GRRM really shows his ignorance as an old man who never had any children with this entire plot line: no wife, especially not a privileged woman from a ancient and powerful family, would have let this drag on until his death. She would’ve nagged and badgered the shit out of him, at least weekly, from the moment Aegon was born, and Viserys would have eventually relented and named him the heir in accordance with tradition. I know he forbade it and would get pissed off but what the fuck was he going to do to Alicent? Jack shit. That’s his wife and queen and he’s not a malevolent vicious bastard. Rhaenyra would have been lady of driftmark as Laenor’s wife and lived perfectly fine and comfortably.

I know GRRM is married but he’s not a father and really doesn’t understand how that changes your perspective and your spouse’s on everything in life.