A familiar voice rang out, causing both Kingsguard knights, including Alicent, to freeze in place.
Rhaenyra turned sharply, following the sound.
Down the long corridor leading to the council chamber, a slightly hunched figure slowly approached.
"Father."
Rhaenyra's expression flickered with surprise, as if wondering when her father had awoken.
"Stand down, all of you! Did you not hear me?"
Viserys' face was pale, but upon his head rested the crown that symbolized his authority.
Alicent was stunned, never expecting her husband to appear at such a moment. In a panic, she blurted out, "Viserys, why are you here?"
The moment the words left her mouth, she realized how foolish they sounded.
Behind her frail husband, several figures followed closely.
Among them were Lorent and Steffon from the Kingsguard, both glaring furiously at their two dishonored brothers in the hall.
The compromised Maester Mellos.
And Alicent's own handmaiden, Talia.
In that instant, Alicent understood everything.
Maester Mellos remained composed, saying, "Apologies, but every maester must hold an impartial heart, or they are unworthy of serving the realm."
Besides, the King had treated him well—his conscience would not allow him to betray that.
Talia stood at the back, head bowed in fear, not daring to meet the Queen's gaze.
She had once been a spy for the White Worm, Mysaria, before later swearing allegiance to the Master of Whispers.
I'm sorry—I've always been a double agent.
Viserys scanned the room, his face dark with anger as he waved a hand. "Seize these two traitors who dared to threaten my daughter."
"Yes, Your Grace!"
Lorent and Steffon sprang into action, swiftly disarming and subduing the two Kingsguard knights, who dared not resist.
Clang!
Just then, the situation escalated further.
A squad of royal guards, led by a young vice-commander, stormed into the corridor, clad in full armor and gripping their weapons tightly.
Upon seeing the King, the vice-commander hesitated, momentarily stunned before asking cautiously, "Your Grace, the Red Keep is locked down. What are your orders?"
Viserys was momentarily taken aback, then turned his gaze to his eldest daughter, still seated.
Rhaenyra, emboldened, commanded, "Hold the corridor. Be ready for further orders."
"Yes, Princess!"
The vice-commander obeyed, leading his men to secure the corridor's entrance.
At last, those in the hall began to grasp the magnitude of the moment.
Alicent was the first to react, hurrying toward her husband, attempting to seize the narrative. "Viserys, listen to me! Rhaegar tried to—"
"Silence!"
Viserys' face darkened further, his voice thundering through the chamber.
Alicent froze, standing less than two meters from him, yet unable to take another step forward.
Rhaenyra seized the opportunity, her fingers tightening around the hilt of Kingdom's Light, the sword that had been knocked aside earlier.
Alicent's crimes would not go unanswered today.
Viserys' outburst left him breathless, his chest rising and falling erratically as he struggled to regain composure.
Maester Mellos had deliberately withheld his milk of the poppy, choosing instead to wake him from his drugged stupor.
Lying in bed for so long had nearly rendered his body useless.
"Viserys…"
Alicent now looked like a chastised child, her tear-filled eyes pleading, yet she dared not move.
"I told you to be silent."
Viserys' gaze was piercing as he looked at his wife, his voice heavy with sorrow. "Alicent, I never imagined you could be this foolish."
Alicent shook her head frantically, a sinking dread filling her heart.
"Do not try to deny it—I now know everything."
Viserys' voice was thick with disappointment. "You are my wife, yet you treated my children so cruelly. While I still draw breath, you couldn't wait to tear our family apart?"
His breathing became more erratic, a cough threatening to take hold.
He could hardly believe how much had gone wrong during the two months he had been unconscious.
He had always been aware of the discord between Alicent and his eldest children.
Before he had married Alicent, she and Rhaenyra had been inseparable, the closest of friends.
But after the birth of Alicent's children, everything had changed. Rhaenyra had felt betrayed, and the rivalry over succession had given rise to the infamous factions of Black and Green.
Fortunately, his eldest son had proven intelligent and capable, keeping his younger siblings in check and leading them bravely onto the battlefield.
No one could understand the sheer exhilaration he had felt, riding into war in Dorne alongside his children.
Even the threat of assassination had not diminished his passion for leading from the front.
He had come to admire Aemond for his unwavering protection and had felt immense pride in his eldest son and second daughter for arriving just in time to reinforce him.
And then there was his so-called "uncrowned" cousin, along with his perpetually reckless younger brother.
Seven Targaryen dragonriders had descended upon Dorne, giving their enemies no choice but to acknowledge their might.
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Viserys' gaze sharpened, his voice steely as he declared, "Alicent, you have overstepped!"
She had made a grievous error—seizing control of the Small Council in his absence, interfering in royal matters without his consent.
Worse still, she had openly suppressed his eldest son and attempted to coerce Rhaenyra before the assembled lords.
