"The world is a dirty place. I learned that when I saw my mother raise my siblings in a dungeon and treat them as something worse than slaves, mere blemishes on her beautiful golden reputation." Thoughts of Miquella upon seeing Aegon.
-------
Being expelled from the Throne Room, Miquella walked through the corridors of the enormous imperial palace. Honestly, she thought the palace was huge and totally unnecessary, but after learning that it symbolized imperial power, she understood that everything was to maintain a divine and imposing facade.
Looking at the servants and maids, who looked at her with reverence and respect, Miquella didn't feel much. Whether in her past life or this life, she had gained great respect because of her noble birth. So, she was used to everyone's eyes on her.
Miquella put these thoughts aside and finally found who she was supposed to meet. Lady Lyarra of House Stark and future Duchess of the Planet Invernus. The second woman was her cousin, Princess Saera of House Targaryen.
She found the two women talking in the corner of the corridor, both extremely close to each other. Remembering the rumors between the two women, Miquella didn't care about other people's lives.
"Lady Lyarra, Princess Saera." Miquella greeted the two women with a gentle and graceful look. Her innate ability, which was capable of enchanting all people, did not work within the walls of the Imperial Palace, something she thanked her grandfather for, as she knew better than anyone how terrible that ability was.
Miquella always wondered if everyone loved her because they loved her or if they were influenced by her ability, but she was sure that Malenia loved her for who she was, not because of her ability. Of that, she had no doubt.
Saera's and Lyarra's eyes focused on the small figure before them. Honestly, she was so small that both women doubted that the girl was from the Golden Lineage of House Targaryen. It wasn't their fault for thinking this way, as everyone was extremely tall, like true giants.
Miquella was simply too small compared to the two extremely tall women; it was like a dwarf next to a six-foot-tall man.
The girl noticed this and couldn't help but feel frustrated. Even being born into a family of giants, she was still small. Miquella really wanted to curse fate for being cruel. She wasn't asking for much, just to reach six feet tall, just like her mother.
But Miquella knew this was a foolish dream; she would have to be grateful if her height reached five feet.
"Hello, Princess Miquella." Saera greeted her aunt with a gentle smile, especially seeing the girl's small size. Remembering the rumors that Miquella was the daughter of Queen Dowager Rhaella with an unknown man, Saera believed these rumors were true. Miquella's height was a fact that could not be ignored.
However, even being a bastard, no one dared to say anything, or rather, no one dared to speak ill of the half-sister of Queen Daenerys and Visenya. Especially after learning that Miquella was summoned almost every day to spend time with the Emperor God.
Knowing this, who would dare to slander Miquella?
"Hello, Princess." Lyarra also greeted the girl with an elegant and graceful smile. Looking at the girl's perfect face, the future Duchess of House Stark couldn't help but think that all Targaryens were beautiful, even the bastards.
"My nephews and nieces have arrived. The Emperor God asked me to greet everyone with you two." Knowing that her identity as Naerys's daughter could not be known, Miquella spoke in a calm tone. On paper, she was Queen Rhaella's daughter, so the children of her sisters, Daenerys and Visenya, were her nephews and nieces.
Saera and Lyarra looked at each other and saw the surprise in each other's eyes. Although they had heard that Miquella was very dear to the Emperor God, seeing in person how much affection he had for his new aunt was still shocking.
(Note: Honestly, the Targaryen family tree was a mess, especially when I'm the one explaining it.)
Orders were orders. Lyarra and Saera accompanied Miquella to receive the Imperial Princes and Princesses. Although both were surprised because they had not been notified of the arrival of Crown Princess Alysanne, the leader of their faction.
-
When Alysanne descended the ramp and touched the ground of Planetos, she couldn't help but take a deep breath. The clear and pure air seemed to fill her with homesickness. Looking at Asha beside her, the princess spoke with a smile. "Don't walk around the capital too much; many want you dead."
Alysanne knew better than anyone that her actions made many senators, ministers, and politicians her enemies. Although the power gained in this total cleanup was enormous, it far outweighed the disadvantages.
Asha nodded, and even without Alysanne's words, she knew how dangerous her situation was. To support the princess, Asha spared no effort; she took all the files containing the secrets of countless powerful men and women and handed them over to Alysanne.
Because of this act, the title of House Greyjoy was increased by one, reaching Count, which made her very satisfied. But she also knew that many died because of her actions, which meant she created countless enemies.
"Don't worry about me, Princess." Asha moved the dagger in her fingers and spoke with a cold smile. She knew how to survive, especially amidst the cold and dirty politics of the Imperium.
Alysanne was not worried about Asha's safety; she just didn't want such a good dog to be killed by some random assassin hired by her political enemies. Asha was really useful during this time, something she greatly appreciated.
Suddenly, Alysanne noticed three figures waiting for her. She recognized two, Saera and Lyarra, but the third she didn't recognize at all. She really had never seen such a small and adorable girl before.
"Princess." Both women greeted Alysanne with a respectful tone. Seeing the princess looking at Miquella, Lyarra was quick to explain Miquella's origins, surprising Alysanne.
Alysanne was genuinely shocked by Miquella's origin, because from what she knew, her grandmother, Rhaella, had long lost the desire due to the events during her life. So, she was really surprised to learn that her grandmother had a daughter with an unknown man.
"Aunt." Alysanne greeted the two-year-old girl with an amused smile. It was really funny to call such a young girl "aunt."
"You are beautiful, niece." Miquella spoke with a smile, looking at Alysanne. The woman was so tall that she had to step back a few steps and raise her head as much as possible to finally see Alysanne's face. At the same time, she recognized that Alysanne was a very indifferent woman, as the aura she exuded greatly resembled Marika.
When Miquella was about to say something more, other men and women gradually appeared in her field of vision. They were Aenar's sons and daughters with the three Queens. All simply beautiful men and women. The men resembled Aenar while the women resembled their own mothers.
Miquella was surprised by their arrival, but the same could be said of Aenar's sons and daughters. They were equally shocked by Miquella's existence. Learning that they had gained a new aunt in two years was quite surprising.
Only Aegon looked at Miquella with a calm and deep gaze, hiding his sarcastic look. Through blood magic, he could recognize that the girl's lineage did not originate from Rhaella, but from Naerys herself!
As for how Miquella was conceived, it was more than obvious in Aegon's eyes. His father simply slept with his own daughter. To cover up the scandal and not tarnish the impeccable holy and sacred image of the Emperor God, Rhaella had to bear the blame.
As if she felt she was being spied on, Miquella looked at the mature and handsome man with a calm gaze. Among all of Aenar's sons and daughters, he was the most arrogant, which confirmed her grandfather's words.
The man before her was Aegon Targaryen. The man who sacrificed an entire city to the enemy of House Targaryen.
Honestly, he was a beautiful man, and hardly anyone would think he was an evil villain, but Miquella never judged anyone by appearance. The most beautiful of faces hid a filthy heart full of sins. She herself was a clear example of this. To fulfill her ambitions, she sacrificed everything and everyone.
To create the Age of Gentleness, she abandoned even her feelings, making her essentially like her mother, a cold, indifferent ruler driven by self-interest.
---------
Read the advanced chapters on my Patreon!
/GOTSW
Read my other books:
Game Of Thrones: The God-Emperor of Planetos (500,000 words written).
Percy Jackson: Godwyn the Golden.
Game Of Thrones: The King's Court Wizard