-Chapter 80-
-POV Alicent Targaryen-
Aemon hadn't moved from his chair and was looking at me with a nonchalance I hadn't seen in anyone's eyes for years.
'Nowadays, people either love me, fear me, or hate me,' I thought, because having the king's ear and attention gave me almost as much power as he had in the eyes of the other nobles.
'However, he just seems annoyed by my presence. He looks at me as if I were a stain, a mere parasite,' I thought, feeling shivers down my spine under his gaze.
"I am quite aware of the anger you feel towards the death of your knight," Aemon said, looking at me calmly.
"With that in mind, I will not continue this pathetic display of... I don't even know why you're here," he added, looking at me as if I were a child throwing a ridiculous tantrum.
'This attitude reminds me of my father,' I thought, looking at the young man who had barely fifteen days of name but already far more power than the older lords of the realm.
'It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he holds more power than anyone today, and all because of the presence of Vhagar and Urrax,' I thought, taking a deep breath to suppress all the anger and fear I felt at that precise moment.
Seeing that I had nothing to say, Aemon waved his hand dismissively and said in a scornful tone:
"Now leave me, I have better things to do than listen to you lament about your own situation."
I was about to leave his quarters when he added, casually: "By the way, I'm leaving today for Runestone. Make sure Aegon is ready because I'm taking him with me."
Shocked, I turned towards him, completely confused, and said: "This isn't what we agreed on…"
Aemon interrupted me bluntly and said: "I've done my part of the bargain we made, and that's my decision. So do yours, unless you want me to join Rhaenyra's side so she can destroy you once and for all."
I hesitated for a moment before finally leaving without saying anything, silently acknowledging that he had won.
'This is not the time to make an enemy of Prince Aemon, I already have enough of those,' I thought, slamming the door behind me.
---
-POV Corlys Velaryon-
"If anyone had ever told me that Aemon would volunteer to fight against Criston Cole for us, I think I would have cut out their tongue for spreading such lies," I said, with a slightly ironic tone.
"And you would have been wrong to do so," Rhaenys said, throwing a little jab at me as I had continued to fuel the flames of discord between us, while he had accepted to set aside his pride for the benefit of everyone.
'Something I struggle with immensely, but which is sometimes necessary,' I told myself, seeing how Aemon's intervention had saved us from ruin.
Although I was grateful for his help, I wasn't blind to the fact that this favor would eventually have to be repaid.
'This help doesn't come for free.'
"True, but I know people like him; they are never satisfied. He'll want something in return," I said, sending a small jab back to my wife, who rolled her eyes.
"Joffrey is avenged, that's all that matters," Laenor said, too absorbed in his thoughts of his deceased lover to think straight.
"That's all that matters to you, in your fragile mind, but you're not thinking of everyone's interests..." I began to say.
Rhaenys interrupted me and said: "Corlys, that's enough. We've been through enough already, let's not stab each other in the back when we should be celebrating this great moment."
Someone knocked on the door, and I asked, curious to know who could be visiting us at such a time: "Who is it?"
"It's me, father," said Laena from the other side of the door.
"Come in," I told my daughter.
I looked at her with pride as she entered our quarters, then I said:
"I knew you would manage to tame that prince."
Laena smiled, but I could instantly tell it was a forced smile. I frowned and asked: "What's wrong?"
"I talked to Aemon, and he's very strange. He's angry, but also very calm. He told me something that scared me a little," Laena said, sitting down with us.
"What did he say that could have shaken you so much?" I asked.
"He said it was the last time he would fight for our interests, and he seemed determined to draw a clear line between himself and House Velaryon. I'm afraid this fight may have permanently sealed any possible alliance," my daughter said, nervous at the mere thought of having failed in her role.
Laena added after a few moments: "I'm afraid I forced Aemon's hand too quickly and that he might make me pay for it over the years."
I didn't know how to respond to my daughter, because I didn't want her to behave differently, as it was in our best interest.
But at the same time, I didn't want to become an enemy of her husband either.
'A husband with whom she will have children, a new family.'
"Then stop," Rhaenys said suddenly.
I turned towards her, surprised by her intervention, but I didn't stop her from speaking.
'After all, she is the best person to give this kind of advice to Laena, considering the similar situation they find themselves in.'