A Year and A Half Later

  "Father, please, this would be revolutionary if carried out." Lilyanna said to Viserys.

  The princess had come to the King's bedchamber to ask if he would fund a new project that she had created with Croll; the printing press.

  Obviously, the printing press was made by Johannes Gutenberg, but this isn't Earth. Who's going to call me a thief here? Lilyanna thought.

  In this world, every scroll or book that existed had to be handwritten and stitched together by a maester or schor, making them expensive and rare, it was why written text primarily belonged to the upper csses.

  But she knew from her original world's history that a printing press would make it possible to produce books and other texts more quickly, accurately, and less expensively, which would allow them to be reproduced in greater numbers. With books cheaper and more readily avaible, the middle and lower csses could access them as well, leading to an increase in the literacy and education of the public.

  Like with the royal bank, Lilyanna had the idea but not the ability to make it herself, both because she cked the resources and influence to implement it, and she cked the knowledge of construction to physically build it.

  So, she sought out Croll, the carpenter and inventor from Flea Bottom who she had gone and made the supervisor for the royal bank's construction, to make a prototype based on drawings she made and tidbits of what she remembered from Gutenberg's model.

  Now, she had come to Viserys to ask him for the payment to see it created. Just the one prototype that Croll made had cost twenty gold dragons to build, and even then, it took him about three moons of trial and error to do so. She had to give Croll the coin from her own pocket, an act she would not be able to repeat as much as was needed without bankrupting herself to build more.

  Viserys sighed, putting down the model dragon that he was painting on the table that held his model of Old Valyria. "Lilyanna, I commend your efforts in the realm of efficiency, but this novelty is not something I can put the coin of the Crown behind."

  "But why?" Lilyanna asked, trying not to sound like a whiny child.

  "Well to start, will there be a return in investment?" Viserys asked.

  Lilyanna cleared her throat, "I mean people will be buying more books than they ever have be-"

  Viserys stopped her, "Lilyanna, I meant for the building of these... printing presses. How much money will be made from this endeavor?"

  "It's a small piece of a multistep project, father. First, books are made cheaper and more avaible, which leads to the second step; desire for knowledge. More people will want to be able to read and write, which means they will need a pce to learn this and other skills, a pce like-"

  Viserys closed his eyes and groaned, "Is this about your education for the masses idea?"

  A year ago, Lilyanna had gone to the small council to present another idea she had, school for smallfolk that would teach them how to read and write along with other skills useful knowledge. There would be several schools made in King's Landing, with Lilyanna's desire to see this expand to other towns and cities in the Crownnds and beyond.

  Once she stated that the school would be free and everything from teachers, to lessons, to school supplies, and even the school building itself would be paid for by the Crown, the small council ughed at the princess, seeing this as an amusing pipe dream.

  Viserys had felt bad when he remembered how he too ughed at his daughter's idea, thinking about the embarrassment and anger that was evident on Lilyanna's face as she was essentially ughed out of the room.

  And he felt even worse when he remembered the disappointed looks that Rhaenyra and Alicent had given him in equal measure.

  Lilyanna could see that she was losing him and tried to pivot, "Yes, it is, but there will be gains. It may not appear immediately but like with the bank-"

  "No, Lilyanna. Even if I were to agree, do you genuinely think a procmation like this would be accepted? Not by the smallfolk, but by the nobility?"

  No, I know it won't be. Lilyanna knew that while the peasantry made up most of the popution in Westeros, it was the nobility that held all the power.

  "But we do not have to go to the nobility of Westeros for the printing press. Maesters are the ones who transcribe books, so the presses could be sold to the Citadel. I'm sure that they would love to have a machine that would make their work easier."

  "Is the Citadel not funded by taxes?" Viserys asked, trying to remember what he knew about how the concve of maesters worked.

  Lilyanna nodded her head, "It is, all lords who have maesters in their employ have to give a portion of their taxes to the Citadel, but they receive so much that it would not be an impossible for them to make the purchase."

  "Have you spoken to Grand Maester Orwyle about what the Citadel may think of this?" Viserys asked.

  Lilyanna crossed her arms, looking off to the said with annoyance. "He said not to waste time; while a few libertarians of the order will agree, the traditional majority will most likely not."

  She had gone to Orwyle the previous day wanting to get his opinion on selling the press to the Citadel, with the pn of most maesters across the continent having access to one. Orwyle made it clear that the act of creating books and other texts was considered a sacred and dutiful task, an art to those who took their oaths seriously. He told her that there would be those who would see this as an offense to the old ways.

  "Then I think you know my answer." Viserys told his daughter.

  "I do." Lilyanna said pinly, accepting that for now she would not be able to convince her father.

  Orwyle said that the majority would disagree, but I don't have to convince them I just need to get their leader to see me through, their Seneschal. And perhaps someone with a lengthy and more renowned reputation than Orwyle.

  The Grand Maester had been chosen by the Citadel as Mellos' repcement after his death, due to the combination of Orwyle being the only person in King's Landing with the title and experience along with the Citadel having no desire to send someone from Oldtown, who would have to make the journey and then spend time having to adjust to the capital.

  Viserys was about to speak, when a vicious cough ripped through him, causing the man to hunch over.

  Lilyanna moved towards her father, helping him to sit up as she rubbed his back. "Have you been taking your medicine, father?"

  "I had been feeling better these st few weeks." Viserys said, trying to smile as his coughing lessened, but it came out as more of a grimace.

  "You must keep taking your medicine for you to continue feeling better. It will only become worse if you don't allow yourself to get used to the routine of it." Lilyanna said, putting her hands on her hips as she scolded Viserys.

  Viserys let out a small chuckle, "You worry more than your mother and older sister combined."

  Lilyanna rolled her eyes as she went to the side of her father's bed, bending down as she dug around in medical bag for said medication.

  The bag was an earthy brown color, made from a cotton canvas with leather straps on the front to close it, a leather shoulder strap that allowed her to carry the bag across her body comfortably, and a big red cross on the front, and it had been given to her by Heena as her name's day present.

  "It will make it easier for you to help other if you can carry your supplies with you." Heena had told her when giving it to her sister.

  And when Lilyanna asked why she put the red cross, Heena told her this; "When I used to dream of your past, I remember seeing you in a building with this symbol on it. You healed people there; I thought you could use it when doing the same."

  Lilyanna hugged her twin, tightly after that, feeling self-conscious that Heena had given her such a gift while all Lilyanna did was get her the newest volume of the history of centipedes.

  Once Lilyanna had found the jar that she was looking for, she returned to her father's side. She was about to call out to Ser Harold, wanting to ask him if he could get one of her father's attendants so she could be given a spoon, when the door opened and her father's cousin, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, entered the room followed by a group of servants bringing in tea and desserts.

  "Cousin, I had wondered if you had forgotten our engagement today, but it seems that you are busy." Rhaenys said as she looked between father and daughter.

  The elder princess had become a familiar presence over the st year, making frequent trips between King's Landing and Driftmark, usually ruling her husband's seat in his stead.

  After the crimes that Jason Lannister had committed became known, there were calls for punishment against him and his house, such as possibly losing a hand.

  Some who disliked the man, even said that he should have his title of Lord of the West removed and given to his eldest daughter and having her mother rule as the girl's regent, to having one of his cousins installed as Lord, and even the possibility of having a different Westernds' family rule the Kingdom entirely.

  Viserys however, did not want to take such a drastic action, deciding that instead House Lannister, along with the other houses that were discovered to be doing the same, would be made to pay back the unpaid taxes with five times interest for the next ten years, all of the house's expenses would be reported to the crown, no matter how small, and most shocking, Tynd Lannister would be removed from his position as Master of Ships.

