Aemon Targaryen

-Chapter 107-

-POV Viserys Targaryen-

As I heard Sunfyre land in the courtyard, I rose from my chair and made my way to the door of my chambers to head to the Red Keep's courtyard.

Upon opening the door, I found myself face to face with Lyonel, who seemed slightly unsettled.

'He's changed his attire,' I noted, observing his new high-collared tunic.

"Lord Lyonel," I said in a slightly questioning tone.

Lyonel Strong, visibly in a hurry, said, "Your Majesty, I've been thinking and…"

"This can't wait. I'm going to say goodbye to Aemon and my son before they leave," I replied, sighing, knowing this wouldn't be an easy moment.

"I'm afraid it cannot wait; we might miss a very good opportunity," he insisted, determined to speak with me.

I furrowed my brow, puzzled by his sudden urgency, but I said,

"Very well, tell me everything."

"I have learned that the Sea Snake and Prince Aemon have formed an alliance," Lyonel said.

'This is not a bad thing for Rhaenyra, but for me…'

"Which makes Aemon more dangerous. I understand your point," I replied, not wanting to hear another doubt about Aemon's loyalty.

"It so happens that I have thought deeply about this and realized it indeed makes him far too dangerous for us to oppose him so easily," he continued.

"Then what do you propose?" I asked.

"I believe that now that the Prince is extremely upset…"

'With good reason,' I thought, fully understanding my nephew's anger. I would feel the same if my children were denied the honor of bonding with a dragon.

"…He might take an egg, like Prince Daemon. We should show him that the Crown is more magnanimous than all those who are trying to win his favor by granting him a dragon egg."

"That is indeed a very good idea," I said, considering the risks as well as the benefits of Lyonel's suggestion.

"Such a gesture would secure unwavering support from the Prince," added my loyal advisor.

'He is right, and I even have a better idea,' I thought, heading toward the dragon egg hatchery within the castle.

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-POV Aemon Targaryen-

"You're very quiet," I said, observing Viserys and Lord Strong from afar as they spoke through a crack in the wall.

"I am at your service," replied my little pet rat, on his knees, roughed up by my two cutthroats.

"No, you're not. You've been trying to play multiple sides," I said, pointing at him, slightly annoyed.

"I didn't…"

My little rat tried to defend himself, but I didn't let him:

"I understand what you're trying to do."

"I…"

I cut him off again and said, "I understand you because I do the same thing."

"Your…"

"Shhhhh…" I said, seeing that he was still trying to justify himself despite the blood dripping from his mouth.

"You're playing with Alicent while feeding information to Viserys for me, and at the same time, you believe that even if Rhaenyra wins, you'll benefit since her daughter is your niece," I said, before adding,

"You're moving your pieces carefully, ensuring that no matter who wins the game, you win too. But you overlooked one thing. Do you know what it is?"

"I…"

I didn't even give him the chance to answer the question I'd posed and said:

"You forgot that you were my dog. No, actually, you're not a dog. Dogs are loyal. You were one of my pet rats."

"A rat I appreciated greatly," I said, looking at the man held to his knees by two of the sleeper agents I had infiltrated into the castle.

'In case someone became too troublesome,' I thought, observing the assassins I paid a fortune annually to ensure their loyalty.

"I've already told you I don't need you, and I thought you were smart enough to understand that I didn't trust you enough to make you the only man I infiltrated into my uncle's court," I said, turning my gaze away.

"It seems I overestimated you," I added, disappointed by his behavior.

I had thought he would seize the chance I offered him to serve me, but he couldn't settle for being my rat.

He had to try to use me to climb the noble hierarchy.

'Poor calculation,' I thought, shaking my head.

"This is your first transgression, so I won't punish you too harshly. You'll only face two punishments for this," I said, taking genuine pleasure in mentally torturing the clubfoot who had almost played me and wasted my precious time.

'I owe my dear father-in-law for this one; he saved me. Otherwise, I wouldn't have seen the true enemy. I let myself be blinded by Rhaenyra and Otto,' I thought before continuing.

"The first punishment is that I've burned your bridges with your father. He will never trust you again, which likely means he'll speak of it to your brother, which will ruin your standing with both Rhaenyra and Viserys."

He lowered his gaze, trying to hide his true thoughts. I didn't care much, as he was merely a powerless man trying to manipulate the true rulers of this continent for his own gain.

"Your second punishment is that I'm taking away the brothels you managed for me…" I said before adding:

"…as well as the brothels you acquired using the gold I let you earn."

'I didn't look in the right place at first, but I've been watching you closely, my little rat. And it wasn't hard to notice your schemes to build your own network of brothels and inns parallel to mine, using my name to fill your pockets,' I thought, walking away and mentally calling Urrax to land in the courtyard.