Chapter Text
Viserys POV
Why wasn't he satisfied with this?
Viserys thought as he looked at the scene before him. A beautiful and kind wife, patiently explaining to her daughter for the fourth time why she couldn't bring her dragon, which is as big as a small horse, inside Maegor's Holdfast for a sleepover. A daughter who is so adorable and smart that you can't help but want to spoil her, even though you probably shouldn't. And a brother who is foul-tempered, has a sharp tongue and a dubious moral compass but that raised an entire army to see the crown on Viserys's head. A brother that would undoubtedly kill and even die for his family.
Why was this never enough? Because of a dream? A dream that was more warning than blessing? Did he even actually have a real Dragon Dream or was it just his deep rooted desire for a male heir?
He looked once again at them and felt his resolution strengthening.
It may not have been enough for him, but it is for me.
"Tell me, brother, how is your wife?" He asked nonchalantly while plucking a grape and could instantly see the shift in Daemon's behavior. His eyes got cold and dangerous, his jaw visibly tightening in fury.
"Dead, if the Gods would be so kind. But they rarely are so the Bronze Bitch is probably running around with her sheep throughout those dreadful mountains and green pastures, no offense good-sister."
"Well, I find those dreadful mountains of the place where I was born and raised in to be particularly pretty." Aemma quipped in, disgruntled.
"What is a bitch?" Asked the little girl curiously, her purple eyes wide. Viserys almost choked on the damn grape and Daemon laughed loudly.
"Rhaenyra! You can't say that word, it is unseemly of a princess." Aemma corrected.
"But kepus is a prince and he said it!" The girl refuted with sound logic.
"Here, sweetie, eat more lemon cake." Viserys said as he passed the girl another slice and Rhaenyra simply started eating, forgetting completely about bitches and whatnot.
"Well, I only asked because I wanted to make sure that your opinion on your Bron- wife didn't change since the last time she was brought up." Viserys said, amazed at how quickly the girl forgot about her line of questioning and getting suspicious that maybe it was a ploy to get more lemon cake.
"My opinion will never change and you know that. This marriage was never something I wanted, that both of us wanted. I was dragged to the sept drunk out of my mind. I didn't even say the damn vows, it is beyond me why you won't just give me an annulm-"
"I will." Viserys interrupted Daemon's rant.
"... What?" His expression was so comical Viserys had to held in his laughter, he wasn't sure Daemon wouldn't slide Dark Sister through him if he didn't.
"I said I will give it, the annulment." He repeated, completely serious.
Daemon was silent for a few long seconds. Just watching him with hawk eyes, trying to gauge the truth in his brother's words. Viserys realized that even though he constantly asked for the annulment, he didn't truly believe he would ever get it.
"Why?" Was all the prince said.
When Viserys tilted his head in question Daemon repeated "Why now? I have been asking constantly for the past three moons and your answer was always the same. So why?"
Viserys sighed, of course the rogue prince won't simply accept the annulment and shut the fuck up.
"I have my reasons that are better discussed later on, between us. For now, just know that soon enough you will be a free man again. I will begin the preparations today, I need to send a raven to the High Septon and to House Royce."
Daemon just stared at him and he was afraid his brother would keep his questioning but he just nodded after a while, a small smile on his face.
"There is something else. I was thinking that maybe Master of Coin is not the most suitable position for you, brother." He said carefully, looking at Daemon's reaction.
Daemon scoffed derisively "And let me guess, Otto Hightower was the one who gave you this idea?" He smiled but his eyes were cold.
"No, no he wasn't. I mean, he certainly would if given more time, but no." Daemon was visibly confused now, seeing how Viserys just admitted that his loyal Hand would try to oust him from his position on the Small Council.
"I just think that you are more suitable for a place of leadership, training men instead of counting the Gold Dragon coins of the Treasury and adjusting wine taxes. The City Watch is a ragtag group of men who are underfunded and understaffed, they are supposed to defend King's Landing but I doubt they can even defend themselves right now. I want you to take the post of Commander of the City Watch and make them into real fighters, a force to be feared, enforce my laws and bring order to the streets of my city. If there's someone who can do it, it is you, brother. You are a leader of men, capable of inspiring loyalty even in the dirtiest street rat of Flea Bottom. So, will you accept it?"
Daemon was, maybe for the first time ever, speechless. No sarcastic remarks, no poisoned words, not even his trademark smirk. He was just shocked. With a heavy heart, Viserys realized that this was the first time since they became grown men that Daemon heard his brother compliment him.
"Yes, Your Grace." He said, voice thick with emotion even though his face was a blank mask.
"Good." Viserys looked at Aemma and she was already looking at him, a soft smile on her lips.
