‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Episode 3 delivered a major twist involving Prince Daeron Targaryen, the youngest son of Alicent Hightower and King Viserys. The episode revealed that the boy presented to Rhaenyra as Daeron was actually a fake. Lord Ormund Hightower had forced a merchant’s son to dye his hair silver and pretend to be the prince to protect the real one.
But the twist may have started even earlier. Many fans believe the show has already shown the real Daeron Targaryen without anyone realizing it. The clue may be hiding in plain sight from the very first episode of the season.
The Fake Daeron Twist in Episode 3
The third episode of Season 3, titled “Rhaenyra Triumphant,” aired on July 5, 2026. It opened with Daemon Targaryen confronting Lord Ormund Hightower. Daemon demanded that Ormund hand over his ward, Prince Daeron. Ormund agreed and presented a young boy with silver hair.
Rhaenyra decided to spare the boy’s life and send him to the Night’s Watch. She brought Alicent to see her son one final time. But Alicent immediately realized the truth. The boy was not her son.
The fake Daeron, played by actor Charlie Gordon, was actually a child from a merchant family. Ormund had threatened to hang the boy’s mother if he did not go along with the plan. The real Daeron remained safe with Ormund’s forces.
This twist is a show-only creation. It does not happen in George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood.
The Real Daeron May Be Hiding as Ormund’s Squire
Now that the fake Daeron has been exposed, the big question is: where is the real prince? Many fans believe the answer lies in the Season 3 premiere.
In the first episode of Season 3, Ormund Hightower is shown at his army camp. He is accompanied by Ser Jon Roxton and a teenage boy. Ormund orders the boy to draw a bath for a messenger. The boy is dressed in Hightower green and appears to be Ormund’s squire.
According to fan theories, this unnamed squire might actually be Daeron Targaryen hiding in plain sight. The actor playing the squire is Benjamin Evan Ainsworth. He is known for his roles in “The Haunting of Bly Manor” and as the voice of Pinocchio in Robert Zemeckis’ film. He is also set to play Link in the upcoming “Legend of Zelda” movie.
Given his status as a well-known young actor, it seems unlikely that he would be playing a brief unnamed character.
The Evidence Supporting the Theory
Several clues support the theory that the squire is the real Daeron.
First, Daeron was sent to Oldtown as a young child to live with his uncle Ormund. He has been away from King’s Landing for years. Alicent admitted in Episode 3 that she had only seen her youngest son once in the past five years. This distance explains why she did not recognize the fake.
Second, the squire’s reddish-brown hair matches Alicent’s hair color. While Targaryens are known for their silver hair, the gene is not completely dominant. Rhaenyra’s children with Harwin Strong had brown hair. It is possible that Daeron took after his mother.
Third, Daeron’s dragon Tessarion is seen at the Hightower camp in Episode 3. The dragon is rider-less, suggesting that Daeron is nearby. If the squire is Daeron, he would be close to his dragon.
Fourth, in the book Fire & Blood, Daeron serves as a squire to Lord Ormund Hightower. The show appears to be following this detail closely.
Showrunner Ryan Condal’s Comments
Showrunner Ryan Condal has been careful about revealing Daeron’s casting. Earlier this year, he told Entertainment Weekly that the character would be revealed in the season. He did not confirm who would play him.
Condal also confirmed that Daeron would play a large role in Season 3. This suggests that the character is more important than a simple unnamed squire.
HBO has not officially announced the actor playing the real Daeron. But some reports have linked Benjamin Evan Ainsworth to the role. An X account, @housethedragons, noted that Ainsworth was credited as the boy on Sky Italia’s website.
What This Means for the Story
The fake Daeron twist has major consequences for Rhaenyra. She thought she had captured a valuable hostage and a rival claimant to the Iron Throne. Instead, she was tricked.
The real Daeron remains with the Hightower army. He is a dragonrider bonded with Tessarion, a blue she-dragon. In the book, Daeron earns the nickname “Daeron the Daring” during the Dance of the Dragons.
Episode 3 also revealed that Ormund’s forces had captured Tumbleton. This means the Greens are still a serious threat. Daeron and Tessarion could play a key role in future battles.
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A Clever Show-Only Addition
The fake Daeron twist is a smart change from the source material. In Fire & Blood, Ormund does not try to deceive Rhaenyra with a decoy. The show created this plot point to add suspense and surprise.
The theory that the squire is the real Daeron adds another layer of intrigue. If true, it means the show has been hiding the character in plain sight since the season premiere.
Fans will have to wait for future episodes to see if the theory is correct. But the evidence is strong. The real Daeron Targaryen may have already appeared on screen without anyone realizing it.
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