Rhaena sat in the corner of the throne room, her thoughts drifting back to a time before the cruel reign of Maegor. She closed her eyes, remembering the days when Aegon was just a boy, and she had been there to guide him. How proud she had been when he matured into the man she once thought she’d share a life with—before the whispers of civil war and the condemnation of the Faith. The twins, Aerea and Rhaella, were born into a love she never thought could be torn apart.

A heavy sigh escaped her lips as the reality of the present returned with a cruel jolt. Her gaze shifted, and she saw Maegor, seated on the Iron Throne, barking orders with cold, merciless detachment. He held court with the same brutal disregard he’d shown her since their marriage. Rhaena straightened her back, pushing the bittersweet memories aside, her heart hardening against the man she now called her husband.

Maegor's voice snapped through the room, and she couldn’t help but flinch as another victim was dragged forward, awaiting the king's decree.