  Viserys cimed that he could no longer trust Tynd's judgement and that he would always be suspicious in his dealings to him, to the surprise of some, Tynd took the stripping of his title gracefully, not making a scene as he quietly returned to Casterly Rock.

  And it did not take long before Viserys reluctantly summoned Corlys Veryon to King's Landing and asked if he would resume his old position now that it was avaible. Despite their issues with each other, even the King could not deny that Corlys was the best person in Westeros for the job.

  Corlys was quite smug the day he came to the Red Keep, and Lilyanna noticed that Laenor visibly wilted as it became clear that Corlys would once again be living in the Keep.

  The princess assumed that like many children, Laenor had gotten used to his lifestyle without the supervision of his parents and was upset that he now has those watchful eyes returning in full force upon him.

  Viserys waved Rhaenys forward, "Apologies, cousin. I had not forgotten; Lilyanna wished to discuss something with me, and we lost track of time."

  As this was going on, Lilyanna went to where the servants were setting up the food, grabbing a spoon of the table, she then scooped some of the medicine and moved to hold it in front of Viserys' mouth.

  Viserys gave her a bnk stare, "Lilyanna, I am not a child."

  Lilyanna silently stared at her father, keeping the spoon in front of his mouth. Viserys sighed before leaning forward to sallow the sour liquid.

  "That is foul." Viserys compined.

  "I do not believe medicine is supposed to taste good." Rhaenys said, looking at her cousin amusedly.

  "Well, that idea should be thoroughly changed if I am to consume this concoction daily." The King muttered.

  Lilyanna pced the jar back next to Viserys' bed as her father and cousin talked, since the Veryons returned to court these meals together had become a regur occurrence between the two.

  Lilyanna pced the bag's leather strap over her shoulder, turning to face the other room's other occupants. "I will be leaving, father. Remember to take the medicine daily."

  "Once again, Lilyanna, I am not a child." Viserys said.

  "I know. Good day father, Princess Rhaenys."

  "Good day, Lilyanna." Rhaenys said after a moment, staring at the young girl from the corner of her eye.

  Lilyanna turned on her heel and left the room, letting out a sigh once she was in the hallway. She had always found herself unsure of how to interact with the elder princess and her husband, but this feeling only grew with their continued presence in the Keep. It had been easier when the pair only visited, and even then, they maintained their attention on their son, grandsons, and good daughter.

  While Rhaenys and Corlys did not interact with Lilyanna, her Hightower siblings, and her mother outside of courtly pleasantries, it did not stop the way that they stared at her, as if waiting for her to do something.

  Lilyanna shook her head as she continued her path towards her own bedchamber, trying to ignore her family's weird and ever confusing dynamics.

  The Next Day

  "Are you sure it is okay for you to be out here?" Laenor asked, staring pointedly at his wife.

  Rhaenyra rolled her eyes, "Laenor, I already have to deal with everyone else in the Keep treating me like I am invalid, I do not need any more of it from you."

  The pair sat off to the side of the Dragonpit with the rest of the royal family with the exception of the King, the Queen, and Corlys. Once again, Rhaenyra was pregnant, it was both surprising and not surprising as while she and Laenor had not been actively trying, they had still taken Harwin Strong into their bed on occasion.

  And unlike her other two pregnancies, this one had been affecting her more greatly; the morning sickness, swelling, heartburn, leg cramps, bdder discomfort, and sleep problems had all been worse.

  At first, her midwives had been unable to tell her why her symptoms had grown in intensity, at least until the second moon had passed and her stomach grew rger than it had been in her previous pregnancies.

  It was then that Lilyanna had asked if she could check Rhaenyra over, telling her older sister that she had an idea of what was causing this, but wanted to be sure by giving her a checkup. Rhaenyra had allowed her sister to do, both because she believed in Lilyanna's abilities and because the thought of not doing so brought forward memories of Eleara's birth and the circumstances that caused her to be stillborn that Rhaenyra did not want to relive.

  By the end of the checkup, a rge and bright smile overtook Lilyanna's face as she looked at her older sister.

  "There is nothing wrong with the babe, or, I should say; the babes." Lilyanna told her.

  Rhaenyra sat in utter shock, "B-babes?"

  Lilyanna nodded her head, "Yes, babes. You are having twins!"

  Rhaenyra felt overwhelmed by the idea of having twins, while the rest of her family was overjoyed and celebrated the news. She even managed to build up the courage to ask Alicent of all people for any advice on how to raise twins.

  The Queen was surprised by the request but acquiesced, telling her that Rhaenyra's own experience would differ from her own as all twins are different. That she would have to learn to understand each child's needs simultaneously, like all siblings, twins each have different temperaments, needs, desires, and abilities, and they will argue, fight, comfort and love each other, so what may work for one will not always work for the other.

  Rhaenyra thought about how different Heena and Lilyanna were from each other and had cimed that she would know what to expect if she remembered how her sisters acted, but Alicent shot this down quickly.

  "I love my girls, but they are strange, very strange, you would be setting yourself and Laenor up for failure if you based your children on Heena and Lilyanna." Alicent told her, and Rhaenyra had to stop herself from ughing aloud in surprise.

  Laenor huffed, "I know, Rhaenyra. I just worry, we should be expecting them any day now."

  "Laenor, an expecting mother knows their body best. A fact that many fail to understand." The two turned around and saw Rhaenys approaching them.

  The woman was dressed in her riding leathers as she had taken Jacaerys and Lucerys on a ride with Meleys.

  "Thank you, Rhaenys." Rhaenyra said to the other woman, "I know what I need."

  "Why are you both conspiring against me? I am only trying to ensure everything goes well." Laenor asked, half joking and half offended.

  Rhaenyra rolled her eyes as she turned to Rhaenys, "Did the boys enjoy the flight?"

  "They did, but I think they are enjoying their aunt's showing even more so." Rhaenys said, pointing ahead of her son and good daughter.

  When they turned, Laenor and Rhaenyra saw that the floor of the Dragonpit had been opened and that Meleys had crawled out of it from her cave. The Red Queen was lying on the ground as the children stood a few feet away. All expect Lilyanna, who was standing right behind the dragon's body and left wing, which had been outstretched as the princess rubbed her hands on it. Meleys let out shrill coos as Lilyanna continued her movements, leaning further into her touch.

  "What is that Lily is putting on Meleys' wings?" Laenor asked, squinting his eyes as he looked at the dark blue substance that was now covering them.

  "Jacaerys told me that Lilyanna had made it for the dragons, it is some kind of muscle rexant. In her words, she wanted to improve their way of living." Rhaenys expined.

  Laenor let out a ugh, "You are still surprised by how much they love her, mother?"

  When she was first told about how dragons seemed to be drawn to Lilyanna, Rhaenys did not honestly believe it. With her own knowledge and experience as a dragonrider, she refused to believe that a small girl could get creatures as wild as dragons, especially bonded dragons, under her thrall in such a way.

  So Rhaenys assumed that her son was exaggerating, taking something that was most likely normal and blowing it out of proportion. Even with the visits she had made to King's Landing, she and Lilyanna had never been in the Dragonpit at the same time, so Rhaenys maintained this belief.

  It was not until a few moons ago when Rhaenys was preparing to fly with Meleys, when Lilyanna and Heena had come to the pit with the intention of going on a ride on Dreamfyre, that she was forced to eat her words.

  When the girls entered the pit, Meleys became deadly still, her eyes gzing over as she stared at them. Rhaenys did not understand the surprise and joy that she immediately felt from her dragon through their bond. But before she could question it, Meleys quickly moved, reaching the doors of the pit in only a few short moments.

