Of Bastards & Dragons || Aenar Targaryen

61 • THE CROWN OF VISERYS

Seated in his chambers, while dwelling in his failures to get some of the Great Houses to their side, Otto rolled up a parchment, picking up a metal bowl that had been held over a flame and poured the melted wax inside, where he rolled the page closed, stamping it with the Hightower seal.

Picking it up, he brought it close towards his mouth and blew on it, as the wax fastened up and dried, then he sets it aside to send it off later to the North of Winterfell.

Just as he expected, the chambers of his door opened, him not having to look up and see who it was. His daughter, Alicent, the Queen, later to be Queen Mother, or Queen Regent after Aegon's coronation tomorrow.

"Well played." Otto greeted, seeming to be hurt.

"None of this is a game." She huffed, rolling her eyes, at his childlessness.

"And yet you treat it as one." He disagreed, his ego bruised, his pride hurt. "A charming contest, the... prize, a pouch of silver!"

Rising from his seat, he stood tall as he could, trying to gain back some power, though Alicent stood tall in green, her posture great as well.

"We have relied on one another these many years. And now it is the good of the family that we both desire." He came closer to her, trying to manipulate and sway her with family, knowing how she held family dear. "Whatever our differences, our hearts remain as one."

Alicent scoffed. "Our hearts were never one. I see that now." She said with an emotionless tone. "Rather, I have been a piece
that you moved about the board." She looked up at him, with a frown of venom.

Seeing he could no longer sway her with meaningless words, as he once did ten years ago, when he sent her to Viserys chambers. "If that is true, then I made you Queen of the Seven Kingdoms." He tries to manipulate her opinion about him. "Would you have desired it otherwise?"

"How could I know?" She nearly laughed at it, finding humour with sadness in it, looking out towards the morning sky. "I wanted whatever you impressed upon me to want." She then looked directly into his eyes, angry. "And now the debt comes due. A debt you were happy enough to pay."

"A sacrifice." Otto rewarded debt into his own twisted way of his thought process. "A sacrifice made for the stability of the realm." He looked into the hearth of the fire, thinking of words to say next. "No king has ever lived that hasn't had to forfeit the lives of a few to protect the many. Though I understand your squeamishness."

Alicent furrowed her brows. "Reluctance to murder is not a weakness!" She yelled. "I will not have you instill cruelty and favoritism into my son! I watched Aenar rule peacefully and rightfully to the realm...."

"So will you support him as King?" Otto questioned.

Alicent pursed her lips. Ignoring his question, pacing back and forth. "Rheanyra has fled to DragonStone, surely she'd have told Aenar everything!."

Otto sighs. "We should have killed her when we had the chance....along with the Velaryon children and grandchildren." He spat viciously.

"No blood will be spilled We agreed to follow a path of peace....."

"Peace is fickle.... a child's play Alicent, don't turn a blind eye, .you know what Aenar and Daemon can do. They're impulsive and violent. Not to mention Rheanyra and Daenerys who hate you more than life itself." Otto spoke brazenly.

Alicent exhales, deeply. "And what about you father.... I find myself wondering....do we purse the same end?" She held a grip to her passions.

Otto sighs. "I must admit, there are days where I myself can't be sure." He poured himself a cup of wine, tired of his daughter's nagging.