The Princess and the Queen 16: Viserys III
The news came just after sunrise.
"Come!" Viserys groggily called as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
In came Otto Hightower. He seemed to have just woken recently, too, judging from the bags underneath his eyes. He wore a black doublet and black breeches and boots. His cloak was sable, too, as if he was mourning something. His golden brooch for his position was the only thing that glimmered in the morning sun. Otto's mouth was turned into a nervous frown, and he did not face the bed Viserys was in, instead looking as if he was halfway out of the door.
"Your Grace... I do apologise for bringing such dear news to you at this time of morning..." he began.
"What is it, Otto?" Viserys asked wearily.
"I have summoned an emergency council, but the details of such, I have not spoken of. That is, at least, you are aware of what has transpired," Otto replied, seemingly trying to avoid the subject.
"Are you going to tell me?" demanded Viserys, annoyed that his precious sleep was disturbed but also concerned about why Otto would disturb him so early in the morning. "You already summoned an emergency council less than a week ago when my brother returned. I pray that you have not done so again for a small matter."
Otto took a deep breath.
"No... Your Grace... the matter is concerning... and even higher urgency..." he cautiously said.
"Then, what is it, Otto?" Viserys asked, sitting up.
"It appears... that..." stuttered Otto, unable to get the words out of his mouth.
"Speak plainly if it is so urgent," said Viserys, also concerned at Otto's unusually skittish demeanour.
"Princess Rhaenyra has married Daemon..." he sighed, avoiding eye contact.
...Daemon?
Suddenly, a rush came to Viserys' head. All he saw was black as he collapsed back on the pillow, his head landing with a thud.
She married Daemon?
Viserys woke up. Or he didn't.
A vast blue sea was ahead of him, but Viserys somehow did not feel himself there. He could see the dark blue waves crashing at each other, as well as hulking ships and looming clouds and a great grey dragon, but Viserys was still not there.
Have I passed? Am I with Aemma again?
Viserys looked down to see whether his body was whole again, but he did not have his body. There were no arms, rotting or healthy. He felt somewhat distant as if he was at a place, or a time, where he truly was not. But still, it didn't truly concern him due to what was occurring within the great blue sea.
Off beneath the shadow of a giant grey dragon, Rhaenyra was there, being pulled down into the water and clutching at her throat. Viserys could hear the roars of two dragons and the wailing of a younger son. Snakes and scorpions attacked Rhaenyra's throat, biting her with their poison until one snake coiled itself around her neck and dragged her down to the bottom of the sea.
Then, Viserys blinked, and he was back in his bed.
Otto sat to his right, his eyes full of concern. Grand Maester Orwyle, as well as two acolytes, were to his left. One acolyte took off a wet cloth from Viserys' forehead whilst the other mixed something in a clay bowl. Laena stood at the other end of the room, not looking particularly interested.
"Seven... what..." Viserys mumbled.
"You were asleep for some time, Your Grace," Orwyle calmly explained. "Mayhaps a quarter of an hour, or more."
"I was... the sea..." he stammered.
"Likely a fever dream, Your Grace," one of the acolytes said.
The fever dreams had been massively reduced over the past few years thanks to Orwyle's new treatments. The affliction on his arm had also slowed to a halt. Viserys still had no left hand, but at least the rot wasn't crawling up his arm every day as it used to.
No matter how good the treatment, it won't grow back.
"Are you feeling well, Your Grace, now?" Orwyle gently asked. "Or do you wish to rest for some time longer?"
"Grand Maester, with all due respect, His Grace is awake and lucid. The matter of the council is urgent, and should not be delayed," Otto said rather condescendingly.
Viserys rolled his eyes at his Hand's statements but still agreed with him. The matter was urgent and needed addressing as soon as possible.
How could I not have seen it coming?
"Yes... Orwyle... I am well... we shall have the council. Prepare a mulled wine whilst I change my garb," said Viserys.
"I take it that you remember the moments before, Your Grace?" Otto asked.
