Chapter 461: Alicent Suffers a Sword Cut


    A familiar voice echoed through the hall, causing the two Kingsguard and Alicent to freeze.


    Rhaenyra turned quickly to the source of the sound.


    In the long corridor leading to the council chamber, a slightly stooped figure approached.


    "Father."


    Rhaenyra''s face was a mask of surprise, wondering how her father had awakened.


    "Leave us. Didn''t you hear me?"


    Viserys, pale but determined, wore the crown of authority.


    Alicent, caught off guard, stammered, "Viserys, why are you here?"


    Realizing her mistake, she quickly fell silent.


    Several figures gathered behind Viserys.


    Lorent and Steffon, members of the Kingsguard, red at the two brothers in the hall.


    Maester Munkun, who had been bribed, stood with a calm expression.


    Alicent''s personal maid, Tera, stood with her head bowed, avoiding eye contact.


    Understanding dawned on Alicent.


    Maester Munkun spoke, his tone measured, "I am sorry, but every Maester must uphold justice or he is unworthy to serve the realm."


    He could not betray his conscience, especially after the king had treated him so well.


    Tera, the White Worm''s secret agent andter joined as a member of the Master of Whisperers birds, trembled in the background.


    ''I''m sorry, I have always been an undercover agent.''


    Viserys surveyed the room and waved his hand dismissively, "Take these traitors who dared to threaten my daughter."


    "Yes, Your Grace!"


    Lorent and Steffon quickly moved to disarm and capture the two Kingsguard brothers, who did not resist.


    ng!


    The situation intensified as a deputymander of the royal guard led his team into the corridor, weapons at the ready.


    Seeing the king, the youngmander hesitated, "Your Grace, the Red Keep is on lockdown. Please give your orders."


    Viserys, startled, looked at Rhaenyra seated in the chair.


    With unwavering confidence, Rhaenyramanded, "Guard the corridor and remain on standby."


    "Yes!"


    The deputymander responded, leading his team to secure the corridor exit.


    The tension in the room eased slightly as everyone began to grasp the unfolding events.


    Alicent was the first to react, rushing to her husband, her voice frantic, "Viserys, listen to me. Rhaegar tried to—"


    "Silence!"


    Viserys''s face darkened, his voice thunderous.


    Alicent froze, mere steps from her husband, unable to move closer.


    Rhaenyra seized the moment, pushing The Realm''s Delight away.


    Today, Alicent would face the consequences of her actions.


    As Viserys''s shouting subsided, he began to pant, clearly exhausted.


    Maester Munkun had not administered any milk of the poppy, instead awakening Viserys from hisa.


    His prolonged bedridden state had weakened him significantly.


    "Viserys..."


    Alicent, tears streaming, stood paralyzed with guilt.


    "I said shut up."


    Viserys''s gaze was sorrowful as he looked at his wife. "Alicent, I never thought you could be so foolish."


    Alicent shook her head, feeling as if the ground had given way beneath her.


    "Don''t bother arguing. I know everything."


    Viserys''s voice was heavy with disappointment. "You are my wife, yet you treat the children so harshly. You couldn''t wait to tear our family apart before my death!?"


    His breathing grew erratic, and he began to cough.


    He couldn''t fathom how much chaos had erupted during the two months he had been unconscious.


    Viserys was well aware of the strained rtionship between Alicent and his eldest son and daughter. Before his marriage to Alicent, she and Rhaenyra had been inseparable, sharing everything as best friends.


    The marriage changed everything, with Rhaenyra feeling deeply betrayed. The threat posed by Alicent''s children to the session led to the formation of the rival factions known as the cks and Greens.


    Fortunately, his eldest son, wise and capable, managed to keep his younger siblings in line, and they all went to war together. Viserys had cherished the times spent with his children, riding dragons on the battlefields of Dorne.


    Despite a near assassination, his passion for dragon riding remained undiminished. He was especially impressed with Aemond, who was determined to protect him, and felt immense pride in his eldest son and second daughter’s timely arrival.


    The arrival of the seven Targaryen dragon riders at Dorne was a significant honor for the realm.


    As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Viserys'' gaze hardened and he spoke in a low, authoritative voice, "Alicent, you''ve overstepped your bounds! You should never have interfered with the Small Council while I was incapacitated."


    He recalled how Alicent had ignored the dignity of his eldest son and openly threatened his eldest daughter in front of the royal advisers. If he hadn’t awakened in time, Rhaenyra wouldn’t have had control of the Kinsguard. What would have happened to his poor pregnant daughter?


