"Ahem, allow me to clarify."
Corlys's face flushed red as he coughed lightly to mask his embarrassment.
Especially under the piercing gaze of his wife, he couldn't help but feel a little guilty.
A thought that had just emerged in his mind was immediately extinguished.
Rhaegar looked puzzled and exchanged glances with his father.
What was going on?
Viserys gave him a reassuring look and carefully inquired, "Lord Corlys, please state your conditions specifically."
However, deep down, he was thinking: Could it be that Corlys is so blind that he has set his sights on my precious grandchildren?
He better not even think about it!
"Your Grace, you need not worry," Corlys reassured, shifting his gaze to Daemon, who had been watching the scene unfold with amusement. He then decisively stated, "Daemon married my daughter and has given birth to two children who carry Valyrian blood."
"I respectfully request that Your Grace allow me to adopt one of them as the heir to my late son, Ser Laenor, as his daughter."
Before Laenor passed, he had already been knighted, granting him the right to adopt a noble heir.
Upon hearing this, Viserys let out a sigh of relief.
So, it was Daemon's children he was after? That's not my problem.
Having a niece adopted by her late uncle wasn't considered a big deal among the nobility.
Meanwhile—
Rhaegar's spirit lifted, and he and Rhaenyra both turned their attention to Daemon.
If he remembered correctly, his dear uncle had once made a bold statement:
He would never give up any of his children for adoption.
Sure enough, Daemon's face instantly darkened, even more so than when he had first taken his seat.
Watching the drama unfold was amusing until he became the subject of it. The feeling was far from pleasant.
He glanced at Rhaena briefly before glaring directly at Corlys with a piercing gaze.
That old bastard still hasn't given up on my daughters.
When Laenor was alive, he couldn't consummate his marriage with his wife and had set his sights on Daemon's daughters.
Now that Laenor was dead, he still refused to let them go.
Unforgivable!
A dark thought crept into Daemon's mind—perhaps it was time for his father-in-law to have an unfortunate "illness."
Clang!
A dining knife fell onto the table, producing a crisp sound.
Baela and Rhaena were seated at the side of the long table, listening as their grandfather openly requested to adopt one of them.
Baela's eyes widened in surprise, and she blurted out, "What?"
Her mind struggled to process what she had just heard.
Rhaena, meanwhile, had dropped her knife onto her plate, her delicate olive-toned face suddenly tense as she darted her eyes around nervously.
Unlike her confident and headstrong sister, Rhaena had always been soft-natured.
Like her slow-growing dragon, Moondancer, she was a quiet and gentle child.
"Don't be afraid."
Little Daeron took her hand and gave it a reassuring pat.
Rhaena remained silent, picking up her knife to continue cutting her roasted meat into small pieces.
Seeing this, Viserys sighed in exasperation and said, "Apologies, but they are Daemon's daughters. I cannot make such a decision on their behalf."
If Corlys had asked for Daemon himself to be adopted as his son, Viserys might have at least considered it before refusing.
But adopting his nieces? That was an impossible request.
"Your Grace, as long as you support my request, I will negotiate with Daemon myself," Corlys insisted, shifting his focus back to Daemon. His voice was firm as he continued, "If Baela or Rhaena is adopted by Laenor, she will inherit the title of Lord of the Tides and Driftmark. She will not be mistreated in any way."
Throughout all of Westeros—
The name of House Velaryon of Driftmark carried great weight.
Power, wealth, and a mighty fleet that ruled the seas—
Which noble house wouldn't dream of such prestige?
"No!"
Daemon rejected the proposal outright, sneering, "Don't even think about it. My children will never change their family name."
A Targaryen is a Targaryen.
A dragon whose blood carries fire will never submit to a house whose blood tastes like saltwater.
Viserys, watching from the side, attempted to reason with him, "Driftmark's wealth is renowned across Westeros."
For a girl to inherit Driftmark would be far more beneficial than merely being married off in the future.
Daemon scoffed. He didn't see it that way at all.