"I do. And please, all of you exit the room and prepare the Small Council chambers in the while," ordered Viserys.
"Following this incident, I arranged for the meeting to be relocated to your solar, due to the urgency of the matter as well as what just occurred."
"Very well," Viserys sighed, waving his hand away. "Now... let me have the room."
When everyone was out of the room, Viserys picked up the item nearest to him, in his case an empty wine goblet, and flung it at the stone wall, shattering it into a thousand pieces. Next, he threw another goblet, which was full this time, which sent Arbor Red trickling down the smooth cream wall.
I should have just listened to Otto and Laena and the Sea Snake in that council.
Viserys collapsed onto his bed, put his right hand to his forehead, and punched himself a few times, as if he was chastising himself for his stupidity.
Now they shall all be smug because they see themselves to be correct and demand that I listen to their council this time around.
Listening to their council was what Viserys should have done, yet he didn't. He didn't know why he truly allowed Daemon back into the realm, looking back.
I would have banished him if it were any other day, and if the Small Council did not suggest it to me beforehand... gods... why did I let my pride cloud my decision-making?
Viserys was ecstatic to reunite with his younger brother, but the feeling soon wore off when Daemon spent nearly all of his time out in the city. And upon hearing that Daemon married Rhaenyra, Viserys just wished that he had killed him all those years ago in the throne room.
When he bragged about taking my daughter's maidenhood and said that they should marry... now he has got what he wished for all those years.
In truth, Viserys could not only blame his brother. Rhaenyra shared some of that blame, too, for being so entranced by Daemon and falling for his swaggering demeanour. She was a grown woman now and should have to bear some responsibility for it too.
They always had a strange affection for one another; her heart was always with Daemon.
Once Viserys had finished brooding over things he didn't do and things he shouldn't have done, he made his way to his closet to change out of his nightclothes and for what seemed like it was going to be a very long day. He chose to wear a black silk tunic embroidered with a black dragon, as well as black breeches and heavy black leather boots. He decided to wear his cloth-of-gold cloak lined with ermine to display that he was truly the King.
For too long, I have been undermined, by my brother, my wife, and my council.
On his neck was a golden chain studded with black gemstones, and he had three rings on his fingers. One was his customary signet on his middle finger, whilst the ring old Rodrik Arryn once gifted him was on his third finger, and a golden ring wrought into a dragon was on the smallest. When he was finally dressed, his heated cup of mulled wine had arrived, which Viserys finished with a gulp, along with the oatcakes and berries that were also served.
Then, he made his way to the solar where the Small Council were waiting. Everyone was already there, patiently and impatiently sitting at their seats. Some tables had been brought in to resemble the usual small council table. A chair was reserved for Viserys at the head. To his left was Laena, looking almost smug and to his right was Otto, looking half dead. Next to Laena was Jasper Wylde and then Grand Maester Orwyle, the former's face still as a stone, and the latter's looked as if he were about to cry. Lyman Beesbury was across from the Grand Maester, his arms quivering. Larys Strong was at the end of the table and had his usual blank expression, and across from Viserys' seat was the Sea Snake, who had fury in his dark purple eyes.
Most of the council also seemed to have dressed for the same occasion. Otto still donned his all-black attire, whilst Jasper Wylde and Lyman Beesbury also did the same. The old Master of Coin also did not feel the need to wear his obnoxious yellow and black cloak to this meeting. Corlys Velaryon's blue tunic was so dark it could be mistaken as black, whilst Larys Strong wore a mix of dark brown and black. Orwyle was in his usual grey robes but had a black cloak around his back to protect him from the winter chill. Laena was still in blue, however, in a loose cyan dress with long, flowy skirts that reminded Viserys of the ocean.
"Your Grace," the entire council whispered whilst slightly bowing their heads.
"Where is Rhaenyra?" was the first thing Viserys asked.
"I saw it fit to exclude her from this meeting... as the subject of it happens to pertain to her, Your Grace..." Otto cautiously replied.
