Dying to Know 3 - (ASoIaF, Qyburn!SI)

237 AC, Arbor

Three years can mean so much to a man of knowledge, even more when this helped in acquiring a small little room in the castle to be used for a rather specific experiment that was just as innocuous as it was 'delicate' in nature.

Due to the expectations of having to live here with House Redwyne for a lengthy amount of time, I used this opportunity to actually engage in my next project - the Experiments of Mendel given new life within Westeros. The opportunity came to mind back in Oldtown as I was contemplating the current king of the time: Aegon V was trying to curb the incestuous practices of the family, two of his children would be the primary source of opposition by lusting for one another.

What happens when a learned man was to release an official document giving valid proof of a needed end to this practice? Well, I like to gamble nowadays, and I would think this was going to have mostly positive effects on the future of the realm.

I had little free time in those three years between self-adapting to knowledge I barely scratched at the Citadel and being a tutor to little Olenna. As predicted, she proved to be a fierce sparring partner for mental brawl. She was devoid of experience and knowledge on the topic, but her fierceness and basic preparation still granted her a formidable ground to stand upon.

And, the more time I used to teach the child the true meaning on being in 'control' of such raw power, the more she became less 'abrasive' out of pure spite. Her comments also found a degree of 'precision' as she was less childish in her insulting and more careful in handling those words within the best opportunity.

Such as now as I was rewriting the last few batches of notes in a freshly compiled journal. My work on proving theories on Hybridization and Inheritance would open up the path of reform within the Targaryen Family if the 'Gods' willed it.

"So, you are working on plants to prove matters about men?"

"And women," I added as I ignored the touch of sarcasm mustered by the nine years-old as she decided to visit my little workshop.

Olenna had gotten a tiny bit taller, but she was overall unchanged by these three years in terms of physical appearance. Her scowls were less intense, but she had learned how to use glances filled with contempt and displeasure far more often.

Yet, today was an anomaly for sure as she would hardly stray from her usual schedule and visit me at such an hour. I didn't need to prod her for an answer behind this 'surprising' visit as I had heard, like many others, of the Royal Messenger that had just reached the court of Lord Runceford to discuss of urgent businesses.

One of the policies adopted by King Aegon V was the implementation of betrothals for his children. One of his biggest mistakes was not 'neutering' the 'future king' that was Jaehaerys as he should already be lusting for his sister and... his sister returning that sort of feeling.

It didn't help that the betrothals would completely collapse starting with his firstborn pulling an Edward VIII and pushing the first domino of reactionary push on the matters of marital selection. I couldn't blame Prince Duncan since he didn't go horny for his sister but wanted to marry for love regardless of classes, but it gave the excuse Jaehaerys needed to then do the naughty with his sister and marry her in 240 AC.

"And you are not going to ask about what the royal family seeks from my house?"

"I am familiar with the list of betrothals that King Aegon has pushed for. Congratulations-"

"I don't like it. I don't like him."

I blinked, paused in my scribbling. "Who's 'him', young lady?"

"Daeron. He has no feats to his name."

"I believe that's the case because he is just as young as you are, young lady," I argued, but I frowned at her uneasy look. "But I believe that's not what grieves you the most."

"Your suggestion is... right. I am indeed crossed by something else."

"That being?"

Olenna huffed. "I don't want to... marry."

"I believe that's the emotion many mature young ladies would have if a betrothal was indeed a marriage. It's merely a promise-"

"That I wish was never made to begin with," The child argued dryly, staring back at me with iron behind her gaze. "I don't even know the boy. What if he is beset by the very queer nature of the Targaryens?"

By 'queer nature', Olenna was mentioning the one thing that came out from the various history lessons about Targaryens: their familial habits tended to rapidly see 'good generations' and 'bad generations'. It was a bit awkward to explain the child why she was best to keep the matters of our lessons over King Aegon I's last years and his children as a secret from most due to the 'traitorous' element to it.

Still, Olenna understood perfectly one thing: trying to mix with the Targaryens was akin to play with the same coin the family used between brilliance and madness- you can either win a lot or you can lose even more. And since this betrothal opened up a rather forced path to that sort of gamble, I could see the young girl's true fear in what was going to happen if this was indeed the case.

"Young lady, such a claim can only be made if you are aware of any 'queer' behavior. To worry yourself over the what ifs is to condemn yourself to other worse fears."

