Get comfortable, turn the page, and let’s see what this story has been hiding 🔥 ✦ It was nearly dusk by the time the lacquered white wheelhouse slowly passed through the Red Keep gates.
Thump.
Rhaenyra leaped down lightly, turned, and opened her arms with a smiling face.
“Come.
I will catch you.” After spending the whole day out, her mood had cleared from cloudy to bright.
“Are you sure?” Vaelor stood at the edge of the carriage, his eyes full of distrust.
Rhaenyra answered lightly, “Just come.” Surely she could hold one squat little boy.
Vaelor glanced at the distance to the ground and considered it seriously.
“Then here I come.” With that, he closed his eyes and tipped forward.
Rhaenyra was full of confidence.
She reached out and caught him by his plump little waist.
Then a weight she could not bear came crashing down on her.
Thud.
The older and younger Targaryen stumbled together.
Thanks to Ser Steffon, who had been watching closely, neither of them fell into the mud.
“That was close.” Vaelor muttered and patted his chest, comforting himself.
Rhaenyra was weak.
She had said she would definitely catch him, but she had nearly launched him instead.
Rhaenyra’s mouth twitched.
She put a hand behind her back and rubbed her slender waist.
He looked like such a small lump, yet he was surprisingly solid.
Both of them were a little shaken.
They exchanged a wordless look.
“…” Rhaenyra helplessly pressed a hand to her forehead, then reached out.
“Come on.” “Heh.
Back we go to be scolded.” Vaelor grinned and skillfully took her soft hand.
The day’s harvest had been rich.
Business and friendship had both flourished.
The two walked hand in hand, one tall and beautiful, the other fair and adorable.
Lords and courtiers passing by were drawn to the pleasing sight and bowed in greeting one after another.
Vaelor walked with light steps.
He stole a glance at Rhaenyra’s satisfied expression, and his large eyes rolled.
“What are you looking at?” Rhaenyra was still caught in her happiness, all her worries thrown behind her.
‘Obviously, I am thinking about how to coax you next.’ Vaelor hid a wicked little smile and announced cheerfully, “Rhaenyra, the two of us are the very best.” One sentence was enough to touch Rhaenyra’s heart.
A faint ripple passed through her lovely eyes.
“All right.
If we go any slower, we will miss dinner.” Vaelor ran the moment he finished sweet-talking her.
Alicent was his good friend.
In the future, there would surely be a place for him among the Greens.
Rhaenyra looked strong on the outside, but inside she was lonely and fragile, worn down for years by her father’s doubt and the court’s gossip.
While there was still an opening, he had to leave an unforgettable bond early.
For the next ten years, once the Blacks and Greens truly took shape, he would be able to move between both sides as needed, quietly grow, and then amaze everyone.
What neither of them noticed was that every move they made after returning to the Red Keep had been seen by someone else.
Maegor’s Holdfast, the king’s chambers.
Alicent stood by the balcony, watching the taller and smaller figures play through the colored glass.
She had waited the entire day.
Her eyes darkened.
She pressed her red lips together, bit down on her teeth, and folded her hands over her flat stomach, worrying at her fingers.
Without realizing it, she picked until thin traces of blood appeared between them.
Perhaps even Alicent herself did not understand that seeing Vaelor and Rhaenyra so close had stirred the jealousy buried in her heart.
Creak.
The door opened, and Viserys walked in, in a fine mood.
“Rhaenyra and the others are back.
We should attend the evening feast.” He called once, but his young wife in the green dress did not answer at once.
Viserys looked surprised and was about to step forward to ask.
“I know.” Alicent lowered her head and turned around, moving as quickly as a gust of wind.
Her reaction left Viserys completely bewildered.
That night, after supper, everyone returned to their rooms.
Vaelor patted his round little belly and ran back to his chamber like smoke.
He had gained many new treasures and had to admire them properly.
There was little to say about dinner.
Naturally, the Dragonpit and Dreamfyre came up.
When Viserys learned that his nephew had tried to claim the she-dragon Dreamfyre, he went from initial approval to regret over the failure, finally settling on a cheerful piece of advice.
“You are still young.
There are more dragons on Dragonstone.
When you are a little older, you may try again.” It had to be said that Viserys was a deeply contradictory man.
