Aemon Targaryen

-Chapter 27-

-POV Viserys Targaryen-

"Have you heard the news?" Daemon asked me, sitting across from me and not glancing at his plate despite having requested to dine with me.

"What news?"

"The engagement of my bastard."

"Which one?" I asked, annoyed, as Daemon's little schemes had cost me an alliance that could have secured Rhaenyra's reign, only to hand it over to that arrogant and ambitious Sea Snake.

'He won't be satisfied until he sees his son wearing my crown,' I thought.

Daemon squinted before clarifying:

"Aemon has managed to secure the hand of Laena Velaryon."

"And?" I said, not playing his game, as I knew exactly where he was going with this.

Daemon shook his head and said, "Do you think that boy is loyal to you?"

"Loyal enough to know his place, a quality not everyone possesses," I replied.

"You think he will obey you?" Daemon said, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

"I am his king," I said.

Daemon rolled his eyes and then said, "You all underestimate him far too much. You see him as a child, but he is not. He is a monster of intelligence; no child thinks like that. He has predicted events I could never have imagined."

"You really think I'm the one who devised the plan to conquer those damned islands?"

"Trapping and starving the pirates, then burning them in the caves to watch them die by fire or smoke. You know me better than that. You know I would have preferred a good battle," he said, putting his feet on the table.

I sighed in exasperation at his insolence and stopped eating, focusing solely on his words. I could discern the truth behind Daemon's words, but something was eluding me. If Aemon was so useful, why was he making him an enemy?

"Why do you persist in opposing your son in that case? He seems like a very good asset to me," I said.

"He too often forgets his place and too often sides with his mother. They have a special relationship that makes him generally deaf to my warnings and directives."

I smiled, immediately understanding the problem, and said, "You tried to control Runestone through him and failed."

"I didn't fail. That mama's boy decided to name my bronze bitch as regent and heir back then, even though I had ordered him not to."

I shook my head and said, "You have many qualities that I lack, Daemon, but patience and magnanimity are qualities you are totally devoid of."

Daemon rolled his eyes and I asked, "What is the true identity of your bastard's mother?"

Daemon frowned and I said, "Mysaria could never have been his mother. I've seen her, she has pronounced Valyrian features. Your child has black streaks in his silver hair, although he inherited our eyes."

"Mysaria is Baelon's mother," Daemon said defensively but kept a relatively calm tone.

'Liar.'

"Very well," I said with a smile, wiping my mouth and standing up.

"It's not that I don't enjoy our little discussions, but I have urgent matters that require my attention. We will see each other tomorrow," I said before leaving.

'Daemon, thinking you would turn against your best son over a matter of pride,' I thought, savoring this victory. Since I had lost Baelon and Daemon had mocked me for it, a growing anger had been festering inside me once I learned he had the audacity to name his bastard after my stillborn son.

But seeing that he had also lost a son, I couldn't help but pity him.

'And some think he could one day take the throne from me,' I said to myself with a smirk.