After eating, Viserys left his wife and daughter with a sweet good bye and a promise to spend more time together later and left for the Small Council together with Daemon.
Time to face the most annoying little shit in King's Landing. Otto fucking Hightower.
He and Daemon were the last ones to arrive at the Small Council. He sat on his chair and Ser Ryam placed his sphere on the table.
"Good morrow, my lords. Let's begin today's meeting. What are we to discuss?" What followed was a boring sequence of petty squabbles between noble families and discussions of taxes and whatnot.
So many problems in King's Landing, people starving each day and this is what is being brought up in the Small Council? No wonder the smallfolk end up rebelling in the future. And Gods Otto Hightower never shuts up, does he? The man is always giving his oh so precious opinion and has an irritating habit of cutting people off while they're speaking. You can clearly see how he thinks himself king in everything but name. And he wouldn't be wrong if the original Viserys was still here.
After resolving the pressing and super important matters his council brought to him, Viserys decided it was time to begin his plans.
"Now that those matters are over I wish to bring to attention some changes that will happen. The first one is regarding my brother's position as Master of Coin. I decided that he will be relieved of his post."
Viserys clearly saw Otto's small smirk sent in Daemon's direction.
He doesn't even bother to act as if this doesn't please him.
Daemon smiled back at Otto, all teeth.
"My brother is an incredible knight, the best one our family has seen in a long time, the wielder of Dark Sister. His talents are being wasted on his current position. That is why I decided to give him the post of Commander of the City Watch."
Otto was still pleased with this, seeing as the current City Watch was only a bunch of undisciplined and hungry men.
"He will still have a place at this table as the Commander, updating us on the security of King's Landing. Right now, the state of the Watch is not good so my brother will have free reign to see to it's needs, what is lacking, how much it will cost, recruiting more members and whatnot. He will make a budget and present it to the new Master of Coin. Which reminds me; send a raven to Lyman Beesbury, inviting him to take his new position as Master of Coin."
The smirk was now completely wiped off from Otto's face and he was already opening his mouth to protest. "Pardon me, Your Grace, but I do not think it wise to-"
"My decision is made. I do not require advice on this matter."
Otto was dumbfounded, as was everyone else on the council. Viserys realized how much dependent on Otto Hightower's opinions the king was during this short amount of time. The other members of the council where shocked to see him make a decision alone. How embarrassing!
Daemon was having a blast, his expression alight with amusement that he did nothing to hide.
"The last matter is that of my brother's marriage." At this Daemon perked up, looking wearily at him. He still didn't believe Viserys was going to go through with it.
"His marriage to the Lady Rhea Royce is an unfortunate one. My late grandmother was a great queen, no doubt, but not the best matchmaker. The union is pointless and remains unconsummated to this day even after six sunturns. That is why I decided to grant him an annulm-"
"Your Grace! I must protest, this is unacceptable and an affront to the Gods, prince Daemon is-"
"If you ever interrupt your king again you will be asked to leave this meeting, am I clear, Ser Otto?" Viserys said, with a calm that he wasn't feeling.
He cuts off the king! The level of entitlement is ridiculous! How could Viserys let it get to this point?
Otto's mouth stayed open in shock, and for the first time he seemed speechless.
"Let it be known that every one of you is here to advise me, but the final decision belongs to me. Your king. And on this matter I am not asking for your advices, I am telling you how I want it to go. Lyonel" he turned to his Master of Laws who was wide eyed "See to it to mediate between the Crown, the High Septon and House Royce, everything according to the laws of Westeros. I will also write personal letters, send it by the end of the day."
"At once, Your Grace." Said the taciturn Master of Laws, having quickly recuperated from the shock.
"Good, you are all dismissed."
With this, he quickly made his way out of the Small Council chambers, wanting nothing more than to lay down in bed to think of his next steps. Otto tried to call after him but he dismissed the annoying man.
I have no patience left for you today.
He felt a presence next to him and turned around to find Daemon looking curiously at him.
"What is it, brother? Do you wish to speak to me?"
"What the fuck was that?" The prince didn't mince his words.
"What do you mean? Are you unhappy with my decisions? I thought we had already reached an agreement." Viserys feigned ignorance.
"You know damn well what I mean. That, whatever that was, was not... You."
Being assertive is not like me, is what he means.
He sighed, already tired and the day wasn't even half done yet. "I have my reasons, as I said. We are going to have a talk later. Now I want to rest." He said and left his brother to ponder alone.
Why can't they just accept whatever the fucking king says without questioning damn it! This is tiring. But it's fine, a nap will give me my strength back and hopefully I will be able to have a better structured plan for the future. Yes, a nap will make everything okay.