Get comfortable, turn the page, and let’s see what this story has been hiding 🔥 ✦ After the introductions, the atmosphere eased a little.
The noblewomen spoke back and forth, trading all manner of gossip.
Only Rhaenyra was forgotten.
She stood awkwardly to the side, unable to enter the conversation at all.
Vaelor swept his eyes over the sigils on the women’s clothing.
Every one of them belonged to the Oldtown faction or the Reach.
An elderly woman of House Redwyne spoke the most.
She opened the next topic.
“I heard that Lord Swann’s ship passed through the Stepstones, and Lady Johanna was taken.” Alicent was startled.
“What will happen to Lady Johanna?” She was a noble lady.
Even if she were rescued, her honor would be stained.
The old woman held a lapdog and said coolly, “She will be sold to a pillow house in the Free Cities, if you believe the letters.” The noblewomen fell silent for a moment.
They all understood that it was true.
Vaelor was bored and uninterested.
“Forgive the interruption.” Just then, someone interesting arrived, dragging an oddly twisted foot.
Larys leaned on a cane and spoke in a low, modest voice.
“My ladies, I fear the gods did not give me a body suited for hunting.
May I sit with you?” “Of course.
Sit with us.” Alicent kindly took him in and introduced him.
“Larys Strong, younger son of Lord Lyonel, the Master of Laws.” At this time, she was still very gentle.
Even when speaking of his position as a second son, she phrased it kindly.
Larys nodded his thanks and sat with a humble expression.
His body was flawed from birth, but he dressed with great formality.
If he chose to be invisible, he would not make anyone dislike him.
Vaelor stared at him for several moments, satisfying his curiosity.
‘This fellow is ruthless, and his heart is poisonous enough.
Maybe I should find a chance to quietly remove him.’ A chill ran down Larys’s back.
His already thin body shrank slightly, and he glanced around in suspicion.
Naturally, he did not discover Vaelor.
“My husband says no one can hold the Stepstones for long…” A swollen noblewoman spoke again, only to be interrupted by a sudden burst of noise.
Everyone turned toward the entrance and saw a sweep of silver-gold hair pass through the tent flap.
“Hm?” Vaelor sat up straight.
Surrounded by a group of young nobles, a second silver-haired, purple-eyed girl entered the pavilion.
“Laena.” Rhaenyra’s eyes lit up.
She went to meet her as if she had found a confidante.
Vaelor was stunned.
He stared directly at the striking older girl.
Her silver-gold waves fell to her waist.
Her skin was smooth and snow-white, and her tall figure carried graceful, tempting curves.
At first glance, she seemed only a few years older than Rhaenyra.
Her every movement was poised and generous, already carrying the charm of a mature woman.
Vaelor said in surprise, “A Velaryon?
Should she not be on Driftmark?” Laena Velaryon, eldest daughter of the Sea Snake, Corlys Velaryon, and the Queen Who Never Was, Rhaenys Targaryen.
She carried Targaryen blood and was a dragonrider.
Before the age of twelve, she had claimed Vhagar, the oldest and largest living dragon in the world.
Five years had passed since then, and she had become a mature rider.
“Rhaenyra, it has been too long.” Laena was open and confident.
She took her old friend’s hand and walked over with her.
“Why are you here?
For the hunt?” Rhaenyra was truly puzzled.
The sight of the two immediately drew countless eyes.
That included King Viserys, seated in the place of honor.
He stared at Laena in surprise, even ignoring the minister speaking beside him.
In the end, however, he was still king.
He soon recovered his composure.
At the same time, Rhaenyra finally had a seat.
Upon seeing Laena’s arrival, one noblewoman yielded her place voluntarily for the two highborn daughters of Valyria.
“Do not mind me.
I came by ship, so I was slow.” Laena’s gaze was gentle, her voice carrying a magnetic warmth.
She signaled that everyone should continue speaking as they liked.