  Rhaenys immediately reached for the whip she kept at her hip, desperate to force the she-dragon's attention always from the two girls. But before she could use the whip, Meleys pressed her snout against Lilyanna, pyfully pushing against her.

  Lilyanna smiled, bringing her hand up and scratching the dragon under its jaw, causing Meleys to purr in contentment.

  "I still don't know how she is able to do this." Rhaenys said, still surprised by the love she could feel that Meleys had for Lilyanna.

  Laenor then spoke loudly enough to draw the children's attention. "That is why we call her the Dragon Whisperer!"

  Lilyanna looked at Laenor with annoyance, "I thought I said to stop calling me that?"

  "But it's an apt title, good sister!" Laenor grinned.

  Lilyanna then looked at Rhaenyra, "Sister, I need you to write a letter to the High Septon and get an annulment, post haste."

  This caused Rhaenyra to smile, "I would, but no woman would have him afterwards; his wealth, title, and dragon won't be enough to overcome all his terrible faults, and he would die alone. So, I must do a charitably service to the Veryons and keep him by my side, and I suppose it does not hurt that Jace and Luke like him."

  "Hey!" Laenor excimed before turning around in shock when he heard a small ugh escape his mother. "You too, mother?!"

  "You can be a lot to deal with." Rhaenys said, smiling at her son's offended expression.

  As Laenor accused Rhaenys of the crime of siding with his wife, Lilyanna turned her focus back to Meleys when the dragon nudged her with its wing.

  "I know, Meleys, I should not lose focus. You are a very demanding old dy." Lilyanna said in High Valyrian.

  Meleys nudged Lilyanna with her wing again, but with more force. If it were anyone one else it would have knocked them off their feet, but Lilyanna took a half step back, still standing.

  Despite not have one of her own, Lilyanna had found herself becoming more drawn to dragons as time went on. And this became apparent after her connection with the Conquerors solidified over the past year.

  Everyone around her, including the dragonkeepers, was under the assumption that her understanding of dragons had somehow evolved. And she allowed them to think as such, they were right to an extent, but it was not as if Lilyanna could tell them that the ghosts of Aegon, Visenya, and Rhaenys, were giving her long forgotten knowledge of how to better take care of dragons.

  It was Visenya who had told her how to make the muscle rexant, telling her of how she would rub the concoction on Vhagar's wings after particurly long flights. The former Queen had made it clear that dragons, while being immensely powerful symbols to the Targayens, were foremost animal companions that needed love, care, and attention, just as any creature.

  "Can you give me some of that stuff to put on Sunfyre?" Aegon asked his sister, "If Meleys approves of it, then it will be perfect for my mount."

  "Are you sure you don't want me to apply it for you?" Lilyanna asked.

  Aegon scoffed, "And have Sunfyre become even more attached to you? No thanks."

  Lilyanna ughed, "Jealously is unbecoming, brother. Besides, even if you do it yourself, Sunfyre will know that I made it, he will feel it through our bond."

  Aegon rolled his eyes at Lilyanna's cim that she and Sunfyre shared a bond and the implication that said bond was stronger than the actual magical bond that he and Sunfyre had.

  There had been a time when Aegon was jealous of how Sunfyre would ignore him in favor of his sister, but those feelings dissipated when he saw that all dragons who encountered Lilyanna had simir reactions. And as he and Sunfyre grew, the dragon had become more receptive to his commands, no longer choosing to ignore him in favor of snuggling the redhead.

  Still ughing, Lilyanna reached into her bag and pulled out a clear jar with the rexant and tossed it in her brother's direction. Aegon easily caught it, gripping the jar in his left hand as he thanked his sister.

  "Are you sure you know what you're doing? It would be best if you let Lily do it before you screw up." Aemond said as he watched Aegon cockily making his way to Sunfyre's cave.

  Aegon turned and smirked at Aemond, "I think I know how to take care of my dragon, little brother. You should save all your arrogance about thinking you know best when you get a dragon of your own. But I doubt that, with your annoying personality no dragon would ever tolerate having someone like you near them, let alone as its rider."

  Aemond's body tensed, and he gred at his brother's back as Aegon turned on his heel and continued towards Sunfyre's cave. He knew that Aegon intended to hurt him with his words, knowing how much it bothered Aemond to not have a dragon.

  Daeron grabbed Aemond's hand, drawing the older boy's attention away from the entrance to the tunnels. "Aegon doesn't know what he is talking about; you will have a dragon someday. And until then, we can share Tessarion."

  Aemond took a breath before giving Daeron a small smile, trying to calm down as it would not do him any good to get angry at Daeron. His younger brother was not the source of his ire and was only trying to make him feel better with his suggestion, even though they both knew that sharing a dragon was not possible. "Thank you, Dae."

  Aemond hated being a Targaryen Prince without a dragon as it gave the idea that he was different than his paternal family, and in the eyes of many, lesser than them. Targaryens were considered Gods amongst men because of their ability to ride and cim dragons, so if a Targaryen was without a bonded dragon, then they were not Godly, but instead, they were just like all others in the realm, merely human.

  Aemond then looked back at Lilyanna, watching as she continued massaging Meleys' wings.

  Is that why Lilyanna is not bothered by being dragonless? Because she is able to understand any dragon that comes across her as if she is their bonded? Aemond thought, but he knew this could not truly be the case.

  From his studies into Valyrian history and speaking with the dragonriding members of his family, Aemond knew that what Lilyanna had, could not compare to the magical connection between dragon and rider.

  The strong, magical, and highly emotional attachment was something while describable in the way that both dragon and rider could feel each other's emotions and can improve the health of both, it was also so other worldly that you had to experience it for yourself to utterly understand the specialness of it.

  I just... I just want it. I don't want to be a forgotten Targaryen. I want to be like them...

  Lilyanna blew out a breath in exasperation as she walked through the streets of King's Landing.

  The princess had decided to wait a few days before requesting an audience with the small council for two more ideas that she had; one for a rge city bathhouse and the other was a complete overhaul of the city's sewage system. She had thought that these would go over better with the council as both ideas would be the city's improvement, but she was wrong.

  Despite her argument that a bathhouse would encourage increased personal hygiene of the Kingsnders along with bringing more people to the city, like Jonquil's Pool in Maidenpool, Lyman argued that the bathhouse would be an unnecessary expense as they would not only have to clear a spot of nd, but they would also have to pay dig tunnels to bring up fresh water for the bathhouse to use.

  And most of the council did not see the point of using resources for a building that would be used primarily by the smallfolk of the city. Alicent tried to help her daughter's case by stating that both nobles and smallfolk alike would be using the town's bathhouse, and if this were a considered a problem, certain sections could be closed off to only nobility, even adding that the bathhouse could be another revenue stream for the Crown, but this did nothing to change their minds.

  And when it came to creating a new sewage system, she was once again undermined by the cost the project would demand. Lilyanna made the argument that while it would be expensive, it would be a necessary expense, citing that the old sewage system was far from useable anymore, giving example of people dumping their chamber pots into the street, along with the discoloration of the Bckwater Rush and the Bay that surrounded the city compared to the sections of water were visible in pces like Driftmark.

  On this issue, the council was more divided as some were able to see the point that the young princess was trying to make, and none could deny the image Rhaenyra's statement of overhauling the sewage system would lead to the city 'not smelling like shit, at least not as strongly as it does now.', that came to their minds.

  But when asked by Lyonel Strong how long the construction would take, Lilyanna sighed and said that getting rid of the old pipes and tunnels and repcing them across the city would take two years at minimum and five years at maximum.

  This long-time frame instantly killed the support that she had gathered from the councilors, leading to Lilyanna walking out of the small council chamber more annoyed than when she had entered.

