-Chapter 178-

-POV Rhaenyra Targaryen-

"Raise your sword higher, you idiot," said Laenor, lifting his companion's sword.

The latter gave him a suggestive look that did not escape Laenor, and just as he was about to say something to his companion, I cleared my throat to make my presence known to those two fools who didn't seem to realize that the Crown Princess of the Realm was waiting for them to finish their flirting.

'And in public, no less,' I thought, glancing around at the surroundings, usually crowded at this time of day.

'Thankfully, the tournament is about to start,' I thought, sighing with disappointment as I saw Laenor frown at my arrival before turning to find something to wipe the sweat dripping from his forehead and chest.

'He might've been to my taste if he weren't so devoid of masculinity,' I thought, fully aware of the weak and whiny boy hiding behind the shell of the powerful dragonlord-knight that Laenor had built for himself.

'A false reputation,' I thought with disgust, watching how easily he played the role, even in my presence.

I knew better than anyone, because that reputation had been crafted entirely by me.

"What do I owe the honor of your presence, woman?" he said, clearly annoyed by my presence.

I raised an eyebrow at the way he addressed me, then, without saying a word, fixed my eyes on his squire, who immediately lowered his gaze and said:

"My apologies, Princess. I will return if you need me."

"If you're done exercising your little power, you can leave," said Laenor.

"What's wrong with you lately?" I asked, because ever since his mother had arrived, he had started to change, and recently, I could feel him slipping more and more out of my control.

Laenor sighed and shook his head, unwilling to speak to me.

Deep down, I knew... or at least I had an idea of what was bothering him.

'But we won't have that discussion. I won't have it with anyone,' I thought, choosing to ignore the issue and instead speak about what I had come to tell him.

"Did you see what happened?"

"Like everyone else."

"And?"

"And you tried to kill your brother."

"Shhh," I hissed angrily, glancing all around me, afraid that some wandering ears might have heard what Laenor had just said.

Laenor rolled his eyes and said in a tone far too nonchalant for my taste:

"Stop thinking it's a secret. Anyone with an ounce of intelligence and decent eyesight saw what you did and knows you ordered it. No one can prove it, but even your father, who usually turns a blind eye to everything you do, couldn't ignore that."

I bit the inside of my cheeks until I tasted the metallic tang of blood, clutching the fabric of my dress with all my strength so as not to give him the reaction he was waiting for.

"You nearly committed kin-slaying. He must've been so disappointed in you," he said, managing to break through the last defenses I had built to shield myself from the opinions of sheep like him.

He had struck one of my weak points. He knew me well and knew about my constant desire to prove to my father that I was his worthy heir.

'But because of Aegon, Alicent, and Aemon, I'm forced to dirty my hands. Otherwise, I'll never be respected. I'll be nothing more than a puppet queen, like my father is now.'

I took a deep breath and then said as I passed him:

"You're rather cruel today. Was it a chat with your 'mummy' that awakened the weak man you usually are, bringing out for the first time the dragon's fire I doubted existed in you?"

I turned just in time to see Laenor's face fall and his back hunch slightly, bringing a smile to my face, because I knew full well that this 'man' was not one.

'He's all bark. Without his dragon, he'd be nothing. He's not like Aemon or Daemon. He's not like us. He's got no guts.'

I ran a hand along his cheek while saying:

"Projecting your frustration won't improve how our parents see us. We must stick together, as we agreed when we got engaged. Do you still remember that conversation we had on the beach?"

"I've always fulfilled my role properly," he said, and even though I found that statement questionable—if not entirely false when it came to his boys—I kept silent, as it wouldn't help this conversation.

"Then fulfill it once again. As Prince Consort, we must secure our family's future."

"How?" he asked, slightly more open-minded.

"Talk to your mother, have her convince that idiot Borros Baratheon not to side with Alicent and her bastards."

Laenor smiled and shook his head, instantly regaining that disdainful look he had a moment ago.

"What did I say that's so funny?" I asked, irritated by his childish behavior, not in the mood for jokes.

