Chapter Text
When Daеlon Targaryen pushed past a protesting Ser Redwyne and entered his father's chambers, he never expected to find him in bed with Alicent Hightower. With a girl his age, his mother's younger maid of honor. He was shocked by her audacity. Her mother was so kind to her, and that's how she repaid her? Did you jump into the king's bed a couple of weeks after her death? And the father, how could he? His mother was a good wife to him, always trying to do her duty, no matter how difficult it was. Instead of honoring her memory, he showed her disrespect, no, an insult to her memory. And he had the audacity to look him in the eye and mumble an excuse.
— Son I wasn't expecting you. You see my boy things are not what you think I am ....
Daеlon didn't want to listen.
— I only understand one thing father. You humiliated my mother despite all the years of marriage . You spit on her memory despite all the suffering she endured because of you.
At his words, his father looked down at the floor guiltily. It felt as if Deеlon was the parent reprimanding the child. He looked at Lady Hightower, who was trying to cover her naked body with a blanket.
— I'm looking at an apple, Lady Alicent fell not far from the apple tree. You're just as much a leech as your father.
— Daеlon, this is too much!
— Don't you dare defend her! Not after I caught you both together! The Crown Prince raised his voice at his father, causing his father and Lady Alicent to flinch.
Daеlon never raised his voice at his father's king. But any patience comes to an end, and Targaryen patience is short-lived.
— Ser Redwyne! How long has Lady Alicent been visiting my father? A day? Days? Weeks? How long?" he asked the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, who stood in the aisle.
The middle-aged man did not respond. The Kingsguard was loyal to the king. Ser Redwyne would not reveal the king's dirty secret. Fisting his hands, the prince reiterated his question.
— Do you not respect my mother, Ser Redwyne?
Ser Redwyne remained motionless, but his brown eyes were filled with sympathy for the young man.
— The late Queen Aemma was a noblewoman. Like everyone else in the castle, I deeply honor her memory.
Daеlon snorted, full of contempt.
— Excellent words, Sire. I just wish I could see the action.
He looked back at Lady Alicent. The girl cringed under his steely gaze.
— So, as I understand it, you are not telling me the truth. But I think it's pretty obvious. Just look at this one...the stage.
Viserys looked up, gathering the courage to talk to his son.
— Daеlon, listen to me. I really loved your mother. Aеmma was my heart, my breath. I mourned her. But Lady Alicent....She has become my comfort, a balm for my wounded soul. She can bear me more children. She is intelligent, she is young....
— More children? — Daelon laughed. "Father, are you really considering taking this girl as your wife?"
When he saw the seriousness in his father's eyes, he shook his head in disbelief.
— I can't believe it. Of all the women in the kingdom, you chose the daughter of your second son, who has no gold behind her back, and no army for you. What will you get from this marriage other than her womb?
Alicent flinched at his last words, but he didn't care. The prince believed that his father was not thinking with his own head at all. Instead of solving the problem with Valaryon by marrying Lady Laena, he's thinking of marrying Otto Hightower's daughter!
— Don't say that! Lady Alicent may be the daughter of a second son, but she is still a noble lady. The Hightower House is rich.
— As well as Dom Velaryon, with whom we have a big disagreement! You don't seem to realize what will happen if they become our enemies! They have three dragons on their side, including, again, by your grace, Vhagar! It's just me and Uncle Daemon on your side!
— No! Rhaenys would never go against me! — Viserys exclaimed, striking the bedspread with his fist. — We are family!
But Daelon did not back down.
— Family is a loose concept, especially for someone whose pride has been wounded by the Great Council. By choosing Alicent Hightower over Layne, you will offend House Velaryon more than ever.
— But if I marry Lady Laena, I will disgrace Alicent! Otto will never forgive me for that.
"Otto, Otto, and Otto again. Damn it, this man has always been more important to him than his own wife, brother, and even his own son." — the prince thought with irritation.
— Who says we're going to shame her? We can marry Lady Alicent off to a lord, that's all.
— Marry her off? — Viserys looked at his son in disbelief, as if he had suggested something unthinkable. — But I can't do that to her. Lady Alicent, she is....She's carrying my baby.
Daеlon froze. And his heart sank. Had he misheard. Pregnant? There was a deathly silence in the room for several seconds. His father's words were like poison. Dаеlon looked at him in a daze, then looked at Alicent, who was trying to shrink, and then looked back at his father.
— Pregnant? So soon? Do you disrespect my mother so much that not only did you lie with her in mourning, but you also conceived a bastard?
He was shaking with anger. His poor mother in Balerion's domain is probably crying from such betrayal right now.
— I will never accept this bastard as a brother or sister. Can you hear me Father? I will not accept them, and I will never accept your new wife. And believe me, Your Grace, I will never forgive you for the disrespect you have shown to the memory of Aemma Arryn.
With that, he turned and headed for the door. Ser Redwyne silently stepped aside to let the prince pass.
Without looking back, Daеlon headed for his chambers to change his clothes. He needed to leave this damned castle and let off some steam. He urgently needed to visit the Flea Bottom brothel.