appropriately."
He preferred a gentle, conciliatory approach rather than his eldest son's hard-line stance. However, he made no immediate decisions.
Viserys's eyes welled with tears, and he sighed, "Look at me, I'm getting old, and I spend half the day sleeping."
Daemon lowered his eyes, moved by the sight of his brother's tired face, so different from the man he remembered.
Viserys continued with a relieved smile, "Just as I woke up from bed tonight, I realized something."
"I'm old!" He laughed at himself. "Of course, compared to the longevity of my grandfather, the Old King, I may still be ten years younger."
No one in the room laughed at his joke.
Rhaenys, quick-witted, asked, "Viserys, what are you trying to say?"
"Cousin, you always know what I'm thinking," Viserys replied, stopping his lamentation and resuming a serious expression. "The realm needs a young, responsible and energetic king, and I am no longer qualified for the job."
He sighed deeply, acknowledging his shortcomings.
Viserys looked at his eldest son with deep love in his eyes and whispered, "I think it's time toabdicate and pass the throne to a qualified king."
"Rhaegar!" Viserys called out.
Rhaegar, as if waking from a dream, hurriedly replied, "Father, you…"
Viserys waved his hand, a look of reminiscence on his face. "Don't be in a hurry to refuse. You are my eldest son, the boy Aemma gave her life for. You deserve everything."
He didn't mention Rhaegar's intelligence,strength, or ability to control the black dragon, nor his leadership in battle. To Viserys, Rhaegar's status as Aemma's firstborn son was more important than anything else. All other attributes were merely additional conditions, not the main reason.
Finally, Viserys's gaze swept over everyone present before returning to Rhaegar.
Looking at the handsome face that vaguelyresembled Aemma, he solemnly said, "Rhaegar, my son, I entrust you with the Iron Throne that has hurt me the most."
"Come, inherit my throne!"
(Word count: 1,698)