Chapter 460: The Realm’s Delight

Chapter 460: The Realm’s Delight

The bickering in the council hall could be heard halfway up the Red Keep. The servants kept their heads down, silently going about their tasks. The marble floor was polished until it shone.

...

The Princess's Bedroom.

Rhaenyra was taking a nap and heard a murmur outside the door. First, she frowned, then opened her eyes, blinking in confusion.

"Sara, what's going on?" Rhaenyra struggled to sit up, her voice hoarse and soft.

Creak.

At the sound of her voice, the door was pushed open. Sara, with no expression on her face, came quickly to help, worried. "Watch your stomach. The Maester said not to push it."

"I will." Rhaenyra smiled and stroked her belly through her nightgown. She was eight months pregnant and her belly was quite impressive.

Sara was worried that she wasn't taking it seriously, so she advised, "The Maester said to eat less and walk more. Twins are not born easily."

With one baby in one womb and one in the other, there are still cases of difficult births. With two babies in one womb, the risk increases exponentially. According to the Maester, starving the babies a little would reduce the chance of a difficult birth.

"Don't always listen to what the Maester says." Rhaenyra looked distressed. "I walk around a lot, but I'm really hungry. I've never been that hungry since I was a child."

Sara sighed. "As you wish."

Rhaenyra took her hand and gave her a sweet smile. "Don't be angry. What's going on outside?"

After all the years they had spent together, she still had a lot of affection for her servant-friend who protected her.

Sara told her the truth. "The Queen has called a Small Council to impeach Prince Rhaegar..." She rambled on, telling Rhaenyra all the information she had gathered.

Rhaenyra was shocked and couldn't believe her ears. "Did Alicent ask about the Faith of the Seven because she wants to recall Rhaegar?"

She was afraid Alicent was crazy!

Since the succession of Aerys I, the Faith of the Seven has been openly and secretly opposing the Iron Throne and restricting the rights that the House Targaryen should have. Aegon and Rhaena, the children of Aerys I, followed the family tradition and were almost beaten to death in the streets by the nobles and commoners incited by the High Septon.

When Jaehaerys, their great-grandfather, came to power, he was forced to sign a peace treaty with the Faith of the Seven in exchange for peace. The unspoken rules of those terms were almost enough to make the Targaryens abandon their ancient Valyrian traditions and assimilate into Westeros.

Sara simply said, "The Queen accused the Prince of selfishness."

"Bastard!" Rhaenyra cursed under her breath, her anger boiling over. She knew who was selfish.

She gritted her teeth and got up from the bed. "Help me get dressed."

She was the Princess of Dragonstone, and the Small Council could not bypass her. Rhaegar may have had selfish motives, but the purpose of suppressing the Faith of the Seven was more than just a trivial joke. As long as the Faith of the Seven defied the crown, the Targaryens would be constrained. Rhaegar had conquered the Triarchy and Dorne, and he had finally gained the opportunity he had been waiting for.

Sara helped her out of bed and quickly fetched a long, sleeveless dress. She said casually, "You don't need to show your face. It will disturb the baby."

"I'm Rhaegar's sister!" Rhaenyra retorted. "Alicent is a foolish woman. Only I can keep her in check in King's Landing. She won't be able to cause any trouble for my brother."

After getting dressed, she was ready to go out. As she was about to step out of the bedroom, she caught a glimpse of a sword hanging on the wall. There, hanging on the wall, was a delicate one-handed sword. A Valyrian steel sword—The Realm's Delight.

Rhaenyra's eyes narrowed, and she turned back with her pregnant belly, taking down the exclusive house sword from the wall.

Swish!

The blade of the sword was unsheathed, and the silver-white blade reflected the refracted light of the water ripples. The hilt was in the shape of a cross, with a brilliant sun and a full moon engraved on the front and back, respectively.

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Rhaenyra was satisfied and swung her hand to put the sword back in its sheath. She turned around and strode out of the door. The sword had not yet seen blood.

If Alicent dares to make a fuss, Rhaegar may be unable to kill her. But as his sister, she will let that evil stepmother see if The Realm's Delight is as good as it is made out to be.

The room fell silent, shocked by her open defiance of both the queen and the Faith of the Seven, sentiments many had secretly harbored.

Alicent, near a breaking point, shouted toward the doorway, "Kingsguard, the Princess is pregnant. Escort her to her quarters!"

Prepared for opposition, Alicent had already stationed guards nearby.

Two Kingsguard stood at the ready, and at her command, they entered with heads held high, though visibly uneasy.

Rhaenyra’s glare bore into them.

Ser Rickard Thorne of House Thorne in the Crownlands, a lesser noble’s second son.

And Ser Willis Fell of House Fell in the Stormlands, from an unimportant branch of the family.

The brothers Erryk and Arryk, protectors of the king, were still recovering from their injuries.

Cole had returned to the Kingsguard but he's in Dorne.

Loyalists Lorent and Steffon vigilantly guarded the royal chambers.

Rhaenyra, confident no one would dare defy her, commanded, "Leave the Council Hall, Sers. I will overlook this breach of protocol."

The two Kingsguard exchanged glances before responding in unison, "The King has instructed us to protect the Queen. Forgive us, Princess."

Rhaenyra’s expression hardened.

Alicent sneered, "Save your breath. They know their allegiance lies with the true mistress of the Red Keep. Now, tend to your condition."

"Utter nonsense!" Rhaenyra snapped, her temper flaring.

Stunned, Alicent briefly wondered if she had misheard.

Rhaenyra, ignoring further provocations, signaled to Tormund across the table.

She had previously secured the loyalty of two Kingsguard under the guise of friendship.

With the City Watch, the Dragonpit Knights, and the Kingsguard under her sway, she commanded significant power—even in Rhaegar’s absence.

Tormund caught her glance and nodded silently.

Outside, a white falcon soared from the hall, a signal understood by all.

Alicent, aware of the Skinchangers' mysterious ways, ordered hastily, "Secure the Princess immediately and do not disrupt the Small Council further."

Exhausted by the ongoing resistance, she hoped to seize the moment to solidify her sons' claim to the throne while King Viserys slumbered, unaware of the unfolding chaos.

The two conflicted Kingsguard advanced, murmuring regretfully, "Princess, please make this easy for us."

Despite their remorse, they were compelled by duty.

The Kingsguard, a revered order, often found redemption unless charged with treason.

Rhaenyra remained seated, defiantly pushing The Realm’s Delight across the table, and asked calmly, "Do you truly dare?"

The two hesitated, turning to the Queen for guidance.

Alicent, anxious, covered her face with one hand while gesturing with the other, "Just don't hurt her."

As they reached out, the atmosphere tensed, the implications of their actions dawning on everyone present.

Rhaenyra recoiled instinctively, her dignity affronted.

If the Kingsguard forcibly removed a Princess from the Council Hall, it would scandalize the realm for decades.

Just as Rhaenyra prepared to lash out, a frail voice pierced the tense silence from outside, "Insolent! Leave her alone!"