  Now, she was trying to turn her focus away from her failed pursuits of improving this backwater cesspool of a world she had been forced into, by going to the Street of Steel to hire a bcksmith.

  After years of training, Criston had decred that Lilyanna was now old and skilled enough to use real steel, an accomplishment that not even Aegon had been able to gain. At first, Lilyanna was excited, but this excitement soon left her when she realized that her desire to dual wield had come to bite her.

  While using wooden swords in each hand was fine, trying to use steel swords that were made to be two handed in the same way was not. Holding and lifting the swords Criston gave her was easy, even swinging them around, but using them to fight was a different matter entirely.

  The greater weight of the bdes threw her off bance each time she tried to use them, effectively slowing her down and cutting off any momentum she would try to gain with her strikes. The Kingsguard told her that she would get used to the change in time, but Lilyanna was not sure of that.

  Criston even said that Lilyanna could use short swords or falchions, swords hat were lighter than the more commonly used bastard, great, and long swords, Lilyanna did not want to give up the reach and distance that longer bdes provided.

  So, Lilyanna decided to go out and find a bcksmith that could personally make swords that she could realistically use. But for the second time that day, Lilyanna found herself disappointed when told that desire could not be met.

  There was no bcksmith on the entire street that could do as she asked, all were only able to make traditional swords. And the foreign bcksmiths she met with charged her far too much for a single bde. And while she did not like using her status to get things, even when she told them who she was, they did not budge on their steep prices, a few even increased them, wanting to extort the princess.

  I should have seen this coming. This is Westeros; it's not a pce where diverse cultures and ideas come together naturally, everyone sticks to what they know and that includes fighting styles and weapons. Lilyanna thought.

  And this was proven with Criston who had begun running out of things to teach Lilyanna, tely having her go over the things she already learned during training.

  The Westerosi style of fighting is simir to that of the European style, and in both, it's better and easier to learn shielding with your non dominant hand when wielding a bde than it was to learn how to fight with two swords.

  The Dornish have a distinctive style, often using spears, whips, and chains, along with the usual swords, bows, and nces when fighting. But I can't just go to Dorne and ask the people there for the proper weapons and for some tips.

  Not without getting a spear in the ass…

  As the princess was lost in her thoughts, a small figure ran into her, hitting her back. Lilyanna barely moved from the force, but the person behind her was knocked onto the ground, now lying on their back.

  "Hm?" Lilyanna turned around and saw that it was a young boy who had run into her.

  The clothes he wore were dirty and disheveled, being two sizes too big for him. His hair had not been washed, but Lilyanna was sure that if it had, then the slivery color would have shone brighter in the midday sun. Lilyanna thought his eyes to be brown but realized that they were a dark shade of purple when the sunlight hit them, and he could not have been older than Daeron and Jacaerys, but his gangling frame and sunken cheeks, made him look older.

  "I-I am s-sorry! I'd-didn't mean to run into you!" The boy squeaked, staring at the older girl in fear of what she may do to him.

  To him, Lilyanna was scary, not only was she a good deal taller than him, as he only came up to her colrbone. But he could tell from the dagger on her hip and her clean appearance, that she was someone of either wealth, status, or both.

  "No need to apologize; it was an accident." Lilyanna said as she held her hand out for him.

  The boy looked at her hand suspiciously for a moment before taking it, his eyes growing rger at how easily Lilyanna was able to pull him to his feet, proving that not only was she bigger than him, but stronger as well.

  "Are you alright?" Lilyanna asked him.

  Before the boy could respond, a voice was heard screaming a few yards away. "Where is he?! Where is that little bastard?!"

  When the two turned, they saw four young men each brandishing sticks, looking around angrily for someone. Lilyanna looked down and saw the boy shaking in front of her, realizing just who the group was looking for.

  The boy closed his eyes, waiting for the men to see him and for them to carry out their threat when he felt himself being pulled forward. When he opened his eyes, he saw that Lilyanna was dragging him through the alleys, and away from the group.

  "You're… you're helping me?" he asked in shock.

  "Of course, I am not going to leave you to get beaten by four men. Honestly, what is even going through their minds wanting to hurt a kid like that?" Lilyanna said without looking back.

  He looked down at the ground as they continued to walk, "They don't like how I look."

  Once they were far enough away, Lilyanna stopped and turned around. "Why? You are not the only purple eyed, sliver haired person in this city."

  His face twisted into a frown, "I know, but it's because people are mad at the King!"

  Lilyanna blinked, confused as what her father could have done to upset those men. "What did the King do?"

  The boy looked up at her, "You didn't hear the news?" He figured she would have known the danger spreading through the city when he noticed her bright purple eyes and the strand of silver white hair amongst her red tresses.

  Lilyanna shook her head, her confusion growing.

  "Our beloved Princess Lilyanna had gone to the King and his council wanting to make a new bathhouse and sewer for the city, but the King refused! He said that since it was for us common folk, we didn't need it! Can you believe that?!"

  While she knew that nothing in King's Landing stayed secret for very long, she was wondering just how this piece of information spread across the city so fast.

  I doubt the council had anything to do with this and neither would any of my family, and the only other person I told outside of them was… Lilyanna's eyes widened.

  Mysaria!

  As the princess came to this realization, the young boy in front of her continued to rant. "And now because of it, people like us are being hunted down so that others can take their frustrations on the King by beating up anyone who shares his features!"

  "But not everyone feels the need to do this, right?"

  The boy shook his head, "Only those men and a few others I've ran into so far. But I know that a lot of people are pnning to petition the King about it soon."

  Well, I already know I'm going to be bmed for this, even though it's not my fault. I mean, it's kinda my fault, I told Mysaria a few days ago, but she has spies everywhere, so she would have known eventually. And it's not like small council meetings are secret, everyone would have known; it just wouldn't have spread this quickly, in only a few hours, without Mysaria's involvement. Lilyanna tried to justify.

  "This is a fucking mess." Lilyanna said aloud, throwing her head back and groaning. She then looked at the boy, "Thanks, for telling me….?"

  "Oh! I'm Trystane! And thank you for saving me from those bastards."

  Trystane? Why does that name sound so familiar? "It was no big deal, and I'm Lily."

  "It was the biggest deal!" Trystane said before looking away, his cheeks turning pink. "Most people wouldn't have."

  "Well, those people are fucking cunts. You should help others when they have need of it, not leave them to their fates because it easier to watch from the sidelines."

  Trystane noticed that Lilyanna eyes darkened along with expression before quickly rexing. He had seen that look before in the eyes of people who remembered something terrible, angered by the thoughts in their minds.

  "Still, thank you, Lily."

  Lilyanna gave him a small smile, "Sure."

  As she turned to leave, Trystane grabbed the sleeve of her tunic, quickly letting go when she turned her head.

  "I-ugh- I. I d- don't… Can you help me? I don't know where I am." He asked sheepishly.

  But Lilyanna smiled at him before taking his hand within her own and leaning him out of the alley. "You should not be embarrassed, King's Landing is a rge city, it is easy to lose your way and get lost. Besides, I was the one who dragged you around, so it is my fault."

  Trystane vigorously shook his head, "It's not, I got myself lost when I was trying to outrun those men who were chasing me."

  Lilyanna hummed, "So are you new to the city?"

  "No, I just have never left Flea Bottom, well, not without Perkin."

  "Who's Perkin?"

  Lilyanna saw how Trystane's eyes brighten at her question, "Perkin is the best knight I know! He's the only knight I know, but I know he's the best! He was a hedge knight before he became a Gold Cloak and now, he's one of Ser Harwin Strong's most trusted captains!"

