13º Goodbye Otto
Otto Hightower was not a voyeur. He really was not a voyeur. But he could see a beautiful lady in her nakedness…. Well… He was not a foolish man to waste an opportunity either. Especially with a lady old enough to be his granddaughter and more beautiful than any other in the Kingdom
Otto thought greedily that he should have gotten Haelyx's hand before she was married to her current husband. He had been thinking about it, but he did not know what was best, whether to take the beautiful girl himself or leave her for his second grandson. In the end the situation got out of hand while he was not in the capital to control things
He had not thought that Aegon's lust would lead him to try to take his cousin. But that was fine too. An alliance with the Riverlands and Aemond free to be married to a new alliance. Daeron had been the alliance with the Dominion. Aegon and Helaena would have secured the Crownlands. And if all had gone well, Aemond would have married one of the four storms or the Maid of the Vale.
But no, Rhea Royce's daughter had turned out to be a bit of a problem by giving birth to a girl. However, that could also be considered a future alliance with the land of the Rivers. For Aemond, Jaehaerys or Daeron. And the Princess had regained her enviable figure with remarkable speed.
Otto wanted to get between the couple and make the Princess his lover. He might even have a bastard or two with her that he could pass off as her husband's children. He found himself at night in his dream world sliding his hands up the girl's soft white thighs. And he would wake up with his cock hard and dripping, longing to be buried in the young Princess.
He had tried to find a prostitute with Valyrian features, but he had found none that could compare. That was until he had realized after the death of his useless grandson that the Princess, instead of having a basin brought to her bedroom to bathe, used the baths that had been built by Maegor and his wives.
He had spied on her and watched her come and go. He managed to find a hole in the wall and could see her pale body, covered by a white robe that stuck to her skin that made madness invade him. Otto wanted to replace that cloth with his hands and the drops of water with his lips.
He was preparing himself, driving away the guards, calculating when she usually went to the baths and looking for a place to hide.
Just once, even if she didn't want it, it was her fault for being so utterly tempting. Good women weren't so tempting and seductive.
Otto lost himself in his hallucinations of what he would do with Princess Haelyx in a very short time. The man continued with his fantasies without noticing at any time that the Princess avoided looking in the direction he was in but that there was a mirror that gave her a perfect view of Otto's hiding place. Otto Hightower also did not notice that the woman in the steam was not Haelyx Targaryen
No, her name was Amerys, former apprentice prostitute, current apprentice witch and volunteer to set the trap for Otto Hightower. The girl avoided having her face seen with tricks learned in the brothel during her childhood
And she made sure to be as tempting as possible. The white robe that clung to her body had two reasons. To give the image of chastity and puritanism that the Hightowers preferred and to hide the fact that Amerys' body had not gone through two pregnancies.
If Otto Hightower were not blinded by lust he would notice that it was a trap. But the aphrodisiacs carefully placed in his food over the past few weeks and his previous lust and greed were blinding the brain that had brought him such a high position at Court and in life.
Haelyx Peverell really loved making long-term plans
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About three weeks earlier, Avalon meeting room
-We need to kill Otto Hightower. – Haelyx nearly jumped across the table to kiss her husband. She loved that they were on the same page when it came to murder. – He is our greatest threat in the Kingdom. He is greedy, he desires the treasures of the Valyrian Freehold for himself, and he may destabilize the government of Westeros in ways unfavorable to our Kingdom. What do you think, wife?
-I love you, Edmyn. – The blush on the man's cheeks was something to see. – I also wanted to bring up Otto's murder at this meeting. I love it when we agree on things like this
The two looked at each other for a few moments before someone cleared their throat and pulled them out of their bubble
-I think it's a good idea. Otto Hightower is certainly a formidable enemy in many ways. – The Minister of Defense was the one who spoke with a measured voice. Haelyx knew that the real feelings he felt for Otto were much more violent.
Otto really knew how to piss off a lot of people. Those smart enough to know the kind of man he was.
-But we have to find a way to distract him enough for him to fall into murder. We know he has a personal taster, poison is off the table.
-A distraction and a murder... What do we know about him? What are his tastes in brothels? – Edmyn asked the Master of Whispers
-Are we going to use a prostitute? A classic in murders. – Said the Minister of Magic
-We are not going to use a prostitute, but nothing distracts a man as much as an attractive woman. Now we just have to know the exact type of the Hand of Westeros.
