Get comfortable, turn the page, and let’s see what this story has been hiding 🔥 ✦ The next day.
Morning came cool in the early spring.
A lacquered white wheelhouse traveled along a packed dirt road.
Ahead of it, a Kingsguard on a white horse cleared the way, while the royal guard followed behind with their banners raised.
Dust drifted over the long road.
“Ah…
I am so sleepy.” Vaelor lay with his head on a pair of soft, springy long legs, rubbing the dark circles beneath his large eyes with both little hands.
Alicent lowered her head, pinched his plump cheek, and laughed.
“Did you not have your precious mat?
How did you still lose sleep?” Inside the spacious carriage, Vaelor was sprawled across the queen’s lap.
There were plenty of others nearby.
Viserys sat in the honored inner seat, his face bright with the joy of traveling with his family.
Alicent and Vaelor sat close together on the left bench, and beside her was a plump maid holding little Aegon.
Rhaenyra was naturally seated across from them.
The silver-haired girl was very quiet.
From the moment she entered the wheelhouse, she had kept her head lowered.
The two remaining wet nurses were skilled at reading the room and wisely stayed silent.
Viserys was in a fine mood and teased, “Vaelor broke into the Dragonpit yesterday.
Perhaps he tired himself out.” “Heh.” Alicent smiled and continued kneading the fair little cheek.
Vaelor did not care.
He lay on his side with shameless ease, his small head pushing against the silk of her skirt as he searched for the most comfortable position.
Strange as it sounded, he had truly dreamed the night before.
He had fallen asleep holding four dragon eggs, lying on his rush pillow and mat with his heart full of hope.
Then he had dreamed of a vast forest.
Beneath a great tree, he swung a pick into the earth and dug out more and more gold.
In the end, there was too much gold to carry, so he could only choose the most important thing and take away a crown.
‘Could I become king?’ Vaelor breathed in the faint fragrance beside him and quietly wondered.
But he had no such intention.
The Iron Throne held power, yes, but few who sat on it had good endings.
He had Runestone and the Vale behind him, and he carried the dragonlord blood of House Targaryen.
Would it not be better to step in at the right time, prevent the Dance of the Dragons, and then lie comfortably at Runestone as a carefree prince?
A prince did not have to rule.
A prince did not have to work from dawn to dusk.
That was far easier than exhausting himself over affairs of state and political struggle like a king.
Vaelor could not make sense of it, so he chose to pat Alicent’s thigh instead.
“Vaelor.” Alicent laughed despite herself and pinched his cheek hard.
Vaelor gave a shy smile.
He did not know what had happened, but Alicent had suddenly become very indulgent toward him and kept him close beside her.
The wheels rolled over ruts, and the ride was rough all the way.
Unable to sleep, Vaelor noticed the gloomy girl across from him and took the initiative to speak.
“Rhaenyra, why did you not come on dragonback?” Rhaenyra lifted her eyes and glanced over, her tone rather cold.
“Someone did not want to see me riding a dragon.” It was vague, but Vaelor understood.
He climbed up from Alicent’s lap and saw that Uncle Viserys’s smile had turned unnatural.
Vaelor withdrew his gaze and chose to play dumb.
Rhaenyra was bold.
She gave her old father a direct roll of her eyes.
Was forbidding her from traveling by dragon truly for her own good, or because he feared she would slip beyond his control?
Who could say?
Near noon, the party entered the camp.
Creak.
The white wheelhouse stopped, and everyone got out in order.
The camp had already filled with nobles from across the realm.
When they saw the king’s family, they immediately offered warm cheers and applause.
The Oldtown-aligned nobles were especially loud, shouting long life for “Baby Aegon.” ‘This blatant already?’ Vaelor was startled inside and turned back toward the carriage.
Rhaenyra still had her head down, avoiding everything and making no move to follow.
“Vaelor, do not fall behind.” Alicent called from ahead, already surrounded by nobles.