"It would be unwise to have her on the table discussing what punishment-" said Laena.
Viserys quickly stuck out his stump of a hand to silence his wife. "No... I mean, where is she at this moment?" he demanded.
"In the earlier hours, she and Prince Daemon left the Red Keep to go dragon-riding. I understand that they have not yet returned," the Hand responded.
"Very well," Viserys curtly said. "When they are to return to the Red Keep, I shall have them instantly summoned to the throne room."
The council nodded in agreement.
"What shall be the consequence of such an action of this, Your Grace?" the Sea Snake asked. "I know we are all wroth with the Princess doing such an action."
You and your daughter would have her disinherited.
"I would have her disinherited," quickly replied Laena, with a smile on her face, as expected.
"She is my daughter and heir; I shall not go that far," Viserys replied, his temper already rising.
None of these leeches even care about what actually happened. They are happy because they can use it for their bloody political games and ambitions.
"Then what shall you do, Your Grace?" Corlys Velaryon angrily asked. "It is plain to see that you are displeased about what the Princess has done? And you plan to not disinherit her?"
"Your Grace... it is with my understanding that the marriage was done in tradition Valyrian style..." Otto said. "...and not in the eyes of the Seven. Under the laws of gods and men, the marriage is null. I may be able to write to the High Septon in Oldtown to annul the marriage. Then we can quickly marry the Princess off to prevent any other... mishaps... and banish Prince Daemon."
Viserys smiled at that. What Otto had just suggested was a stroke of genius. The idea of actually banishing Daemon was tempting to Viserys, and it would mean that he needn't remove Rhaenyra as his heir, which was his highest priority.
"But the Princess would not be punished for her actions..." Laena replied.
"She would be married to someone against her desires," Orwyle said. "I feel that would be punishment enough."
"In her new husband, she would gain another ally and lands and soldiers; we can't let that happen!" she protested.
"Then it could be to a lesser lord, or a landed knight," suggested Jasper Wylde.
"It would be insulting to the Crown for such a lowly marriage-" Orwyle countered.
"It's an insult enough to the Crown what she and Daemon have just done!" stated Otto.
"The idea would not be feasible," whispered the Clubfoot softly as everyone turned to face him.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Viserys.
"I have information that suggests that Princess Rhaenyra and Prince Daemon did marry in the eyes of the Seven, thanks to some drunk septon in a straw septry in Fleabottom. Annulment may not be possible," Larys replied.
"If the insults don't bloody stop coming!" scoffed Corlys Velaryon sarcastically.
"Yes, but was the marriage consummated?" asked Jasper Wylde. "If not, Ser Otto's sway with the Starry Sept may be able to annul the marriage..."
"We could not check her maidenhood to see if it is still intact..." Orwyle gently replied.
"If we ask them, they would no doubt claim they have fucked half a hundred times-" Laena said, as Viserys shuddered at the thought.
"Enough!" Viserys shouted, rising from his seat. "If having the marriage annulled is not possible, what other solutions do we have?"
A solution other than disinheriting her?
"Surely the only solution in disinheriting her," grumbled Laena.
"Apart from that, Laena?" demanded Viserys.
"Do we not remember that the only reason that Rhaenyra was named heir was to prevent Daemon from getting near to the throne?" Otto asked the rest of the council and Viserys. "With their marriage, he shall be the consort, should Rhaenyra ascend. It would undo your years of work of preparing Rhaenyra to rule, Your Grace. What other punishment is appropriate?"
"She went against your specific demands and married Daemon behind your back!" Laena added.
"We have tried many, many times through the legal channels to convince you to accept a betrothal between Prince Daeron and Lady Jocelyn, with no avail? But when the Princess and Daemon do it without your permission, it stands?" laughed the Sea Snake.
"It must stand because they have done it in the eyes of the gods. Even His Grace has no power to overturn that," frowned Orwyle.