The Master of Whispers stepped out for a moment and came back with a folder. That was something Haelyx had created, something she had encouraged. That way, when the Master of Whispers died, all the information wouldn't be lost with him. It was a rather large dossier and Haelyx thanked Hermione Granger again for taking Harry Potter to so many museums after she was widowed. Thanks to that, her country was progressing by leaps and bounds compared to the other countries in the world.
The man turned the pages until he found the one he wanted.
-Well, lately he likes blonde prostitutes, with light eyes, slightly above average height, very pretty, ... - Everyone looked at Haelyx and she sighed heavily feeling a gag rise in her throat.
Otto was old enough to be her great-grandfather!
-So... I attract him. Great, I'll be the bait.
-No! I will not use you as bait for a pervert!
-My Queen…. We all agree with the King, you are too important to be bait for a murder. Besides, we would never let you be in a situation where a man could look at you with desire in a shameless way. We all swore to protect you
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Amerys listened to Oscar talk about what had happened at the meeting. Now they were “Lovers” in Avalon, free love was the norm. Although there were so many contraceptive methods that it was normal for people to practice free love.
-And why not use me? – Oscar looked at his girlfriend as she straightened up in her very soft cotton sheets. – I look a lot like the Queen in terms of figure, height and complexion, a little steam or smoke and not seeing my face can be enough to mislead someone who does not know us intimately
-Amerys…. I won't put you in danger
-I can fight and I have magic. Besides, a lot of brothel girls who have been raised in King's Landing want to punch Otto Hightower in the face. Preferably with a knight's gauntlet.
-All the girls?
-Yeah, that bastard made very strict laws for brothels. Among them one that said that for a brothel to stay open a priest of the faith of the seven had to bless it every month. You have no idea how expensive those blessings were. Many brothels went bankrupt or began to serve Septons discreetly just to stay open. Life on Silk Street became harder just because of him
Amerys remembered that. She was lucky enough to be part of one of the more expensive brothels, so they were okay, but the blessings of the militant Faith were expensive. Many establishments closed and the girls practiced without a premises, which was very dangerous and difficult. Many died after being killed by their clients or from starvation when the clients ran away without paying.
Small mafias were formed that controlled the girls and the girls had to give them a much higher percentage than the locals. After that the Queen's brother, as the leader of the Gold Cloaks, put an end to the mafias and gained public recognition for it.
A smart move, the only ones who suffered were the inhabitants of Flea Bottom. The faith grew richer and the Hightowers gained more fame.
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Amerys looked at the Minister of Magic. She had never been in her presence. She had always tried to be a good student and not draw attention to herself. She didn't want to lose her chance to study.
She knew she was doing this behind Oscar's back, but...
She wanted to help. She wanted to help the people who had gotten her out of the brothel. Plus by doing this she would obviously get on good terms with important people, which was a plus. Especially if her relationship with Oscar went well. From the bastard daughter of a prince who lived in a brothel and was a prostitute to the wife of a King's brother.
Amerys wanted to achieve that position and not only because Oscar was the King's brother, he was also a good man. The kind of men that Amerys' mother had taught her to identify.
-If you're lucky one of them will buy you and you'll be a concubine or wife to a nice rich guy without much on his mind. Watch out Amerys, a good client is very hard to find and very easy to lose.
Her mother had many good clients and then bad clients but she liked them when it came to having sex. Amerys' mother knew very well how to divide where she ate and who she satisfied herself with
-Amerys… What you've proposed… I'll have to consult it, but it could be the best option
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Haelyx greeted Amerys. Her stepsister and her really did look alike, in general. Same height, same bust size, Amerys' hair was just a few shades darker than Haelyx's
-Has he come?
-Like every damn time. The pervert will soon start pleasuring himself while he watches. Or he'll decide to join me in the baths
-Probably the latter. Otto is not the type to look without wanting. Everything he has looked at and wanted so far he has gotten in one way or another. Even the Iron Throne is his, though he only sits there as a substitute for a sick King. – Haelyx looked at Amerys. – I have put a ward in the bathroom in case he tries to get any closer. From now on you will have to take the antidote
-The antidote?
-The ward will make the censers start burning a hallucinogenic potion. The antidote will make it so that it will not affect you. And then… Then Otto will willingly walk to his death
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Haelyx was wearing a low neckline that she normally did not wear. Her breasts were almost on display for whoever wanted to see them. The Queen had a grimace of displeasure on her face as she looked at them
-The dress has gotten a little small for me. The children no longer want my milk and my breasts are full.
