King's Chambers:

Viserys said, “Alicent, I know that you and Rhaenyra have your differences. But why do you have to make matters worse? She is a child but you are not.”

“A child?” Alicent shouted. “Rhaenyra is not a child but a woman grown. She is the mother of four children. I know what I speak of and so do you. I have held my tongue on several occasions. But how long will this go on? You never seem to care about anything. Her transgressions…”

“What transgressions, Alicent?” Viserys asked. “I am tired of your riddles. Speak plainly!”

Alicent walked towards him. With a low voice, she said, “You know what exactly I am talking about, Husband. You have always known.”

She moved away from him and gazed at a flying bird through the open window. She said, “To have one child like that is a mistake. To have three is an insult to the throne, to you, to House Velaryon and the match you battled so hard to make for her. Not to mention the decency itself.”

Viserys sighed. He rubbed his eyes and said to her, “I had a black mare once, black like a raven. One day, she escaped her pasture. The neighbouring stallion sired a foal on her. The stallion was as silver as a moon on a winter's night. But the foal, when it was born, was a chestnut, just the most unremarkable brown horse you ever saw. Nature is a thing of mysterious works.”

“How do you know?” Alicent asked. “The silver stallion…how do you know it was him? Did you witness the act itself?”

She sat beside her husband and said sternly, “Do not be so blind, Husband. The Gods have granted you eyes. Do not shut them while judging your daughter.”

“Alicent, the consequences of allegations like that, will be dire. Do not speak of that ever again,” Viserys replied.

Alicent stared at him as he walked out of the chambers.

The Throne Room:

The throne room was full of Lords, Ladies and knights. They were chatting among themselves. Princess Rhaenyra and Ser Laenor were also present along with their children.

“They look very excited today. What might be the matter?” Queen Alicent wondered.

A few moments later, Prince Daemon arrived in the throne room along with Lady Laena and their daughters. They greeted Rhaenyra and stood beside her.

Just then, the herald announced, “King Viserys Targaryen, the first of his name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and the Protector of the Realm.”

King Viserys entered the throne room and everyone paid their respects. As he walked towards the throne, his eyes fell on Rhaenyra. A smile appeared on his lips. He approached her and then lifted his grandson, Prince Jacaerys, in his arms.

With his grandson in his arms, Viserys climbed the steps of the Iron Throne. After sitting on the throne, he sat Jacaerys upon his knee and said, “One day this will be your seat, lad.”

Viserys announced, “With a heavy heart, I have to say that the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Harrold Westerling, passed away in his sleep last night. Henceforth, Ser Criston Cole will hold the post of the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.”

Ser Criston kneeled before the king and said, “I am honoured to serve you, Your Grace.  I swear that I will fulfill my duty and honour my vows with my life.”

“Rise, Ser Criston. I wish you luck for the days to come,” Viserys replied.

Viserys looked at the courtiers and said, “My Lords and Ladies, I would like to make another announcement. Prince Jacaerys Velaryon is betrothed to Lady Baela Targaryen and Prince Lucerys Velaryon is betrothed to Lady Rhaena Targaryen. My line will be united with my dear brother's line and I do not know if anything else can make me happier in this lifetime.”

Alicent looked at Rhaenyra and Laena who were holding hands and smiling at each other. “This is not just a betrothal. It is an alliance for the upcoming war,” she said to herself. 

There was fear in her eyes. Daemon and Laena rode the deadliest of the dragons and they had made an alliance with Rhaenyra. She looked at her husband who was seated upon the Iron Throne. He had orphaned her children. Alicent wondered how a man could be so cruel to his own flesh and blood.

“A blind man who refuses to see the truth. He places a bastard on the throne instead of giving my son his birthright,” she muttered under her breath, as her eyes filled with tears and her body started shaking with anger.

King Viserys was blind indeed. Almost half of the Lords in the throne room had worn green, just like Queen Alicent who had worn a green gown. And the other Lords had worn black, just like Princess Rhaenyra who had worn a black gown. The division was there. Those were not just clothes but banners raised in war. But what would the peaceful king know about fighting battles and spilling blood?

Daemon, however, was well aware of what was actually going on. He had told Laena the previous night, “I want my daughter to be the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, and this is a risk that I am willing to take.”

He also did not fail to see his brother's queen, who was fuming in anger after the announcement.

Courtyard of the Red Keep:

Princess Naerys was running around in the courtyard with Prince Aemond while her wetnurse, Glenys, watched over them.

The little princess grew tired soon, and sat down on the ground. She touched the fresh green grass with her hands. Aemond approached her and said, “What happened? Are you tired already?”

“I want cake,” Naerys said.

Aemond pulled her cheeks and said, “Do you want cake?”

In response, Naerys nodded her head. Aemond instructed her to climb on his back. When Glenys saw him carrying Naerys on his back, she rushed to them and said, “My Prince, you will hurt yourself and also your niece. Please let her walk on her own.”

Aemond said, “Can you not see that she is too tired to walk?”

“Then let me carry her, My Prince,” Glenys pleaded.

Aemond chuckled and said, “Do not worry, Glenys. I will not let her fall.”

Glenys said to him, “Or perhaps we can wait here while one of the servants brings cakes for both of you. What do you say?”

“That sounds better,” Aemond replied.

Then he and Naerys sat on the ground and started singing, “Cake cake cake cake…”  while a servant hurriedly brought a plate full of lemon cakes. Glenys took the plate and quickly ate a cake before presenting the rest to the children.

The children rejoiced at the sight of the delicious lemon cakes. They were so sweet and fragrant. “The Gods won't blame me for eating one cake meant for the children, will they?” Glenys thought.