"If you must cry, you should have done it while alone; now the whole keep is chattering about how the Queen shed a river of tears while walking her children."
The old man said, as his eyes narrowed in contempt.
He walked towards his daughter, scrutinising her reaction while doing so.
His eyes glinted in satisfaction when he saw Alicent's eyes flicker in shame and fear. 'Good,' he murmured to himself.
Sitting across from her, he turned towards his grandchildren.
Aegon was intently watching, his eyes staring blankly at him.
But Otto wasn't disturbed by this; he is used to his grandson staring at people without a sliver of expression on his face.
He thought that the child was odd, but didn't think much else. 'It doesn't matter if he's retarded as long as he sits on the throne,' Otto mumbled inwardly.
Turning back to his daughter, the Queen of the seven kingdoms, "Stop that." He ordered while his lips twitched in disgust.
If there was one thing he failed to do about his daughter, it was her habit of tearing the skin off her nails. It unnerved him.
Alicent flinched at his words and hid her hands; she looked down as she pressed her lips together.
The duo stayed in silence, with Otto watching his daughter squirm and wiggle in her chair under his gaze, which brought a thin smile to his lips.
'But I need her,' he mumbled inwardly as he broke the silence that descended upon them by saying, "The king wants to marry Rhaenyra."
Alicent and Aegon both widened their eyes in surprise when they heard Otto.
'Fuck! If she gets married now, I will never be able to amend our relationship!' Aegon cursed inwardly as he clenched his fist, but he loosened it immediately when Helaena got scared by his actions and was about to cry but stopped.
'I-If that happens, she will hate me more!' Alicent was thinking similarly to her son. She bit her inner cheeks while clenching her fists.
She looked at her father for the first time since he sat across from her and asked, "Who's the groom?"
Aegon too perked up his ears and listened to Otto as he answered, "That has not been decided yet!"
Turning toward the fire, he continued, "The council have proposed a total of three candidates. His Grace has yet to choose from the three."
"Who are they?" Alicent asked.
"The Lannisters proposed their own man, while Lord Corlys, with the support of Lord Strong, proposed his own son…" Otto said, eyeing his daughter from the corners of his eyes.
Alicent nodded her head, understanding the schemes beneath, 'Lord Strong has always been a staunch supporter of Viserys and has given wise counsel. The Velaryons have naval strength and are of Valyrian descent, but…'
"What about you, father?"
Otto remained silent for a moment at his daughter's question; turning towards his grandson, he replied, "I have proposed Aegon!"
Alicent's eyes widened while Aegon did his best to keep his blank stare, but he couldn't help twitching his eye a little.
'This old man…' Aegon mumbled inwardly; he eyed his grandfather with his usual blank stare while he thought, 'This old man is really ambitious!'
Marrying Rhaenyra to Aegon would only mean one thing—transfer of power or the heirship from Rhaenyra to Aegon.
Sure, Rhaenyra might still be the heir and queen, but every lord in the realm would first heed Aegon's words rather than Rhaenyra's.
After all, almost all lords wish Aegon to be named the next King.
'Anyone with a speck of mind would understand that Otto is trying to grab more power!' Aegon muttered inwardly.
"W-What was His Grace's response?" Alicent asked, still a bit shocked by her father's proposal.
Otto took a moment before he answered, "His Grace did not take it well. He cited that Aegon is too young for Rhaenyra. Lord Corlys too agreed with this."
Alicent nodded her head hesitantly; she waited for her father to finish his words.
"The lords of the realm wish Aegon to be king. But I cannot press too much," Otto muttered while he squinted his eyes a little.
Aegon nodded his head inwardly as he understood his grandfather's position: 'The Hightowers already have a queen, and pressing too much would only be seen as arrogant.'
Turning to his mother, he mused, 'Politically, although marriage with me would stabilise the realm. It only brings benefits to the greens, a faction that doesn't view Rhaenyra as their queen.
But a marriage with Valeryons would give her a naval army, and also dragons. And although they might take some power, it wouldn't be as substantial as it would be when she marries me.'
SIGH
He sighed inwardly, defeated, 'That is why winning Rhaenyra's heart is important. That is, if I want to resolve the conflict peacefully.
Rhaenyra is emotional; there is a high chance that she might concede if she loves me enough.
Of course, there is also a high chance that she might not concede and fight me, and even if I swore in front of the seven that I didn't wish for the throne, there is a high possibility that she would see me as an enemy, if not her faction.
After all, as long as I am alive, I am a threat to her rule and her legacy.'
SIGH
Sighing it off himself once again, 'Alright, this is enough. I don't want Mother to think about all this stuff. I will take care of it…. Somehow.'
Turning to his little sister who was playing with his hand, he mumbled, 'I am sorry, Helaena.' And….
WAAAAH