-Chapter 74-
-POV Raymund Connington-
As I looked at the familiar faces waiting to see me make a decision, I realized he knew, even before I came here, that I would try to rebel, if only a little.
'He knows I don't want to do it, and he's challenging me to. If I back down now, I'll remain his lapdog for the rest of my life. But if I leave, I'll break something.'
'Which is worse?'
I took a deep breath before looking him straight in the eye and said:
"You will always be my brother."
Ronnet raised his eyebrows, surprised. Then I reached out my arm and said, "Let's go, Sansa."
Ronnet burst into laughter before saying, as he saw Sansa hesitantly take my arm:
"If you get up, I'll have your mother and your little sister beheaded. Whatever my little brother tells you, the Starks are not my family."
"Sansa, he's lying. He won't do anything to them," I said, because I knew my brother well enough. He wouldn't waste such precious cards.
"Go ahead, Sansa, take your chances. What will you choose: your husband's pride or your mother and sister's lives?" Ronnet asked.
"You're a fucking bastard," I told my brother, who spread his arms and said, "You started with the threats, I'm just playing by the rules of your little game."
"Trust me, he won't do it," I said, locking eyes with Sansa to reassure her.
"He's right, Sansa. Trust him. You've trusted a man before, if I recall correctly. How did that turn out? Hmm, oh yes, your father was beheaded in public," Ronnet said.
'You bastard,' I thought, gritting my teeth, because I saw in Sansa's eyes that she wouldn't abandon her family.
'He got what he wanted.'
Sansa lowered her arm, and Ronnet said, "Now, how are you going to manage without Sansa? Without an army? And most importantly, without allies?"
'He got me,' I thought, because my claim only held thanks to Sansa. Without her, half of my bannermen would rise up within the hour.
"What, cat got your tongue? Have you lost your voice?" Ronnet said, gloating at seeing me in this position.
"You could easily kiss the Lannisters' ass, but no, too risky. I hold prime hostages, and they have far more urgent matters than dealing with a spoiled brat like you. They might even betray you to try and mend our relationship," he said, standing up and moving forward, still musing aloud.
"The North? Oh no, you personally killed Edmure Tully on the battlefield, not to mention the high-ranking hostages I hold."
'He's right; he holds heirs from the great northern houses, as well as Sansa, her sister, and her mother.'
"The Iron Islands? No, Euron doesn't care about you. He'd rather betray you to seize the Riverlands."
'Unless I tell him you'll betray him… no, he'd betray me too.'
"Perhaps the Reach? Oh, but no, how silly of me, the Tyrells are allied with the Lannisters."
"The Vale is at war, and Dorne is bound to me by blood and alliance."
'What?' I thought, surprised by the news.
Surprised, I frowned, and Ronnet said, lightly tapping my shoulder:
"Oh, Alynne didn't tell you? Arianne is expecting my child. Congratulations, you'll be an uncle for the fourth time."
I didn't know what to say until Ronnet grabbed my cheeks and said:
"You wanted to assert yourself because you got lucky once, you won your first victory, you've become a lord of great importance in the kingdom. So, we'll blame your little outburst on all that, as well as the fact that I didn't fully tell you my plan to defeat the Lannisters."
"I…"
"Shhh," Ronnet said, silencing me.
"You know, I understand you. There have been plenty of times in my life when I wanted more than I should have. That's why I forgive you, you're my brother after all, and as I always tell you, family…"
"Is sacred," I said, bowing my head.
"Exactly. But you understand that I have to punish you," he said, and a deep terror filled me.
'He won't kill me, will he?'
"Don't worry, you're my brother. I'm not going to kill you or anything like that."
"What punishment are you giving me?" I finally asked.
"You are no longer my heir," he said, suddenly releasing me.
"What?" I blurted out, surprised, as I was the only one capable of succeeding him.
"You're going to make children from that whore your heirs?" I asked, furious that he'd consider making the children of that golden-haired bitch his successors.
"First, calm down when you talk about my children. And no, I'm not replacing you with Rodrik."
"I need an heir who's useful to our house, and I need one now, not in ten years."
'So, he could have replaced me with him, but if it's not him, then who?' I thought, glancing at Alynne, who was also shocked by the announcement.
I widened my eyes as I realized who he was referring to, and then I said:
"You're not going to leave your kingdom to a…"
"A what? If you mean a bastard, be glad to know that as King of the Stormlands and King of the Trident, I have the authority to legitimize any bastard from these lands, and…"
"And Ronald is a Storm," I said, realizing he had never fully trusted me. He had always been cautious and kept his bastard as a backup plan.
"Was a Storm. From now on, Ronald Connington is the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of the Stormlands."
'This is madness,' I thought, watching Ronnet with a smile on his face.