"Is that what you want, Lord Corlys? For me to accept a betrothal between my son and Lady Jocelyn? I did not approve of it because I mislike you plotting marriage arrangements for my son behind my back," Viserys said, his blood boiling.
"Yet if we had married them without your permission, there would be no punishment, as witnessed by your refusal to take action regarding your daughter and your brother's marriage," snapped Laena.
"Very well!" Viserys shouted, throwing up his arms in fury. "The betrothal between Daeron and Lady Jocelyn is accepted! There, are you satiated?"
Otto nodded politely whilst Laena and her father scowled.
"We are not, because that is still not punishment for the Princess," she said.
"If you suggest that I remove my daughter as my heir, I swear-" Viserys said, pointing his stump of a left arm at her.
"I was not," she coldly whispered. "I was to suggest sending her to the Silent Sisters."
Before Viserys could respond to her cruel jape, Orwyle quickly stood up.
"What of an exile, Your Grace?" Orwyle suggested.
"Is that not the same as disinheriting her?" the Sea Snake asked.
"No... it may be a temporary exile. For how long, that is up to His Grace to decide. She would remain heir, but the years away would allow her to see the error of her ways and grow to become a better person," the Grand Maester replied.
Viserys considered it. He knew that the Grand Maester wasn't a close ally of Laena and Corlys and thus embroiled in their schemes, and that some years away would allow her to mature and learn how to become a better ruler whenever the time came.
"That is a sage suggestion," Viserys nodded. "Dragonstone has been vacant for some time. Mayhaps she can practice governance there."
"Hardly punishment enough," scoffed the Sea Snake.
"How long would said exile be?" asked Jasper Wylde.
"I would have suggested a year, mayhaps two-," Viserys said.
"That would hardly be punishment enough, Your Grace," said Otto. "Royal progresses can take a year. She would be back before not long at all."
"So, how long would said exile be, as per all of you?" Viserys asked his council.
"I do not think any length is punishment enough," Corlys quickly said as Otto and Jasper Wylde nodded in agreement.
They would not be satisfied unless I actually removed her as my heir.
"I would agree to such a punishment, seeing as she is the Princess of Dragonstone; that island should be her place. " Laena said, her head resting on her chin, much to Viserys' surprise. "But only if the length of exile is appropriate."
"You would?" gasped Viserys.
"Yes... Your Grace..." she slowly replied, looking more towards the dumbfounded Otto Hightower and Corlys Velaryon rather than Viserys. "My initial suggestion would be to disinherit her... but seeing as you would not accept such a thing, I feel as though an exile would suffice, along with the confirmation of Daeron and Lady Jocelyn's betrothals."
"How many years?" Viserys bluntly asked.
"I was to suggest an indefinite exile-" she said.
"Indefinite?" laughed Viserys. "That would be equivalent could disinheriting her!"
"She would still remain as heir," she said slowly, looking again to the Hand and her father. "She would just be away from the capital."
"No... I would not accept such a punishment," Viserys curtly said.
"What if it is a longer length, not indefinite, but long enough?" asked Otto, as he nodded towards Laena. "Thirty years seems a valid punishment enough."
"Thirty? I would hardly be alive by then," laughed Viserys.
"Your Grace... you only six-and-fourty at this moment; I have the utmost confidence that you would survive to your seventies," reassured Otto.
"Even the Old King did not live for that long," Orwyle said.
"Aye, but with Orwyle's treatments, your health issues have seemingly halted. Barring the... accident... this morning, I feel that with the right medicines and poultices, you can live for that long," Otto replied.
"You flatter my health, as well as Orwyle, whose treatments are invaluable to my health," Viserys said as the Grand Maester blushed. "But thirty is too long, regardless. I would not want to spend so long away from my daughter."
"What of twenty?" Otto asked. "She can remain as heir, and reaching the age of six-and-sixty is more than attainable for even a Manderly."
"Twenty does seem preferable," nodded Viserys. "It is punishment enough, and so long as Rhaenyra may visit once a year-"
"Visit?" the Sea Snake asked. "What sort of punishment is that?"