He had conquered Tyrosh, and in the future, he would undoubtedly hold the title of Prince.
Laena's health had suffered, making it difficult for her to bear another son.
His twin daughters were his only heirs, and he couldn't afford to lose either of them.
In this era, the mortality rate for women was far higher than for men.
Corlys frowned and attempted to persuade him, "I only ask for one granddaughter who carries Velaryon blood. I will raise and guide her just as I did Laenor and Laena."
"Heh."
Daemon let out a chuckle filled with mockery. "You think you raised Laenor well?"
The eldest son of one of the most powerful noble houses in the realm—yet he was a man who couldn't perform with women and preferred a different path altogether.
If Laenor had been a normal man, Corlys wouldn't have had to worry about an heir in the first place.
Corlys's face stiffened, clearly struck in a sore spot.
Viserys, losing patience, rebuked, "Daemon, the dead deserve respect. Do not forget that."
"Yes, yes~"
Daemon replied lazily before turning to his daughters and asking, "Do either of you wish to be adopted by Ser Laenor?"
Baela immediately shook her head, responding firmly, "I am your daughter."
She then shot a resolute look at her grandfather, rejecting his attention outright.
Corlys's expression darkened, though he wasn't particularly surprised.
This little girl had a fiery temper—something he admired—but as Daemon's eldest daughter, she was bound to refuse.
His gaze then shifted to the other granddaughter.
Rhaena's face tensed, and she looked toward her mother, Laena, and her stepmother, Rhaenyra, for help.
"My dear, this is your choice to make."
Laena's emotions were complicated, and she found herself caught between both sides.
Rhaenya was at a loss, her eyes brimming with tears.
Rhaenyra looked at the girl she had raised since childhood, feeling a deep sense of helplessness. She gave her a subtle reminder: "Follow your heart, just like the dawn yearning to soar into the sky."
According to the Dragon Laws, Laenor's children would no longer have the right to claim a dragon.
But if Rhaenya were to be adopted and hatched a dragon of her own, she could ensure that her rightful privileges would not be taken away.
Rhaenya was intelligent—she understood the deeper meaning behind her foster mother's words. Her uncertain eyes shimmered with a faint glimmer of light.
Corlys had been watching her closely and now softened his expression, deliberately lowering his voice: "Rhaenya, if you are willing to carry on your uncle's bloodline, Driftmark will be yours in the future."
Then, he added, "If you're worried that Daemon won't approve, you can continue living by Rhaenyra's side. You will still be part of the royal family."
Rhaenya hesitated, her gaze timid, unsure of how to refuse.
She glanced at her cold and distant father, then at her silent mother, feeling even more uncertain.
Baenyra tugged at her sleeve and shot her a look.
Rhaenya immediately understood and stole a glance at her foster mother.
At that moment, Rhaenyra, having blinked rapidly in anticipation, subtly signaled the young girl to pay attention to Daemon.
Rhaenya froze, half-understanding the message.
Corlys then stepped past Daemon and asked, "Your Grace, if one of the children is adopted, can you guarantee that their right to claim a dragon will not be revoked?"
Viserys hesitated. "Well…"
Truthfully, he didn't want any Velaryon to have the ability to command dragons.
According to Westerosi customs, adoption meant changing one's lineage.
The royal family had the authority to strip adopted children of their right to claim a dragon.
Suddenly, Viserys noticed Daemon watching him.
Daemon's eyes were slightly narrowed, gleaming with anticipation.
Viserys knew that look well.
Classic calculation—measuring the pros and cons.
Realizing this, Viserys immediately fell silent.
Neither agreeing nor refusing—taking no responsibility.
Gone was the man who once made bold promises.
Corlys's eye twitched slightly, gaining a new level of appreciation for the king's talent in feigned ignorance.
Rhaegar watched quietly, observing the intricate political maneuvering at play.
Fascinating. Truly fascinating.
Daemon appeared outwardly opposed to the idea, yet he had tossed the choice into the hands of his daughters.
