The Red Keep under the night sky.
The King's bedchamber.
"Viserys, you heard about what happened today, didn't you?"
On the bed, Alicent, dressed in a thin lace nightgown, curled up in her husband's arms.
Her voice was hoarse, slightly breathless.
Viserys, his face flushed, leaned against the headboard, savoring his wife's warmth as he closed his eyes in contentment.
He took a couple of deep breaths and said slowly, "A little squabble between brothers, nothing unusual."
He knew exactly what his wife was referring to.
In the Dragonpit, Rhaegar had given Aegon a beating—nothing more.
Alicent sat up at his words, her eyes brimming with tears. "I'm not complaining to you, but Aegon was badly beaten. The maester said even his teeth are loose."
Thinking of her son's condition, her heart ached like it was being cut by a knife.
That was her child, each one cherished like a treasure and raised with care.
For someone to beat him senseless, how could she let it go?
"Alicent, you're just being overly sensitive."
"I specifically asked about what happened in the Dragonpit. Aegon was misbehaving, so Rhaegar disciplined him."
Viserys opened his eyes, his hand cupping one of his wife's pale shoulders, chuckling softly. "Rhaegar acted like a responsible older brother. He even prepared two dragons for Aemond and Helaena to tame."
He knew why the children had gone to the Dragonpit. Alicent had already informed him.
Rhaegar handled it well—generously and with care. He ensured they were supervised throughout and treated his younger siblings kindly.
That pleased Viserys greatly.
"But I'm worried."
Alicent covered the hand her husband was using to caress her, bowing her head as she murmured, "Aegon is just a reckless boy. If he has to work under Rhaegar in the future, how can he possibly manage?"
Viserys frowned at her words and asked, "What are you trying to say?"
He thought Alicent had come to complain about Rhaegar.
But listening to her, it didn't seem like she was blaming him.
"Aegon is aimless and immature. He needs someone to guide him."
Alicent spoke candidly, looking at her husband with anticipation.
Viserys suddenly understood and laughed. "Let me guess—you're talking about Otto, aren't you?"
Alicent had long since requested that her father, Otto Hightower, return to King's Landing to take up a position.
However, Viserys had not found a suitable role for him and was hesitant to reinstate someone with such evident personal ambition.
Alicent's gaze softened, her eyes hopeful. "My father served as Hand of the King, and he's Aegon's grandfather. He'll surely be able to guide him properly."
"You know I'm not fond of Otto."
Viserys replied ambiguously.
"If Rhaegar can beat Aegon today, what's to stop him from doing it again tomorrow? When will it end?"
Alicent's smile faded, and she pleaded earnestly, "Rhaegar's position as heir is unshakable. You don't need to worry about my father leading Aegon astray."
"Sigh, let me think about it."
Viserys rubbed his temples, his head aching, and shifted to lie flat on the bed.
"Viserys, Aegon is your son too. You should give him the same love you give the others."
Alicent's voice was soft as she reached for the bedside lamp, plunging the room into darkness.
Outside the door, Ser Arryk, clad in silver armor and a white cloak, stood guard.
Only when the muffled sounds of shared breaths rose from the chamber did he silently step back a few paces.
---
**The Next Day**
Early in the morning, Rhaegar was summoned to his father's room.
Viserys, dressed in his sleeping robe, sat at the round table in the sitting area, eating breakfast.
Seeing his eldest son enter, he gestured with his knife and fork, smiling warmly. "Haven't eaten yet? Join your father for a meal."
Rhaegar glanced briefly at the closed bedroom door, smiling. "Alright, I'm actually hungry."
As they ate, Viserys began, "Yesterday, Tyland brought me two messages that you should hear."
"What news?"
Rhaegar sipped his milk, curiosity evident.
"Concerning the Stepstones."
Viserys, having almost finished his meal, dabbed his mouth with a napkin and adopted a serious tone:
"According to our informants, the pirates plundering the ships have been confirmed to be from the Triarchy. They're ready to strike."
"War is coming."
Rhaegar nodded, thoughtful. "The Triarchy isn't weak, and they have the support of Dorne. It will be a tough fight."
"There's worse news."
Viserys sighed heavily, his expression troubled. "The Sea Snake has gathered dozens of warships at Driftmark and plans to re-engage the Triarchy."
"Corlys intends to act independently again?"
Rhaegar frowned.
War is no trivial matter.
During the last Stepstones War, the Sea Snake and Daemon joined forces, paying a heavy price for a bitter victory.
Father tacitly allowed the war, profiting from it as a bystander.
Not only were the pirates of the Kingdom of the Three Daughters driven out, but the Sea Snake and Daemon's forces were severely weakened.
Now, years later, the Kingdom of the Three Daughters is returning, and they won't be as easy to deal with this time.
Moreover—
In the last war, Daemon acted as the representative of the royal family, which helped restrain the Sea Snake's influence through sheer reputation.
If another war breaks out now, the royal family cannot afford to stand by idly.
Otherwise, it would deal a serious blow to their prestige.
As Rhaegar mulled this over, he asked, "Father, are you suggesting we ally with the Sea Snake?"
The royal family doesn't have a dedicated navy; they can only rely on the Sea Snake's fleet.
"Exactly. The Kingdom of the Three Daughters is coming with overwhelming force this time, and the Sea Snake is the finest naval commander in the realm," Viserys said with a hint of helplessness. "To win hearts and repel this threat, the Velaryon family is indispensable."
"And what do you need me to do?"
Rhaegar realized that his father must have called him here for an important task.
"The Velaryons and the Targaryens have been at odds for years. I want you to travel to Driftmark and invite the Sea Snake to King's Landing to discuss external affairs."
Viserys paused, then emphasized, "The Sea Snake will undoubtedly have conditions. You'll need to judge wisely, and if possible, ease the tensions between our families."
"No problem. When should I leave?" Rhaegar asked.
Viserys replied, "In a few days, it will be your aunt Rhaenys' name day. A grand feast is planned.
"I'll allow you to ride your dragon there, but remember—do not provoke any conflicts."
"Understood. I'll handle this matter properly," Rhaegar agreed, standing up to leave.
Creak—
As he shut the door behind him, Rhaegar let out a bitter smile, rubbing his face with both hands.
"Attending a birthday banquet on Driftmark…"
The idea of an alliance sounded simple, but carrying it out would be incredibly challenging.
Not to mention the lingering grievances between the Sea Snake and his father.
And then there's Laenor and Daemon, who are still on the kingdom's wanted list.
This mission was anything but easy.
"Sigh… this trip to Driftmark is bound to be complicated."
Lost in thought, Rhaegar unknowingly wandered into the open-air corridor.
"Prince."
A voice called out, stopping him in his tracks.
Rhaegar turned around to see a man seated on a bench at the edge of the corridor, looking at him with a smile.
"Larys, do you need something?"
Rhaegar felt puzzled.
The man had curly brown hair, a slender frame, and eyes that occasionally gleamed with shrewdness.
It was none other than Larys Strong, the second son of the Hand of the King, Lyonel Strong.
Larys leaned on a staff with both hands, leaning forward slightly as he smiled. "Prince, I just heard some interesting information that I thought you might want to hear."
Schemes and intrigue, power struggles and war, the dance of blood and fire—all these stories must be written.
(The chapter ends here.)