  Perkin… Trystane and Perkin. Why the fuck are these names so familiar? Is this kid supposed to be important? I think there was a Martell, or something named Trystane and Perkin is a common name. It's like, I know they are important names, but I can't for the life of me figure out why. And I doubt this Perkin guy is a captain or that Harwin even knows him that well as I definitely would have heard about him before now.

  "Is that right? And how did you meet a Gold Cloak? Most people hate them."

  Fuck the police in every world, I guess.

  "Yes, he's always telling me about all the jobs that he is given and the responsibilities he has." Trystane said before his smile fell, "He…. He found me sleeping in the streets a few years ago after my mother died from the shivers. I was kicked out of our old home since I couldn't pay the rent. But he… he took me in… he saved me. Like you did!"

  "I'm gd you have someone to take care of you after going through something like that." Lilyanna told him, but could not stop the suspicion she felt at the story.

  Why would a hedge knight take in some orphaned kid?

  "So, Perkin isn't home right now?" Lilyanna asked as they entered Flea Bottom.

  "No, he will be on duty until tomorrow."

  Lilyanna frowned, wanting to meet the man so she could know for certain his intentions and if meeting him would give her the answers to the questions she had, but relented, hoping that there was no greater importance and that Trystane and Perkin were simple peasants and nothing more.

  "Can you recognize any-" Before Lilyanna could finish asking her question, a voice called out to her.

  "Lilyanna? What are you doing here? I thought you weren't coming until tomorrow?"

  When the two turned around, Lilyanna saw Jayne, one of Mysaria's child spies running towards her.

  "I wasn't pnning on it, but I was helping Trystane get home. I have heard somethings and I'm going to see Mysaria after I'm done." Lilyanna answered.

  Trystane looked at the princess, "Lilyanna? I thought Lily was your name, are you named after the princess?"

  Jayne let out a snort, looking at Lilyanna amused, "You didn't tell your friend here who you really are?"

  Lilyanna rolled her eyes, "You know I do not like it when people treat me differently after learning about who I am, Jayne. Excuse me for wanting a normal interaction with someone."

  "I've been treating you like a normal person since the day we met."

  Lilyanna rolled her eyes again, "I wouldn't say our first meeting or any since, are normal."

  Trystane looked in between the girls for a moment before realizing the truth. "You're Princess Lilyanna!"

  While he first assumed that due to her red hair, warm peach toned skin, and purple eyes that Lilyanna was a dragonseed, he remembered that the youngest daughter of the King was also said to have the same features.

  "Oh, dear gods, I was saved by Princess Lilyanna! I have been causally speaking with Princess Lilyanna! I touched Princess Lilyanna's hand! I ran into Princess Lilyanna! I spoke ill of King Viserys in front of Princess Lilyanna!" Trystane shouted, unaware of the attention he was drawing to them.

  He then fell to his knees, pressing his head against the ground and prostrating himself to the princess. "I am so sorry, Your Grace! Please forgive me for what I have done!"

  Most of the people on the street stopped what they were doing to look at them. Some were confused but everyone else was amused by not only Trystane's pleading, but by Lilyanna's shocked and embarrassed expression.

  Jayne fell over ughing, clutching her stomach as she tried to breathe. "Gods! That was fucking amazing!"

  "Shut up!" Lilyanna growled at her before turning back to the boy kneeling at her feet, "Trystane, you did nothing wrong, so there is nothing to forgive. Now please get off the ground."

  Trystane lifted up his head, still looking both terrified and remorseful. "But-"

  "No buts. Now, please can you get up? Everyone is staring at us." Lilyanna said, trying to fight the urge to cover her face with her hands.

  Trystane stood up but gave her a low bow. "I thank you for your mercy, Li- I mean, Your Grace!"

  Lilyanna sighed, "You can call me Lily or Lilyanna, Trystane."

  "But you are a princess and I-"

  "Yes, I am a princess, and this princess is telling you to call me by my name and treat me as you did before learning who I was."

  Trystane nodded his head, still too nervous to speak.

  Lilyanna then looked around, "You can all go back to what you were doing before! The show is over!"

  The street picked up again, but Lilyanna was aware that the people were still staring at them, only pretending not to.

  Lilyanna looked at Trystane, "Where do you live, Trystane?"

  Trystane lead the two girls through Flea Bottom, no longer lost as he was more than familiar with the slums. He still felt nervous, occasionally looking back at Lilyanna as they walked. He admonished himself for not being able to tell that it was a princess of the realm that he had run into, especially the famous advocate of the smallfolk.

  Lilyanna was revered by the people not only for the creation of the bank, which allowed everyone regardless of css and gender to use its services, but because according to rumors, she went around the city acting as a maester to the people, not charging a single coin for her work. And now she was seeking to improve the lives of the city's commoners even more by pleading for the creation of a city bathhouse and repcing the city's sewers, to her father and his small council.

  Despite the proposals being shot down, the simple fact that Lilyanna had thought of them and brought issues concerning them to the council for consideration, only proved that the princess was continuing to think of her subjects, having their lives and best interest at heart.

  She is just as nice and kind as people say. Trystane thought, continuing to steal looks at Lilyanna.

  It did not take long before the group reached a small rundown hovel that was next to a busy and shady winesink called the Three Crowns. Trystane looked away, ashamed that he had brought the princess to his less than lowly dwelling. "Th-this is where I live."

  "And you are comfortable here, Trystane?" Lilyanna asked.

  Trystane nodded his head, "It's better on the inside than the outside."

  Lilyanna put a hand on his shoulder, "Then that is all that matters. Do not be ashamed of what you are able to get for yourself, especially not in this world."

  Trystane smiled brightly, "I won't."

  While she meant what she said, Lilyanna found herself angry with what she was seeing. Lilyanna had always been aware of the disparity between the nobles and the commoners of Westeros, but seeing firsthand that a boy as young as Trystane was living in such poor conditions and was made to feel ashamed of it, boiled her blood.

  Houses like her own had more wealth than they knew what to do with, could spend coin like it was going out of style and would never have to worry about it running out, knowing that they would never have to truly work simply because their ancestors thousands of years ago conquered nd that was not theirs and decided that their blood was better than everyone else's.

  And yet they refuse to share any of it, to bring anyone else up with them, not unless they can enrich themselves in the process, it is fucking sickening. No noble is better than any peasant, the so-called elites only have more money and opportunities than them. And yet Viserys and the rest of the small council don't care. They don't care that the city looks like an eyesore or that citizens across the realm struggle to eat and shelter themselves. Why improve their lives if there is no monetary benefit for them? Lilyanna thought, finding herself more enraged with her fellow nobles.

  "As adorable as this is, you wanted to see Mysaria today, did you not?" Jayne said to Lilyanna.

  "I did." Lilyanna said before looking at Trystane, "I was hoping I could see you again, Trystane."

  "Really?" Trystane asked, surprised that someone like her would want anything more to do with him.

  "Yes, I would. Friends spend time with their friends. So, I would love to spend more time with you at some point in the future. We can even go around the city together." Lilyanna said, smiling softly at him.

  "Friends? Yes! I would love to be friends with you!" Trystane excimed.

  I'm friends with a princess!

  Lilyanna chuckled, "I am gd."

  The princess returned Trystane's excited waves goodbye with much calmer ones of her own as she and Jayne left.

  "I've never seen you care so much about a bastard before." Jayne said once they could no longer see Trystane in the distance.

  "Trystane is a bastard?" Lilyanna asked instead of answering Jayne's question.

  She was not surprised that the girl had at least some idea of who he was as Jayne, like many others, made their livelihood from knowing everything about everyone.

  Jayne clicked her teeth, "That is the assumption. From what little I know, his mother was not a foreigner, she was a Kingsnder, like her own parents before her."

