HOTD SI: The Bloody Prince (OC x Rhaenyra)(OC x Alicent)

Part 6

Chapter 6

OTTO HIGHTOWER

The capital was divided in more ways than one. King Jaehaerys had ruled over half a century of peace and prosperity, yet his succession had remained contested to the last day. Finally, in 101 AC, Viserys Targaryen, the male-born heir of Baelon Targaryen, was chosen over Lady Rhaenys Targaryen, the daughter of Prince Aegon Targaryen, the king's eldest.

Otto had been named as Hand of the King by Jaehaerys himself, plucked out of Prince Baelon's retinue, and now he had served the realm for more than a decade, doing his duty as Hand of the King.

A duty which was not made any easier, for unlike the Old King, King Viserys needed to be saved not just from himself but from those scurrying around him as well; the most dangerous of these was his own brother.

Daemon Targaryen was a power-hungry, unruly and prideful man, blessed with the Targaryen beauty and masterful with a blade, he had the makings of a fine night, yet his nature was far too sinister to be anything but.

He was the King's heir and wielded much power because of that position, and just now, the King had increased his influence as he made his brother the new Commander of the City Watch while granting him enough gold to buy half the Street of Steel.

"I must object to this," Otto began, trying to make the King see reason. The King turned to him with a frown.

"Despite the fullness of our coffers, we must be cautious over spending so much gold without any oversight," and the Rogue Prince smirked.

"How many times have you been to the city, Lord Hightower," Daemon cut in.

"Crime has become rife, and the small folk no longer feel safe in the capital, a city that by all means should be the Crown jewel of my brother's Kingdom," he cut in, and Otto clenched his teeth. Say what you will about Daemon, he was not without intellect, especially when it came to manipulating his own brother.

"Daemon is right. Kings Landing has been on a downturn since the demise of Queen Alyssane. It is high time that we rectified this neglect, and this City Watch is the first step in that direction." The king overruled, and Otto saw this for what it was—a lost battle.

"Daemon, you will have the Gold, but do understand that I will not have it wasted. Use it as you may, but I will want results," the King warned, and the younger brother smirked at him subtly, and if the King saw it, he made no show of it.

"I will not disappoint you, brother." It enraged him to see him making a mockery of proper decorum, yet he held his tongue, knowing that this was not a battle to fight.

"Then I believe this meeting is concluded," and with that, the other councillors left, and just as he was about to stand up, the King called him out.

"Otto, stay," and he halted in his movements, as the King motioned for him to sit down.

He saw Prince Daemon grit his teeth at that, yet he still left the room, leaving him alone with the King once more.

Despite what one may think, Viserys Targaryen was not truly blind to the divides and the machinations around him. He was aware, coarsely if not acutely, but aware nonetheless.

He just chose ignorance, believing that such things would sort themselves out.

"Prince Aegon has ridden out from Runestone and is headed to the capital with a retinue of around fifty men," the King announced, and he was surprised by those words. Alicent had told him of the Prince's much-sought arrival, yet he had not believed it.