The search leads them through the seedier parts of King’s Landing, eventually involving the , who has been holding the prince hostage in exchange for an end to the city's brutal child-fighting pits. The Coronation and the Dragon
A significant portion of the episode plays out as a "wild goose chase" through the capital. Aegon is missing, and two rival teams are dispatched to find him:
The King is Dead, Long Live the King: "The Green Council" (S01E09) Recap
The resulting "Green Council" meeting reveals a chilling truth: Otto and most of the small council have been plotting this succession for years. While Alicent believes she is fulfilling her husband’s dying wish, she quickly realizes her father’s plans are far more ruthless, including the potential assassination of Rhaenyra and her children to secure Aegon’s claim. The Search for Aegon
Ser Criston Cole and Prince Aemond, who Alicent hopes will bring Aegon to her so she can influence him before her father does.
The penultimate episode of House of the Dragon Season 1, titled shifts the focus entirely to King’s Landing following the death of King Viserys I Targaryen. It is a claustrophobic, intense hour that chronicles the Hightower coup and the chaotic scramble to crown a new king before the news of Viserys’ passing reaches Dragonstone. The Secret Coup