  "What do you know?"

  Jayne shrugged, "Trystane's mother was a seamstress before she died, and one of the Gold Cloaks, the Flea, took him in afterwards. Lady Mysaria thought it was strange that someone with such a disreputable reputation like him would do the kind act of adopting an orphan homeless boy as his own."

  Lilyanna scrunched her nose, "The Flea?"

  "Everyone calls him that, Perkin the Flea, because although he is not a very skilled or courageous knight, he is a cunning piece of shit. He knows who is powerful and who's not, who he can use and uses them well. He tches onto the strong and suckles from them like-"

  "Like a fucking flea..." Lilyanna finished for Jayne, freezing as she realized why Trystane was so familiar to her.

  Because he's Trystane Truefye, one of the Bastard Pretender Kings during the Dance! After the riots of King's Landing, Rhaenyra lost control of the city and fled for Dragonstone, leading to the Moon of the Three Kings, when three different factions divided the city between themselves, each ciming to be the one true ruler of the Iron Throne.

  The Shepard, Gaemon Palehair, and Trystane Truefyre.

  Holy fucking shit!

  "Lilyanna? Lilyanna? Why do you look so shocked?" Jayne asked when she noticed that Lilyanna had stopped walking and was looking back in the direction if Trystane's home with a shocked expression.

  Lilyanna shook herself out of her stupor and clear her throat before turning back to Jayne. "Do you think that Mysaria will know more about Trystane's past? About Perkin the Flea? And if not, will she help me investigate it?"

  Jayne raised an eyebrow, "My dy will know more about him than I do, and she certainly would help you investigate if asked. Why, do you suspect something about Trystane?"

  "I do, and I truly for the love of everything, hope that it is wrong."

  Jayne huffed, "For as long as I've known you, your gut feelings have never been wrong."

  And that is what I am afraid of. Lilyanna thought as she and Jayne continued their trek towards Mysaria's Manse.

  "My dy, I have returned, and I have brought Lilyanna with me." Jayne said as they entered Mysaria's room.

  "I am gd." Mysaria said to the girl before looking at Lilyanna, "I am-"

  "Don't even!" Lilyanna yelled, quickly stalking to Mysaria, gring at the woman. "You spread word about the proposals for the bathhouse and the sewers being rejected. Why?"

  "Why not?" Mysaria asked, smiling as Lilyanna's face began to twist as she became further enraged. "I told you before, princess; the smallfolk of this nd should not be underestimated, and when we come together, we are a powerful and unignorable force."

  "I have never underestimated the smallfolk, but you see what your actions are causing, do you not? I had to rescue a small boy who was being chased by a group of men wanting to beat him because of his Valyrian features due to the anger they feel towards Viserys." Lilyanna said hotly.

  Mysaria sighed, "An unforeseen and unwanted consequence. One that I have already sent my people out to rectify."

  Lilyanna did not know what Mysaria meant when she said this, but she also did not want to know what exactly the woman's underlings were doing to get the message across that randomly attacking people was wrong. "Still, that does not change the fact that you are inciting discord among the people."

  "And now that discord is leading many to petition this injustice to the King, to make their voices heard for the first time in a long time. I made it clear when this partnership began that I will do what benefits me best, even if it cshes with your wants."

  "And when Viserys says no? What then? Will the next step be encouraging the people to riot?"

  "Why are you so sure your father will say no?"

  Lilyanna let out a ugh, "Because, despite his intense desire to be loved and be seen as a good King, Viserys cares more about the opinions of the nobility than the peasants. To him, this will not be seen as a necessity, but a waste of gold. Then he will say no and expect the people to accept his decree because he is the King, and his word is w."

  "Even so, the people of this city will make their feelings known. They are tired of being ignored by the nobility, to be treated like their lives do not matter in this Game of Thrones."

  "I know, Mysaria, but I do not want to see anyone get hurt over this whole thing. If the people fight too hard on this, the Crown will use force to restore order should it come to that."

  "So, you are saying that we just should accept this? To lie on our backs without even trying?" This time, Mysaria's expression became angry.

  Lilyanna clicked her teeth, "I'm saying that I'm saying to wait. Even with my expertise, Viserys will not live to be an old man, and when he dies and Rhaenyra becomes Queen, she will be more willing to listen."

  "And I thought you once said that Rhaenyra too does not care for the smallfolk?"

  "She doesn't, but she cares about me, she will listen to me. So can you send word and try to settle citizens?" Lilyanna said pleadingly.

  Before Mysaria could respond, Jayne spoke aloud, "We are not children you need to protect, Lilyanna."

  Lilyanna turned, staring at the other girl confused, "What?"

  "Even if my dy did nothing, word would have reached us all eventually, and all of us would still be angry over the rejection. And it would be our choice to be angry that the Crown does not think we deserve a bathhouse or sewers. You cannot try and shield us from our choices." Jayne said, her steely gaze piercing into the princess.

  "But..." Lilyanna knew that she could not change public opinion, but she also knew that protesting would not change anything either, not unless extreme action was taken.

  Countless will end up injured or worse. Why shouldn't I try and prevent that? Lilyanna thought, knowing full well what the Crown's response would be if their authority was being questioned.

  "But nothing." Jayne growled before softening a bit, "Your way of getting change is not working, so we are doing things our way. If it fails, it fails, I'm only gd that the people of this city are finally making their voices heard, that they won't let you fucking nobles keep ignoring us."

  Lilyanna shook her head, walking to the nearby couch and throwing herself onto it, groaning as she tried to become one with the cushions. "You people annoy me greatly. I suppose nothing else I continue to say will move you from this path?"

  "It will not." Mysaria answered, resolved in what her actions undoubtedly caused.

  "Troublesome woman." Lilyanna muttered.

  Jayne had to bite her lip to keep herself from ughing at the princess' put out expression and what she heard her say about Mysaria.

  Said woman rolled her eyes before retaking her seat, "Was accosting me the only reason you came here today?"

  Lilyanna sighed, "No, I wanted to ask if you could look into two people for me; Perkin the Flea, and Trystane, the young boy living with him."

  "I assume that Trystane was the boy you said that you rescued earlier?"

  "He is." Lilyanna said pinly.

  Mysaria eyed her with mirth, "And is his cuteness what led you to becoming attached in such a short period of time?"

  "This is serious, Mysaria. Jayne has already told me that you have had your eye on him for some time."

  "I have, but I try to keep track of all the people in this city with Valyrian features; they tend attract attention and cause trouble." Mysaria admitted, "And they can be of importance that others do not consider, it's because of this that I was not all that surprised a man like Perkin was interested in Trystane. So, princess, why are you interested in the boy?"

  Lilyanna clenched her jaw, looking at Mysaria more seriously than before. "I have reason to believe that Trystane may be my-Viserys' baseborn son."

  Jayne's eyes widened and her mouth fell open, "The King's bastard?! But that can't be, Trystane is less than ten summers old, and the King has been sick far longer than that."

  Lilyanna shook her head, "His illness does not hinder his ability to sire a child, just look at my own dy mother. The two have been married for almost as long as Viserys' condition has been made public knowledge and my mother was able to give him five living children. And even after Viserys' health had already greatly deteriorated, my mother was still... she was still able to become pregnant with Eera almost two years ago."

  "But there is no way that the King of Westeros would have been able to leave the Keep, go into Flea Bottom, and fuck a woman without anyone noticing." Jayne argued.

  Mysaria chuckled derisively, "I think the girl before us, along with her older brother and sister, are proof enough that if a member of the royal family truly desires it, just how easily they can sneak through the castle and into the city undetected."