Corlys, having started by seeking an heir, was now poking holes in the Dragon Laws.
His father, ever the affable fool, was once again playing dumb.
Well, well, well—no wonder the older generation of politicians were so formidable.
They were putting on quite a display for Rhaegar.
Rhaenyra, sensing something was off, whispered, "Is it just me, or is something strange going on?"
Despite having raised five children, she still retained a bit of her youthful naivety.
Rhaegar leaned in, speaking softly, "Watch and learn."
As he spoke, he gently rubbed his cheek against Rhaenyra's fair skin, taking comfort in the familiar warmth.
Rhaenyra's face flushed, and she turned her head away haughtily.
The first child she had ever cared for was Rhaegar—who was now completely disobedient.
…
The tension at the banquet shifted into an eerie, intricate atmosphere.
As the future king, Rhaegar sat beside his future queen, taking the opportunity to lift little Aemond from Helaena's arms.
Viserys, Corlys, and Daemon remained silent, each deep in thought, strategizing their next moves.
All three were vying for their own interests, laying the groundwork for the power dynamics after the new king's coronation.
The most uncomfortable ones at the table were undoubtedly Rhaenys and Laena.
One had to watch as her husband fought for his cousin's child.
The other had to sit by as her husband stabbed her father in the back.
Should they support logic or loyalty?
Should they stand by their kin or uphold justice?
Either way, they were caught in a no-win situation.
Suddenly, Rhaenya hopped down from her seat and ran over to Daemon.
Daemon was lounging back, one hand resting on his thigh, the other absently playing with his wine cup.
Rhaenya grabbed his large hand and nestled it against her chest, resting her head against his arm, quietly seeking comfort.
She didn't want to upset her father, nor did she want to refuse her grandfather's request.
Uncle Laenor had been so pitiful.
Besides, Driftmark was vast and prosperous—Spicetown was far livelier than both King's Landing and Dragonstone.
Balancing her childlike perspective with the teachings of her foster mother, Rhaenya longed to inherit Driftmark and stand as an equal to her sister, Baenyra.
But she couldn't bear to leave her father and current life behind. She was terrified that choosing one meant regretting it forever.
Daemon lowered his gaze, feeling the warmth of her soft cheek. Looking at his affectionate young daughter, he relented.
"Tell your father—do you want to inherit Driftmark?"
Rhaenya didn't dare lift her face, but she nodded.
Driftmark was wonderful. If she inherited it, she could help both her foster mother and father.
Unlike now, where she was just a useless little girl with a sickly baby dragon.
"Good," Daemon said, his eyes glinting with approval. "You truly are my daughter."
Seeing Daemon soften, Corlys quickly pressed forward: "You and Laena still have the chance to have more children. If Rhaenya is adopted into House Velaryon, the two families can arrange a marriage."
If Daemon were to have another son…
Then, following family tradition, a future child could be wed to Rhaenya's offspring.
This loophole in the Dragon Laws would ensure the Velaryons retained dragon-riding rights for at least two more generations.
Daemon considered this carefully.
He had married Laena, the Sea Snake's only remaining daughter. If Rhaenya were adopted into House Velaryon as its Lady,
And if a future grandchild were also adopted…
The Velaryon power structure would remain firmly in his grasp.
Why not?
Lost in thought, Daemon glanced sideways at Laena, as if contemplating a third child.
Laena turned her head away, unwilling to even look at this scheming man.
Both families were secretly calculating their own gains.
Viserys, meanwhile, closely observed Daemon's microexpressions, gradually deducing his reckless brother's thoughts.
The royal family could strip Rhaenya of her dragon-riding rights after her adoption.
But… was there really a need?
Viserys's eyes flickered as he turned his gaze toward his youngest son, who was gnawing on a pork knuckle.
With a smile, he declared, "In the royal family, only Daeron remains unmarried. If Rhaenya is adopted, House Targaryen and House Velaryon can unite once more in marriage."