At night, House Targaryen was gathered, eating around a long rectangular table. With the exception of Princess Naerys, who was bedridden in King's Landing, all of Rhaegar's sons and daughters were present at dinner.
Rhaegar looked at his sons and daughters with a deep gaze, but behind the depth, there was a deep-seated worry. Especially looking at his son, Aegon. The boy had inherited nothing from his Dornish descent: white skin, silver hair, and lilac eyes.
However, seeing his thin body, without any muscle or even any masculinity, Rhaegar's worry increased. Aegon didn't train, and when he did, it was only for a few minutes before giving up. This wouldn't be a problem if he were good in his private lessons, but the boy didn't even manage that.
It wasn't that his son was stupid, but he was simply too lazy to study, regardless of the punishments, reprimands, or chastisements Rhaegar gave. This was already making the king completely fed up with so much ignorance.
The kingdom was on the brink of a civil war, and the heir didn't even know how to fight or care to study. Could such a prince truly be king? Was Rhaegar confident that Aegon would control the vassals if he eventually died? The answer was a resounding no.
Although Aegon had the support of Dorne, that was it, only the support of Dorne. By the other Noble Houses, especially those of the Stormlands, Aegon was simply ignored as an heir. His Dornish heritage was a stigma for all the Seven Kingdoms.
Sighing, Rhaegar looked at his other sons, Maekar and Gaemon, both young boys, one thirteen and the other ten years old, respectively.
Compared to Aegon, Maekar was a prodigy with the sword and was preparing to win the title of Knight of the Tourney of Harrenhal. Although he wasn't as studious, he wasn't bad and received praise from his teachers.
Gaemon was the complete opposite of Maekar; he was a scholar from head to toe. Since he had a weak body, he never picked up a sword, but he was extremely intelligent and was simply praised as a prodigy by the Maesters.
Honestly, Maekar would be a good king and Gaemon a Hand of the King. Gaemon was fine, as he could be the Hand of the King, but unfortunately, Maekar was not born before Aegon, so he was only second in the Line of Succession to the Throne.
This brought a great headache to Rhaegar. He couldn't simply make Maekar the Crown Prince; this would shake his government and make countless Noble Houses dissatisfied, as they followed the Law that the firstborn was the heir.
What example would this set for the sons of countless Noble Houses? It could be said that it would cause countless brothers to fight for the title of Lord. After all, if the King's second son could be king through ability, they could too.
That's why Rhaegar had never deposed Aegon from the title of Crown Prince and Prince of Dragonstone. He would not plunge the continent into chaos, especially with a decision that would make him lose the loyalty of countless Noble Houses.
Suddenly, noticing an empty chair, Rhaegar put aside his thoughts about the Crown Prince and asked with a dissatisfied tone. "Where is Viserys?"
Rhaenys, who was eating elegantly, commented casually. "He went to the brothel in Harrentown."
Rhaegar's face darkened in an instant. His brother had received the title of Prince of the Roses, but it wasn't because he had roses on his armor or shield, but simply because he spent his days drunk and in brothels.
"Dany, didn't you stop him?" Rhaegar spoke to Daenerys, who pretended to be invisible before her older brother's penetrating gaze.
"Brother, do you think I can control Viserys?" Daenerys said with an equally helpless tone; she tried to stop Viserys, but only received a push aside and some sarcastic comments.
Rhaegar frowned and sighed again. After he had imprisoned his father, King Aerys II, in one of the Towers in the Red Keep, the relationship between the two brothers was completely gone. Viserys called him a usurper and a jailer for deposing and imprisoning his own father.
When Rhaegar had an expression full of helplessness with so many problems and worries, his son's voice pulled him out of this state of deep thought.
"Father."
Rhaegar raised his head and looked at Gaemon, who was staring at him with an expectant look.
"What is it, my little prince?" Rhaegar asked with a smile; Gaemon was one of the few children who didn't cause him problems.
