Inside the King's Landing council chambers, the atmosphere was occasionally somber.
Currently, there were four people in the council chambers, each with a different appearance and age.
These four people were also the most powerful figures in Westeros, dictating its present and future.
Duke Mond was a burly, bearded warrior with black hair and black eyes, while the Old King Jaehaerys II had large purple eyes, shoulder-length hair, and was pale, frail, and prematurely aged.
There was also Prince Aerys, the first heir to the iron throne, who was self-assured, temperamental, and charming, and his son, Prince Rhaegar, the second heir, with silver hair and indigo eyes.
Silver hair and purple eyes were the mark of the Valyrian Dragonlords, but purple eyes also commonly appeared as violet, lilac, or indigo.
Jaehaerys II was deep in thought, and Duke Mond also seemed pensive.
According to the letter from Ser Gerold Hightower, House Reyne had been completely wiped out by now.
With the Westerlands united, the House Lannister's strength would immediately recover, as the foundation Ser Gerold had laid for them was already solid. With House Reyne completely eradicated, there were no longer any secondary Lords in the Westerlands blocking their way.
Rhaegar looked at the King and Duke Mond, the two commanders, and understood that they had mixed feelings of joy and worry.
The joy stemmed from Tywin's friendly relations with Aerys and Steffon; the strengthened House Lannister would further bolster the current alliance of the Dragon, Lion, and Stag.
The worry was that Aerys seemed neither tolerant nor magnanimous, and somewhat mediocre, while Tywin was a strong-willed man. There might be disputes in the future. With a weak lord and strong vassals, only the old gods knew what would happen.
"That boy Tywin did a splendid job," Prince Aerys said. He seemed unaware of the gravity of the situation, and was about to face criticism.
"Ser Tywin is not only your vassal, but also your friend. Furthermore, you should show respect and courtesy to the heir of the Westerlands," Duke Mond suddenly interjected.
"Take your lecherous eyes off Joanna. If it happens again, I'll send you to live in the Silent Sisters' convent," Jaehaerys II suddenly reprimanded sternly.
"As a Crown Prince, do you think your behavior is appropriate? You are disloyal to your wife and disloyal to your brother, truly like a foolish goose jumping around. At your age, Tywin was already decisive, having crushed rebels.
And you? Your eyes are always fixed on women's skirts, perfumes, and smiles. Do you think those women truly love you? Or do they love the crown, power, and throne you possess?" The King's voice grew increasingly stern.
Aerys's handsome face immediately flushed crimson, like a fresh pig's liver, as if someone had stabbed him through the heart and lungs. He had such thoughts, but no one had ever dared to criticize him like this.
"I! I!" Prince Aerys's face turned red, but he dared not loudly retort.
The scene before them was truly awkward.
Facing his uncle and father, both his mentors and powerful figures, he could only nod submissively.
Rhaegar was secretly pleased, but he didn't smile. He was too young; otherwise, he would have truly wanted to slap Aerys on behalf of his mother.
Because Ser Tywin was Aerys's friend, and Lady Joanna was Rhaella's close friend. Coveting her was truly despicable. Moreover, Joanna's father died in the Stepstones, having sacrificed himself for the realm. Of all people to offend, why choose her?
He had heard many stories of his father, Prince Aerys's romantic escapades in King's Landing.
In the Prince's presence, there were always those who preened and yearned for courtly glory, most of them young girls. And the Prince himself indulged in it.
Duke Mond saw the situation immediately spiraling out of control and knew he had to intervene. Besides, in front of a child, it was best to say less.
So Duke Mond stood up and said with a chuckle, "I think that's enough. Let's share some good news instead. Steffon will have a child soon, and I can't wait. I hope it's a strong boy, though a girl would also be nice."
"Indeed, Rhaegar, this news also concerns you," Jaehaerys II added. A smile also appeared on the King's face. If the Ser's wife gave birth to a daughter, she would almost certainly be Rhaegar's betrothed bride.
Marriages of heirs to the iron throne were rarely voluntary.
While child betrothals were too early, even when Rhaegar grew up, his choice of queen would be limited.
Unless there were special circumstances, Targaryen blood rarely flowed outside the family; this was their inherited Valyrian tradition.
Years ago, a certain Targaryen princess and an Arryn bore a daughter, Aemma Arryn, who later married back into the Targaryen family and gave birth to Rhaenyra.
Such were the marriages in Westeros; born into an era of noble houses, autonomy in marriage was rare.
The Targaryens mostly followed a few historical rules: Old Valyrian dragon blood, internal marriages, or, if absolutely necessary, daughters of other great noble houses.
Internal marriages were best; if not, then dragon blood from other families.
Although Rhaegar was still young, the candidates for the young Prince's bride were limited to only a few families.
"Yes, Father. The only girl suitable for Rhaegar at the moment is the child from the Dornish Princess's family. The Princess is also Rhaella's close friend, and their daughter, Elia Martell, is a bit older than Rhaegar, but she also has dragon blood in her veins. However, this girl will definitely have a Dornish flavor to her." Prince Aerys interjected, grimacing at the mention of 'Dornish flavor.' Even though Dorne had integrated, many people still held prejudices against Dornishmen.
Upon hearing the girl's name, Rhaegar's heart quickened. 'I should be laughed at for being so sentimental, for having wronged so many.' He didn't know how he should face it; perhaps they wouldn't get along.
Based on friendship, affection, practicality, and dragon blood concentration, if there were a Baratheon girl, she would absolutely be the first choice. The Martell girl was a bit older, but she also had dragon blood.
This time, the Queen should only give birth to Robert the Hammer, right? Rhaegar thought to himself.
With his elders speaking this way, Rhaegar merely chuckled.
He wasn't flustered, because this was the predetermined plot.
But he had already changed parts of history; he wondered if history would continue to change.
Rhaegar suddenly thought of one of his legendary ancestors, the 'Sower of King's Landing,' the mediocre King Aegon IV.
He had many children, and everyone said it was out of lust.
But Rhaegar felt that perhaps there was another story behind it?
He would need to carefully reread the autobiography of Lord Bloodraven sometime; the Lord should have known his father quite well.
To say Aegon IV wasn't picky, he certainly had countless conquests, even contracting venereal diseases.
To say he was picky, this ancestor often chose women with special bloodlines, seeking out maidens from different regions and different lineages of the known world.
The Blackwood family worshiped the old gods, Daemon Blackfyre also had pure dragon blood, and he even had relations with Braavosi courtesans and impoverished Valyrian nobles from Lys.
It seemed he had been with women from all over the known world. Was he truly foolish, or was he playing a grand game...? In 262 AC, it seemed the realm was at peace.
That year, there was excellent news: Ser Steffon's wife gave birth to healthy, black-haired, black-eyed twins, a brother and sister.
The boy was named Robert, and the girl was named Roberta.