Chapter 77 - Conspiracies (V)
"Did I sign an agreement with the King of Hell?" Hizdahr muttered to himself, watching the city of Meereen in flames. A revolt had broken out in the first month of his rule.
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Hizdahr felt his heart almost explode with anxiety as he noticed the young king's cold eyes fixed on him, his eyes becoming more and more dangerous. His brain was screaming at him to stay put, flashing a gentle smile, while his heart was begging him to run away.
Being in Aenar's presence was like being in front of a lion, or rather a dragon, ready to devour him at any moment.
"Of course I'm joking, Lord Hizdahr. How could I kill you?" said Aenar, with a gentle smile on his lips. For a brief moment, he saw the fear on Hizdahr's face and felt pleased to be causing his opponent so much stress. It was necessary to put that man in his place; otherwise, he might start making unacceptable demands.
"What a funny joke, Your Grace," replied Hizdahr, keeping a smile on his face and hiding any trace of dissatisfaction he was feeling at the moment. He was well aware that, in his position, any sign of discontent could cost him his life in an instant.
Hizdahr understood that kings, rulers of Free Cities and lords were creatures with extremely inflated egos, driven by the ability to decide the fate of hundreds or millions. He knew this because he was now one of these figures, and even though, at that moment, he was hating every second of the conversation.
Never in his life had he felt so humiliated as he did at that moment. Aenar Targaryen was not offering him the respect that he, as the future king of the entire Slaver's Bay, thought he deserved.
It was eating away at him like a flame of rage and fury. Hizdahr wanted to get up and leave, but he couldn't. Not while the sword of the woman behind Aenar was ready to behead him at the king's slightest command. He knew the risks of this journey were great, but he hadn't expected Aenar to be so irrational.
However, he couldn't back down, not when the benefits of this conversation were so important. His future and all his ancestors' efforts were riding on this conversation, so how could he back down at this point?
Aenar, for his part, certainly knew what was going on in Hizdahr's mind. But did that worry him? The answer was an absolute no. Why should he care? After all, it wasn't him who was asking for something, but Hizdahr.