In the corridor, right now.
"What… what does this mean?" Rhaenyra asked softly.
"Literally," Corlys placed the pitcher down. "They are no longer your heirs, Rhaenyra Targaryen, but the grandchildren of my Corlys Velaryon, the legitimate son of Laenor Velaryon."
Daemon's eyes flared—he had not expected Corlys to make such a sacrifice.
Given the current circumstances, it was understandable if they did not turn away.
Rhaenyra sank into deep thought, her eyes flickering. "But they… what do they look like…"
"There are also people of different hair colors in House Velaryon," Corlys said calmly.
"Of course, but only if you, Rhaenyra, are willing to pay the price."
"I want you to swear it in Targaryen blood and before the Seven Gods."
"Secondly," Corlys continued, "your child Aegon, the future heir to the Iron Throne, must also marry a woman from Velaryon."
Rhaenyra did not object.
He stared at the two silent figures. "There is a third… their dragons."
Daemon interjected. "What do you mean? These three young dragons?"
Silence fell over the hall once more.
Corlys slowly leaned back in his chair. "If the returns are insufficient, even if I favor Jacaerys and the others, I cannot continue to allow it."
"Rhaenyra, Daemon, you know what I want."
Rhaenyra gasped and looked at him. "You want these three children… and three dragons?"
"Once you become queen, all of them belong to Velaryon."
Daemon closed his eyes.
This was the most critical and dangerous move.
Even if the Velaryons had Valyrian blood, even if they had always married into the House of the Dragon, their descendants would temporarily possess dragonblood.
But it was only borrowed.
There were also four bloodlines capable of commanding dragons…
It was difficult to imagine how powerful House Velaryon could become in the future.
Daemon opened his eyes. "Do you know what this means?"
"It means Velaryon will become the second greatest power in the Seven Kingdoms," Corlys said, "and anyone who dares to move against Tidalhead will weigh the wrath of four dragons."
"The goal of our house is the Three-City Alliance on the eastern continent. We are still vassals to the Targaryens, and in the future, we will become relatives…"
Hearing Corlys' heart, Daemon laughed angrily.
"I simply spoke my mind," Corlys said, looking at Rhaenyra. "It is the best way."
"The blood of Velaryon skill to command dragons in the future will also be passed to you."
"I am also willing to make the Velaryons a branch of the Targaryens… instead of today's vassals."
"The Velaryons will occupy Lys, Tyrosh, Myr—these free city-states."
"These children of yours will rule there, and of course, they will bear the Velaryon name."
"Thus, if you make Aegon your heir, your inheritance remains indisputable, everything becomes legitimate, your throne is preserved, and Velaryon receives just recompense."
Rhaenyra approached the window and looked at the dark Dragonstone cliffs.
On Dragonstone Rock, Jacaerys was bonding closely with his young dragon, Vermax.
Her eldest son—the boy who had awkwardly comforted her in childhood when she was sad,
the boy who had grown more resilient after losing an eye…
If agreed, he would become heir of Velaryon and lord of Tidalhead, but would forfeit his right to the Iron Throne.
The Targaryens would lose control of four dragons…
But if she did not agree…
She remembered the letters her father, Viserys, had written over the years, the nobles' scornful mockery, and Alicent's victorious smile.
And Daemon's verdict—that these children could be exterminated in the future…
Rhaenyra's voice trembled. "I need time to think."
Those from the Stormlands, the Riverlands, and royal holdings would be present.
"Rhaenyra, if you cannot answer before the feast, I will assume you have chosen another path."
"And House Velaryon will have to reconsider its stance."
"I am simply proposing the best course, Prince Daemon."
"If you agree, even under such circumstances, Velaryon will still support Rhaenyra."
"You cannot make us pay such a high price without asking anything in return, can you?"
He stepped to the door, paused on the threshold, and looked back at Daemon.
"Daemon Targaryen, you owe my son a life, and you owe House Velaryon an explanation."
"If this renewed alliance succeeds, we will clear both sides."
The door closed, and the footsteps gradually faded.
Only the crackling of the hearth and the whistling sea breeze through the stone windows remained.
Daemon walked behind Rhaenyra and gently placed his hands on her shoulders.
This time, she did not brush him away and whispered,
"This is the best choice."
"At least the children can live, have legitimate status, and a bright future."
"These children bleed from me… now that Targaryens are scarce, our Aegon will need the support of these relatives in the future."
"Just as Aegon the Conqueror created House Baratheon from our ancestors, I am also creating a new branch."
Seeing that Rhaenyra wanted to agree, Daemon said enthusiastically,
"House Velaryon has its own family inheritance!"
"Aegon the Conqueror did not give Targaryen an illegitimate son, Orys, the dragon!"
"But you want to grant Velaryon claim over four dragons! This could change everything!"
"Have you ever thought that these generations might have good relations, but what about the future?"
"Perhaps we are creating a rival to the Targaryens with our own hands, a family that can also command dragons?"
Rhaenyra shook her head.
"I do not care about the future; I want the present."
She squeezed Daemon's hand tightly and looked at him.
"Daemon, you will help me, won't you?"
On Daemon's face was hesitation and uncertainty.