"We shall cross that bridge when we get there, Lord Corlys," gently responded Otto. "His Grace's heart may soften to allowing occasional visits, but it does not mean that the exile is permanent."
"I would agree to twenty years," Laena said, looking at her father, whilst Jasper Wylde nodded too. Orwyle nervously nodded whilst Larys kept his head still.
"Very well," sighed Corlys.
"A... twenty..." gulped Viserys. "Twenty-year exile, with occasional visits allowed. I feel as though that is well enough."
Those years shall serve to allow her to grow in wisdom but also will enable me to forgive... I may even decide to end the exile early... my council also is in agreement with it... but I do not want to actually punish Rhaenyra... but she needs it if she is to become the Queen someday...
"And the betrothal between Prince Daeron and Lady Jocelyn is confirmed?" asked Corlys.
"Yes," Viserys said. "Yes, it is. If we all are happy with this, then we may conclude this session."
The council had no qualms about it, so they concluded, and Viserys breathed a sigh of relief. He still did feel uneasy, with the anger towards his brother present and the sadness that Rhaenyra had fallen for him, as well as the regret of having to do such a thing.
And now I must tell my daughter that I am to banish her.
Later that afternoon, Viserys, Laena, and Otto waited in the throne room for Rhaenyra and Daemon. Viserys retained the same garb he wore in the morning, whilst Laena and Otto had changed. Laena was in a bright blue dress with silver waves along the skirts. Her upper chest was bare, and her lower collar was made with flared cloth-of-silver. Her blue sleeves were so long they almost touched the ground, and she wore a ring on each of her hands. A glimmering silver necklace wrought into a dragon and studded with a sapphire was wrapped around her neck, whilst her silver hair was tied into an intricate bun and decorated with tiny blue gemstones. A small silver crown also sat upon her head. Otto, meanwhile, was in a dark grey doublet with a surcoat over it. The surcoat had green stitchings all across, and his collar was high. His golden Hand brooch glowed from the candlelight in the room. Across his shoulder and back was a large dark blue cloak slashed with more green stitchings and a cloth-of-silver tower embroidered on the centre.
Otto stood solemnly on the right of the Iron Throne, whilst Laena was on the left, her hands in front of her. The seven Kingsguard stood at the bottom of the steps leading to the throne members formed a sort of protective barrier between the three and whoever came forth. All seven were in their customary milky white armour and white cloaks. Ser Criston Cole, the Lord Commander, was at the very front of the seven, flanked by Ser Erryk Cargyll on his right and his twin Ser Arryk on the left. To the left of Ser Erryk were Ser Lorent Marbrand and Ser Steffon Darklyn, whilst on the right of Ser Arryk were Ser Willis Fell and Ser Rickard Thorne.
Viserys was on the Iron Throne, trying to keep his posture straight whilst sitting on the seat of melted swords. It took him the better half of ten minutes to walk up the steep, sharp steps of the throne, but he eventually did so. Ser Willis offered to help, but Viserys declined. Halfway up the ascent, Viserys somewhat regretted not asking for support but still soldiered his way up. At times, he had to remind himself to not try and grasp onto the sides of the throne for grip. Eventually, he did finally make his way up to the top and was luckily free of any cuts on his body.
A good omen?
Sometime later, Rhaenyra and Daemon made their presence in the throne room. The door echoed as it slammed shut, and the two's footsteps sounded like an army marching to war as their boots hit the smooth stone floor. Rhaenyra was clad in dark red riding leathers decorated with dragon scales and had a black and red cloak around her back. Daemon wore similar garb, a maroon leather doublet with a sable cloak, and made sure to keep Dark Sister tied over his cloak instead of under it. Rhaenyra's silver-gold hair was tied into a loose braid falling down her shoulders whilst Daemon's shaggy mane of silver was let loose.
"You must be aware as to why His Grace has summoned you both to the throne room-" Otto began.
