Honestly, Ronan could not care less about the main storyline... he was more content with doing his own thing.
But it would seem that his other heritage was catching up to him, specifically because he was technically part of the House of the Dragon.
By virtue of his "father" who is Daemon Targaryen, who is apparently astute enough in this universe to discredit his "Bronze Bitch", annul the marriage without horse-riding accidents, and irk said "Bronze Bitch" for a long, long time.
So, well played to the Rogue Prince and better luck this time to his Lady mother Rhea.
But, at least, she wouldn't be murdered... by a dude in his murder hoody.
In any case, Ronan continued to discuss what Lady Jeyne wanted to discuss... while treating the jealous Redfort like the air in this high-altitude palace... and then left with an excuse and a goodbye.
He kind of needed to prepare for the trip, and it just so happened that the pivotal project he just wrapped up was sort of perfect for the job.
The uncanny timing of things, indeed...
Of course, with all that covered, he also had to prepare for whatever was going to greet them there.
The King has been trying to summon him for over a year now, after all... and it is kind of easy to guess why...
On paper, it was because of the accolades of his Bronze Order and being a talked-about young knight who beat bastardy...
But on that paper's fine, fine print... the dude could already be suspecting something else and this mandatory face-to-face is meant to confirm it and all.
Ronan felt like he was delaying the inevitable this whole time... and given that the King was being more forceful, it is bound to happen anyways.
So, with that mindset, why not just go with the flow?
And maybe see some of the scenes that he saw on the show, on a more personal perspective.
Meaning that to treat it as a sightseeing vacation was the right way to go.
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Meanwhile... Lady Rhea Royce stood by the open window of her solar, the cold wind from the sea pushing against her dark hair.
Looking by the port, something floated noticeably... themed with colors of bronze...
It was Ronan's newest work, finished only days ago. And it was years in the making, a goal he had long worked towards for so long.
The boy had inherited her stubbornness, no doubt, though the rest of him… the sharper edges and the boldness… those were not hers.
Two letters lay on her table, waiting to be read again.
The seal it bore was the crown's, and Rhea did not doubt there were also others like them.
Rhea already knew what it said. She had read one of those letters twice now. The words carried weight she had been expecting for years.
The king requests his presence. The king requests the presence of her son. And this time, the monarch was not taking any rejection.
Meaning that it was time.
The late Lord Yorbert's words echoed in her mind again... about how time will tell of her truth.
It was quite the distant memory... a young babe beside her as she reasoned and raged.
Now, over three and ten years had passed.
She had waited long enough for that truth to be seen, for the realm to admit that she had been wronged.
Many still whispered that she had driven her husband away, that she had been too proud, too sharp, too unwilling to please.
Few cared to remember that Daemon Targaryen had promised her union and respect before the Septon, before many to witness.
Fewer still remembered how quickly he had broken that promise, parading his insults before the court, calling her names before half the realm.
The Bronze Bitch.
Even now the title clung to her like rust.
Rhea had fought to keep Runestone strong while that Daemon wasted his chances in King's Landing, playing knight and rogue in equal measure.
He had left her shamed, mocked, and a whore in the eyes of men. They had called her disloyal, though she knew better.
They had a son, in wedlock at that. Before it all went to null.
Her son... the boy Daemon had never claimed, the one he had called mistake and shame... had grown into the kind of man the prince could never be.
So when the maester came with the raven's missive, Rhea read it again and again.
The king's words were careful, but she could sense the truth beneath them.
Viserys wanted to see the boy who carried the Royce name… and perhaps to look upon Daemon's reflection, to see what his brother had truly left behind.
What the rogue buried with deceit.
Perhaps the king meant to absolve her. Perhaps not.
Either way, it was time.
So, Rhea touched the window frame, tracing the carved runes Ronan had etched there when he was much younger and testing their ancestry.
He had apparently made them for protection, and she believed it to work.
For his accomplishments had silenced every doubter... the Bronze Order, the rebuilding and progress of Runestone's trade, and the measured respect those achievements gave to her.
That protection served far more effective than the elusive signs in this window.
Unfortunately, Rhea knew she couldn't do the same to him. To protect him against his label as a Stone.
Which is why when the chance to legitimizing him arrived, she thought her heart would burst.
Ser Ronan Royce. Her boy. The bastard undone. And became a knight so young as well.
Still, the stain of being a bastard seemed to always be noted by people. Murmuring and reminding others when they can. Perhaps hoping that it will blunt the boy's ever-sharpening edge.
But now, that the boy is growing and his features is molding... new whispers were starting...
About how many travelled men actually saw a shadow of Daemon's face in Ronan's... and that was almost enough to stop those damaging tongues.
With these new whisper mayhaps making its way to the King… and perhaps why the man had been so insistent of Ronan's presence in the capital...
When the king eventually sees Daemon's supposedly obvious shadow in the boy's features... then that would be when absolution comes for her.
Let King Viserys see what had become of their mistake. His, Jaeharys', and so many others...
Let them see that the child Daemon had spat upon was now the pride of hers, of Runestone... and make them regret.
Of their blindness, of their foolishness, of how gullible they were.
Rhea could almost imagine it now... the King's horror, the King's disbelief... and how it will all blow up in Daemon's smug face.
Accordingly, let those two brothers choke and argue over it.
She will wait for the aftermath that will only be advantageous for her... and much more so for his son.
In any case, she turned from the window and summoned one of her attendants.
For preparations would begin at once.
Her son would ride for King's Landing soon. And she would follow.
If Viserys meant to summon his son into the light, then she will see to it that he does it properly.
Let the court see that Runestone stood strong... that House Royce endured dishonor, endured mockery, endured time itself... and was still unbroken.
Accordingly, Rhea allowed herself a rare smile.
Because her son was about to be a prince... the title that should have been promised to him.
A princely title he should have had from birth.
And she could only wager that this time, no Targaryen or court gossip would take it from him.