"I found Lord Peverell, the Court Mage." When Gaemon spoke, everyone's eyes were surprised, especially Rhaegar.
"He told me that if I wanted to learn magic, I would have to have my father's permission." Gaemon was not indecisive, and despite feeling a little shy being the focus of everyone, he spoke with a tone full of hope.
"Magic?" Aegon was surprised; he knew nothing about what Gaemon was talking about, just like Rhaenys, Daenerys, and Maekar. Only the two queens present, the Kingsguard, the Hand of the King, and the king himself knew about Cadmus.
"He said you could learn?" Rhaegar ignored everyone's surprised eyes and was even more surprised by Gaemon's words.
In Rhaegar's eyes, as in all the Noble Houses of the world, Cadmus would guard his knowledge for the use of his future descendants. The King never thought that Cadmus would actually pass on his knowledge to others who were not of the future House Peverell.
"If I had Father's permission, yes." Gaemon nodded and replied with a tone still full of expectation. "Can I, Father?"
Rhaegar thought for a moment and replied with a solemn tone. "Yes, you can." In his eyes, if Gaemon became a mage, he could have the power to protect House Targaryen should anything happen to him or Cadmus. This was a good thing, not to mention Cadmus's knowledge of potions, which was a gold mine. How could he forbid Gaemon from getting such a precious opportunity?
As for what the Church thought of a Prince mage, Rhaegar wouldn't give a damn; he had already decided to fight the Faith of the Seven, what was one more sin in the eyes of the Seven?
"Is he serious? Magic? Should I prepare a stage for a show?" Aegon said with an amused tone, clearly thinking his younger brother had been tricked by some charlatan, as his father could accept a mage at court.
"Gaemon is right, I recently accepted a mage into my court; he is Lord Peverell and will be responsible for the protection of the king and the Royal Family and mystical matters involving magic." Rhaegar drank some wine and spoke with a calm tone.
Daenerys couldn't help but remember the mysterious man wrapped in an emerald cloak that Ser Arthur guided to the king's chambers. Her curiosity, which was already great, reached its peak at this moment; she had so many questions in her mind, but instead of asking Rhaegar, she decided to ask the Court Mage personally.
Rhaenys was equally curious about the mysterious court mage; she looked at her aunt and saw her bright gaze. The princess immediately knew what her aunt was thinking and smiled. She had similar thoughts; after all, he was a mage!
"Father, the church won't like this at all; it's better to dismiss the mage." Aegon didn't know what his aunt was thinking; he spoke, asking Rhaegar to dismiss the mage. However, to Rhaegar's ears, his son's words sounded more like an order than advice.
"Aegon." Rhaegar spoke with a calm tone, but it silenced everyone, even Rhaenys stopped eating. "You are not the king; do not use that tone with me again."
His words sounded calm, but they carried a weight that made Aegon's face feel a scorching heat; he felt shame and humiliation at being treated that way in front of his family.
"Father…!" When Aegon tried to speak, Rhaegar's voice sounded again.
"Aegon." It was just his name, but it made Aegon shut up. He lowered his head and clenched his fists. He felt anger, humiliation, and resentment bubbling in his chest; he spoke for the good of the family, but his father simply ignored him and humiliated him in front of the family.
Rhaegar clearly saw his son's expression and looked at him with disappointment. It was no secret that House Targaryen was in conflict with the Faith of the Seven for him marrying twice, but Aegon simply ignored this and focused on what the Church would think instead of thinking about what House Targaryen needed.
Power to face the Church and power to subjugate Houses Arryn, Lannister, Tully, and House Baratheon.
"Aegon, study before trying to advise anyone." Rhaegar said with a calm tone before continuing to eat with a solemn expression, but the idea of making Maekar the heir only grew in his mind. Aegon was incompetent for the throne, and House Targaryen did not need such a king, especially with the fragility of the situation the Seven Kingdoms were in.
Aegon did not respond and ate in silence, which made the atmosphere even more tense.
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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