"Mother came to ask me to renounce my inheritance this morning," Laenor said, then added with a sad smile:

"So the fact that you want me to ask her to speak on our behalf… that's truly hilarious."

"Your inheritance?!" I asked, stunned by Laenor's revelation, refusing to believe that 'inheritance' meant what I feared it did.

"Driftmark," he said bluntly.

"She has no right!!!" I exclaimed, furious that she'd even consider stripping Laenor of his claim to Driftmark.

'If Laenor loses Driftmark, then I can forget the Velaryon fleet, which makes up nearly the entire royal navy,' I thought, also realizing it would mean losing one of the richest—if not the richest—House in the realm.

"Aemon, right?" I asked, seeing Laenor show no indignation.

"Of course it's Aemon," Laenor said in a defeated but still resentful tone.

He swallowed hard before saying, "He's a starving predator, with an ambition like no other. He'll devour everything in his path."

I thought for a few moments before declaring quickly:

"We have to make sure the matter—"

"We're not doing anything," said Laenor, cutting me off harshly.

I frowned, surprised by such cowardice.

'Even from him,' I thought.

"You're giving up your rights without even fighting?" I asked. I saw my words had little effect, so I tried to stir his pride by striking at his ego.

"I always knew you were a coward, but giving up without even—"

"AND WHOSE FAULT IS THAT?" he shouted, stepping toward me menacingly.

I raised my chin to show I wasn't afraid of him and tilted my ear slightly toward him: "Excuse me?"

Laenor looked at me furiously and said:

"Because of you and your lack of discretion, I was forced into this. Mother told me that if I don't obey, she won't be able to protect us anymore, and Aemon will publicly raise the issue of your bastard children—this time openly."

"Our children, Laenor. OUR children," I repeated several times to correct him, unable to believe he dared question the parentage of our children.

It was the first time he'd had the audacity to bring up the subject.

'Of all people, he should be the last to question me on that,' I thought.

'If he'd done his part, we wouldn't be in this mess.'

"Shall I remind you we had an agreement?" I said, to remind him whose fault it really was.

Contrary to what I expected, Laenor didn't shrink when reminded of his inability to procreate. Instead, he faced me and said:

"I did my duty as agreed, Rhaenyra. I gave you a daughter."

What he said shocked me deeply, because when I looked into his eyes, I understood he was sincere.

He truly believed it.

He had convinced himself he was her real father.

If the situation hadn't already made me feel sick, I might've burst into laughter or tears. But what he said next completely froze me.

"You, on the other hand, couldn't even take your damn moon tea. You exposed us all, screwing like some common whore with that—"

Sound of a slap

"Watch your mouth in my presence, and mind the tone you use with me, Laenor," I said, pointing at him, his face still marked by the expression of shock he wore after the slap I'd just given him.

Laenor smiled again and turned toward me, looking me straight in the eyes before saying:

"Or what, darling? Shall I remind you that I'm the last dragonrider still supporting you?"

I said nothing, unable to deny the truth of that argument—because it was true: I had only him.

Laenor, seizing control of our conversation, continued:

"What you did even convinced my mother that Alysanne isn't mine, that she's also the bastard of your champion."

"You really believe that?" I asked, indignant, squinting my eyes, praying to all the gods that he didn't think that as well—otherwise I'd truly be alone.

Laenor narrowed his eyes for a moment, staring deep into mine.

And for a moment, I thought he could see my soul—and all my lies.

But he ended up shaking his head and said with a sigh:

"Alysanne is my flesh and blood. I can't explain it, but I feel it deep down. I know she's my daughter. I won't ruin her life over a bastard."

Hearing him speak of Jacaerys like that pierced my heart, but I held back and then said:

"We'll talk about it again."

"It's already decided. I'll tell the king and the Hand tonight that I'm stepping down from my father's succession," he said, and didn't even let me argue before disappearing quickly, leaving me all alone, feeling the weight of the world collapsing on my shoulders, with no one left to share the burden.