One heart that got hurt during the course unconventionally was that of the
Ser Criston Cole, we have to understand, was never a good guy. He wasn't an honorable knight who went over to the dark side. He merely wore a chivalrous façade. He didn't want Rhaenyra to run away with him because he loved her despite his claims to marry “for love.” Nor was he heartbroken over her refusal.
So yeah, he will always love Rhaenyra. Cole certainly did not take Rhaenyra's rejection well; in fact, he beat a man to death because he was so salty about it. He's now taken a central role in the faction that opposes Rhaenyra's claim to the Iron Throne, and things are not going to get better.
In George R. R. Martin's "Fire and Blood," Alicent and Criston are definitely close, and they form the center of the greens alliance. The book never makes it clear why, exactly, Criston chose that side in the war. There's no mention of a romantic connection between them.
In the books, Criston proposes to Rhaenyra before she leaves for Driftmark to negotiate her betrothal to Laenor Velaryon.
Nothing ever happened between the kingsguard and the princess. Whereas in HOTD we are shown that Criston and Rhaenyra did indeed have sex, and as you know, Martin had more creative control in HOTD.
Ser Laenor even discusses this with Ser Joffrey himself, the latter of whom is aware that Rhaenyra has her own paramour in Ser Criston. Sailing back from Driftmark where the marriage was agreed to King's Landing, Ser Criston makes his own proposal to Rhaenyra: to run away together and forge a new life.
In "King of the Narrow Sea", Rhaenyra seduced Ser Criston after she herself was denied by her uncle Daemon (Matt Smith). She and her paramour spent the night together, and she was warm towards Ser Criston afterward.
Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon Episode 6! “The Princess and the Queen” opens up with Rhaenyra giving birth to her third child, another boy. Laenor decides they'll name him Joffrey after his late lover who Criston beat to death right before he and Rhaenyra wed.
However, his vicious hatred of Rhaenyra also extends to her innocent sons Prince Jacaerys Velaryon and Prince Lucerys Velaryon who he is meant to be training in combat alongside Alicent's sons Prince Aegon Targaryen and Prince Aemond Targaryen.
In Fire & Blood, however, Rhaenyra is in love with Daemon from a young age. Things change after she meets Criston Cole. Nevertheless, George R. R. Martin's books show that Rhaenyra's first love was Daemon, whereas House of the Dragon has a slower build-up between the two.
Alcock explains that Rhaenyra wants to be “seen” and Criston and Daemon are the “only two people who really see her. Both of them see her for different reasons.” She reveals that “she genuinely likes him. But I don't think she would pick him over Daemon, ultimately.”
Like many other Targaryens, Daemon and Rhaenyra are both related by blood and (eventually) romantically involved. Rhaenyra is Daemon's niece, as the daughter of his older brother, King Viserys I. The two also are brother- and sister-in-law through their earlier marriages.
Back in her chambers, Rhaenyra's gaze lands on the handsome Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel). After some initial reluctance by Criston, who has much more on the line as a lowborn member of the Kingsguard, Rhaenyra playfully seduces her long-standing crush and they have sex.
Ser Criston Cole: According to Martin's The World of Ice and Fire, Ser Criston was born in 81 AC, making him 16 years Rhaenyra's senior. But Dragon's Ser Criston is likely much younger: Fabien Frankel, who portrays the knight onscreen, is 28 years old, only 8 years older than Alcock's young Rhaenyra.
Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) finally had sex on House of the Dragon. After teasing their deep connection for weeks, making out in a brothel, and flirting their way through King's Landing, uncle and niece at long last did the dirty.
We last saw her find out the truth in "We Light the Way" that Rhaenyra lost her virginity to Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel).
Jacaerys, Rhaenyra's eldest son, and his two younger brothers have spent their short lives surrounded by whispers that their real father was Ser Harwin Strong.
Daemon and Rhaenyra share two children together: Aegon III and Viserys II.
In the book Fire and Blood, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen does indeed marry Ser Laenor Velaryon. The pair go on to - officially at least - have three sons.
Daemon couldn't perform with Rhaenyra after she took control of the situation. “It's the idea that Daemon is using Rhaenyra as a way to get at her father,” showrunner Miguel Sapochnik said.
Aegon II's quick but viscerally brutal slaying of Queen Rhaenyra doesn't seem to do her justice.
Although Rhaenyra's mother's death initially made her fear the notion of bearing heirs, adult Rhaenyra Targaryen now has five sons in House of the Dragon – three healthy boys with Laenor Velaryon (fathered by Harwin Strong) and two silver-haired boys with her husband Daemon Targaryen.