-Add a handkerchief to cover yourself next time. It is unbecoming of a noble lady to be showing herself in such a manner
Haelyx wanted to ask her how she dressed when she snuck into the chambers of Haelyx's recently widowed uncle. But she held her tongue. As they walked to the Sept they met Otto and Haelyx saw the man staring at her breasts. The Queen, so observant in many things, seemed blind to her father's eyes looking at a girl her daughter's age
-Where are you going, Alicent?
Haelyx frowned, this man may be Alicent Hightower's father. But Alicent was the Queen of Westeros. In public he should not refer to her in such an informal way, he should treat her as the Queen she was. But obviously, this man wanted the Queen to not realize her own power, to continue being subjugated to him as her father.
-Let's go to the Sept to light candles for Aegon. – The Queen let out a soft sob at the end and Haelyx didn't have to pretend as she put her hand on the woman's arm to comfort her. The Queen nodded her thanks and Haelyx shuddered. Otto was now staring at her breasts so intently that the people around were noticing
Shameless, shameless... And this man was a supposed follower of the faith and the Seven?!! Haelyx probed Otto's mind before leaving following the Queen and heard him clearly. His plans to assault her, he had even thought of sneaking a criminal into the Red Keep to blame him for what he would do to Haelyx
Tomorrow. Tomorrow Otto Hightower would die
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Otto was walking up the stairs to the baths. On her way she didn't notice the things that weren't right, like the fact that she had climbed many more steps than she should have or that the windows always showed the same landscape. Or the absence of doors.
Otto Hightower didn't know that he was walking towards his doom. Haelyx smiled at that, drugs were really beautiful things, especially the hallucinogenic ones. Then she looked at the women gathered. All with white hair, all with Valyrian features except one.
Haelyx had had to dig into many minds to find a clear image of that woman, but she already knew what Otto Hightower's wife looked like.
-Well, this is about to begin. Remember, this man came here to rape. Use the illusions I showed you.
The first door opened and they all hid. Haelys watched Amerys sit back and start wetting her hair to cover up why she hadn't heard the door.
Otto staggered in and his eyes fell on the figure of the young girl. His hands fumbled to his clothes untying them before Amelys looked back. Otto took several steps back.
- -- Viserra? Where's Haelyx?
- What are you doing here, Hightower?
Otto turned to look at the woman who had spoken. He turned very pale. The green makeup on the older woman would make her look like… in Otto's drugged mind.
- Alyssanne.
- You don't belong here, man. – Another said. The girls were having trouble not laughing as they spoke in soft, whispering voices.
- Will you take me like Maegor did?
-Men just take and take
-Get out
-Get out of here
Otto paled as he looked around. His eyes were unfocused and he saw things that were not of this world. Haelyx put her hand on the last woman. The man was waving his arms and making gestures as if to get something off of him. He rubbed his arms vigorously as he looked around at the women who walked and passed each other constantly
-Otto… - The man looked at the last woman. Her white robe was stained red and she looked at him with her head tilted to the side. - Are you going to kill me again, Otto?
The man gasped and gasped before running out the door. The women could not contain themselves any longer and started laughing. Haelyx disappeared downstairs. There she transformed the window into a door.
Haelyx waited and when Otto arrived she walked through the door, looking at him with a seductive smile. Then she dropped a few feet to the broom that held Edmyn and was waiting for her. They were using a very powerful disillusionment spell. Otto rushed through the door and into the void with a scream.
Haelyx went back to the door and turned it back into a window. Edmyn was behind her. Then she went up to the room that was a storage room and saw the witches leaving it as it was originally.
-Otto Hightower is dead, my dear ladies. Go back to Avalon with the portkeys. I will stay here with my husband. We will do damage control. You have done very well and you will be rewarded for it.
Haelyx did not look at Amerys, but she knew that she was happy. That girl was transparent. But if she made Oscar happy Haelyx would support her and she knew Edmyn would too
They went to their bedroom and ran with the others to the courtyard. Otto Hightower was covered in a blanket. His broken body was at odd angles and his blood was seeping into the sheet leaving it stained red
The man's son was crying as he clung to the sheet.
- Who did it? Did he fall from the tower?
- They say it was suicide. – A random man said.
- Suicide? He of all people wouldn't have killed himself
Haelyx looked at the men. Edmyn walked over to them.
- Who is it? Who is under the sheet? Is it one of the gold cloaks?
- It's the Hand
Queen Alicent's scream was worth hearing. Haelyx's ears rang loudly and she gasped, moving away from the crowd. She walked over to the other traumatized ladies and mingled with them. She stepped away from the crowd as the Queen ran to the dead man and lifted the sheet with another piercing scream.