-Chapter 34-
-POV Rhaenys Targaryen-
"Have you heard the news?" I asked my children who were looking at Corlys and me.
I could sense their slight anxiety because, starting today, their carefree lives would come to an end, and they would have to ensure the peace and prosperity of their own new households.
Laena nodded, as did her brother, and I said:
"Don't be fooled by appearances, but use your head in all circumstances because starting tomorrow, you will be thrown into the lion's den, and from my few conversations with Aemon, I can assure you that he is far from the calm image everyone attributes to him."
"He's a true dragon, certainly dormant, but always ready to fight," I added.
Corlys nodded and said:
"Your mother is absolutely right, but we didn't get this far by wagging our tails like good little dogs. We are Velaryons from birth until the day we die, and we will take what is rightfully ours. Never forget that."
I frowned, noticing that he was looking at Laena more intensely than at Laenor, even though she had always done her duty, unlike my son who, despite all my love for him, constantly gave rise to worries in my mind.
Corlys continued and said:
"Remember that you must absolutely give birth to the next generation of dragon riders as soon as possible. With the Hightowers in power and the domestication of…"
"Bond," I interrupted him.
He glanced at me briefly before continuing:
"…and the bond between Dreamfyre and Sunfyre with Prince Aegon and Princess Helaena, we must maintain the numerical advantage. If Prince Aemond manages to become the rider of Silverwing or Vermithor, we will lose the hegemony we currently hold."
Both nodded, and just as Corlys was about to add one last thing, the door was knocked on by Vaemond, who said from behind the door:
"Princess Rhaenyra requests an audience with you, Uncle."
Corlys frowned, probably pondering the reason for our future daughter-in-law's sudden visit, then finally said:
"Let her in."
To my surprise, when my cousin's heir entered, she was accompanied by her maternal cousin, Jeyne Arryn, and her champion, who was also the heir to Viserys' Hand and commander of the Gold Cloaks.
"Princess," I said, standing up, as did the other members of my family.
Rhaenyra nodded and then said, "Such formalities are unnecessary and redundant, especially among family members."
Corlys smiled and said, sitting down immediately: "I quite agree."
We all sat down, and to my surprise, Corlys did not invite the servants to bring extra chairs for the princess and her party to sit with us.
'What are you doing, Corlys?'
As Rhaenyra was about to speak, Corlys said in a loud, falsely cheerful tone:
"Why have you come here, Princess? You should be getting ready for your wedding."
The princess's smile quickly faded before she forced herself to smile again and then said:
"Since you're curious about the reason for my visit, I'll spare you the pleasantries and get straight to the point: Aemon must be reined in quickly, or we will lose a great deal."
"We?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. It was not Rhaenyra who spoke, but her cousin Jeyne, who said, "All of us."
"Does she speak for you?" Corlys asked, trying to unsettle Rhaenyra.
"She has my full confidence," the princess calmly replied, her hypocritical demeanor gone.
'Well answered, while avoiding directly responding to the question to not appear weak without offending her cousin.'
She doesn't know how to hide her emotions; everything is written on her face.
She's afraid of losing her throne to a man.
I silently sympathized with her before refocusing on the ongoing discussion.
"Aemon tried to… intimidate us."
"From what I've learned, his dragon got agitated because one of your followers had the audacity to brandish steel in front of a prince who is also a dragon lord," I said, looking at Rhaenyra.
"Ser Harwin was wrong, but he didn't fully draw his sword. He was just being a bit too protective."
"And Aemon's dragon did the same. You know perfectly well our dragons would do anything to protect us; we are bonded," I said.
"It's different," said the Warden of the Vale.
"How is it different?" Corlys asked in a tone of feigned interest.
'He knows something I don't.'
I frowned and listened to Jeyne Arryn recount the alleged talents Aemon possessed, and it was only by observing Corlys that I realized that not only did he know what Aemon was capable of, but he also wanted to conceal this knowledge even from me.
With all these clues, I came to understand that either Corlys had a plan in mind, lying to everyone to achieve his goal of seeing his blood on the Iron Throne by using Aemon and Rhaenyra to carry out his plan, or that he still had his spies placed within House Royce.
'Or maybe even both.'