Rhaegar keenly noticed Jeyne's reaction and asked curiously, "What's wrong, cousin?"
"Nothing, I just suddenly remembered something."
Jeyne smiled apologetically. "In a couple of days, Lady Rhea's wedding will take place. Lord Yobert will be returning for the occasion, so you'll have the chance to speak with him in detail then."
"Is that so?"
Rhaegar maintained a calm exterior, but doubt arose in his heart.
Yobert was Lady Rhea's uncle—the very man who had passed the title of countess to his niece.
It made sense for him to return for her wedding.
Jeyne regained her confident smile, stood up, and took a seat next to Rhaenyra, pressing close to her.
Rhaenyra instinctively leaned toward her and inquired, "I heard that your cousin, Arnold Arryn, has been challenging your right to inherit?"
"Yes, but I've already driven him away," Jeyne replied with a helpless sigh. "That child has promise, but his ambition is too great."
Rhaegar took a sip of sweet wine and listened to their conversation.
Arnold Arryn was Jeyne's uncle's son—eleven years old and serving as a squire at Runestone.
By the standards of male primogeniture, Arnold indeed had a stronger claim to inheritance than Jeyne.
However, Jeyne was older and had inherited the Eyrie at the age of three.
Arnold was simply born too late.
By the time he came into the world, Jeyne had already been the Duchess of the Eyrie for ten years.
Rhaenyra linked arms with her friend and said with concern, "Take care of yourself. You're the first-ever Duchess of the Vale."
"Hmph, that's exactly what I told you a few years ago."
Jeyne snorted softly, casting a sidelong glance at Rhaegar.
Rhaenyra lifted her chin proudly. "I lost my right to inherit, but I gained so much more."
She no longer had to engage in power struggles, play political games with ministers, or deal with arranged marriages.
She had her own lands, and over the years, she had traveled freely between King's Landing and Dragonstone, occasionally exploring the continent.
Life couldn't be better.
Rhaegar glanced at her but remained silent.
If only Rhaenyra had been a little more ambitious, that could have been *his* life.
Jeyne, full of envy, openly studied Rhaegar and whispered, "Are you two planning to follow the Targaryen family tradition?"
Rhaenyra's cheeks flushed red. She rolled her eyes and ignored her friend.
Seeing this, a spark of interest flashed in Jeyne's eyes as she observed Rhaenyra closely.
Feeling uneasy under her gaze, Rhaenyra pushed Jeyne's face away in irritation.
Jeyne couldn't help but laugh, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
From an angle Rhaenyra couldn't see, she sneaked a glance at Rhaegar's profile—his long, flowing silver-gold hair, his pale yet strikingly handsome features, and those cool, violet eyes…
As the two women playfully teased each other, the banquet grew even livelier.
Lannino, having devoured his meal like a whirlwind, stood up and excused himself. "Thank you for the hospitality, but I'm feeling a bit tired. I'll head down to rest."
Jeyne, holding onto Rhaenyra's fidgeting, delicate hand, smiled sweetly. "Then I wish you sweet dreams."
"Thank you."
Lannino grinned as he walked past Rhaegar, saying, "Cousin, I'll be leaving early tomorrow morning to continue my journey. See you later."
Rhaegar acknowledged him with a nod, watching as Lannino strode toward the second floor.
As he ascended the stairs, he brushed past a slender male servant, who cast him a knowing look and followed closely behind.
Rhaegar was momentarily stunned, then felt a deep sense of admiration for Lannino.
He had only just arrived at the Eyrie, and before the banquet had even ended, he had already found his "prey."
Rhaenyra noticed as well. She pinched Rhaegar's arm and warned, "The Velaryon family has no claim to the throne. Father is still waiting for you to carry on the bloodline."
Lannino's preferences were well known—he only had eyes for men and didn't so much as touch women.
Corlys Velaryon, the Sea Snake, had spent years worrying about this.
If things continued this way, the Velaryon family would have to rely on adoption to maintain their lineage.
Rhaegar chuckled. "I have no interest in men. Mature women are my true love."
As he spoke, he glanced around at the three women present and leaned back lazily in his chair.
After a night of instruction from his father, Rhaegar had come to see relationships between men and women in a new light.
If you like someone, you should express it.
A Targaryen man never fails to conquer a woman.
At least, that's what his father had told him—though he wasn't sure how true it was.
Rhaenyra shot him a warning glare.
Jeyne and Jessif exchanged a knowing glance before turning their heads, pretending not to have heard.
The banquet carried on, with the three women drinking and laughing together.
Feeling outnumbered in a hall where women outshone the men, Rhaegar quietly excused himself and went upstairs to rest.
---
**Night fell.**
---
After the banquet ended, the three drunken women supported each other as they made their way up to the third floor.
Janie and Jensif first escorted Rhaenyra back to her guest room before returning together to the master bedroom.
*Creak—*
The pinewood door closed. Janie patted her flushed cheeks, and her eyes regained their clarity, showing no signs of intoxication.
Jensif, on the other hand, wasn't even slightly flushed. She walked gracefully to the bed and sat down.
Leaning against the doorframe, Janie said in a low voice, "You shouldn't have stopped me. If I deploy a dragon, the mountain clans' rebellion will be quelled in no time."
"Arnold is hiding in the shadows. If you don't draw him out, your position as Duke will eventually be doomed," Jensif said with concern.
"Rhaegar is my cousin; he will support me."
"Don't forget where his right to inheritance comes from."
Hearing this, Janie rubbed her forehead and fell silent.
Jensif was biased against men, and any discussion involving them tended to be skewed. Janie had no interest in arguing with her.
She walked back to the bed, lay down lazily, and murmured, "Let's wait a little longer. If Jobert fails to deal with the mountain clans, then I'll ask for help."
Rhaegar and Rhaenyra would also be attending the wedding at Runestone and would be staying in the Vale for a while.
Given their relationship, there was no fear of being denied assistance.
...
The next day.
In the courtyard at the front of the Eyrie's castle.
Lannino stood in front of his dragon, Sea Smoke, whose scales were a pale silver-gray. He wore a set of leather armor.
Facing him were Rhaegar and the others, gathered to see him off.
"I'm leaving now. Be careful while you're in the Vale," Lannino said.
He hugged each of them in turn, his dark-skinned face beaming with a wide smile.
"Safe travels. We'll be waiting for your good news," Rhaegar said patiently.
Lannino's smile grew even wider. He climbed onto the dragon's back using the soft ladder and waved to the people below.
Rhaegar returned the smile.
Judging by his exuberant mood, last night must have been quite the experience.
"Hiss—Screech—"
With a cry, Sea Smoke spread its wings and slowly ascended into the sky.
Before long, the pale silver-gray silhouette disappeared from sight.
Standing beside Rhaegar, Rhaenyra said softly, "Janie will be leaving soon as well. Should we travel together?"
Rhaegar looked at Janie in surprise and asked, "Isn't the wedding at Runestone still a few days away?"
"We don't have dragons and need to bring gifts, so of course we have to leave early," Janie explained matter-of-factly, smoothing out her chestnut hair that had been tousled by the wind.
"That's simple. Rhaenyra and I can take you there on dragonback," Rhaegar offered generously. Then, with a smile, he added, "Before heading to the Vale, I ordered five hundred Dragon Guards to transport goods from Mushroom Market ahead of us. They should be arriving soon."
After a brief pause, he continued, "Among them are gifts I personally selected from various merchants, which will be delivered to the Eyrie."
(End of Chapter)