To Take What Is Rightfully Ours

Chapter 44. Having Faith in Gods and Men

When the doors opened and the guards announced her presence, Diane smiled and walked into the Small Council meeting. She was wearing one of her best day-to-day dresses and her hair was carefully braided to frame her face. All in all, she looked like a woman who was about to get her plan approved by the Small Council.

'Your Grace,' Diane curtseyed a little as she approached the table.

The first thing Viserys did was check out the cleavage in her dress. The first thing Otto did was raise an eyebrow and subtly look her up and down with the corners of his lips tugging slightly upward.

Daemon not-so-subtly sighed.

'May we, perhaps, get her a chair? It's not fair to make Lady Diane stand while we all are sitting,' Rhaenyra said.

'An excellent suggestion,' Viserys nodded, and a few guards immediately scrambled to get it.

Due to how the seats were assigned at the table, the only empty place was on the right side of the King. Right near Otto. Diane smiled at that, lowering herself on the chair with a graceful motion and knowing full well that Otto's eyes were following her every movement.

'No, what is it that you wished to discuss, Rhaenyra?' Viserys turned to her.

'It has come to my attention that there is a cold spreading amongst the small folk in King's Landing right now, especially in Flea Bottom. And I believe the crown should lend a helping hand to its people. I propose we provide them with some basic medicine to keep it from spreading any further than it already has,' the princess said.

'There is no need to spend money on such things, I believe,' Mellos interjected. 'It is just a cold that goes around every few years and the crown has never concerned itself with such trivial issues.'

'Trivial or not, if untreated even the smallest cold can be fatal,' Diane said. 'Even more so amongst the poorest. Malnourishment and hard labor never did anyone's health any good and-'

'You are unnecessarily exaggerating,' Mellos interrupted her. Diane's gaze hardened. Daemon wished he brought snacks. 'The cases of cold such as this are mostly mild but I do not expect a woman to under-'

'If the next time you bring a whore to your rooms and she just happens to have a mild case of a cold, would you be so sure about your own well-being?' Diane interrupted him right back. Mellos paled. Otto pursed his lips to keep himself from smiling. 'I do not believe it is wise to be so reckless with your health at your respectable age, Grand Maester.'

'That's another issue this cold might bring,' Rhaenyra interjected. 'It is not a secret that most of the guards and golden cloaks are frequent visitors of Flea Bottom. If they get ill, they won't be able to attend to their duties.'

'We have some wiggle room just in case because someone gets ill all the time,' Daemon added, 'but nowhere near enough to cope with a shortage due to an epidemic. And the crime rate in the city has just gone down, we can't show weakness now.'

'And besides, if it spreads to the Red Keep, it would be rather unfortunate,' Diane said, looking at Viserys.

The King, who had been as useful as a chocolate teapot this far, nodded, 'That it would be.'

'We do not have the funding for it, Your Grace,' Lord Beesbury said. 'With all the planned expenses we do not have that much wealth to spare.'

'One of the charities Prince Daemon and I set up has enough money to cover the cost of basic remedies. And Dragonstone has generously offered to provide the healers,' Rhaenyra said.

Everyone looked at Diane. Otto raised an eyebrow. Diane smiled and said to the King, 'Treat it as a friendly gesture, Your Grace. We can easily spare five of our healers and a dozen of their apprentices who need to get some practice. All free of charge as long as the crown covers the cost of the travel. And shipment of the remedies because the ones we make are better,' she added with a smirk. And if it sounded like a dig at maesters in general and Mellos specifically, it absolutely was.