  "But one of us in the castle would have seen such a thing."

  Mysaria gave Jayne a small smile, "While I appreciate the faith you have in me and everyone else, it is impossible to see and know everything, even when you are actively trying."

  "But that is why you suspect that even if Trystane is not the King's son, he is most likely reted to him in some way. And that is the reason why Perkin decided to take Trystane into his care." Lilyanna said knowingly.

  "The realm often forgets because of how much the King cims to miss and love his te wife, that before he became King and when he was just a prince, Viserys Targaryen was infamous for traversing the Street of Silk with his brother, both fucking every whore they came across. It was not until the second year of their marriage and Queen Aemma became pregnant and suffered the first of many miscarriages, did Viserys, at least publicly, end his lustful dalliances and kept only to his wife's bed."

  "So, Trystane could either be the King's bastard outright or the grandchild of one of his bastards?" Jayne asked.

  "Most likely."

  Lilyanna brought her head down and pced it the palms of her hands, "This whole situation is fucked."

  In the original timeline, Perkin waited until the riots to procim that Trystane was Viserys' son, took control of the Gold Cloaks and then used them to take the Red Keep. So, is that what his goal still is; wait until war breaks out and the two sides weaken each other before swooping in to gain power? Perkin was working for someone in this whole plot, but I can't remember who.

  And if this is his pn, then I can't allow Trystane to stay and continued to be used by Perkin. But what am I going to do with him? I can't just take Trystane, he's nine and to everyone else, I'm still a child too. It's not like I can just take him with me to the Keep and be like; hey, you see this boy here, he's the King's possible bastard child ssh grandchild, can he live here? I'm sure that will go over great with mother and Rhaenyra.

  Mother would definitely be upset and embarrassed if Trystane was Viserys' son, but mother isn't in love with Viserys, and her reaction would pale in comparison to how Rhaenyra would react if Trystane was Viserys' grandson. Especially if Trystane's possible father was born during the early years of Viserys and Aemma's marriage.

  "I will have someone watch over Trystane and Perkin, and I will try to dig up as much information as possible about the boy's parentage and we will go from there." Mysaria said reassuringly.

  At this point, I won't have to worry about getting killed in a civil war, all this stress and worry will do me in long before that.

  Hours Later

  Criston did not know how to feel as he walked alongside the Queen, seeing the small yet joyful smile on Alicent's lips as walked towards her chambers after leaving the dining hall where Alicent and her children ate dinner with Rhaenyra Targaryen, her children, and her husband.

  While it had been some time since the two were openly antagonistic towards each other, these tentative gatherings had come about with the announcement that Rhaenyra was pregnant with twins.

  "Your Grace, if I could speak candidly?" Criston asked aloud.

  Alicent looked at her sworn protector, "About what?"

  "I... I simply worry that after the loss that was suffered, you are allowing the princess' pregnant state to blind you to her faults." Criston said.

  Alicent stared at him in shock before her gaze hardened, "What are you trying to say, Ser Criston?"

  Criston cleared his throat, "I meant no disrespect to you, my Queen, but Rhaenyra is not to be trusted. She is a spider who sucks her prey dry after entangling them in her web, Ifear that she is using her pregnancy to ensnare you again."

  The knight feared that after the loss of Eera, Alicent was unknowingly imprinting her motherly feelings onto Rhaenyra's unborn children, trying to live vicariously through the other woman.

  Alicent looked away from Criston, "I-"

  Criston continued to speak, unintentionally cutting the woman off, "She is currently stealing the birthright that belongs to your sons. And if she is allowed to ascend the Iron Throne, then the realm will fall into chaos under her terrible rule."

  Alicent snapped, "I am aware of the kind of person Princess Rhaenyra is, Ser, I do not need you to tell me of such as if I am a child."

  Criston's eyes widened before he quickly lowered his head. "I apologize, Your Grace, that was not my intention."

  The two walked down the hall in tense silence, neither making the attempt to fill it. As they reached the end of the hall, they saw Larys Strong standing in from of the chamber door.

  Why is he here? Alicent thought, a shiver of disgust racing down her spine that usually appeared whenever she was in the presence of the man.

  "Lord Larys, I must ask why you are waiting outside my bedchamber so te." Alicent said as she stopped in front of Larys.

  Her disgust returned when she saw his gaze quickly darted down to the floor, staring at the bottom of her dress, where her feet were hidden from sight. Larys smiled as he looked at her, "I apologize for the unannounced arrival, it has been sometime since we have st spoken, so I sought to correct this, to check on the wellbeing of my Queen."

  "I thank you for your concern, but this was not necessary."

  "I was hoping we could speak, Your Grace." Larys said, his gaze piercing.

  Alicent forced a smile, "I am sorry, Lord Larys, but perhaps we could speak another time, I feel quite tired and was hoping to rest."

  Larys took a few moments to respond, "Of course, Your Grace. I wish you a good night."

  Larys then walked away, but not before staring at Alicent quizzically, confused by the woman's demeanor.

  Criston turned his head to watch the other man leave, there was something about Larys Clubfoot that unnerved him, and it made him question why Alicent would befriend such a strange man.

  "Let no one disturb me, Ser Criston." Alicent said as she entered her bedchamber.

  "I will. Good night, Your Grace." Criston said as he pulled the doors of the room closed.

  Once she was alone, Alicent sighed, quickly moving to undo her hair. Her good mood was long gone as she was now overtaken with thoughts of Larys, Criston, and Rhaenyra.

  Seeing Larys waiting for her outside her bedroom brought the realization that she had not gone to him for information in quite some time. After Daeron was born, Alicent solidified her retionship with the second born Strong, seeing the whole thing as an uncomfortable necessity.

  She had no longer been able to trust Rhaenyra, her father's words to her had never proven to be truer after the princess had him removed as Hand of the King, after Rhaenyra lied to her about still being a maiden.

  So, she endured, trying to dissociate as she showed Larys her feet each time he told her something he learned, ignored the sounds of his breathing, of the rustling of his clothing as he pleasured himself across from her.

  She was able to endure having in with Viserys each time he called her to his bed. Staring at the wall and imagining herself from away from the castle as he took her, rutting into her with no care for her own pleasure, and trying not to cry as he would whisper the name of the te Queen Aemma in her ear. Compared to that, Larys was far easier to deal with even if the humiliation she felt was far greater with him than her husband.

  But after Rhaenyra's confession, the Queen had found herself going to Larys less and less. And when she tried to, she would feel guilty mixing with her shame as the thought of the princess would enter her mind when Larys would tell her about her movements and the things she would say.

  It has been about five-no six moons since I sought out Larys privately.

  And her feelings were even more complicated as she thought of what Criston said earlier. She now questioned if he was right, if Eera's death had damaged her so much that she was trying to fool herself into believing that Rhaenyra was becoming her friend again, that she was someone she could trust again.

  But Rhaenyra does not want to be my friend. Alicent thought, a warmth pooling in her stomach as she remembered Rhaenyra's confession, the way that Rhaenyra had been staring at her ever since.

  But Criston is right; Rhaenyra is taking Aegon's birthright. If she becomes Queen, she will have to… she will have to kill my children to solidify her cim. She will do it, will she not? Why am I questioning this, she will have to, she must! How can I trust her when she lied to me so easily, when she swore on the life of her mother. She knew how important my own mother was, she was destroyed by her own mother's death, and yet she treated it all so causally just to protect herself.

  Alicent sat on the edge of her bed, pcing her head in her hands, everything in her life felt too much but not enough all at the same time.

  Life was easier when Rhaenyra Targaryen did not have such a hold on her heart.

