"Elder sister, you don't need to worry about me."
Hearing her heartfelt advice, Rhaegar felt a surge of warmth. A deep sense of reassurance filled his heart.
"Ridiculous! You're my younger brother. If I don't worry about you, who will? Alicent?"
Rhaenyra's expression turned stern as she tugged on his ear, scolding fiercely, "I've said so much—have you remembered it all?"
"Of course, I won't forget," he replied.
Feeling the familiar softness he hadn't experienced in days, Rhaegar's mind began to drift into a tranquil haze, and a drowsy warmth overtook him.
Just before he closed his eyes, his lips curved into a faint smile, and he murmured:
"Sister, we are born of fire, unyielding to schemes and deception…"
---
The night deepened.
In another chamber within the Red Keep, candlelight pierced through the darkness. A lavish meal adorned the round table in the sitting room, where two figures sat opposite each other.
"Your Grace, our crown prince is highly vigilant. I'm afraid I can be of no use," Larys said helplessly, shaking his head as he wrestled with the food on his plate.
Across from him, Alicent sat expressionless, a glimmer of disdain in her eyes. She sipped her sweet wine from a goblet and said indifferently, "That's fine. As long as he stays away from King's Landing for a while, my father will have time to return."
Larys cast her a furtive glance and smirked. "Pardon me for saying so, Your Grace, but Prince Rhaegar is the rightful heir to the throne. Even if your father is a master of strategy, he cannot overturn the king's decree."
"Rhaenyra was once the king's chosen heir too, and yet she was toppled."
Alicent's tone was cold and firm. "Our current goal isn't the throne but rather forming alliances—any alliances that can secure our survival."
As she had once told Viserys:
Rhaegar's position as heir was as unshakable as a mountain; no one could challenge it.
And that was precisely the source of her recurring nightmares and secret fears.
Rhaegar showed no closeness to her and even seemed to subtly reject her as his stepmother. His treatment of his half-brother Aegon was even harsher, crushing the boy's confidence entirely.
If this continued, what would become of her and her children when Viserys eventually passed?
She had considered softening her stance, humbling herself to improve her relationship with Rhaegar.
But she had grown tired of bending to others' wills, of living a life at the mercy of others.
She was the queen, the mother of several princes and princesses for the realm, and she deserved honor and respect.
She would not grovel beneath anyone's feet or return to a life of subservience.
"Then you should ally with House Velaryon. That house is highly influential right now," Larys suggested, his eyes darting around. "Lady Laena recently gave birth to twin daughters. Your youngest son, Daeron, is only four—perhaps a marriage alliance could be arranged."
"Impossible," Alicent rejected immediately, her brows furrowing. "The Sea Snake is a shrewd statesman. We don't have enough leverage to sway him."
"Well…" Larys was momentarily at a loss. Shrugging, he asked, "Then what should our next step be, Your Grace?"
Larys's true skill lay in gathering intelligence. He was far less adept at devising grand strategies—unless the queen was willing to resort to more underhanded tactics.
"There is no next step," Alicent said, finishing her wine in one gulp and rubbing her temple. "Viserys has promised to let my father return to King's Landing. Once he's back, we'll secure the aid of House Hightower."
"Very well. The Triarchy has been showing signs of invading the Narrow Sea. Perhaps that could lead to some unexpected opportunities," Larys said with a sly smile, offering additional insights.
---
Outside the window, a tree's thick branches swayed in the wind. A bird's nest sat nestled in the foliage, where a sparrow hopped between the twigs. Its small, beady eyes observed the room's interior without blinking.
In the Dragonpit, a man in coarse robes sat by a window. His eyes, void of pupils, glowed eerily white.
After a long moment, he blinked, his pupils reappearing.
Though his expression was blank, he etched every detail of what he had seen and heard into his memory.
Muttering to himself, he said, "The Triarchy has been sighted near the Narrow Sea…"
Rhaenyra was right.
In a city as vast as King's Landing, no secret could escape the watchful eyes of the Dragonpit.
---
Seven days later.
"SCREEECH!"
A piercing dragon's roar echoed across the skies of King's Landing, drawing the attention of curious citizens.
Soon, three shadows soared over the city, heading toward the harbor.
The spectators tilted their heads to gaze at the sight: three dragons, one large and two smaller, flew through the clouds with their wings spread wide.
"Dragons! Three dragons!"
The scene left the people of King's Landing in awe.
Though the residents were accustomed to occasional glimpses of dragons, it was still a rare and thrilling sight to behold all three of the king's dragon-riding children taking to the skies together.
However, most of the time, there was only one dragon.
Occasionally, there were two dragons, usually when Prince Rhaegar and Princess Rhaenyra rode out together.
Seeing three dragons at once was a rare sight.
This time was no exception.
Due to Rhaenyra's strong insistence, her father, King Viserys, couldn't refuse her request to visit Driftmark together.
With Queen Alicent also speaking up on Rhaenyra's behalf, Viserys decided, "If I'm herding one sheep, I might as well herd two."
On a whim, he dragged Aegon out of bed, where the young prince had been napping.
He ordered Aegon to accompany Rhaegar to the banquet, showing off the royal family's impressive dragonriders.
But it wasn't just the three siblings making the trip. The Hand of the King, Lyonel Strong, was also part of the delegation.
The plump and affable Hand had already departed for Driftmark a day earlier, bringing a shipload of lavish gifts ahead of their arrival.
---
Above the azure skies.
Leading the way, Rhaegar rode on Cannibal, whose massive, dark wings sliced through the clouds like a black comet.
Trailing close behind were two golden dragons of similar size.
Rhaenyra, perched confidently atop Syrax, wore a bright smile and occasionally let out joyful cheers.
Meanwhile, Aegon, seated on Sunfyre, lagged far behind the other two, his face a picture of gloom and frustration, sighing heavily.
He had already resigned himself to his fate.
All he wanted was to stay in the Red Keep, flirting with the maids and enjoying the carefree life of a spoiled prince.
Instead, his father suddenly assigned him this task: to accompany his older brother on a trip to House Velaryon—a family he didn't get along with.
The reluctance in his heart was immeasurable.
But if Aegon was displeased, Sunfyre was even more so.
The dragon's vertical pupils were fixed nervously on Cannibal up ahead, and its usually graceful wings flapped stiffly, as if bracing for the moment Cannibal might turn around and devour it.
However, their fears were unfounded.
No one was paying them any attention.
Rhaegar spread his arms wide, balancing effortlessly on the stirrups of his saddle, relishing the cool, moist sensation of clouds breaking against him.
"Rhaenyra, you're too slow!" he called back with a hearty laugh, taking pride in Cannibal's unmatched speed.
Rhaenyra, securely fastened to her saddle by a chain around her waist, could only sit upright and watch him from a distance.
She shouted, "Slow down! Aegon is about to be left behind!"
Aegon (from the back): ...
Hearing her reminder, Rhaegar glanced back at his sulking younger brother and signaled Cannibal to slow its pace to keep the group together.
Before long, Rhaenyra caught up, guiding Syrax to circle playfully around Cannibal, soaring side by side.
She loved riding dragons, and she loved Rhaegar.
But what she loved most was riding dragons alongside Rhaegar, basking in the exhilarating sense of freedom.
Rhaegar responded with a knowing smile, indulging her playful mood.
Since this was an official outing, there was no harm in enjoying themselves along the way.
The three dragons flew at an astonishing speed, crossing Blackwater Bay and reaching Driftmark by early afternoon.
---
---
(End of Chapter)