To Take What Is Rightfully Ours

Chapter 37. Making A Political Move

After giving it a lot of thought, I came to the conclusion that this chapter needs a trigger warning that should go as follows 👇

TW: Viserys has sex in this chapter (not graphic); separate mention of rape.

Believe me, I'm not happy about that either, but it's important to the plot, so please bear with me.

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Viserys looked up from his model of Old Valyria when he heard the knock coming from the secret door. At first, he thought he imagined it. But then the knock sounded again. No one knocked on this door for seven moons and now that someone did, it could only really be one person.

Of course, Viserys was aware that Daemon knew about the secret passages which also meant Rhaenyra knew but they never used them to visit him. So when the King got up and went to open the door, he knew who was supposed to be on the other side of it, even though he couldn't quite believe she actually came.

'Good evening, Your Grace,' Diane smiled, holding a book to her chest, when Viserys opened the door. 'I hope you do not mind that I came uninvited.'

'No, not at all. You are always welcome here,' Viserys immediately assured her, stepping to the side and allowing Diane to come in.

'That's nice to know,' she gave the room a quick glance and then turned to face the King. 'I've brought you a gift.'

'I believe you have already given me Aurion's sword,' Viserys pointed out.

'I did. But it was a present for the King and this-' Diane handed him the book. '-is a present for Viserys.'

He looked at her for a few seconds before looking down at the book in his hands. He had been the King for the last fifteen years and Viserys did not remember when was the last time someone made such a distinction. He had no idea when was the last time he got to be just Viserys without the weight of the crown being constantly attached to him. And it felt somewhat refreshing that Diane made this distinction, even more so when he read the title and realized it was a book about Valyrian architecture.

'Architecture is not my strong suit but as far as I understood, it was written a decade or so before the Doom so I suppose it's the latest official description of buildings in Valyria,' Diane explained. 'At least among what I was able to find. It would have taken me a few lifetimes to go through all the books in that library.'

'Thank you,' Viserys said, turning the pages of the book carefully and with clear fascination. He couldn't quite believe this book was real, and Diane just gifted it to him. 'Thank you so much, it is truly incredible.'

'I hope it will help make your model more accurate,' Diane smiled. 'And I am ready to give some of my own input. If it's welcome, of course.'

'It very much is,' Viserys immediately nodded, putting his book on the nearest table and taking Diane's hands in his. 'Diane, I can't even begin to thank you for such a gift. It truly means a lot to me.'

The fact that she brought him this book meant that she thought about him during her time in Valyria. That she most likely went out of her way to find this book. That maybe she missed him just as much as he missed her.

'It was no trouble, truly,' Diane said. Viserys was still holding her hands, looking at her like she was the most precious thing in the whole wide world, and she wondered whether it was the opening she never had before.

Despite visiting Viserys in his chambers constantly, even after he didn't need her help with his treatment anymore, there had never really been a chance to take their relationship to "the next level". Not that she particularly wanted or needed to before anyway so it did not bother her. She had enough influence on him as it was and she had to tread this whole situation very carefully. Mostly because Viserys viewed himself as a good man. Diane was begging to differ but it didn't matter as long as in his own eyes Viserys deemed himself good. And good men do not usually cheat on their wives so this was always majorly holding the King back.