Red // Otto Hightower (1)

7. Expertise

"Aelsa." She introduced looking Harwin up and down. "It is so nice to meet you, I feel like ive been trying to track you down since I first arrived."

"Have you?" Harwin questioned as he kissed her hand, he let his lips linger.

"Of course, a man like you... is a man I want to know." Aelsa said her fingers trialing down his arm as she batted her eyes lashes up at him. A devilish smirk appeared on his face as his tongue poked out licking at his suddenly dry lips when Tyland marched down the hall.

"Excuse us." Tyland said grabbing Aelsa's arm.

"We will talk soon." Aelsa assured Harwin.

"I look forward it to." Harwin agreed as he watched her go.

"What the fuck Ty!" Aelsa sneered pulling her arm from his grip.

"Today is the day." Tyland remarked. "The king requested your presence."

"Did he?" Aelsa questioned innocently as she ran her fingers through her hair flattening it down evenly over her shoulders.

"Best smiles, be golden, innocent, angelic." Tyland told her.

"I got this." Aelsa assured. "I already had a talk with him," she murmured.

"You did? ABout what?" Tyland demanded.

"My future at the capital, of course." Aelsa offered with a shrug.

"What did you say Aelsa? What did he say?" Tyland questioned.

"That's confidential." Aelsa corrected.

They walked side by side and Tyland held the door open for her as she entered Viserys caught her eye, she offered her sweetest of smiles as she clasped her hands in front of her as the rest of the council arrived. Otto stared at Aelsa as he took his seat, stunning brilliant and manipulative. She was... Perfection.

Aelsa winked back at him before turning her attention to Viserys.

'Good morrow, my lords." Viserys said as he approached his council. "I have decided to take a new wife. I intend to marry..." Viserys looked around the council. "the Lady Alicent Hightower before spring's end."

"This is an absurdity. My house is Valyrian, the greatest power in the realm." Corlys exclaimed.

"And I am your King."   Viserys reminded him and Tyland looked to Aelsa but she seemed content in Viserys decision. Tyland grit his teeth they could have gotten a lannister on the throne. The crown. The power the lannister name would hold. Gone just like that. What did she say? What did she do? Things were going to smoothly.

"What a beautiful queen she shall be, your grace." Aelsa said as Corlys stormed out.  Rhaenyra wasnt too far behind him.

"Rhaenyra!" Viserys called but she didnt stop, the door slammed behind her.

Otto met Aelsas gaze and a smile tugged at her face. What was she up to?

"Might I have a moment alone with the lady Aelsa Lannister?" Viserys requested as the room cleared out. "Otto, you can stay." Otto hesitated but moved to Viserys side.

"What can I do for you my king?" Aelsa pondered knowingly.

"I enjoyed our talks greatly and you were a consideration in my mind for this... I hesitate to call it a position as my bride." Viserys remarked with an awkward chuckle.

"Im more than happy to be a friend your grace." Aelsa assured.

"Thats just it I dont want you as just a friend." Viserys remarked and Otto looked between them completely flustered. "i want you as Second hand." Viserys remarked.

"What?" Otto demanded.

"Second hand?" Aelsa gushed. Everyone knew the queen was a useless position but the hand made all the rules. Spoke for the king sat his seat. Aelsa wanted power. Being queen she wouldnt get it.

"Yes. What do you think lady Aelsa?"

"Of course, i would love to!" Aelsa assured "I have grown quite fond of you since I first got the pleasure to beat you at chess." Aelsa told him. "I am honored that you chose me as co hand. I hope I can do you proud." Aelsa told him.

"Co hand..." viserys chuckled but otto grit his teeth "i quite like that."

"Wonderful!" Aelsa declared.

"Oh aelsa you dont know what a relief it is to hear you accept." viserys remarked. "I did a bit of digging and found you are quite knowledgeable and could bring in a bit of youth and fresh eyes to this old place."

"Certainly have the youth." Aelsa agreed with a cheeky grin.

+

"House Velaryon's origins reach back to Old Valyria. More ancient even than House Targaryen... according to some texts." Corlys remarked. "But unlike the Targaryens, we were no dragon lords. For centuries, my house had to scratch out an existence from the sea with grit and luck. When I ascended the Driftwood Throne... I knew what I wanted.' Corlys said solemnly.

"So I went out and seized it. Unlike every other lord of the realm, I can say that I built my house's high seat with the strength of mine own back." Corlys went on. 'I've always thought of you and I as having been made from the same cloth.'

'I wasn't aware you had a king for a brother.' Daemon remarked.

'We're both men who have had to cut our own way through the world. We've been passed over... too often."

"Did you call me to Driftmark to remind me of my low standing, Lord Corlys, or was there some other reason?" daemon pondered.

"You've heard of the troubles in the Stepstones?"

"Some Myrish Prince is feeding Westerosi sailors to the crabs." Daemon recalled.

"I have been petitioning the King to send my navy into the territory, but he's denied me." Corlys told him.

"It was never my brother's strongest trait." Daemon remarked.

"What?"

'Being King."

"What are playing at little girl?" Otto questioned. Aelsa smirked.

"You wanted Alicent on the throne. I made it clear to viserys that he already had an ally in the lannisters but the world was changing and he needed to change with it or he might just sink."

"You tricked him."

"No. I offered him my advice. My knowledge. My... expertise." Aelsa corrected. "We both got what we wanted. Dont fuck this up Hightower."

"You are trying to replace me." Otto deduced.

"Nonsense. We are co hands. We work together." Aelsa purred. "I will making some changes to the hand of the kings office though. Dont worry you wont even know im there."