In the queen's chambers, two noblewomen sat on soft chairs, their garments loosened, each nursing a child in her arms.
At that moment, the queen was attending to the unconscious Viserys in the royal quarters, so she had entrusted the care of the twins to them.
The door swung open.
Aemond entered, carrying two dragon eggs. He glanced around the room.
"Step aside."
The two ladies hurriedly laid down their children, lifted their garments, bowed their heads, and stepped back.
They carefully closed the door behind them.
Aemond approached the cradle.
Jaehaerys and Jaehaera had been placed in a special cradle beside the queen's bed, wrapped in fine white silk.
Both infants had grown light-silver downy hair—the very essence of House Targaryen.
Jaehaerys opened his blue eyes and stared at his brother without blinking.
Jaehaera looked at him with violet eyes, mumbling softly in her mouth.
Aemond bent down and gently placed the dragon eggs in the cradle: the gray one beside Jaehaerys, the white one beside Jaehaera.
Jaehaerys's tiny hand unconsciously touched the gray egg.
And Jaehaera opened her mouth—her toothless little mouth—and nibbled at the white, gleaming shell before her.
He watched silently for a long moment.
Then he drew a dagger from his belt.
The blade caught the candlelight.
He cut the palm of his left hand with the blade. Blood flowed over his fingerprints and dripped down.
Aemond stared at the unhatched dragon eggs. He did not know if the dragons had hatched yet, or if they would heed him… or if they would side with his younger siblings.
"Aemond."
The voice was soft, hesitant.
Helaena stood at the door and at some point stepped inside.
She closed the door, approached her brother, looked at his bleeding hands, and frowned slightly.
"Are you incubating them?" she asked in a quiet voice.
Aemond finally lifted his gaze to his sister, expressionless.
"Hm," he answered shortly.
Helaena sighed.
She produced a handkerchief from her sleeve, embroidered with delicate patterns, took Aemond's hand, and carefully bound it.
Her movements were gentle and slow, afraid of causing him pain.
"Does it hurt?" she asked, lowering her head.
Aemond remained silent, and as she finished wrapping his hand, he held her wrist with his other hand.
Helaena looked at him, the candlelight glinting in her violet eyes—full of worry, fear, and some weakness.
"I'm so useless," she murmured to herself. "I can't help you…"
Aemond's hand pressed to her lips, stopping her words.
"I can handle these matters myself."
Saying this, he smiled and looked at Helaena.
Immediately, he turned and left.
———
In the royal chambers, the awakened Viserys I lay trapped among layers of soft pillows and brocade, feeling an increasing weariness and drowsiness.
Queen Alicent sat at the edge of the bed, wiping sweat from the king's brow with a soft towel soaked in mint water.
The door latch softly jingled.
Aemond stood in the shadows by the doorway, waiting a moment before moving slowly forward.
"Mother," he spoke first. "Has Father awakened?"
Alicent turned her face and looked at her son with complex eyes.
She nodded, then shook her head again. "He stirred briefly, but… he is still very weak."
Aemond walked slowly to the bed and bowed to the king.
"Father, seeing you awaken is the greatest joy in the Seven Kingdoms tonight."
Viserys's eyes slowly focused on him.
"You…"
"I am here, Father," Aemond took two steps forward. "I apologize on behalf of the Hand for today's incident. I have ordered him to return to Oldtown immediately tomorrow."
Alicent suddenly lifted her head. "Otto…"
"This is the most appropriate course at this moment, Mother." Aemond's words left no doubt.
Viserys's thin hand lifted slightly and fell weakly.
His lips twitched, and he struggled to squeeze out a few words:
"Rhaenyra…"
"The Crown Prince and his uncle have safely returned to Dragonstone," Aemond replied immediately. "I personally expelled her from the royal entourage."
"As for Jacaerys, Lucerys, Joffrey… According to your will, their dragons stayed in the dragon's lair for a while, but the people have safely left."
Viserys's eyes widened for a moment, a flicker of confusion in the cloudy pupils, before he understood.
He understood.
"Father," Aemond continued, "while you were in a coma, the Red Keep nearly fell out of control."
"Captain Les assumed military authority without permission and disturbed the lords, and I urge you to replace him."
"But now you are confined to bed and cannot govern…"
He fell silent.
"Until you recover, I implore you to appoint Mother as regent."
Alicent looked at her son with wide eyes, her lips trembling slightly.
Viserys looked at Aemond.
"No…" he spat the words with difficulty. "No…"
"Why not?" Aemond asked. "Because you do not trust us? Or because you never considered us family?"
Viserys heard Aemond's accusations, slightly angry, raised a trembling finger, and pointed at him.
Aemond stepped forward and took Viserys's hand.
"And what of Mother? Father, open your heart and tell me.
Since you were in a coma, who tended your sickbed?
Who cleaned your body and fed you medicines?
Was it Rhaenyra? Where is she? She mounted her dragon and flew off without looking back!"
"Aemond!" Queen Alicent cried sharply. "Do not speak to your father so!"
But Aemond did not stop, did not release the hand holding the king, and stared at him.
"Our children—Aegon, Helaena, myself, Daeron, and the infants Jaehaerys and Jaehaera—there are six of us.
Father, do all six of us not equal one Rhaenyra in your heart?"
Viserys trembled all over but could not speak.
Aemond took a deep breath, restraining his raging anger.
"What have you gained in return for favoring her all these years?"
He looked down at the king lying in the sickbed.
"Look at what she is doing now.
To protect the Crown Prince's position, she has taken it upon herself to hand over three children and three dragons to a Velaryon.
"And Corlys 'Sea Snake' Velaryon…" Aemond's voice suddenly turned cold.
"He thirsts for our blood and wants Velaryon to become the second dragon family."
"This is more than treason. Something must be done.
Rhaenyra is no ordinary schemer.
She has betrayed the Targaryens and our blood-and-fire vow."
He turned to his father and sighed.
"Father, you always try to care for both sides and please everyone.
But today has proven that this is impossible.
If you insist that Rhaenyra sit upon the Iron Throne…
Then be prepared to forsake us."
Viserys I, lying in the sickbed, was helpless, and it seemed that today both sides had completely torn at each other's faces.
The reason they had not yet begun fighting was that they had not yet died…
He paused, his voice dropping:
"But if you choose us, your mother can still remain by your side.
Moreover, your six children will live…"
Viserys closed his eyes.
He made no sound, but his gaunt body trembled slightly.
—Alicent wept. She lay at the edge of the bed, holding her husband's hand, quietly crying.
Only the queen's restrained sobs remained in the room.
Soon.
Viserys finally opened his eyes.
He looked at his wife, his eyes complex—guilty, dependent, loving, and carrying a sadness finally facing reality.
He lifted a trembling hand, his thin fingertips caressing his wife's cheek and wiping away her tears.
Then he looked at Aemond.
Father and son met.
Viserys's lips trembled:
"Alicent… Regent…"
Alicent lifted her gaze, looking at her husband with tears in her eyes.
Aemond bowed deeply.
"Father is wise."