Rhaegar raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Let's eat."
He didn't reveal whether he agreed or not, leaving Maris to speculate. Her eyes lit up as she quickly sat down, occasionally serving food to Lyanna.
It wasn't about a direct answer. The fact that they could sit and share a meal together spoke volumes.
...
Night had fallen. The king had retired to his room to rest, leaving Maris to her own devices. She approached a door, her long, sweat-soaked dress still damp and unwashed.
Knock, knock!
She knocked twice, then once more. The door opened to reveal Floris, her red eyes and sad face betraying her distress.
"My dear sister, you've been wronged," Maris said, hugging her younger sister tightly.
Floris didn't say a word, simply hugging Maris's waist and sobbing quietly. The sisters closed the door and entered the room.
Maris waited expectantly. "Did you hear anything?"
"Aemond is going to marry that woman," Floris whispered.
"Well done. I knew you wouldn't let your sister down," Maris replied, reaching out to hug her younger sister again. She gently stroked Floris's tear-stained face, occasionally kissing away the tears.
...
Early summer was approaching, and the temperature was rising day by day. In the harbor of Lys, a Velaryon warship bearing the blue seahorse flag was anchored, and a grand procession was underway.
"Roar!"
"Roar..."
The Sea Snake, with a determined expression, strode forward. Two dragons flew overhead, one red and one blue, gliding with their wings spread, intertwining and hissing.
The guards, heavily armored, held high the flag of the seahorse. The Lord was being escorted to the Topless Tower to attend the Supreme Council.
"Roar!"
A scarlet dragon, resembling a snake, whizzed past, forcing the two dragons to disperse and fly ahead to the Dragonpit. The two dragons nearly went mad, but Rhaenys and Daeron calmed them down.
The Sea Snake continued walking, his gaze fixed on the scarlet dragon that had flashed past. A cold light flickered in his purple eyes. Daemon Targaryen, the unfaithful Prince, would pay the price sooner or later.
...
Topless Tower, Meeting Hall
The Topless Tower's meeting hall buzzed with activity as the sailors finished unloading the equipment. Sea Snake, accompanied by Daeron, who served as his cupbearer, entered the hall.
"Father, had a good trip?" Laena greeted him at the door and offered him a hug.
Sea Snake embraced his daughter and scanned the hall with his piercing eyes. The seating at the conference table was divided into three small groups.
Rhaegar and Rhaenyra sat at the head of the table, bathed in sunlight from the window. Surrounding them were their seven children, including the three brothers, the sisters Baela, Rhaena, Lyanna, and the infant Visenya.
On the right side of the table sat the three siblings from the original Greens. Aegon was smiling, trying to tease Aemon, who stood straight, staring at the mural on the wall, not daring to look away with Rhaegar nearby. Helaena was tilting her head, sewing baby clothes.
Sea Snake gave Aemond a second look, noting that the one-eyed boy had toned down hisattitude. Daeron was also welcomed by Laena and walked excitedly to the meeting table.
The battle had begun, and the family meeting was held in an unusual manner. Daeron walked around the left side of the round table, passing Daemon, Rhaenys, and a pale-skinned woman, heading to his eldest brother, Rhaegar.
Rhaegar, holding Maekar in one arm and Lyanna in the other, smiled, "Was the journey smooth?"
"No problems at all," Daeron replied, holding his head high, showing his manly side.
The brothers exchanged pleasantries, and Daeron politely greeted Rhaenyra, spending some time with Rhaena. Quietly and uncomfortably, he walked back to his seat on Aemond's left.
Rhaegar saw this and smiled without saying a word. After all, they were four siblings from the same mother and subconsciously trusted each other more.
"Look over there," Rhaegar nudged Rhaenyra with his shoulder, his eyes fixed on the Sea Snake, who was walking towards the left side of the table.
Rhaenys sat in the middle, the Dark Sister sword on the table. Daemon leaned back in his chair, holding Mysaria, the White Worm, by the hand, staring at his father-in-law with interest.
Sea Snake walked over to his wife, resting one hand on the table, and said coldly, "Is this the woman you want to marry?"
"Watch your words. She's pregnant with a Targaryen's child," Daemon replied, his lips curling up as he reached out to touch Mysaria's stomach.
Mysaria, caught between the two men's gazes, dug her fingernails into her palm, her face turning green with anxiety.
Sea Snake glanced at Mysaria and said indifferently, "A whore who rides a thousand men. Pray that what's in her belly isn't a bastard."
Daemon's smile froze, his voice turning cold. "She will give birth to a true dragon, I'm sure."
"Haha, who knows." Sea Snake slowly sat down. "The birthing bed is another battlefield. The Lady's life is in the balance. You'd better have a successor with a pure bloodline."
"Are you threatening me?" Daemon heard the unspoken meaning and his face turned cold.
Sea Snake remained unfazed. "I made Rhaena the heir to Driftmark, and Baela should have the same rights."
Baela and Rhaena, who had stopped playing, all looked over.
Daemon glanced at his two daughters and replied, "I will consider the heir, so you don't need to worry about it."
"Then do it quickly. Who knows which will come first, an accident or tomorrow?" Sea Snake's eyes were cold as he stared at Mysaria, who remained silent.
