Aemond withdrew his gaze, fell silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.
"Send word to the Faith."
Everyone in the chamber turned toward the Prince Regent.
"Tell High Septon Owen that the realm does not permit armed religious orders of any kind."
"That was the agreement forged between King Maegor the First, King Jaehaerys the First, and the Faith."
"If the Faith of the Seven is to be defended by force, then that duty belongs to House Targaryen."
"Now, the Faith spreads the teachings. The Crown provides protection."
"If certain people wish to rebuild the Warrior's Sons?"
"Then they are breaking the agreement. They are provoking the Crown and the realm itself."
He paused before continuing.
"Have Septon Owen personally declare that these gatherings around King's Landing are illegal assemblies and violations of the Faith's teachings."
"And one more thing," Aemond continued. "Send word throughout King's Landing. No one is to take part in these unlawful gatherings."
Aemond sighed inwardly. This was his final warning.
If those fools still insisted on walking down this path...
Then they would have no one to blame but themselves.
Silence filled the council chamber.
Everyone looked at the Prince Regent. Looked at the cold sheen of his silver hair beneath the sunlight. Looked at the straightness of his back.
Grand Maester Norren lowered his head, unease stirring in his chest.
Did he know?
Or did he not?
But the plan had already begun. Even if he wanted to stop it now, it was impossible...
Grand Maester Norren recalled the High Septon's words that night.
"Once the riots begin, tens of thousands—or more—will storm the Dragonpit. No dragon, no matter how powerful, can survive being buried beneath that many bodies."
Tens of thousands...
Would it really work?
He did not know.
But he did know this:
If it failed, then the ones who would die would not be the dragons.
It would be those tens of thousands.
Aemond turned his head and smiled faintly.
"Now then, let us speak of my uncle."
Hand of the King Tyland frowned.
"Prince Regent, we believe Daemon..."
"He may first deal with the matter in Tyrosh—"
"No," Aemond interrupted.
Everyone listened carefully.
"He will come. If he does not, the rebel forces in the Riverlands will lose faith in Rhaenyra, that false queen."
Aemond continued with a calm smile.
"If my uncle comes, I could not ask for anything better."
"That is, if he dares face me and my dragon."
Master of Laws Jasper immediately spoke up.
"The Prince Regent is correct."
"The traitor Rhaenys is dead. Among the Blacks, only Daemon remains a threat."
"But now? How could he possibly contend against you?"
"Exactly, exactly," the others hurriedly echoed.
Aemond listened to their flattery without much expression.
"My uncle..." he slowly said.
"As long as he lives, the realm will never know peace."
"If he dies—if his head rolls across the ground—wouldn't everyone sleep easier?"
The chamber fell quiet for a brief moment before voices rose in agreement.
"The Prince Regent speaks wisely!"
"As long as Daemon lives, disaster will follow!"
"It is time to deal with him!"
Dowager Queen Alicent frowned slightly and spoke up.
"Aemond."
Aemond looked toward his mother.
Alicent's expression was complicated. She did not want her son to bear the infamy of kinslaying, even though Aemond had already killed Rhaenys.
Aemond looked at her in silence for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"Mother,"
"Other than me, who do you believe can deal with Daemon?"
He pointed toward Tyland.
"Lord Tyland?"
Tyland hurriedly shook his head.
Then Aemond pointed toward Jasper.
"Or Lord Jasper?"
Jasper shook his head as well.
He pointed at the others.
"Or perhaps one of you?"
Every single one of them shook their heads, not daring to speak.
Aemond lowered his hand and looked at Alicent with a sigh.
"No one."
"Only I have the ability to do it."
"Some things must be done by someone."
"My uncle nearly killed Aegon. He wants me dead. He wants our entire family dead."
"This is not kinslaying."
"This is... self-defense."
Master of Laws Jasper hurriedly added, "The Prince Regent is absolutely right! This is a regrettable necessity! The rebels struck first!"
Master of Ships Elwyn spoke as well.
"We should issue a proclamation to all Seven Kingdoms and make it clear—this is not the Prince Regent committing kinslaying. It was the rebels who first sought to murder the king!"
Aemond looked at them, the corner of his lips curling upward slightly.
"And another thing."
