-Chapter 77-

-Chapter 77-

-POV Laena Velaryon-

I closed the door to my mother's private chambers, my heart heavy with thoughts of my brother’s fate.

‘If Aemon won’t help me, then...’

“Princess,” said Ser Gunthor, with whom I nearly bumped into, breaking the thread of my thoughts.

“Sorry,” he said, apologizing for startling me.

“What do you want, Ser?” I asked in an impatient and slightly aggressive tone.

“Prince Aemon has summoned you to...”

‘He dares to summon me after turning his back on me for Alicent Hightower.’

Annoyed by my husband’s behavior, I said as I walked on, “I’m busy trying to...”

“That was not a request... princess,” he interrupted, preventing me from passing.

I narrowed my eyes at the knight, but realizing it would do no good, I finally followed him.

‘I must keep my composure; he is now my lord husband, and I owe him obedience,’ I thought.

As I approached Aemon’s chambers, a growing fury rose inside me, which I tried, with difficulty, to suppress deep within.

But when I saw him calmly sitting, petting a small kitten, all that anger exploded at once.

“I thought you wouldn’t be this petty,” I said to my husband, aggressively.

“Petty?” he replied, raising an eyebrow, pretending to be confused.

‘He dares to play innocent after all he said yesterday.’

“Yes, that’s exactly what I said,” I replied, fully owning my words, even adding, “It seems that in addition to lacking a heart, you also lack ears to properly hear what I just said to you.”

He fixed his gaze on me for a moment, then shook his head and said:

“I called you here to tell you something very important.”

“More important than Laenor’s life?” I snapped back, furious.

“No,” he said calmly, unhurried.

“Very well,” I said, turning to leave, having heard enough.

‘I don’t have much time left before Laenor’s duel, I’m wasting my time here.’

“But I’d say it’s on the same level,” he added, casually.

“I’m very curious to know what could be as important as my brother’s survival in your eyes,” I said, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

“I’ve found a champion to kill Criston Cole,” Aemon suddenly said.

“What?” I asked, surprised by Aemon’s revelation.

“I said I’ve found a champion who will kill Criston Cole for Laenor,” he repeated.

“Who?” I asked quickly.

“You’ll see,” he said, enigmatically.

“Swear it to me,” I demanded, unable to comprehend this sudden change of heart.

Aemon smiled and said, “Is my word not enough for you?”

“That’s not what I meant,” I replied, embarrassed, but still waiting for him to swear.

“I’m teasing you. I’ve really found a champion, and he’s good enough to kill the Queen’s Champion,” he said.

A brief silence hung between us before I looked at him and said, grateful for his help:

“Thank you.”

“Very well, now I expect you to go tell your foolish little brother that this is the last time I’m saving his neck, and if I find him in armor, ready to commit suicide, I’ll end his life myself,” he said.

I nodded, and he gestured for me to leave.

---

-POV Gunthor Royce-

I watched Laena Velaryon leave without a word, and as soon as she closed the door, I turned to my nephew, frowning:

“Do you really think it’s wise to save that sword swallower’s life?”

‘Even though Aemon had told me, it didn’t take a seer to figure it out.’

“He’s Laena’s brother,” Aemon replied, deliberately dodging my question.

“Aemon, don’t give me that. I know all your secrets; if anyone knows how much you care about your personal interests, it’s me,” I said to my nephew, who merely smiled.

A long silence settled between us before he admitted:

“I spoke with mother.”

“I knew it,” I said, as only one person had that kind of persuasive power over Aemon.

“She shared her concerns about how I’ve been treating Laena,” he added, explaining his gesture toward his future wife.

“And you changed your mind just because of that?” I asked, slightly incredulous.

‘That can’t be the only reason,’ I thought, sure there was more.

“It’s true that it made me think, but no, that’s not what decided me,” Aemon said before adding coldly, “Criston Cole had to die. I haven’t forgotten all he’s done on the orders of his mistresses, whether it was the time he tried to humiliate me for Rhaenyra or when he violently knocked down one of ours on Alicent Hightower’s behalf.”

“Those are the only reasons?” I asked, still perplexed.

“No, those are just the reasons that made it easier to condemn him in my mind,” he said before adding, “What drove me to take up arms and do it personally and publicly is because I finally realized that fear had changed sides.”

I nodded, understanding where he was going, but I still allowed myself to add:

“True, but what about your original plan? Attacking the queen so openly could lead to severe retaliation from her. Don’t forget, she hasn’t fulfilled her part of the deal yet.”

“I still plan to, but at some point, we have to face the truth. I can’t hide anymore, so I might as well make a lasting impression on these people because I don’t plan on seeing them again anytime soon,” Aemon said, looking out over the horizon, more peaceful than ever.