Autumn Kiss 💋🍁 || Criston Cole

032 • THE CROWN'S JUDGEMENT

The royal court was summoned to judge the traitors of the crown. Queen Rhaenyra wasted no time in seeing matters put to a close. The court was somber in waiting, all the usual talk was dulled to a whisper.

The Queen sat impatiently with a deep scowl on her face. Daemon himself wore an opposite look of eager anticipation. Otto was to answer for his crimes in front of the whole court, his daughter and grandchildren included were in attendance.

Dowager Queen Alicent sat silently anxious, as well. She had known this day would come since she heard her father had been taken, but how could one ever truly prepare for this? As she tried to ready herself for the moment he was brought forth, Helaena tapped on her shoulder. "Mother, I wanted to apologize again about last night and I hope you were able to have a pleasant night with Ser Criston."

Now to add to her anxiety, Alicent was disgusted to the point of nausea. She had no interest at all in having her thoughts of Criston and herself mix with her family life.

It was revolting, hearing her children bring up their private time. "Helaena...I think we should just be silent for now and I do not ever want that topic broached again...ever."

Criston pretended not to hear a thing. Given the circumstances, the levity such a thing would have brought otherwise was completely unwelcome now.

Minutes later, the great doors opened and the clinking and rattling of chains were heard. Into the throne room walked Otto Hightower. Gone were his titles, gone was his office, and gone was the king he claimed to serve. He was brought to his knees a few paces before the throne and with his eyes to the floor.

Queen Rhaenyra stared at him a while before she began "Otto Hightower, you have conspired against the crown, and the realm. You have betrayed your country, but unfortunately for you, your betrayal has come to nothing. What do you have to say in your defense?"

Otto started slowly with every word gathering more venom "I...do not acknowledge your authority to accuse me of anything. You are not my sovereign, you are a pretender to the crown." Otto replied in a spiteful voice.

Daemon replied almost immediately "Really? Then you are contradictory to all the lords of the realm, even your own house. You have been abandoned, Otto, finally left alone after all your tricks and plots."

"And who are you to speak, Daemon? You who cozened your niece first into your bed, then my fool of a daughter into letting her son be disinherited? Aegon should be King, he's Viserys first born son! And my daughter is the Dowager Queen as she is a fool! Yes, Alicent, I speak of you. You've always been too stupid to understand, too feeble-minded to comprehend the plans I laid so carefully. Had you just done what you were told, our family would have had all to rule." He spat viciously.

Criston rose and placed his hand on his sword. "Your Grace, only give the order and I will put the prisoner to death."

King Consort Daemon stopped the Dornish knight. "Lord Commander, as much as it brings me joy our intents are aligned, it'll be me who undoes this cunt, slowly and painfully."

Otto laughed derisively "Oh, spare me, Daemon! And you, Criston Cole, the empty headed knight sprung from irrelevance, only so close to power because of the adolescent caprice of this usurper. All of you! By what right to do sit in judgment of me?! Lord Tyland, you knew of our plot at every step and now you serve Rhaenyra? Wearing the badge of MY office I wore for 20 years? You are a traitor as much as I!"

Lord Lannister looked away and sneered "I know nothing of this matter, I am a loyal servant of the crown. This traitor has no connection to me in any wise."

Otto laughed mirthlessly again "Oh, you traitorous cunt, you disloyal worm! Disloyal, all of you! Gods be cursed for taking Viserys from us! If he had seen his daughter, his brother, and even his wife and children act so disgracefully, he would have-"