Rhaenyra Targaryen

The marriage between Rhaenyra Targaryen and you had never been a union born of love.

It had been a political decision.

A convenient alliance between two powerful houses.

And, for Rhaenyra, a sentence.

From a young age, Rhaenyra had a difficult character to break. She was proud, impulsive, and rebellious; she detested others making decisions for her, and even more so, trying to tell her how to live her life simply because she was a princess.

She had a sharp tongue and was not one to stay silent when something displeased her. She could challenge even those with more power than her, and when she was convinced she was right, it was virtually impossible to change her mind.

She was also passionate and deeply stubborn. When she wanted something, she fought to get it. And when someone forced her to do something she didn't want to do, her resentment could last for years.

That's why, from the moment her marriage to you was announced, Rhaenyra held a grudge against you.

You were alpha and she was omega.

For everyone else, that made the union perfect. An alliance that could ensure offspring, strengthen both families, and provide stability to the kingdom.

For Rhaenyra, however, they were only chains.

She hadn't chosen you.

And he never forgave you for becoming the person with whom he had to share his life.

She was never a docile wife.

If you tried to talk to him about his responsibilities, he would respond with sarcasm. If anyone mentioned that he should fulfill his role within the marriage, he could get up and leave the room without asking permission.

"I am not a mare destined to produce heirs," she had said more than once.

In front of the court, she knew how to behave like a perfect princess. She smiled when necessary, held her head high, and pretended that everything was under control.

But when they were alone, that mask disappeared.

She was cold towards you.

Distant.

And sometimes his words were deliberately cruel.

Rhaenyra blamed you for a life she felt had been taken from her.

And then Ser Criston Cole appeared.

With him, Rhaenyra had found something she didn't feel she could have within her marriage: the feeling of making a decision for herself.

I knew it could have consequences.

He knew the court could find out.

But his impulsive nature ended up prevailing.

Some time later, his first child was born.

Rhaenyra called him Jacaerys.

In court, he was presented as the son born of his marriage.

However, the rumors started almost from the beginning.

Some members of the court commented that the child did not look like you.

At first, nobody could say for sure.

He was just a baby.

But the years passed.

And when Jacaerys turned two, it was no longer so easy to ignore him.

The boy walked around the Red Keep, talked to his caretakers, and was constantly seen next to Rhaenyra.

And every time I was by your side, the court's glances were repeated.

There was no resemblance between them.

Neither his features, nor his expressions, nor his characteristics seemed to resemble yours.

—She doesn't look anything like her.

—Look at them. They don't look alike at all.

—After two years, it's impossible not to notice.

The rumors grew.

And the name Criston Cole began to appear with increasing frequency in the whispers of the court.

Rhaenyra hated hearing those words.

You, on the other hand, had learned to ignore them.

Because, even though you knew Jacaerys wasn't your son, you had never allowed the child to pay for his parents' decisions.

Jacaerys had grown up under your roof.

That's why, for you, he was still part of your family.

You were protecting him.

You took care of him.

And you would never allow anyone to humiliate him because of the circumstances of his birth.

But there was one difference you were never willing to accept.

Jacaerys could be one of yours.

He could not be your heir.

At least, not without your blood.

One afternoon, when Jacaerys was with his caretakers, you entered Rhaenyra's chambers.

She looked up when she saw you.

-What do you want?

—We need to talk about Jacaerys.

His expression changed immediately.

-Again.

—She's two years old, Rhaenyra. We can no longer pretend that no one notices the differences.

—I'm not going to listen to rumors.

—These aren't just rumors.

Rhaenyra stood up.

—Be careful with your words.

You looked directly at her.

—Why? Because you're going to deny something we both know?

—You know nothing.

—I know perfectly well what happened.

Rhaenyra remained silent.

Then you continued:

"You and I only had a brief encounter during our marriage. And the dates don't even coincide with Jacaerys's birth."

Rhaenyra's face tensed.

—You have no right to talk about that.

—I have the right to speak the truth.

Rhaenyra looked away.

—So what do you want me to do?

—That you accept that Jacaerys is not mine.

She looked at you again.

—He's my son.

—I have never said otherwise.

Your tone softened slightly.

—And I'm not going to abandon it either.

Rhaenyra seemed confused.

—So what do you want?

—Let it be clear that he will not be my heir.

Rhaenyra's expression hardened.

-That?

—Jacaerys will always be part of my family. I will protect him, take care of him, and he will have my respect. I will not allow anyone to treat him as less than because of something he is not responsible for.

You paused.

—But my heir will have my blood.

Rhaenyra clenched her fists.

—Do you want to take away his right?

—I am not taking away anything that belongs to him by blood.

You stared at her.

"If we ever have a child who carries both your blood and mine, then it will be different. That child could be my heir."

Rhaenyra remained silent.

—But Jacaerys will not be.

—You can't do that.

-If I can.

The princess took a deep breath, trying to control her temper.

-I hate you.

Your expression remained calm.

-I know.

That response seemed to enrage her even more.

—So why do you keep worrying about him?

You looked towards the door, behind which stood little Jacaerys.

—Because I don't need to hate a child because of their parents' mistakes.

Rhaenyra did not respond.

For years I had thought that your resentment towards her would eventually extend to Jacaerys.

But it hadn't happened.

You could deny his legitimacy as an heir without rejecting him as a person.

And perhaps that was what puzzled Rhaenyra the most.

Then you went back to the other matter.

—And Criston will leave.

Rhaenyra immediately looked up.

-No.

-Yeah.

—He is a member of the Royal Guard.

—Then you will find another place to serve.

—You can't expel him.

—I can make sure he leaves the court.

Rhaenyra took a step towards you.

—You can't decide about everything that's left for me!

For the first time, beneath that fury, something resembling fear appeared.

But his pride quickly returned to him.

"I'm not going to allow him to stay here," you said. "He's already caused enough damage."

—You're doing it out of revenge.

—I am doing this because I will not allow our court to continue turning this situation into a spectacle.

Rhaenyra looked at you with hatred.

But I knew you had made a decision.

Criston Cole would have to leave.

And so it happened.

The marriage between Rhaenyra Targaryen and you had never been a union born of love.

It had been a political decision.

A convenient alliance between two powerful houses.

And, for Rhaenyra, a sentence.

From a young age, Rhaenyra had a difficult character to break. She was proud, impulsive, and rebellious; she detested others making decisions for her, and even more so, trying to tell her how to live her life simply because she was a princess.

She had a sharp tongue and was not one to stay silent when something displeased her. She could challenge even those with more power than her, and when she was convinced she was right, it was virtually impossible to change her mind.

She was also passionate and deeply stubborn. When she wanted something, she fought to get it. And when someone forced her to do something she didn't want to do, her resentment could last for years.

That's why, from the moment her marriage to you was announced, Rhaenyra held a grudge against you.

You were alpha and she was omega.

For everyone else, that made the union perfect. An alliance that could ensure offspring, strengthen both families, and provide stability to the kingdom.

For Rhaenyra, however, they were only chains.

She hadn't chosen you.

And he never forgave you for becoming the person with whom he had to share his life.

She was never a docile wife.

If you tried to talk to him about his responsibilities, he would respond with sarcasm. If anyone mentioned that he should fulfill his role within the marriage, he could get up and leave the room without asking permission.

"I am not a mare destined to produce heirs," she had said more than once.

In front of the court, she knew how to behave like a perfect princess. She smiled when necessary, held her head high, and pretended that everything was under control.

But when they were alone, that mask disappeared.

She was cold towards you.

Distant.

And sometimes his words were deliberately cruel.

Rhaenyra blamed you for a v