Rhaenyra accompanied him to attend the Small Council meeting regarding House Baratheon.
Alicent, under the guise of caring for her husband, continued attempting to influence the proposed marriage alliance.
Rhaegar looked at his father seated at the head of the table and spoke softly, "Father, let's begin."
"Oh, right."
Viserys, unshaven and reeking of last night's wine, sighed wearily and said, "The meeting is now in session. We will discuss the procurement of supplies for the prince's palace."
Ser Lyonel furrowed his brow and whispered a reminder, "Your Grace, the procurement is controlled by Lord Borros of House Baratheon."
He was subtly informing the king that the real topic of discussion should be how to assert royal authority over House Baratheon, not waste time debating minor supply matters.
"That's right. Lord Borros is quite the problem."
Viserys rubbed his temples, his voice lethargic as he reluctantly agreed.
He was uncomfortable with discussing how to handle a high lord, and he wanted to avoid the matter altogether.
Rhaegar sighed in resignation. "Father, you must take care of your health."
Then, turning to the council members, he spoke firmly, "Lords, while this issue began with the supply of materials to the prince's palace, we all understand the deeper conflict at play."
What his father refused to say, he would say.
Lyonel nodded slightly in agreement. "Your Highness, we suspect that Lord Borros is retaliating for the perceived insult at his father's funeral."
Carefully chosen words—referring to the conflict as a mere misunderstanding.
Rhaegar offered a slight smile as he swept his gaze over the other council members.
"Indeed, that is what we all believe."
The lords exchanged glances before nodding in unison. Their consensus was obvious, and there was no need for pretense.
"Good." Rhaegar was pleased. After a brief pause, he continued, "Then let's discuss how we can, within the bounds of law and reason, remind Lord Borros of his place."
Viserys shot his eldest son a hesitant look.
Rhaegar had spoken in veiled terms—"remind."
But Lord Borros was a paramount lord; a simple reprimand would not suffice.
The aged Lord Lyman was the first to speak boldly. "Your Grace, Your Highness, I believe we should issue a royal decree summoning Lord Borros to King's Landing to apologize and seek the Iron Throne's forgiveness."
Viserys hesitated, rubbing the stubble on his chin.
"Lord Lyman, your suggestion may lack some caution," Grand Maester Mellos interjected. "The procurement errors involve several noble houses. Even if Lord Borros is involved behind the scenes, publicly accusing him without solid proof could stir undesirable rumors."
Lyman turned to glare at Mellos, his voice firm. "The king is the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. He need not tread so cautiously."
This elderly lord, hardened by years of overseeing finances, had a keen sense for political maneuvering.
The Targaryen dynasty had dragons, and five members of the royal family were dragonriders in this generation alone.
And that wasn't even counting Princess Rhaenys, who had married into House Velaryon, or Prince Daemon, the governor of the Stepstones.
With such power, dealing with Lord Borros should be a simple matter.
Mellos folded his arms, speaking calmly, "Public perception matters. His Grace has always valued fairness and justice."
Lyman huffed in frustration, his beard bristling. It was precisely this kind of indecisive politicking that had encouraged the king's habitual wavering.
As the two elders argued heatedly, Rhaegar stepped in to mediate. "Lord Lyman, your suggestion is a good one. Let's hear what the others think."
In truth, he agreed with the old lord's approach.
Even a loyal dog needed occasional discipline to prevent it from turning against its master.
House Targaryen had the strength; it was only fitting to remind the lords of Westeros of their place.
However…
Rhaegar's eyes flickered toward his silent father. He knew Viserys would never risk public backlash by openly reprimanding a great lord.
At that moment, Lord Jasper spoke up, offering a more diplomatic suggestion. "There are no clear offenses committed by Lord Borros. Summoning him to King's Landing for reprimand might be inappropriate."
He was still prioritizing the potential marriage alliance with House Baratheon.
Rhaegar turned to him and asked calmly, "Then in your opinion, how should we resolve this?"
"Your Highness, before your return to King's Landing, there was an intriguing proposal," Jasper said, his gaze flickering toward Otto Hightower. Then, with a serious expression, he continued, "We could invite Lord Borros to King's Landing under the pretense of arranging a marriage between Prince Aegon and one of his daughters, strengthening ties between our houses."
Rhaegar remained silent, his sharp eyes scanning between Jasper and Otto.
Otto, ever composed, added, "Marriage is a powerful political tool, an effective way to prevent conflict."
Viserys' brows lifted in contemplation.
That suggestion resonated with him.
A marriage alliance was far more appealing than a show of force.
Before he could speak, Alicent took a swig of wine and slammed her cup onto the table, her voice cold. "Marriage is no trivial matter. Aegon and Daemon were responsible for the disruption at the funeral. Lord Borros may not agree to such a match."
"It is worth trying. We have more than one prince," Otto said casually.
He understood his daughter's concerns—she wanted Aegon to protect their only daughter, Helaena.
Otto respected that.
But Borros had four daughters, and Otto had three grandsons.
If Aegon wasn't an option, then Aemond could be considered.
And if not Aemond, there was still the clever young Daeron.
One way or another, they could secure House Baratheon's loyalty and, in doing so, strengthen House Hightower's position.
As expected, once Alicent realized there were multiple choices, her anger faded, and she fell into deep thought.
Seeing that his wife had no further objections, Viserys felt relieved.
Just as he was about to agree, Rhaegar tapped his fingers against the table, drawing all eyes to him.
Lord Lyman, his voice quivering with age, asked, "Your Highness, we've all spoken. What is your opinion?"
