Inside the balcony room, Aegon froze for a moment. His expression turned complicated, and after a while, he let out a sigh.
"Monsters go with freaks after all…"
Even if Vhagar was dead, with Lothorne's terrifying rate of growth, his own "Sunfyre" really wouldn't measure up…
Suddenly, Grand Maester Norren spoke softly: "Your Grace, Prince Aemond commands two dragons. I have searched through countless ancient records at the Citadel—Valyrian, from the eastern continent, from the Freehold…"
"There has never been any record of anyone being able to command two dragons at the same time."
He paused.
"Prince Aemond…"
"He is the first. Perhaps also the only one. A…"
Aegon's expression darkened.
"What do you mean?"
Norren did not answer directly.
He simply said: "Your Grace, Prince Aemond is a peerless genius, wholly devoted to House Targaryen."
"That is the most common judgment I have heard since arriving in King's Landing."
He paused again.
"But I have also heard… other things."
Aegon looked at him.
"What things?"
Norren raised his hand.
He extended a finger and placed it to his lips.
"Shh."
Aegon froze.
Queen Alyn at his side froze as well.
Norren pointed toward the wall behind them.
Aegon frowned, not understanding.
Lowering his voice, Norren explained in a whisper: "Your Grace, do you know why Maegor's Holdfast is called Maegor's Holdfast?"
Aegon said nothing.
Norren continued quietly: "When Maegor built this tower, he had secret passages constructed within the walls. He could hide anywhere and listen to any conversation."
Seeing the displeasure on Aegon's face—the clear resentment and anger—Norren paused, then added softly: "Your Grace, after all these years, those passages are still there."
Aegon's fingers tightened around the balcony railing.
He had already come to accept his identity as a puppet king.
But now, to learn that his own younger brother Aemond had people constantly watching him…
Had he never trusted his own elder brother from the very beginning?
Aegon shook his head, feeling a trace of sorrow.
He turned and asked in a low voice: "I've heard my mother mention the secret passages…"
"Is he watching me all the time?"
Norren looked at him and gave a slight nod.
Inside, he could not help but sigh. This King Aegon truly was a fool—but perhaps that was for the best. A fool was better than a madman.
At least a fool could listen to advice.
That was the kind of king the Seven Kingdoms needed.
Foolish, but at least not reckless—not like Aemond or Daemon, who treated the people of the realm as cattle.
Looking at the silent royal couple, Norren continued in a low voice: "Your Grace, every word you and Queen Alyn speak here, every action you take, may already be under the watch and ears of people arranged by Prince Aemond."
Queen Alyn's face turned pale. She instinctively clutched Jaehaera tighter and stepped back.
She had known nothing about the secret passages in Maegor's Holdfast. The Queen Dowager Alicent had never told her, and neither had Aegon.
Even the maidservants around her—there were agents of Aemond among them.
Since marrying Aegon, she had been careful, trying to win over those loyal to the king.
But now, it seemed that in Aemond's eyes, all her efforts had been nothing more than a joke.
Aegon stood there, conflicted.
He looked at Norren.
This newly arrived Grand Maester—thin as a bamboo pole, as ugly as the raven perched on his shoulder.
But there was something in his eyes.
Something Aegon could not read.
"You…" he began.
Norren interrupted him.
"Your Grace, today, I have only come to assume my post as Grand Maester."
"Now that I have your recognition, I will take my leave."
He bowed deeply.
Then he stepped forward and grasped Aegon's hand.
Aegon felt something pressed into his palm.
A slip of paper.
A very small one.
Norren released his hand.
He turned and walked toward the door.
When he reached it, he paused.
Without turning back.
"Take care, Your Grace. May the Seven bless you."
He pushed the door open and left.
Silence fell over the balcony.
Alyn held Jaehaera in her arms, watching Aegon.
Aegon stood with his back to her, at the edge of the balcony.
The note was clenched in his palm.
He lowered his head and glanced at it.
Then he raised his gaze, looking toward the distant spire of the Starry Sept.
King's Landing spread out beneath his feet—streets crisscrossing, houses packed tight, people like ants.
He was the king.
Yet he felt worse off than those common folk.
At least those ants were not being listened to.
His brother already held all the power—was that not enough?
He had even arranged for people to watch him in secret.
His leg had long since healed. No doubt Aemond knew that as well.
Queen Alyn walked to his side.
She said nothing.
She simply stood there quietly.
Aegon opened his hand.
There were only a few lines on the note:
[Your Grace is urged to endure this present humiliation. The Seven Kingdoms shall emerge from darkness once more.]
[The Faith and the Citadel both support Your Grace. We ask that Your Grace come to the Great Sept of King's Landing for a meeting.]
After reading it, Queen Alyn's expression changed.
"This is…" she said in a very low voice.
"They support you?"
Aegon nodded.
He clenched the note.
"What should we do?" Queen Alyn asked.
Aegon did not answer.
He stood at the balcony, looking at the spire of the sept.
He remained silent for a long time.
Then he said: "I will hand this note to Aemond."
Queen Alyn frowned in confusion.
"What?"
Aegon turned around.
He looked at his wife, Alyn, and spoke in a low voice: "Hand this over to Aemond."
"We will not involve ourselves in this."
Queen Alyn could not understand. She asked softly: "Are you truly willing to accept this?"
Aegon looked at her.
In her eyes, there was anger, unwillingness, confusion—
and disappointment.
Aegon sighed and said quietly: "Alyn, perhaps doing nothing is the right choice."
"I know my brother."
"He wants to hold all power."
"But as long as I remain king, he will always be a prince."
He paused, then added in a low voice: "We do not need to take this risk."
"Let him gather power. At worst, I remain a puppet."
Alyn's lips trembled slightly.
"But…"
"He has already killed his kin. Jacaerys and his brothers…"
Aegon shook his head.
"Jacaerys was our enemy."
"I am his elder brother."
"If he were to kill me, then he would truly be a fool."
He looked at his wife, Alyn.
"And besides, we are brothers."
"I believe he would not strike me down."
Queen Alyn fell silent.
She looked at Aegon.
Her husband.
The king.
A young man of only twenty, already driven to the point of having to comfort himself with the belief that his own brother would not kill him.
She suddenly felt a deep sadness.
"I think…" she said softly, "we could go and meet them."
Aegon said nothing.
Alyn continued in a low voice: "After all, it is the Faith and the Citadel."
"We can go, hear what they have to say."
"If they truly intend harm against your brother Aemond, we can simply refuse to cooperate."
Aegon remained silent.
Alyn took his hand.
Aegon looked at her.
In her eyes, there was pleading, and worry.
Aegon sighed.
"Very well."
Queen Alyn said softly, "The day after tomorrow happens to be the Father's Day. As king, your visit to the sept will arouse no suspicion."
Aegon nodded in agreement.
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