"But I have a right to be concerned for my future, am I not?" The snappy response was delivered with a weaker tone than she had wanted. In fact, her voice was trembling just a little, enough to make me realize one thing.

The news of her betrothal had hit little Olenna a bit harder than I had anticipated. I had been aware that, beyond that hard shell, the child still retained a sense of innocence that her future self had long lost due to pain of loss and other developments.

Silence took over momentarily, but rather than keep it going for a little more, I just patted to the chair beside mine, the invitation clear to the girl as she nodded and sat there shortly after.

"Olenna."

She perked up as I called her in such an informal matter.

"Y-Yes?"

"To be afraid is nothing to be ashamed of. Fear is an alarm we naturally have just like animals do. It is that little voice telling us that something isn't right. In your case, compared to many other girls your age and with a more 'innocent' perspective of the world, it would be deemed born by fear of growing up- but we both know that's not the issue."

"I-Is it not?"

"Growing up is a slow process. You are still a child despite having passed three years. A marriage can only happen at best when you are either five and ten or eight and ten. Not before or after that within a betrothal," I assured with a kind tone. "But alas, your worry that you will marry in a... dangerous family is quite commendable. Many would just see the prestige and ignore the 'bad words'. You are just being pragmatic, you are aware that it may not be convenient for someone like you to be involved with those people."

"S-So?"

"So you study the situation. And I can assure you that the truth is a bit more positive in your regard."

Frowning at my words, she remained quiet as I retrieved some fresh paper and my pen. I started to write the names of the King, his Queen, and the royal children. I also added the names of the heir and heiresses that were involved in the betrothals. Olenna seemed to realize this last bit as she saw her name too.

"The reason why the king is pursuing 'this', Olenna, is because he is aware that the 'queerness' of his house is doing more harm than good. Within this plan, however, there's two issues already."

I wrote a few things under Prince Duncan's name: he is constantly traveling and he didn't visit his future wife.

Then I wrote some things under Prince Jaehaerys and Princess Shaera: they both display interest toward each other.

"If you remember from last year, I taught you what a 'Domino Effect' is, yes?"

She nodded actively, then frowned at the paper. "A small event can lead to a grand escalation which, in turn, can be either positive or negative depending on who is responsible for it and who is subjected to it," The girl recited quietly. "But how does this work in my case."

I hummed then tapped over at Prince Duncan's line. "Think for a moment and then give me a guess."

Olenna nodded, eyes aimed at the paper and then she adopted a thoughtful look. "Prince Duncan... doesn't want to marry his betrothed."

"And?"

"He's looking for someone else."

"Correct," I confirmed. "Now, he is doing this in a secret manner. It may take him a few years to find someone that he fancies and... then?"

"Then the King stops him."

"Does he?"

Olenna's confidence faltered at my question, causing her to give me a confused look.

"Why wouldn't he do it? His own heir disobeying him would be akin to betrayal of the highest kind!"

"...But he is his son. One he named after his best friend."

Olenna seemed to pick up what I was implying. "He is his favorite."

"And he would not punish him extensively for 'love'. What happens next?"

Without further input, the girl had her finger aimed at the other line.

"Jaehaerys and Shaerra break their betrothals! Since their brother can do it-"

"They also can do it too," I added and nodded, the girl smiling at the implicit praise. "Finally, it's Daeron's turn. The domino hits him too, you remain without a betrothal so?"

"So I have to..." Olenna paused, scratching her chin in a rather cute manner while she thought of what to say next. "I need to plan my next betrothal rather than let my father do that for me!"

I nodded in agreement. "In that case, you would have the time to present a fitting way to not remain devoid of marriage at an appropriate time while also securing a suitor that would fit your tastes and ambitions."

The girl beamed at the overall fruitful interaction. After thanking me, Olenna picked the paper and rushed off to her room to do her things. I remained in my workshop and finalized my journals before seeing those shipped away to Oldtown.

For a moment I thought about delaying the process, but I also admit that Olenna's chances of being free from that betrothal were already quite high regardless of Aegon's own reaction to this as Daeron was quite... into boys. So, that should be good enough to prevent many issues in the long run.

That was until, two years later, we received news that Prince Daeron was being sent to visit his future 'wife' after rumors of Prince Duncan's newest 'friend' of the female peasant kind having started to get quite 'closer' to the crown prince.

What really should have worried me was that Daeron's aunt, Lady Vaella, would soon join his entourage for the visit and... give me reason to be rather tempted in breaking my own vows for once.

AN

Airheaded Targaryen approaches!