"Are you the King?" asked Daemon. "I came at the summons of the King, and my brother. If I recall correctly, you are neither."
"Both of you married each other despite being explicitly not allowed to do so-" continued Otto, ignoring Daemon.
"Not being explicitly allowed?" snorted Daemon. "I do not remember my brother telling me to not marry my wife. Did he tell you such, Rhaenyra?"
"Despite..." Otto said, biting his tongue and glaring down at Daemon. "Not receiving permission to do so."
"Aye, but we are married now, and you can't undo a marriage. You told me as such when I tried to do so with that Bronze Bitch," Daemon laughed.
"We are not to undo your marriage, but the both of your actions cannot go without consequence-"
"Well, bloody hurry up and tell me of what you intend to do, Ser Otto. I do not have the entire day to loiter here," yawned Daemon.
"Enough! Both of you!" Viserys commanded. "Daemon, Rhaenyra, you knew for a fact that I would not approve of such a union, yet you did so regardless. As Ser Otto said, I cannot let this go unanswered."
Rhaenyra looked down, almost ashamed, which made Viserys feel pity for her. Daemon, meanwhile, kept his head held high and his smirk wide on his face.
"We have not committed any crime. You merely disapproved of such union, but never set an edict banning us from marrying, am I not wrong?" Daemon asked.
"You-" Otto started.
"I know, I am not. I have knowledge of laws work," scoffed Daemon. "Despite what Ser Otto thought of my tenure all those years ago."
"The issue with such a union was that you did not even let your father and brother, but most importantly, your king, know of your intentions. Purely because he would not approve of such a union," Laena responded. "You resorted to deceit and planning behind His Grace's back."
"Planning behind his back?" Daemon asked. "Why, on another matter, congratulations to both you, Queen Laena, and you, Ser Otto, on the betrothal between your son and granddaughter, respectively. I heard the news upon heading here this morning."
Both Otto and Laena did not reply to his congratulations.
"What is the relevance of this?" Viserys demanded.
"You are muddying the waters, Prince Daemon", spat Otto. "Trying to distract us from the matter at hand-"
"No!" shouted Daemon. "You go on about how I supposedly planned behind my brother's back to marry the Princess, yet Prince Daeron's union with the Hightower girl seems... interestingly convenient, especially for a lad of such high standing as Prince Daeron."
"We only proceeded with the union following permission from His Grace," replied Otto bluntly.
"Did you?" smirked Daemon. "Yet I do find it quaint that your granddaughter was living with on Driftmark for the past few years, instead of at Oldtown."
"Lady Jocelyn lived at Driftmark to accompany Lady Alicent as she married Ser Laenor, and none of your interest," Otto countered.
"How is any of this relevant to why you have been summoned here?" asked Laena, putting her hands on her hips.
"If you accuse Daemon and me of plotting behind my father's back, then at the very least, you must admit that you have done the same, with both Daeron's betrothal, as well as my half-sister Baela's to the Tully lad," said Rhaenyra, her voice angry but her eyes pleading and pointed at Viserys. "Father, your Hand and your Queen are equally as guilty of what we are accused of here."
She does not lie about that.
"You did bring Baela's betrothal to me after you conferred with Lord Tully, did you not, Laena?" Viserys asked. "Please do not state that you and Ser Otto and your father made betrothals without my knowledge?"
"I did so, but did not confirm them without your explicit permission. It is since you are so busy ruling, you would not have time for such things," Laena replied. "Besides, do you not remember why I arranged for Baela to be betrothed to Kermit Tully? If not, it was because Princess Rhaenyra herself went and betrothed both of her children to Ser Tyland Lannister's children, despite having knowledge that you intended to betroth my daughter to her son."
"Enough with the bickering, all of you!" shouted Viserys. "All of you are guilty of what you all accuse each other of - making marriage arrangements for my children and grandchildren without my permission! From this moment onwards, if any of you wish to betroth one of your children, it must be done with my permission only! This is for both of you, daughter, Laena."
