-Chapter 66-
-The Next Day-
-POV Laena Velaryon-
"It's finally the big day," mother said as she passed in front of me to choose the necklace I would wear today.
'The day of my wedding,' I thought, observing the light blue gemstone necklace.
"Finally," I said without much enthusiasm.
"You don't seem eager to get married," mother remarked.
"I heard that Father and Aemon have argued again," I said, annoyed.
'I don't want to spend the rest of my life constantly choosing between the family that gave me life and the family I intend to create,' I thought.
"Aemon really went too far this time," mother said, catching my attention, as she was usually the first to defend him.
"What did he do?" I asked.
Mother rolled her eyes and said, "He apparently, according to your father of course, tried to insult him several times while making him look like a traitor in front of the king and the council. But what's unforgivable is that he managed to get all the products from our house taxed, which will make a significant dent in our coffers."
"This can't go on. I don't want to end up becoming an enemy of my family over a matter of pride," I said, worried that this issue would escalate further.
"You don't need to be," she said tenderly, grabbing my cheeks.
"I understand that my opinion doesn't carry much weight for those two, but I refuse to live like this. I'd rather not get married at all," I said, briefly considering fleeing to Essos.
'But even that could add more fuel to the fire rather than put it out,' I thought, quickly dismissing the idea.
Mother laughed at my idea and said, "It's because, until now, you were only engaged. Once you become his wife, you'll form a team. Aemon isn't stupid, which will give you more influence. Not to mention that once you've given him a child, be certain that he won't be able to live without you. You'll be forever bound by parenthood, and your opinion will carry as much weight, or even more at times, than his."
"You speak from experience?" I asked, feeling a little reassured.
Mother nodded and said, "Believe me when I say that if your father could still be on a ship, he would be…"
"…But he's too afraid of his dragon's wrath to make such a mistake," Father said as he entered.
I smiled and hugged him. Mother waited until he let me go to ask him:
"So, how is he?"
'She's talking about Laenor,' I thought, thinking of my little brother, who was devastated by the loss of his…
'Lover.'
"He's managing to pretend, but sooner or later, it will show if he keeps going like this," Father said, not daring to speak aloud about the subject.
'The walls have so many ears here, it's indecent,' I thought, understanding why he didn't dare speak openly.
"He's not drinking anymore?" Mother asked.
Father shook his head, frowning, and said, "He was already on his second glass when I arrived."
"At this rate, he'll be completely drunk by the ceremony," Mother said, forcing me to sit so she could adjust my hair one last time.
"At least he'll be standing. All that matters is that he can do what's expected of him tonight. The rest doesn't matter."
"You know how he is, Corlys."
"Let's not talk about Laenor anymore. We've discussed him enough."
"I can't believe I'm really going to give your hand to a man, let alone to that little…"
I tilted my head, my smile fading, and Father said, rolling his eyes, "Fine, let's not talk about that boy for now."
He couldn't help but continue, saying, "But I have every right to hate him for taking you from me. I planned to keep you by my side until the day I die."
I smiled, shaking my head at my father's antics, and he said, holding my cheeks in turn, looking at me emotionally:
"More seriously, I am incredibly proud of the perfect young woman you've become, and I'm sure you'll manage to tame that arrogant little prince as you should."
"Corlys," mother said, annoyed.
Father raised his hands and said, "Alright, I'm done. You're old enough to know what you need to do. Whatever name you carry, I trust you, and I'm counting on you to continue bringing honor to us."
I smiled and said, "You will be proud."
"I know," he said, before giving a kiss on top of mother's head and leaving.
"Even if he doesn't show it, he's very angry," I said, my smile fading as I watched him leave.
"Yes, but I also think that beyond that anger, your father has found an opponent he respects."
"You think?" I asked, really hoping she was right.
"I'm almost certain," mother said.
"Pass the message to Aemon: as long as he doesn't interfere with your father's affairs, House Velaryon will stay out of his," she added.
"Is Father aware of this?" I asked, because if he wasn't, it was nothing more than a unilateral promise from my mother and not a true promise from House Velaryon.
"No, but I've known him long enough to understand his mindset through his actions without him needing to speak to me," mother said.
"You seem to know something I don't," I said, realizing there was more to this.
"That's possible," she said, smiling, happy to tease me.
"Come on, don't torture me, I want to know," I said, shaking her arm repeatedly.
"Alright, alright, no need to act like a child. I remind you that you'll soon be a mother and Lady of Runestone, so behave like it," she said.
I nodded, smiling, and Mother began to speak: "Corlys had started setting up a plan to drain House Royce's coffers and had planned to go personally to Braavos to make a deal with the Reyaan family."
"The Key Keepers' family?!" I asked, surprised.
"The very same," she said, surprised that I knew the influence of the Reyaan family.
'I almost married that incompetent fool, so I had to learn which families held the most power in the city,' I thought.
"Why? No, wait, don't tell me Aemon is trading with them," I said, quickly understanding what my father wanted from them.
"Your father thought the same, but in reality, it's much worse. They buy all the products sold by House Royce at a price far above market value. They barely make a profit on the products bought from Aemon, but…"
'It allows them to stay in good terms with the most dangerous dragon rider of his generation, and probably of this century,' I understood without needing my mother to finish her sentence.
A long silence hung between us as I imagined all the possible outcomes of such a scenario, but each time, it ended badly for me.
"I don't know Aemon very well, but I'm glad Corlys didn't go through with it, as it would most likely have been the beginning of his end," mother said, sincerely.
"He wouldn't dare," I said, without really believing what I had just said.
'He would do it without hesitation if it came to that.'
"Keep one thing in mind: never assume the limits of your husband, especially when it comes to power. If Corlys had had a dragon, he would have done EVERYTHING to make me queen, whether I agreed to it or not. Do you understand?" she said, more seriously than she had ever been.
I nodded, feeling slightly out of it, and she said:
"You'll always be our daughter, but you're not the only woman he could marry. The sooner you become a team, the better it will be for everyone."
"Yes, mother," I said.
"Very well. Now go, it's time. You wouldn't want to be late for your wedding," she said, extending her arm, which I took.