When Rhaenyra's father, King Viserys, pressure her to marry Laenor Velaryon despite the rumors about how the young man was attracted to males, she only agreed because she knew that the court believed her to have been deflowered. The Princess made her father swear to remove Otto Hightower from court in exchange, which at least meant that the snake wouldn't be there anymore.

However, during the feast to celebrate their future union, she felt somewhat despondent despite all of the cheerful dancing. Rhaenyra tried to convince her uncle, Daemon, to take her to Dragonstone and marry her, but he refused. It seemed she had no choice but to wed Laenor.

While the two got along well, they didn't love each other. They'd agreed to fulfill their duties and have lovers on the side, but Rhaenyra had still hoped that she could choose her husband as the heir to the crown. Yet, that didn't seem to be the case.

Then, chaos suddenly broke out. Laenor's male lover, Ser Joffrey, and the knight whom Rhaenyra had secret slept with, Ser Criston, suddenly got into a fight as the latter's anger issues took over after Joffrey said something in jest.

The crowd panicked. Nobles scattered, and Rhaenyra hid under a table as items fell and people knocked each other over. Her father, King Viserys, watched in horror as she was stuck in the middle of the fray. But that was when you came forward.