On one hand, he feared and worried over the power of dragons.
On the other, he had no choice but to rely on them.
His worldly views were even more peculiar.
He did not want to see his daughter Rhaenyra obsessed with dragonriding, yet he hoped the male members of his family would all become dragonriders.
It was the same as maintaining Rhaenyra’s position as heir without giving her real power.
Perhaps that was why he so urgently wished to find his daughter a strong and reliable consort, someone who could compensate for the power she lacked.
Night deepened.
Vaelor went back to rest, and the others left one after another.
Rhaenyra, tired after a full day, was about to return and enjoy a hot bath when her father suddenly called her back.
“Father, is something wrong?” Rhaenyra gathered her silver-gold hair, her legs moving beneath the smooth fall of her dress.
Viserys looked hesitant, then smiled.
“There is something very important I must discuss with you.” “Wait for me.” Rhaenyra followed him, puzzled.
For her, today had been a good day.
No one had cared about her during Aegon’s nameday celebration.
Every lord and lady had fawned over the little brother who still ate porridge with his hands.
But Vaelor was a clever little spirit and had made her very happy.
Especially releasing Dreamfyre.
That act had filled her quiet heart with a sense of accomplishment.
Her father had also been unexpectedly pleasant.
He had not grown angry over the two of them releasing Dreamfyre without permission.
‘It should be something good.’ Rhaenyra prayed silently.
Led by Viserys, father and daughter passed through layer after layer of corridors until they reached the crypts beneath the Red Keep.
A ring of white candles burned around the great altar, illuminating Balerion’s black skull.
Rhaenyra looked around, privately confused.
The last time father and daughter had come here, her father had apologized for her mother Aemma’s death and given her the position of heir to the Iron Throne.
Viserys looked at Balerion’s skull and sighed with emotion.
“Rhaenyra, you were very happy today.
As your father, I am glad for you.” Rhaenyra nodded slightly.
She sensed that something significant was coming.
“You are nearly of marriageable age.
Is there any promising young man you favor?” Viserys’s expression was serious.
Rhaenyra’s face changed at once.
“No.” “That is good.” Viserys quietly let out a breath.
He feared that his daughter might have private thoughts of her own and bring some unsuitable young man before him.
According to the court’s rumors, she was rather fond of Ser Criston Cole of the Kingsguard.
“Father, if you have something to say, say it plainly.” Rhaenyra’s tone was poor.
She felt offended.
Viserys showed a smile that carried a hint of pleading.
“You and Vaelor are together like true siblings.
What would you think if I arranged for him to stay in King’s Landing?” “Father.” Rhaenyra was not stupid.
Her emotions immediately flared.
“Do not be anxious yet.” Viserys raised a hand and explained, “Vaelor is a good child, and he is Daemon’s son.
He would be a fine helper to you.” “And?” Rhaenyra watched him coldly.
“If you are willing to lower yourself a little and treat him well…” Viserys gathered his words and made them as gentle as he could.
“Then he will give that care back to you.” Rhaenyra fell silent.
She understood.
She was working hard to restrain the urge to argue.
She saw Vaelor as a younger brother from next door, as a good friend, and as nothing else.
He was still a plump little child whose smiling face looked like a peeled boiled egg.
For the sake of holding power, her father truly would use anything.
Seeing his daughter lower her head and say nothing, Viserys sighed.
“Enough for now.
The Kingswood hunt will go ahead tomorrow.
Remember to rest early.” With that, he turned and left.
Rhaenyra stood alone in place, her long lashes lowered.
She did not want to stand over anyone, and she did not want anyone standing over her.
Yet everyone and everything around her seemed to be urging her to choose quickly, to turn herself into the prize everyone was desperate to seize.
Suddenly, Rhaenyra felt someone watching her.
“Who is there?” Her head snapped up, and she followed that gaze to the corner behind the altar.
“Ahem.” Grand Maester Mellos stood there.
After being discovered, he coughed twice and calmly walked away in small, measured steps.
Rhaenyra’s brows tightened.
Disbelief surfaced in her lovely eyes, and her pink fists clenched in silence.
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CREATORS’ THOUGHTS EmberHollow Thank you for reading.
I hope this chapter pulled you deeper into the story.
Stick around, because there’s still a lot waiting just ahead.