Had he not woken in time… had Rhaenyra not seized command of the royal guard…
What would have happened to his poor, pregnant daughter?
Alicent could no longer contain her emotions, her voice rising in a desperate scream. "Viserys, I am sick of your favoritism! Rhaegar seeks to break the peace forged between King Jaehaerys and the Faith of the Seven!"
"Do you even understand the consequences, or are you still pretending to be blind?!"
The Faith of the Seven had once nearly toppled Targaryen rule.
King Jaehaerys had been a visionary, a monarch who had turned the tide and secured their dynasty.
To defy the pact between House Targaryen and the Faith was to court disaster.
SLAP!
Viserys struck her across the face, his fury erupting. "Who do you think you are?! What nonsense has your Hightower family taught you about power and politics? You are no better than a common village hag!"
Alicent stood frozen in shock, then broke down entirely. "You claim not to believe in the Seven, yet you pray to them every night, begging Queen Aemma to watch over your children!"
"Alicent!"
The mere mention of his late wife's name made Viserys' eyes burn red with rage.
But someone else was even more furious.
"Alicent, do not speak my mother's name!"
Rhaenyra rose abruptly, gripping her one-handed sword and charging straight at Alicent.
Alicent seemed truly mad, completely disregarding the reactions of the father and daughter as she cried out bitterly, "Why shouldn't I say it? When he shared my bed, he called out another woman's name! Is that my crime?"
Since marrying Viserys, she had lived like a walking corpse.
Her father had used her, her husband didn't love her, and her children were nothing but disappointments.
Who had ever understood her needs? Who had ever truly loved her?
"You are nothing but a shameless harlot—seducing your best friend's father, raising children to fight for the throne against their own siblings!"
Rhaenyra's hatred flared, and with a swift motion, she drew the Kingdom's Light.
Viserys was horrified. His frail body limited his movements, but he tried to call for the Kingsguard to intervene.
"I gave up my claim to the throne long ago! It was you who kept pushing me, never even allowing me a place to belong!"
But Alicent showed no fear, venting all the grievances she'd kept buried inside.
As her former friend drew closer, rage boiled within her, and instead of retreating, she stepped forward, unafraid.
She was the Queen—she would fight for the respect she deserved.
"Whore, die!"
There was no warmth in the response—only the gleam of a cold, merciless blade.
Rhaenyra was consumed by hatred. Just as the Kingsguard lunged to intervene, her sword slashed through the air.
"Ahhh!!"
Alicent's face turned pale with terror, instinctively raising her arms to block.
Rip!
The blade sliced through flesh, and blood sprayed instantly.
"Alicent!"
Viserys' eyes widened in shock, his heart skipping a beat.
Alicent had thrown up her arms in defense, but the sword had cut through at an angle.
Her green gown, embroidered with gold thread, was torn open and soaked in blood.
A deep, gaping wound stretched from her left wrist to her right elbow—a full eighteen inches long.
Her once-fair skin was mangled, the wound splitting open like a blooming flower, exposing glimpses of white bone beneath the torn flesh.
"Aahhh!"
Alicent let out a heart-wrenching scream and collapsed to the ground, her noble green gown now drenched in crimson. Her entire body trembled uncontrollably.
The pain—searing, excruciating pain!
It felt as though her arms no longer belonged to her. The wound burned like salt had been rubbed into it—she wished she could cut off both arms just to make it stop.
Rhaenyra seemed to read her thoughts. She stepped forward, raising her sword again, her gaze unwavering.
"Alicent, you are a plague upon this family!"
With those words, she prepared to strike again.
Her first attack had been aimed at Alicent's head, but it had been blocked.
But a second chance? That was rare.
The Kingsguard, Ser Steffon, was closest. He lunged, grabbing the sword by the blade and twisting it from Rhaenyra's grip.
At the same time, Viserys shouted, "Rhaenyra, have you lost your mind?!"
As her sword left her hand, Rhaenyra froze, her mind blank.
She looked down at Alicent, now unconscious on the floor, blood pooling beneath her.
Viserys swayed on his feet, his head pounding. "If you kill Alicent, how will your brothers and sisters see you? How will Rhaegar?"
For years, his eldest son had maintained a fragile peace, avoiding outright conflict—partly out of consideration for his siblings.
If that balance was shattered, it would spiral into a brutal struggle for power.
Sweat beaded on Rhaenyra's forehead. The gravity of her actions was sinking in, but she clenched her jaw. "If she isn't removed, House Targaryen will fall into the hands of the Hightowers sooner or later!"
"Rhaenyra—my firstborn," Viserys murmured.
He looked at Alicent, lying motionless, then at his daughter, who was barely holding herself together. For the first time, his voice was firm.
"You and Rhaegar cannot have Alicent's blood on your hands."
Rhaenyra's gaze flickered toward the onlookers in the room. She avoided meeting her father's eyes.