    Alicent, unable to contain her frustration, shouted hoarsely, "Viserys, I''m sick of your favoritism! Rhaegar wants to tear up the peace treaty between His Grace the Old King and the Faith of the Seven. Do you even understand the implications, or are you just pretending to be ignorant? The Faith of the Seven nearly toppled Targaryen rule, and you were the one who reversed the tide. Breaking the treaty is courting disaster."


    Pop!


    Viserys, enraged, pped her across the face. "Who do you think you are? House Hightower taught you nothing about power struggles. You think you know everything, but you''re no better than a country bumpkin!"


    Alicent, stunned and devastated, retorted, "Don''t you believe in the Seven Gods? Why do you pray to them every night? You invoke Queen Aemma''s name to bless your children!"


    "Alicent!" Viserys''s eyes turned red at the mention of histe wife Aemma.


    But someone was even angrier than he was.


    "Alicent, don''t you dare mention my mother''s name!" Rhaenyra stood up, gripping her sword tightly, and charged at Alicent.


    Alicent, seemingly mad, paid no heed to the reactions of father and daughter, crying out, "What''s wrong with mentioning it? When he was in bed with me, he called out the names of other women. Am I guilty for that?"


    Since marrying Viserys, Alicent had felt like a living ghost. Used by her father, unloved by her husband, and with children she deemed useless, she was consumed by despair. Who could understand her needs, or truly love her?


    "You are a shameless slut, seducing your best friend''s father and stealing your children''s birthright!" Rhaenyra''s fury was palpable as she drew The Realm''s Delight.


    Viserys, shocked and weakened, tried to call out to the Kingsguard to stop her.


    "I gave up the throne to Rhaegar long ago. You forced me into this! You wouldn''t even let me have a ce to live!" Alicent, unafraid, revealed the depths of her suffering.


    Seeing her old friend approach, she became even angrier, advancing without fear. She was the queen, and she demanded respect.


    "Bitch, go to hell!" Rhaenyra screamed, her eyes zing with hatred.


    In a split second before the Kingsguard lunged, Rhaenyra swung her one-handed sword.


    "Ah!"


    Alicent, instinctively raising her hand to block, was struck with a terrifying realization as the de descended.


    Sizzling—


    The de sliced through skin, and blood spattered everywhere.


    "Alicent!"


    Viserys''s eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat.


    He saw Alicent raising her hands in front of her face, the sword shing diagonally across her arms. The green sleeve with gold thread was torn, instantly soaked in blood.


    A gruesome gash ran from her left wrist to her right elbow, an 18-inch wound. Her pale skin was a mess, flesh syed open like petals, revealing the white bones of her forearm.


    "Ah!"


    Alicent let out a piercing cry, copsing to the ground, unable to stand. Her noble green dress was stained with blood, and she trembled uncontrobly.


    The pain was excruciating, as if her arms were on fire and being rubbed with hot salt. She wished she could sever them to end the agony.


    Rhaenyra seemed to sense Alicent''s thoughts, raising her sword again with a fierce gaze. "Alicent, you are a scourge!"


    She swung again, aiming for Alicent’s head, but was blocked just in time.


    Unfortunately, she had lost her initial advantage.


    The nearest Kingsguard, Steffon, leapt forward, grabbed the sword, and disarmed the Princess with a swift motion.


    Viserys shouted, "Rhaenyra, you''re mad!"


    Rhaenyra dropped the sword, standing in a daze, her mind nk. Looking down at Alicent, who had fainted, she was momentarily disoriented.


    Viserys''s body shook, his head seeming to explode. "If you killed Alicent, what will your brothers and sisters think of you and Rhaegar?!"


    The delicate bnce between the families could easily lead to tragedy if upset.


    Rhaenyra, forehead slick with cold sweat, knew the danger she was in but insisted, "If we don’t eliminate her, the royal family will fall to the Hightowers sooner orter."


    "Rhaenyra, my firstborn," Viserys said, his voice uncharacteristically serious. He looked between Alicent’s unconscious form and his daughter. "You and Rhaegar must not be tainted by Alicent’s blood."


    Rhaenyra nced at the onlookers, then avoided her father''s gaze.


    Viserys sighed deeply. "Leave her to me, and I promise she won’t affect you and Rhaegar anymore."


