Chapter 38: Father-Daughter Dispute

Rhaenyra marched forward, her brow furrowed in concern. "Alicent mentioned Rhaegar's injury. What happened?"

Viserys responded with dissatisfaction, his tone heavy. "Rhaenyra, is this how you address your father and king?"

Momentarily taken aback, Rhaenyra replied helplessly, "I apologize, Father. I'm just worried about Rhaegar."

"Rhaegar is gravely injured, with extensive burns covering his body. The Grand Maester believes he may not survive," Viserys relayed the grim prognosis.

Yet, despite the medical assessment, Viserys harbored a flicker of hope. Rhaegar's demeanor had not suggested impending death; rather, he seemed surprisingly resilient. Viserys attributed this to divine intervention, a blessing from the Seven.

Unaware of her brother's condition, Rhaenyra stood frozen, her mind reeling with disbelief. She struggled to comprehend the news, her world thrown into disarray.

"He was fine this morning... How could this be happening?" she murmured, grappling with the harsh reality.

Refusing to accept the dire situation, she demanded, "Where is Rhaegar? I must see him!"

It took a moment for Rhaenyra to collect herself, her determination to see her brother overriding her shock.

Viserys sneered, his words laced with bitterness. "So, you still care for your brother? I thought your heart belonged to that bastard, Daemon."

Indignant, Rhaenyra countered, "What nonsense! My allegiance lies with my family. Now, where is Rhaegar? He needs me."

"He needs rest, not visitors," Viserys retorted, his tone unyielding, devoid of mercy.

He had pieced together the events unfolding in the Dragon's Pit today, including the exchanges between Rhaenyra and Daemon, both before and after.

Sharp-witted as he was, Viserys detected a hint of desire in Daemon's interactions with Rhaenyra.

The notion of his own brother scheming for power with his own daughter was utterly intolerable to Viserys.

He was determined to nip any potential mistakes in the bud.

Observing her father's stern demeanor, Rhaenyra felt uncertain and opted for a softer approach.

Worry etched across her face, she implored, "Father, as Rhaegar's sister, shouldn't I at least know what happened to him?"

Viserys didn't withhold any details, sharing the full story with her.

Rhaenyra gasped in disbelief, "Rhaegar attempted to tame Dreamfyre on his own? Is he out of his mind?"

It was common knowledge that dragons were temperamental creatures, especially those like Dreamfyre, long confined in captivity.

Rhaenyra's own experiences in dragon-taming had been cautious endeavors, aided by dragon-keepers.

Attempting to tame a solitary, adult dragon by force was tantamount to courting death.

Every year on Dragonstone Island, daring youths with Valyrian blood would clandestinely attempt to tame wild dragons, often meeting fiery ends.

The prospect of Rhaegar's being engulfed in dragon flames was unbearable to her.

Had she not refused Rhaegar's request to fly on a dragon, perhaps she could have prevented this perilous situation.

Witnessing her daughter's self-blame, Viserys' heart softened, and he decided to cease adding to her distress.

Letting out a sigh, Viserys remarked, "Rhaegar was fortunate; his injuries from the dragon's flames seem manageable. With proper care and rest, I believe he'll recover without major complications."

"Thank the gods! I'm relieved to hear that Rhaegar's life isn't in jeopardy," Rhaenyra exhaled deeply, the weight on her chest easing.

With the ice broken, Viserys transitioned to a more delicate matter, placing the killing stick on the stone statue, intending to broach the real purpose of their conversation.

"Rhaenyra, do you harbor affections for anyone? Someone you admire?" Viserys inquired, his paternal concern mingled with a hint of awkwardness.

As a father, asking such a question was a delicate dance, weighed with the future prospects of his daughter.

Caught off guard by the sudden shift in topic, Rhaenyra raised an eyebrow skeptically, "Why this sudden interest? Have the lords begun proposing marriage alliances again?"

"Ahem, no, of course not," Viserys cleared his throat, attempting to mask his discomfort. Regaining his composure, he continued, "I simply want to ensure that if there's someone you genuinely care for, you feel comfortable confiding in me about it."

"No, most of the men I've encountered are insufferable, and the few decent ones are far too arrogant," Rhaenyra retorted, her disdain evident as she spoke of the men who paraded their supposed superiority.

Viserys sighed, feeling the weight of his daughter's frustration, and tentatively broached the delicate subject, "What if I were to select a suitor for you, someone who meets all the necessary criteria for an advantageous match?"

"Father, we agreed not to discuss this until after the tournament," Rhaenyra responded, visibly recoiling at the prospect of an arranged marriage.

Viserys persisted, "Consider meeting the potential suitors; you may find one who surprises you."

"Very well, but I doubt any of them will be to my liking," Rhaenyra conceded begrudgingly, her frustration evident as she turned away, unwilling to entertain the notion of marriage any further.

As Rhaenyra's gaze hardened, Viserys felt the weight of his daughter's resistance. With a hint of frustration, he broached the delicate topic, "What are your thoughts on upholding our family traditions?"

Rhaenyra's expression shifted to one of skepticism as she reluctantly turned back to face her father. "Family traditions?" she repeated, already anticipating what he might suggest.

Annoyance flashed across her features as she continued, "You would sacrifice my happiness for the sake of the Iron Throne and entangle others in your schemes?"

Viserys bristled at her accusation, his voice rising in frustration. "Sacrifice your happiness? As a princess of the realm, it is your duty to enter into a suitable marriage," he retorted, his tone tinged with exasperation. "It's a responsibility that even I, as king, cannot evade!"

Rhaenyra remained unconvinced, her resolve unyielding. "If you're so eager for a royal match, find one for yourself. I refuse to entertain the advances of those vultures, and I won't be swayed by any ideas involving Rhaegar!" she declared defiantly.

"Rhaenyra! Do you realize the foolishness of your words?" Viserys shot back, his anger palpable. "You are the princess and heir to the Iron Throne, enjoying all the privileges and prestige that come with it, and yet you refuse to fulfill your duty!"

"But instead of embracing your responsibilities, you only care about your own desires, refusing to make any sacrifices for your position!" he continued, his gaze piercing. "Is this the sense of duty expected of the heir to the Iron Throne?"

Rhaenyra's jaw tightened, her resolve unshaken. "Power is earned, not given. I won't compromise my principles for the sake of appeasing others," she countered firmly.

"What have you fought for? What accomplishments do you have to your name, besides your birthright as heir?" Viserys snapped, his frustration boiling over.

A bitter smile tugged at Rhaenyra's lips as she responded coolly, "Is that what you've been wanting to say all along? That I'm not worthy of being your heir?"

"You have sons now—Aegon, Aemond," she continued, her voice tinged with bitterness. "Especially Rhaegar, who is now in good health. You no longer need a daughter as your heir."

Viserys immediately shook his head in denial. "No! While I may have had doubts at times, I still recognize you as my rightful heir," he insisted earnestly.

"A female heir may be unconventional, but if you don't choose a strong partner from a powerful house, you'll struggle to maintain your position on the Iron Throne," he reasoned, his tone softening slightly. "He is innocent and has Targaryen blood. His status will help solidify your rule."

(Word count: 1232)