After Viserys's death, Ser Otto and the Small Council plot to crown Prince Aegon, keeping the king's death secret to fortify their position while coercing the noble houses to switch allegiance; those who resist are imprisoned or hanged. Ser Criston unintentionally kills Lord Beesbury, who opposes the scheme, and Kingsguard Lord Commander Harrold Westerling resigns in protest. With Aegon missing, Otto and Alicent separately rush to find and influence him: Otto sends the Kingsguard twins Ser Erryk and Ser Arryk Cargyll, while Alicent enlists Criston and Prince Aemond. The Cargylls find Aegon first, but Criston and Aemond forcibly take him.
Larys tells Alicent that spies, including her lady-in-waiting Talya, operate inside the Red Keep, and Alicent approves eliminating the head spy. Amid all the obstacles, the Hand, the queen and their allies succeed: Alicent persuades a resistant Aegon to claim his birthright, and the citizens of King's Landing are herded into the Dragonpit to witness Aegon II's coronation. Princess Rhaenys, held captive for refusing to support his claim, is freed by Erryk; astride her dragon Meleys, she violently breaches the grand hall, causing mayhem and death and threatening the royals, then flees King's Landing.