Bang!
Daemon stood up, his eyes filled with malice. "I swear I will rip off your dirty, smelly dick and put it in your mouth if anything happens."
"Daemon!"
"Daemon, stop!" Two voices rang out at the same time. Laena rushed to stand in front of Daemon, blocking her father and husband.
Rhaegar remained calm and unruffled.
Daemon stared at Laena for a moment before looking away with a sullen expression and sitting back down. Laena turned away with a dark face, calming the Sea Snake, whose eyes were full of malice.
Knock, knock!
Rhaegar lightly knocked on the table, warning, "The war in the Smoking Sea is about to begin. Today, we will only talk about war."
Daemon and Sea Snake exchanged a look, then both turned away in disgust. Rhaenys took Laena by the arm and sat her down next to her, giving Mysaria a brief glance.
She didn't say a word, but it seemed like she had said everything.
Rhaegar put down his children and told Baela, "Take your brothers and sisters to play."
Baela glanced at Daemon one last time, disappointment clear in her eyes. "Yes, Your Grace," she said, then left the table with the younger children, accompanied by Baelon and Rhaena.
As the children exited, the atmosphere in the hall grew tense.
"Ahem..." Aegon, the most mischievous of them all, noticed the shift and coughed to cover his guilt, adjusting his posture as if to pretend innocence. He glanced at Aemond, puzzled by his silence.
Creak.
The chair scratched the floor loudly as Mysaria broke free of Daemon's hand. "I'm not feeling well. I'm going downstairs," she excused herself.
Rhaegar could see the inferiority complex and deep fear in Mysaria, the White Worm. Daemon did not stop her and allowed her to leave.
As Mysaria passed Rhaenys and Laena, she hesitated when she reached the Sea Snake. "When I came to King's Landing, I had nothing, and I exchanged my body for bread and gold," she said, her voice trembling slightly.
The Sea Snake looked up but didn't bat an eye.
Mysaria took a deep breath and continued, "Later, I realized that selling my body didn't make me any better off. Selling information was the way to get ahead."
The Sea Snake snorted and ignored her, deeming her unworthy of his attention.
Mysaria glanced at Laena and insisted, "I'm saying that I stopped working a long time ago, and I'm not as dirty as you think."
Having said her piece, she pulled the scarf over her head and quickly left the hall. The air in the room, thick with tension and judgment, felt suffocating to her.
...
With everyone else having left, Rhaegar's eyes flashed with a mix of emotions. He sighed, silently admiring his father's skill at creating division.
Can't Daemon and the Sea Snake see it? No! They are not fools; of course, they understand their own situation. But Viserys had accurately grasped Daemon's desire for an heir, presenting a clear and open conspiracy.
"Your Grace, you have summoned us here to discuss strategy?" Rhaenys asked, her mood visibly sour.
It was only natural, and Rhaegar laughed it off. After a pause, he said, "Regarding the war in the Smoking Sea, Volantis is our first target. Myr's army and the navy assembled by the Kingdom are in place."
The Sea Snake interrupted, "The Velaryon fleet commands all the naval forces. Your Grace need not worry."
Rhaegar's smile faded, and he adopted a serious tone. "The deployment of the army has already been decided. What I want to discuss is the allocation of the dragon riders and the dragons."
Following the strategy of a quick victory, the army and navy would attack Volantis from both land and sea. Counting the garrison left behind in the Narrow Sea, the dragon riders would have to be divided into three groups.
The Sea Snake heard this and, for some reason, looked over at Aemond.
Aemond stood up silently and volunteered, "I can participate in the naval battle. The Sheepstealer will burn the Volantis fleet to the ground."
"No." Rhaegar's response was immediate and firm.
Aemond was taken aback. "Why? I can do it very well."
"There is no why." Rhaegar looked straight at him, his eyes like a deep pool.
Aemond frowned, realizing that this was his brother's punishment. His fists clenched, and he felt a lump in his chest.
Rhaegar looked around the room and said, "I will lead Daemon and the dragons to attack the city with the army. Rhaenyra and Aegon will defend Lys and the Stepstones. Helaena and Laena will work with Lord Corlys to destroy the sea defenses."
"What do I do?" Aemond leaned forward, resting his hands on the table.
Rhaenys and Daeron mirrored his action, their expressions tense.
Rhaegar stared at Aemond for a moment before saying, "You will patrol the upper part of the Narrow Sea and guard against Braavos breaking the treaty."
"I can go to the front lines. Sheepstealer and I will not let you down," Aemond argued.
Rhaegar remained firm. "Four riders attacking Volantis. Do you think that is not enough?"
"Wait a minute."
While the brothers were arguing, Helaena, who had been watching the scene unfold, put down her sewing and raised her hand.
Rhaegar looked at her in confusion.
Overwhelmed by the attention and a little unsure of herself, Helaena hesitated and said, "I can't go to war. Give the spot to Aemond."
"Why?" Rhaegar's eyes flashed with suspicion.
Aemond also looked at Helaena, a warm light flashing in his one eye. As expected, his sister loved him the most.
Helaena, not noticing Aemond's gaze, scratched at the little dress she was sewing and whispered, "I'm pregnant."
(Word count: 1,888)