Viserys sighed deeply. "Leave her to me. I promise she will no longer interfere with you and Rhaegar."
"What do you intend to do?" Rhaenyra was skeptical.
"She will be confined to the Sept," Viserys replied.
Then he added, "When Rhaegar returns, we will decide her fate together."
Rhaenyra remained silent.
She wasn't satisfied with this outcome.
Viserys took the Kingdom's Light from Ser Steffon and handed it back to his daughter, his expression unreadable.
"You are with child. Leave the rest to your father."
He understood now—the fractures in his family could no longer be ignored.
The years of Rhaegar's restraint had been shattered by the conflict between these two women.
Rhaenyra hesitated for a long moment. Then, placing a hand over her belly, she made her decision—taking the sword and walking away.
"Rhaenyra."
Viserys opened his mouth, but no words of comfort came.
His gaze fell upon Alicent.
Her arms, mutilated and exposed, lay limply at her sides. Blood pooled beneath her, her face ghostly pale.
Her hair was disheveled, her body battered—there was no trace of the noble Queen in her now.
"How could you be so foolish?"
Viserys' eyes were hollow as he repeated the words over and over, then finally motioned for the Kingsguard.
"Take her to the tower of the Sept. No one is to see her, except to bring food and water."
Ser Lyonel hesitated, glancing at the two Kingsguard who had accepted bribes. He spoke solemnly, "Your Grace, these knights must be held accountable."
Viserys seemed not to hear him—or perhaps he simply didn't care. He dismissed it with a wave of his hand.
"No need for a trial. Return their bodies to their families for burial."
With that single sentence, he decided their fate.
"Your Grace—"
The two Kingsguard fell to their knees, pleading for mercy.
Thud! Thud!
Ser Lorent and Ser Steffon beat them down with brutal kicks before dragging them away.
A failure of duty this severe could not be forgiven.
Viserys took one final look at his council. He thought of how they had governed in his absence.
Forcing a weary smile, he said, "Everyone, disperse."
After speaking, he turned around to leave.
Just as he lifted his foot, a sudden wave of dizziness struck him. His vision blurred, and he rolled his eyes before collapsing backward.
"Your Majesty!"
Scholar Mukun reacted swiftly, catching the king to prevent him from hitting the ground.
Leonor and the others rushed forward in a frenzy, throwing the scene into chaos.
"Your Majesty… Your Majesty…"
"Send a letter to Oldtown! Summon the Crown Prince back immediately!"
"…"
---
Meanwhile…
Rhaenyra cradled her belly with both hands as she made her way back to her chamber.
"Princess…"
Inside the room, Baela and Rhaena were crouched near the door. Seeing their foster mother return, they greeted her.
"You're here."
Rhaenyra closed the door behind her, leaning against it for support. She reached her right hand under her long gown.
At first, there was nothing unusual.
Then, as her cool fingers brushed against her skin, a warm liquid began to flow between her legs.
When she pulled her hand back, faint traces of blood stained her palm.
The surge of emotion had triggered her water to break.
"Princess?"
The twins saw the blood and immediately panicked, crowding around her.
"It's all right. I'm about to have my baby."
Rhaenyra forced a reassuring smile and turned to Baela, instructing calmly, "Go inform Grand Maester Orwyle and tell him I'm in labor."
"Got it!"
Baela nodded repeatedly before hurrying off.
Rhaenyra then looked at the more timid Rhaena and spoke gently, "Find the Master of Whispers and have him send a message to your mother. Tell her to ride Vhagar to King's Landing at once."
This was her first childbirth—everything had to be meticulously arranged.
Having Laena by her side would bring her peace of mind.
"Okay, okay!"
Rhaena nodded quickly, like a pecking chick.
"Good girls." Rhaenyra, filled with gratitude, stepped aside and made her way toward the bed.
The twins rushed out the door without delay.
As soon as Rhaenyra sat down, she lifted her gaze to see Sara standing at the doorway.
Sara's expression was solemn, but she nodded at Rhaenyra in silent reassurance.
Rhaenyra smiled faintly, finally allowing herself to breathe easier.
The twins soon returned with a response.
In less than fifteen minutes, Orwyle arrived, practically flying into the room with midwives and handmaidens in tow.
The king had guard by his side—his priority was the princess.
Bang!
The door slammed shut as the handmaidens helped Rhaenyra lie down on her back.
With her eyes tightly shut, she was consumed by fear.
She suddenly felt a deep regret.
She should have agreed to Alicent's foolish idea of recalling Rhaegar.
And just now… she should have killed Alicent on the spot.
She feared she wouldn't survive childbirth, that she might never see Rhaegar again—never get another chance to eliminate Alicent.
"Mother, please bless me and my child. Keep us safe."
She prayed silently.
Then, a searing pain crashed over her.
A second later—
Her agonized screams echoed through the Red Keep.
(End of Chapter)