-Chapter 58-
-POV Rhaenyra Targaryen-
"I knew it," I said, gritting my teeth.
"What exactly do you think you know?" Daemon asked me.
"That I shouldn't have trusted him," I shouted, pacing around my room.
"You're worrying too much. Aemon gave us his word. I'm certain he won't betray us," Daemon said, not at all concerned about what Aemon might be plotting with Alicent.
"And what is his precious word worth? When I summoned him first, he preferred to join that little whore," I said, increasingly irritated.
"The queen. He obeyed an order from the QUEEN, and knowing him, he wasn't accommodating with her, especially given how her champion spoke to him," Daemon said.
"What do you know about him? He's barely your son!" I said, exasperated that he was taking his side rather than mine.
Daemon raised his eyebrows, shocked by my response, and I immediately apologized, realizing I had gone too far.
"Sorry, uncle, I didn't mean..."
"Stop panicking. Sit down and shut up. Running around won't help you in this situation," he said, doing his best to ignore me.
Just as I was about to sit down, cursing myself for having spoken too much, someone knocked at the door.
Even though I had an idea of who it was, I asked in a detached tone, "Who is it?"
"It's your favorite cousin," Aemon said nonchalantly, which immediately reignited the fire in my mind.
"Enter," I said in an authoritative tone, leaving no room for hesitation.
Aemon walked in calmly, a big smile on his face, which irritated me even more. I immediately asked in a slightly aggressive tone:
"What did she offer you to turn against me?"
Aemon rolled his eyes, greeted his father, and hurried over to the platters I had initially brought in so we could discuss peacefully over a little snack.
'Hoping to loosen tongues.'
"Hmm, this is delicious," he said, biting into a tart or a pie—I couldn't tell.
'What does it matter?'
"Don't make me repeat myself."
Aemon motioned for me to wait as he chewed the pie, signaling to Daemon that the pie was excellent.
'This little brat is playing with my nerves,' I thought, on the verge of shoving the entire tart down his throat.
He began to cough and signaled for me to get him a drink, which I did reluctantly. Once he finished drinking, he said:
"Your cooks are real killers, Rhaenyra. They nearly got me."
"What did she offer you?" I repeated, completely ignoring his words.
"Tell her, or her heart might stop right here and now," Daemon said, seemingly amused by the situation.
"You two aren't funny at all. Well, if you must know, she made me a very tempting offer: a seat on the small council, a trade alliance with House Hightower AND Lannister, and a blood alliance with, according to her, Aegon II King of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm."
---
-POV Aemon Targaryen-
"HOW DARE SHE?" Rhaenyra screamed, furious, throwing a bowl across the room.
'Woooow, I can't believe it, two sentences and she's already in this state,' I thought, shocked at how much my little schemes were affecting her.
"What did you say to her?" Rhaenyra demanded, pointing at me aggressively.
"Hmm... I told her I would think about it," I said slowly, letting her anger and hatred for Alicent Hightower build, clouding her judgment as much as possible.
'The angrier she is, the less rational she will be,' I thought.
"Think about what?" she shouted, stepping towards me menacingly.
"What do you have to think about? She's stealing my throne, my legitimate inheritance!" Rhaenyra yelled.
"He wants more than what we promised him," Daemon said.
I nodded and said, "Personally, I don't really like that woman. She thinks she's a dragon when she's not. She tries to dictate the rules of our house without any strength, and I find that intolerable. But I have to admit, she made me some tempting offers."
"What do you want?" Rhaenyra asked.
"If you could slightly increase your offer to match that of your stepmother, then everything will be settled, and you won't have to fear Alicent Hightower anymore," I said, as if she were getting the better deal.
"I'm not afraid of her," Rhaenyra replied.
"Very well, let's say you won't have to worry about her anymore," I rephrased.
"As long as her sons are alive, she will do everything to remove me from my rightful place," Rhaenyra said, which instantly chilled me.
"Don't forget, they're your brothers," I said suddenly, serious, frowning because, despite my cold calculations, children are still children.
"Name your price," Rhaenyra said, choosing to ignore my last words.
"I want Jeyne Arryn deposed and handed over to House Royce, who will decide her fate."
"That's..."
"I'm not finished," I said, cutting her off with an authoritative tone that silenced her.
I continued, "I want your firstborn son sent under my care from his six-day-name until he reaches his majority, where I will make him a man worthy of succeeding you one day."
"You're dreaming," Rhaenyra said, as if it was a condition she wouldn't even consider.
"Alicent has already agreed to this condition," I said, forcing her into a corner.
"Go to hell," she said, realizing she had no choice if she wanted to keep me on her side.
"I will, very soon, with my wife, I promise. But I'm not done yet," I said, silencing her so she would listen to my final demand.
"I also want the taxes on House Royce to be lifted for the first ten years of your reign," I concluded.
"Ten years of tax exemption? Is this a joke?" she said, laughing at my ridiculous request.
"It's up to you to decide," I said, spreading my arms.
"Accept," Daemon said, clearly not pleased with what I had just done but remaining impassive.
"This is robbery," Rhaenyra said, scandalized that Daemon agreed with me.
"It's still better than him joining that whore from Oldtown, isn't it?" Daemon said, who had a fierce hatred for the Hightowers.
"Fine, I grant you everything you want," Rhaenyra said.
"Very well, then rest assured, I will be the first defender of your rightful claim to the Iron Throne," I said, dramatically bowing before leaving the room. I had completed the penultimate part of my plan.
'Just one more piece, and the puzzle will be complete,' I thought, eager for everything to finally fall into place.