    "What will you do with her?" Rhaenyra asked, not convinced.


    "First, she will be confined to the temple," Viserys said. "When Rhaegar returns, we’ll decide her fate together."


    Rhaenyra was silent. This oue was far from satisfying.


    Viserys took The Realm’s Delight from Ser Steffon and handed it to his daughter, his expression conflicted. "You''re pregnant. Leave the rest to your father."


    He knew the family issues could no longer be ignored. The long-simmering tensions had erupted with the conflict between the two women.


    Rhaenyra hesitated, then touched her pregnant belly with her left hand. Resolutely, she took the sword and walked out.


    "Rhaenyra," Viserys called after her, unable to find words offort.


    His eyes fell on the unconscious Alicent. Her arms exposed, a pool of blood beneath her, she looked pale as a corpse. Her hair was disheveled, and she was covered in wounds, no longer resembling a queen.


    "How could you be so foolish?" Viserys muttered vacantly, repeating the phrase as he signaled the Kingsguard to take her away.


    Finally, he said, "Lock her in the tower of the cathedral and allow no visitors except to deliver food and water."


    Lyonel hesitated, then pointed at the two Kingsguard who had epted bribes. "Your Grace, these two knights should be detained for trial."


    Viserys, seemingly indifferent, replied, "No trial is needed. Return their bodies to their families for burial."


    With a single sentence, he sealed their fate.


    "Your Grace..."


    The two Kingsguard hurriedly knelt, desperate for the king''s mercy.


    Bang! Bang!


    Lorent and Steffon delivered swift kicks and punches, dragging the disgraced knights away with force.


    A breach of principle could not be forgiven.


    Viserys nced at his royal advisers onest time, thinking of their role in safeguarding the kingdom during his absence. Forcing a smile, he said, "Everyone, disperse."


    As he turned to leave, he felt a sudden dizziness and fell backward.


    "Your Grace!"


    Maester Munkun reacted quickly, catching the king before he could hit the ground.


    Lyonel and the others rushed over, the scene immediately descending into chaos.


    "Your Grace... Your Grace..."


    "Send a letter to Oldtown and recall the heir prince immediately!"


    "..."


    ...


    Meanwhile,


    Rhaenyra returned to her chambers, cradling her stomach.


    "Princess..."


    In the bedroom, her foster daughters, Ba and Rhaena, were crouching by the door and greeted her anxiously.


    "You''re here."


    Rhaenyra closed the door behind her, leaning against the door frame for support. She reached into the long hem of her skirt with her right hand.


    At first, she felt nothing.


    Then a cool hand met a warm, wet sensation between her legs.


    When she looked at her hand, she saw blood.


    Her distress had triggered the rupture of her water.


    "Princess?"


    The twins, rmed at the sight of blood, immediately surrounded her.


    "It''s nothing. I''m going intobor."


    Rhaenyra forced a wry smile, looking at Ba first. "Go tell Grand Maester Orwyle I''m inbor."


    "Okay!"


    Ba nodded repeatedly.


    Rhaenyra then turned to the shy Rhaena and spoke softly, "Go to the Master of Whisperers and ask him to send a letter to your mother, telling her to ride Vhagar to King''s Landing."


    Having Laena by her side would bring herfort.


    "Mm-hmm!"


    Rhaena nodded eagerly.


    "Good girl." Rhaenyra felt a wave of relief and moved to the bed.


    The twins quickly opened the door and rushed out.


    As soon as Rhaenyra sat down on the bed, she looked up to see Sara standing at the door.


    Sara''s face was solemn, but she nodded reassuringly.


    Rhaenyra smiled, her heart finally at peace.


    The twins were quick at their tasks.


    In less than half an hour, Orwyle arrived with the midwife and the maid, practically flying through the halls.


    The king had Maester Munkun with him, so Orwyle had to hurry to the Princess.


    Bang!


    The door closed and the maids helped Rhaenyra lie down.


    Rhaenyra''s eyes were tightly shut, fear gripping her heart.


    She suddenly regretted not agreeing to Alicent''s n to summon Rhaegar back sooner.


    And she regretted not killing Alicent when she had the chance.


    She feared she wouldn''t survive the birthing bed, wouldn''t see Rhaegar again, let alone deal with Alicent.


    "Mother, please keep me and my child safe."


    Rhaenyra prayed silently, and then the pain hit her.


    The next second, her screams of childbirth echoed throughout the Red Keep.