  The Next Day

  When will this be over? I should have just said I was not feeling well today and had Lyonel sit here in my pce, it's not as if that would be a lie. Viserys thought as he tried to discreetly adjust himself to the throne, wincing when he felt the throne cut him on the back of his leg.

  And yet another cut from this bsted chair for Orwyle to stitch close.

  For an hour, the King had been listening to various petitions from his subjects, all so far had been from different lords and merchants that were looking for the usual; charters, loans, ships, and tax relief.

  As he rejected the st of the merchants, Viserys inwardly groaned when a rge group of smallfolk stepped forward, knowing that this undoubtedly be a significant issue.

  A middle-aged man with bck hair and green eyes stepped forward, showing that he was voice of the collective. "Good morrow, Your Grace. My name is Bron. We have come here to ask that you reconsider the refusal of Princess Lilyanna's proposals."

  Viserys looked at the man confused, "Princess Lilyanna proposals?"

  "The proposals for the creation of a bathhouse here in King's Landing and repcing the city's old sewage system, Your Grace." Bron expined.

  Viserys' expression soon became one of annoyance, "And how is it that you learned of all this, Bron?"

  Bron stood straighter, meeting the King's eye, "Are the matters of governance meant to be kept secret from those meant to be governed?"

  Harrold stepped forward from his pce at the base of the throne, staring at Bron pointedly, "You speak to the King only with respect."

  Bron looked the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard with distaste, but took a step back, aware of Harrold Westerling's reputation and skill.

  I suppose that enough time has passed since that meeting for word to have spread naturally, but I cannot help the feeling that something allowed this to reach the people suspiciously. Viserys thought.

  "That is enough, Ser Harrold." Viserys told the knight, watching the man take a step back before looking back at the smallfolk before him. "The Crown does not have the means to take on such projects currently, but know that I and my councilors have you all and your-"

  "Don't have the means to make sure the streets and water are clean, that we can clean ourselves, but you have enough for all your tourneys and feasts?!" One of the men behind Bron excimed, openly gring at the King.

  This caused murmurs and whispers to fill the throne room, both from nobles and peasants alike.

  Viserys was shocked, never receiving such a reaction from his subjects before, "Now-"

  "Why can't we get anything for ourselves when you nobles spend our taxes on all your fancy balls and nice clothes?!" Another voice yelled from the line of smallfolk waiting for their own petitions to be heard.

  The peasants of the room become rowdy, each yelling questions at the King. Viserys found himself overwhelmed, unsure of how to proceed as a mixture of anxiousness, anger, and shock washed over him.

  "That is enough! Ser Harrold, take the guards and clear the room. Ser Steffon, guard the King! Today's petition hearing is over!" Lyonel ordered.

  Steffon Darklyn stood in front of the throne steps as Harrold and the guards of the Targaryen Household that were in the throne room forcefully escorted everyone out.

  Lyonel looked up at the Targaryen with worry once the throne room was empty, "Your Grace?"

  "That has never happened before..." Viserys said to himself, staring at his feet as he pced his hand against his forehead.

  Lyonel looked at the room doors, "There are moments when the people do not like the ws and edicts that are made and make their feelings known, but never during court proceedings."

  And never so earnestly. I fear this may turn to violence by the day's end. Lyonel thought.

  Viserys immediately stood up, quickly walking down the throne steps, "Lyonel, where is my daughter?"

  "Princess Lilyanna?" The Hand asked before calling out to Harrold, "Ser Harrold, do you know Princess Lilyanna's whereabouts?"

  "I believe that Criston and Rickard were guarding the Queen and her children in the gardens for a picnic. I also believe that Princess Rhaenyra along with her sons are with them, my Lord." Harrold said, remembering what his fellow brothers told him that their charges were going.

  With his daughter's location given, Viserys moved as quickly as he could, Lyonel and the two Kingsguard following closely behind.

  "Your Grace, I do not believe that Princess Lilyanna had told those people about the bathhouse and the sewers, from what I know the princess does not go into the city, and when she does, it is to the Dragonpit, nor does she interact with anyone outside of the Keep." Lyonel said.

  Viserys ignored this, continuing to walk forward determinedly.

  At any other time, Viserys would have been ecstatic to see his children, wife, and grandchildren getting along in such a manner as he entered the garden. He noted that Alicent and Rhaenyra were sitting on chairs in adamant discussion, the boys were throwing a ball around a few feet away, and Heena was sitting on a bnket in front of her mother and older sister as she read from a rge book, but his eyes were firmly locked on Lilyanna, the young girl sleeping on the bnket next to Heena, her head resting on the other girl's p.

  Rhaenyra noticed him first from the corner of her eye, "Father?"

  Viserys ignored his eldest daughter along with the rest of his family who stopped what they were doing to watch him as he moved towards his youngest daughters.

  "Lilyanna. Wake up, Lilyanna!" Viserys excimed as he stopped in front of the twins.

  Heena jumped at the sound of her father's yelling, her sudden movement causing Lilyanna jolt, whining as her eyes fluttered open before squinting both at the sunlight and in confusion as to what woke her up. "What the hell?"

  "Get up, Lilyanna." Viserys said.

  Lilyanna stared at him for a few seconds before slowly sitting up. "Is something wrong, father?"

  "Did you tell anyone about your idea for a bathhouse and a new sewage system? Did you make them think that I rejected the idea out of malice?"

  Lilyanna's eyebrows furrowed together, "No? Who would I have told?"

  Viserys' eyes darted around, seeing the confused and worried way that the others were looking at him, causing him to turn his head away, realizing how insane he sounded and came across and that Lyonel was right about Lilyanna's ck of involvement.

  Alicent stood up, gently pcing her hand on her husband's shoulder, "What has happened, Viserys?"

  "And what does Lilyanna have to do with it?" Rhaenyra added as she remained seated.

  Viserys sighed, but expined what had happened at court earlier, and reluctantly finished the story with how Lyonel had to order the guards to remove everyone from the throne room out of fear of the peasants' anger turning into violence.

  "And then you decided to come here and bme me for it." Lilyanna stated, looking at the man dryly.

  Alicent looked at her daughter with exasperation. "Lilyanna."

  Lilyanna looked away, gring at the ground, she knew that this was all coming, but she was still annoyed that Viserys assumed that she had been the one at fault, that he immediately assumed wrong of her.

  "Do you believe that this will lead to further action?" Rhaenyra asked, "Or do you believe that the people who came to court was simply an off occurrence?"

  "I hope not. I have said my peace with the matter; the Crown does not have the means to take on these projects." Viserys said to her.

  "Don't have the means my ass." Lilyanna muttered under her breath, her vexation growing as everyone knew that her efforts had made her father's statement untrue.

  Heena, sitting next to Lilyanna heard this and elbowed her sister in her side, gring at Lilyanna as she hissed. "Stop, father has forgotten his anger, don't bring it back upon you."

  Lilyanna returned the gre, "I didn't do anything for him to be mad at, I didn't tell those people to petition him, nor did I tell them to not accept his refusal."

  "But your worm friend did, didn't she?" Heena whispered, looking at her twin questioningly.

  Lilyanna pursed her lips, "She spread the word, yes, and apparently common folk have decided they've had enough."

  Heena looked at her parents and sister who were still discussing the situation before looking back at Lilyanna. "And you haven't tried to stop it?"

  "I tried, I went to Mysaria to, but apparently it out of her hands and that I can't stop the smallfolk from doing what they deem to be necessary."

  There was not much she could do; she knew that at this point everything was out of her control. Now she only hoped that whatever happened next would not be too extreme.

  Hi, everyone. I wanted to say thank you for reading this story so far and to let you know that this has now caught up to the other sites that I have posted this fic to, so I will be updating monthly from now on.