"Why?" both Rhaenyra and Laena asked at the same time.
"What has Aemon done to deserve this punishment?" demanded Laena. "It was Princess Rhaenyra and Prince Daemon who went against your wishes!"
"It is not a punishment, woman!" laughed Viserys. "He shall still marry whenever he comes of age, but only at a woman of my choosing. The same shall go for any of your children, Rhaenyra, that you may have with Daemon."
Viserys shuddered at the thought of his daughter and his brother in the bedchamber but smiled at the thought of himself being an uncle to Daemon's children and Rhaenyra having another child.
Maybe she shall have a girl this time... but Daemon had always wanted a boy since he was a boy himself...
"Yes, Father, we accept your punishment," Rhaenyra said before turning to leave.
"That is not all," Otto called, his deep voice echoing across the room.
"You are to both go to Dragonstone, and I want you both gone before the sun sets," Viserys stated.
"You are exiling us?" asked Daemon.
"Thank you, Prince Daemon, for stating the plain," Otto replied, smirking.
Daemon instinctively put his hand to Dark Sister before quickly pulling it away at the sight of the seven Kingsguard doing the same.
"Yes, I am exiling the both of you," Viserys repeated. "It shall last twenty years, but my heart may soften within that-"
"Twenty years?!" gasped Daemon. "That is outrageous! By then-"
"Go on, say it," dared Otto.
"Twenty years is far too long, Father," pleaded Rhaenyra. "How am I to prepare to be Queen in that time?"
"Dragonstone has its own villages and domains. You shall gain practical experience ruling there, Princess," calmly explained Laena.
"Do not think I am not wroth at both of you. My temper has significantly cooled since earlier, but be glad that I have not done worse. Some members on my council feel that the punishment is too lenient," Viserys said.
"I wonder which members those were," said Daemon, rolling his purple eyes.
"As I said, in time, I may allow you to visit and may even end the exile. You shall still remain my heir, Rhaenyra, and just across the Blackwater, besides."
"See this as a mercy. The Old King would have disinherited the both of you, and may have even done worse," Otto said smugly.
"But twenty years, Father..." pleaded Rhaenyra, her purple eyes widening.
Viserys quickly looked away to stop himself from being swayed by his innocent daughter's innocent eyes.
I must be a just king, and not let my personal feelings stand above my duty to the realm.
"Twenty years is a long amount, and something I do not enjoy bestowing upon you..." Viserys said, trying his best to not look at Rhaenyra. "But... but... I must let my feelings of disapproval about your union be paramount over all else. You should not have married each other... and must... must... suffer the consequences."
"Very well," Daemon scoffed, turning to leave the throne room angrily before stopping halfway and kneeling. "Your Grace."
After Daemon stormed out, Rhaenyra was left alone on the cold, empty floor of the throne room, a dragon in red alone in a sea of grey. Viserys again tried to look at the stained glass of the windows or the great decorations on the marble pillars rather than look at his daughter's sad eyes.
I should not be swayed.
"You must do this, Rhaenyra... I do not want to, but you must... otherwise... otherwise... your status as heir is at risk," Viserys spluttered.
She took a small step back, and her soft gasp echoed around the room.
"Whether you wish to follow your father, and your king, is up to you, Princess," said Laena.
"I shall," Rhaenyra curtly said, a tear bubbling in her right ear. "Farewell, Father."
Rhaenyra then walked out of the throne room, the Red Keep, and King's Landing.
I shall miss you, daughter.
When she was finally gone, Viserys breathed a long sigh of relief, and a tear went down his cheek. He looked down at his wife and his Hand. Laena had a large smile on her face, whilst Otto's remained still.
"You made the right decision, Your Grace," Otto said calmly. "You did not disinherit her, but you did express your displeasure effectively. I would not ponder upon it."
I had to... because of Daemon... but they are still my daughter and brother... seven hells... I should not ponder upon it as Otto said... I just hope this is the correct decision...