The noblewomen looked at one another, then slowly warmed the conversation again.
Laena’s identity was simply too special.
The realm was at war in the Stepstones, and the two men most committed to that war were the Sea Snake and Daemon.
Her presence at the Kingswood hunt concerned the attitude between the royal family and House Velaryon.
The moment anyone opened their mouth, the topic inevitably turned back to the Stepstones.
Vaelor poked his head out and studied Laena across from him.
If she had come by ship, that meant she had not ridden Vhagar.
“Hello, Vaelor.” Laena smiled brightly and waved at him, like a kindly older girl from next door.
Vaelor gave an awkward smile and quickly tucked his head back.
This one had real strength.
He could not afford to provoke her.
Fortunately, his great-grandfather Jaehaerys had chosen his name himself, tying him to old family affection.
In his impression, the people of Driftmark were still rather friendly toward him.
In the short time it took to exchange a greeting, the conversation had begun to drift into dangerous waters.
One elderly woman seated near Alicent suddenly turned sharp and began to provoke.
“As for the Stepstones, what insight does the princess have?” Rhaenyra paused.
With good intentions, she answered, “Oh, I do not know much about it.
I have never been to the Stepstones.” She still naively thought this was ordinary conversation.
The old woman held her wine cup, and her voice grew pointed.
“Your dear uncle is the one behind this war, is he not?” Vaelor’s expression shifted.
He fixed his eyes on Alicent, who was watching the scene.
If they wanted to trouble Rhaenyra, then trouble Rhaenyra.
Why drag his father into it?
And in front of him, no less.
Rhaenyra noticed the atmosphere changing and tried to excuse herself.
“I do not know.
I have not spoken with Daemon in years.” Daemon was away fighting and did not even bother with his own son.
The old woman refused to let it go and pressed harder.
“Since you replaced him as heir, yes?” She no longer concealed her purpose.
She was using the moment to question Rhaenyra’s position as heir.
Alicent felt the situation slipping beyond control and tried to smooth it over with a smile.
“Daemon brought this on…” Before she could finish, a glass flew before her eyes.
Crack.
It struck the ground by the old woman’s feet and shattered into countless glittering fragments.
The old woman jumped out of her chair with a terrified scream.
“Old hag, who asked you to run your mouth?” Vaelor cursed without hesitation, grabbed another wine-filled goblet, and threw it too.
“Vaelor.” Alicent was stunned.
By the time she recovered, the boy beside her had already rushed out.
With another sharp crack, the goblet struck the chair back by a hair’s breadth.
Red wine and shards of glass splashed all over the old woman.
Vaelor’s little face was dark, and he showed her no mercy.
“You old fool, if you like gossiping behind people’s backs so much, how many soldiers does your house have?” The old woman was soaked, and her wrinkled face had been cut by glass.
She screamed in terror, “What are you doing?
This is the king’s pavilion.” Who would dare cause trouble here?
Vaelor dared.
He seized a wine bottle, smashed it, and charged like a little firecracker.
“What did my father ever do to you?
Who gave you the right to spew nonsense?” Attacking Rhaenyra was one thing.
Scolding his irresponsible father was also one thing.
But doing it in front of him, using his father’s war as a trap for Rhaenyra to step into?
He could not endure that at all.
If there was a problem, hit first.
“Vaelor, stop.” Alicent was completely dumbfounded and reached out to stop him.
Unfortunately, she could not stop him at all.
Vaelor was very strong.
The broken mouth of the wine bottle was sharp, and wine sprayed together with glass fragments.
He was like a little human dragon.
No one within several feet dared block him.
In a few short seconds, chaos erupted with screams.
Vaelor narrowed his eyes and threw the broken half of the bottle at the old woman’s forehead, cursing, “If your head is sick, maybe cracking it open will help.” Bang.
It struck dead center.
Blood immediately flowed, and the screams grew even louder.
✦ ✦ ✦ 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.