-Chapter 113-
-14th day of the 1st moon of the Year 116 AC-
-POV Aemon Targaryen-
I opened my eyes to feel a hand caressing my face, and I found myself staring into the beautiful pair of violet eyes of Laena.
'The mother of my son.'
But that wasn't what surprised me. No, what really surprised me was the little "+" next to her face.
I focused on it because I instinctively knew what it was, but I wanted to be sure.
• [Name: Laena Velaryon]
• [Age: 22 years]
• [Title: Princess, Lady of Runestone, Dragonrider of Vhagar]
• [Allegiances: House Velaryon, House Targaryen]
• [Familiar: Vhagar]
• {Attributes}
[Constitution: 85]
[Strength: 54]
[Endurance: 62]
[Dexterity: 71]
[Agility: 51]
[Speed: 52]
[Intelligence: 79]
[Willpower: 88]
[Charisma: 94]
[Perception: 71]
[Wisdom: 86]
'So, there aren't only disadvantages to this "update",' I thought, trying to figure out what else had changed in my system.
"Happy Name Day," Laena said, snuggling up to me.
"Thank you, my love," I said distractedly as I explored my personal attribute window.
[Name: Aemon Targaryen]
• [Age: 18 years]
• [Title: Prince of House Targaryen, Bronze Dragon]
• [Allegiances: House Arryn: Lord Arnold Arryn, House Targaryen: King Viserys Targaryen]
• [Familiar: Urrax]
• {Attributes}
[Constitution: 1,000]
[Strength: 250]
[Endurance: 250]
[Dexterity: 250]
[Agility: 250]
[Speed: 250]
[Intelligence: 200]
[Willpower: 200]
[Charisma: 200]
[Perception: 200]
[Wisdom: 150]
[Unassigned Points: 0]
{Passive Skill}
[Unburned LVL 6: Your resistance to ordinary fire is 60%, and your dragon lineage is purified at 24%]
[Urrax]
[Physical: 30,021]
[Magic: 40,000]
'He removed the point allocation function for Urrax, but he didn't delete his interface. So I wonder if he gave him the same limitation as me,' I thought.
"I received a letter from my mother. She will arrive later this afternoon, and she will stay with us for several moons to take care of Viserys and me."
'If that's the case, I'm in real trouble, because it would mean I can no longer increase the size and capabilities of Urrax,' I thought.
"I also... received a letter from Rhaenyra. She is offering us a new alliance with her firstborn if we have a daughter..."
'Fortunately, Urrax has reached the size of 300 feet, otherwise, I would have had to orchestrate some tragic disappearances,' I thought.
Although the being of light had urged me to increase my actions to take the throne, I wouldn't do it, because I didn't like killing.
'War must always be the last resort,' I thought, before adding mentally: 'It's slightly hypocritical of me to say that, knowing I just finished one war and I'm at the brink of another,' I thought.
"...And that's how Viserys threw himself out the window."
'I need to go to Tyrosh first to see if I can negotiate with... Wait, what?' I thought, startled by Laena's words.
I suddenly turned to my son, who was sleeping peacefully, and let out a sigh of relief before glancing at Laena, who was looking at me, one eyebrow raised.
"You're not listening to me, but I should be happy that you're at least concerned for our son," she said, pretending to be upset with me.
I smiled, pushing my encounter with the being of light to the back of my mind, then said as I hugged her tightly:
"I was simply thinking about how we could keep getting stronger without starting a war."
"You were seriously wrong about your uncle," Laena said, looking at me teasingly.
'Yes, you were right,' I thought, rolling my eyes.
"I didn't think he would get attached to that Jessamyn," I said, trying to explain.
"I honestly don't think he did. I think he's simply trying to break away from your control, and the Houses that swore loyalty to him are trying to do the same, although I have to admit he was probably manipulated by that woman," she said.
'For a woman, he's going to die for a woman,' I thought, shaking my head internally before sighing.
"What are you going to do with him?" Laena asked, seeing that I wasn't responding.
"I don't really know," I said, even though I was already certain of his fate.
"You're going to kill him," she said, even though it didn't sound like a question.
"Without a doubt," I said, because I couldn't afford to have that kind of fool getting in my way.
'The Vale must act as one and stay united under my banner,' I thought.
"But not now?" she said, realizing I was waiting for something.
"It's not the right time, and I don't want to face Viserys," I said, giving a random excuse to avoid dealing with the real problem.
'Jeyne.'
"To the king," Laena corrected me.
"To Viserys. That weak man is no one's king," I said, deliberately steering the conversation in a different direction so I wouldn't have to discuss this matter today.
"You really have trouble getting over the fact that he refused you that egg," Laena said, smiling mockingly at my supposed 'grudge.'
"Unlike you, my dear," I said, sincerely finding that she had let it go too easily and especially too quickly.
"Because he apologized for offending you and gave you the egg he had personally chosen for his son," she explained.
"I don't remember him truly apologizing," I said calmly, my tone almost detached from the situation, because I didn't care if Viserys regretted his actions. I had abandoned that piece once I realized the one who could manipulate him would be the one spending the most time with him.
'I'm not going to spend my whole life at his bedside to have minimal influence over his decisions. If they can't love me, then they'll have to learn to fear me,' I thought.
"He's the king; he showed his goodwill, and that's what matters," Laena said, emphasizing that it was important for us to move on so we could move forward with the rest of the royal family.
Laena watched me as I looked away, and after a few seconds, she added:
"Unless you haven't told me everything."
I could see in her eyes that she knew perfectly well that I had done something to make Viserys change his decision, but I didn't want to give her too many clues about the real extent of my actions and my involvement in the battle for Viserys's succession.
'I don't know what she might repeat to Laenor and what he would say to his "wife,"' I thought, not wanting anyone to understand how I held the Lord of House Strong by his balls.
'I'm going to squeeze him dry, that bastard,' I thought, a smile forming on my lips at the thought of the next favor my dear friend would render me.
I kissed my wife's forehead without responding, and she rolled her eyes before getting out of bed to take her bath.