He was a staunch advocate for decisive action and didn't want the matter to be resolved through marriage alone.
Thus, he asked the question directly.
---
Rhaegar lived up to expectations. He pushed back his chair and stood up, his gaze sweeping over the gathered ministers before speaking his true thoughts:
"My lords, first of all, I do not oppose the idea of a political marriage."
As he spoke, his eyes briefly passed over Otto and Jasper.
Then he continued, "At the same time, I am furious about Lord Borros' actions and believe he must be punished."
"That's right," Linman nodded in agreement.
"Please, stay calm."
Rhaegar raised a hand slightly, his gaze finally settling on his father as he spoke candidly, "Father, Lord Borros' actions verge on defiance of the royal family. We must pursue this matter with severity to uphold the honor of House Targaryen."
Jasper interjected, "Your Highness, we have no evidence."
"Yes, and House Baratheon is not as weak as some might think," Grand Maester Mellos chimed in.
Being abruptly interrupted, Rhaegar turned sharply, his voice rising in anger. "Shut your mouth!"
Jasper was stunned by the outburst, opening his mouth as if to defend himself.
But Rhaegar gave him no chance, pointing a finger directly at his nose with a piercing glare. "If you dare interrupt me again while I am speaking, I will send you to the Wall to join the Night's Watch."
As he spoke, he didn't forget to shoot a glance at Grand Maester Mellos, who sat beside Jasper.
These two had always echoed Otto's rhetoric, constantly hinting that his father should take the initiative to back down, using marriage as a way to show weakness to House Baratheon in exchange for peace.
With such scheming courtiers before him, Rhaegar had no intention of showing them any kindness.
And as it turned out, only by showing strength could he earn their respect.
After his reprimand, Jasper's face turned red with humiliation, but he dared not refute him. He lowered his head, his expression shifting between pale and flushed.
Grand Maester Mellos, meanwhile, remained silent, his eyes fixed downward.
Even Otto, who had seemed so confident before, fell quiet, adopting the stance of a mere observer.
The brief confrontation energized Linman, who quickly added, "Borros harbors wild ambitions. Continual concessions will only erode the royal family's prestige."
Leonor raised a hand in support. "A marriage alliance is feasible, but it should only proceed after Lord Borros has been properly punished."
At this moment, the two ministers felt immense satisfaction.
The king was weak-willed, always inclined to appease others.
Otto excelled at coaxing him, while Mellos and Jasper assisted from the sidelines.
Whenever a major issue arose, Leonor and Linman found themselves marginalized, unable to wield influence.
Rhaegar, however, was the opposite—a firm and resolute leader, entirely different from his father.
With the crown prince taking the lead, they finally had someone they could rally behind.
The council's dynamic shifted once again, leaving Viserys bewildered. In the end, he had no choice but to defer, sighing, "Rhaegar, then what do you think should be done?"
At critical moments, he still chose to trust his eldest son's judgment.
"There must be punishment, but the marriage can proceed as well."
Having thought through everything overnight, Rhaegar declared decisively, "Since Borros has committed no overt crime, we will find another way to make him pay the price he deserves."
He did not oppose an alliance with House Baratheon, even if the marriage involved Aegon or Aemond.
The emergence of the Forbidden Curse meant he had to unite with his half-brothers if he wanted to strengthen the family's power.
His mindset was shifting—he was moving closer to the mindset of a true king.
Leonor pondered and suggested, "Why not use the marriage as a pretext to bring both families together and reprimand Lord Borros face-to-face?"
Once the two families were gathered, it would be effortless for the king to chastise his vassal.
"The marriage can serve as a pretext, but it must not become widely publicized."
Rhaegar dismissed the idea with a shake of his head and continued, "The tournament is still months away. I plan to host a royal hunt and invite all the nobles from the Crownlands and Stormlands."
If they were going to target House Baratheon, they needed a proper occasion—one where the majority could bear witness.
Upon hearing this, the ministers did not respond immediately, instead weighing the pros and cons.
Rhaegar turned to his father and asked, "What do you think, Father?"
Viserys was also deep in thought.
A royal hunt was an excellent excuse—it was neither a direct summons for accountability nor a gesture of appeasement.
Once the two sides met, he was confident he could handle the situation.
With this in mind, a smile appeared on Viserys' face. "Good. Let's do as you say."
He then glanced at his wife and added in a lower voice, "We can also use this opportunity to let Aegon and Borros' daughter meet and see what the children think."
Alicent poured him a glass of wine and handed it over, gently replying, "Everything will be as you decide."
With the king's approval, the court ministers also gave their assent.
As the meeting was about to conclude, Viserys gazed at his formidable eldest son, overcome with emotion.
If only he had indulged himself enough already—then even if he were to close his eyes and die that very moment, he would rest assured knowing his family and kingdom were in good hands.
Before the ministers could disperse, Viserys made up his mind and solemnly announced, "My lords, Rhaegar has attended council meetings for years. I now declare that he shall be granted the power of regency."
The ministers were taken aback, not expecting the king to suddenly raise this matter.
Leonor's eyes widened in surprise. He hesitated. "Your Majesty, isn't it too soon to grant him the title of Regent?"
The words "Regent" were not to be taken lightly—they signified power almost equal to that of the king himself.
Though Rhaegar had supposedly been an observer, he had long since been involved in governance.
However, that had always been framed as a privilege granted out of the king's affection for his son.
As crown prince, Rhaegar commanded the respect of the court and the Seven Kingdoms, but respect did not necessarily translate to obedience.
With the title of Regent before his name, every noble in the realm would be required to bow before him.
He would, in effect, become the second king.
(End of Chapter)