"In the official proclamations, change the surname of Jacaerys and his two brothers to Waters."
He braced both hands against the table, his violet eyes sweeping across the room.
"If I kill dragon-stealing bastards who betrayed the realm, that does not count as kinslaying, does it?"
Tyland was the first to nod.
"The Prince Regent is wise!"
The others quickly echoed him.
"The Prince Regent is wise!"
Aemond's gaze settled on the only man who had not spoken—Grand Maester Norren.
On his swollen face, Grand Maester Norren forced out a smile uglier than crying itself.
"The Prince Regent is wise..."
But inwardly, he could only sigh.
It was over.
Completely over.
Once Aegon returned, he would surely hate both him and Owen.
Had they not encouraged him, Aegon would never have personally led the campaign. He would not have been gravely wounded. He would not now be hovering between life and death.
Aemond looked at him for a moment before withdrawing his gaze.
"That will be all for today."
The council members rose, bowed, and filed out one after another.
...
Grand Maester Norren left. Tyland left. Jasper left. Elwyn left.
Will was the last to leave. Before going, he glanced at Aemond. Aemond gave a faint nod, and only then did he leave in peace.
The council chamber was left with only Aemond and Alicent.
Alicent did not leave.
She remained seated, looking at Aemond with a complicated expression.
Leaning back in his chair, Aemond closed his eyes and let out a long breath.
"Mother, is there something else?"
Alicent's eyes were red, her voice trembling slightly.
"I know you are now the Prince Regent. You hold all the power."
"Aegon... Aegon is nothing now. I fear... I fear that one day, you may decide he has become an obstacle..."
Aemond looked at her and sighed helplessly.
He rose to his feet, walked over to Alicent, crouched before her, and took her hands in his.
"Mother," he said softly, "look at me."
Alicent looked at him.
"He is my elder brother," Aemond said. "He may be foolish, but we share the same mother's blood."
"And I have never once thought of harming him."
Tears streamed down Alicent's face.
"You do not need to spend every day living in fear," Aemond continued.
"I am not Maegor. And he will not become Aenys..."
Aemond gently patted the back of her hand and smiled.
"So rest easy."
"You know what Aegon is like."
"He would neither dare nor desire to fight me for anything."
"What I want, he would never dare take."
"So in the future, we will still be brothers."
"And he will still be king..."
Alicent looked at him—looked into the rare gentleness hidden within his sincere eyes.
The fear she had carried for so many years suddenly unraveled.
She reached out and embraced her son.
Aemond stiffened for a moment, then slowly raised his arms and gently embraced her in return.
Mother and son remained like that for a while, neither speaking.
At last, Alicent released him, wiped away her tears, and forced out a smile.
"Good. Good. I believe you."
Aemond nodded and stood up.
As for whether Aegon would remain king of the Seven Kingdoms...
That would also be for him to decide.
Just then, the doors opened.
Helaena walked in.
Her belly was already quite large, forcing her to move slowly, yet a gentle smile rested on her face.
Sunlight streamed through the windows and fell across her, her silver hair glowing softly beneath it.
Aemond immediately walked over and supported her.
"Why did you come here?"
Helaena smiled faintly.
"I missed you."
Aemond smiled as well. Supporting her carefully, he guided her to a seat and helped her sit down.
Alicent walked over and looked at Helaena's stomach, a loving smile appearing on her face.
"It should be soon, yes?"
"Alys says..." Helaena nodded and gently rubbed her belly. "It may be a boy and a girl."
Dowager Queen Alicent's eyes lit up.
"Twins? Truly?"
Helaena nodded.
"That is what Alys Rivers said. It should be two."
Alicent was so delighted she hardly knew what to say. She also knew that witch possessed certain abilities.
The Dowager Queen held Helaena's hand, looking her over again and again, her face full of joy.
Standing to the side, Aemond watched the two of them, a faint smile appearing on his lips as well.
"Oh, right," Helaena suddenly said. "There is something I need to tell you."
Aemond lowered his head and leaned closer to her.
Helaena spoke softly.
"I had a dream last night."
"What kind of dream?"
"I dreamed that..."
"The sun and moon in the heavens... fell upon me..."
Aemond froze for a moment.
Was this an omen of royal destiny?
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