“Coming.” Vaelor answered, clumsily climbed back into the carriage, and dragged Rhaenyra out by force.
Rhaenyra was shocked.
“Vaelor, what are you doing?” Who dragged someone out by force like that?
Vaelor frowned with righteous seriousness.
“What are you afraid of?
Let them shout.
We cannot look beaten.” In truth, the shouting was not unreasonable.
This Kingswood hunt was being held in honor of Aegon’s nameday, and the little thing celebrating his birth was technically the center of the event.
His mother’s kin shouting a few rounds of “long life to the precious boy” could still be explained away.
“I feel unwell,” Rhaenyra said unhappily.
“No.” Vaelor was very forceful, his little face solemn.
“Even if we lose the cheering, we cannot lose the field.
There are many nobles outside who support you.” Ever since Aegon’s birth, the court had already begun to show the first shape of the Blacks and Greens.
For now, they were better called the princess’s party and the queen’s party, or the Oldtown faction.
This Kingswood hunt was strengthening the Oldtown faction’s momentum.
If Rhaenyra, the spiritual pillar of the princess’s party, shrank back now, who would follow her later?
“Vaelor…” Rhaenyra swept her eyes over the noble circles, struggling inwardly.
Vaelor ignored her hesitation and urged, “Come on.
Stand straight.
Do not embarrass yourself.” Although he had a very good relationship with Alicent, he could only silently apologize.
He was a Targaryen for one day, and he would be a Targaryen for life.
Looking across the history of the Dance of the Dragons, the Oldtown faction had produced very little worth trusting.
If Aegon were close to his age, then even if he were a useless boy who liked to do nothing, Vaelor might help him for Alicent’s sake.
Unfortunately, Aegon was too young.
Helping Alicent meant helping the Oldtown faction fight for power and seize authority from House Targaryen.
By comparison, Rhaenyra in the original course of history had been foolish and destructive and had lost everything in a muddle.
But right now, she was only a confused girl carrying pressure she did not know how to bear.
If he coaxed her a few times and guided her thinking properly, she could still amount to something.
After being dragged and pulled all the way, Rhaenyra accepted her fate.
The two raised their heads and straightened their backs as they crossed the great camp full of nobles.
Naturally, they drew plenty of attention.
A pair of beautiful Targaryen siblings with silver hair and purple eyes would be the brightest presence wherever they went.
Rhaenyra was a princess and was already used to it.
Vaelor, who had just told her to stand straight and not embarrass herself, was the one teased by noble girls and ladies until his face turned red.
‘So embarrassing.’ Vaelor was collapsing inside, though outwardly he kept his posture firm.
Soon they reached the king’s largest and most luxurious pavilion.
Two banners bearing the three-headed red dragon snapped in the wind.
Many nobles bowed to show respect before entering in twos and threes.
“Forward.” Vaelor patted his burning cheeks and recovered his confidence.
Inside, the pavilion was gorgeous.
Gauze curtains fluttered like mist, and solid wooden tables and chairs had been arranged throughout.
“Vaelor, over here.” Alicent sat among a circle of noblewomen.
She patted the wide chair beside her.
Vaelor put on a serious face and reminded Rhaenyra once more.
“Remember.
Show the bearing of a dragonrider.” “Yes, yes.
You have said it many times.” Rhaenyra’s eyes were full of helplessness, but the heaviness in her heart seemed to have eased.
Vaelor nodded in satisfaction, let go of her hand, and walked toward the small circle.
“You are late.” Alicent smiled faintly, reached out, and pulled Vaelor down beside her.
Their legs touched, and the wide chair was still more than large enough.
Vaelor: …
Alicent ignored Rhaenyra, who had come in with him, and began introducing Vaelor to the noblewomen gathered around her.
She had seen the two holding hands the moment they entered the pavilion.
Her heart could not help turning sour.
✦ ✦ ✦ Ready for more?
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.