51-55

*Chapter 51: Showcasing Talent*

“Nonsense! I clearly saw you hurting him!”

Overcome with emotion, Alicent glared at Rhaegar with intense loathing.

Rhaegar sneered. “If I really wanted to hurt him, you wouldn’t have time to cradle him in your arms and nurse him.”

A damp patch spread across her chest. Instinctively, Alicent clutched at her chest, glancing down to see her nightgown stained.

It wasn’t just Aegon’s tears and snot; her own agitation had caused her to leak milk.

Rhaegar casually tossed her a cloak and turned away. “If you won’t discipline your son, then as his older brother, I have every right to do so.”

“I trust my own eyes!”

Alicent glared at him hatefully, pulling Aegon closer and wiping his tear-streaked face. “Aegon, tell me, did he hurt you?”

Aegon sobbed uncontrollably, his terrified gaze darting to Rhaegar. His small body trembled, and he dared not speak.

Rhaegar shrugged, raising an eyebrow smugly.

Alicent’s face hardened with determination. Gritting her teeth, she delivered a hard slap to Aegon’s face. “Snap out of it, Aegon!”

“Now, tell me quickly—did Rhaegar hurt you!?”

Her voice rose sharply, cutting through the air.

Aegon was stunned by the slap, a red handprint rapidly swelling on his cheek. He stammered, “He hit me… and he burned me with fire…”

Rhaegar frowned slightly at this, glaring at him with displeasure.

You little brat, embellishing the story!

With her son’s testimony, Alicent erupted in fury. “Did you hear that? Aegon said you hit him, and I saw with my own eyes that you burned him with a red-hot bracelet!”

“What could he possibly have done to provoke you enough to harm him like that!?”

Faced with Alicent’s accusations, Rhaegar remained silent. He treated her as though she were throwing a tantrum.

Seeing his lack of response, Alicent’s eyes filled with resentment, interpreting his silence as indifference.

Just as she was about to berate him further, hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Rhaegar lifted his head and saw Ser Harrold, the captain of the Kingsguard, supporting Viserys as they approached.

Behind them trailed a disheveled Rhaenyra.

Viserys, barely suppressing his dizziness, surveyed the three of them and asked weakly, “What is going on here? Why are you making such a ruckus in the middle of the night?”

Seeing her husband, Alicent burst into tears. “Look at Aegon! If I hadn’t arrived in time, Rhaegar would’ve tortured him to death!”

Aegon, not missing the cue, joined his mother in wailing loudly.

For a moment, everyone’s attention was drawn to the crying mother and son.

Suspicion flickered in Viserys’ eyes as he turned to Rhaegar. “Rhaegar, is what she says true?”

“She’s not my mother—just a stepmother,” Rhaegar replied coldly, his words laced with rejection.

His birth mother had died in childbirth long ago. Alicent was merely a stepmother, one he had long despised for coveting his elder sister’s claim to inheritance.

“Enough! Even if Alicent is your stepmother, she has fulfilled her duties as a mother, caring for your daily needs. You must respect her!”

Viserys scolded his eldest son for his disrespect.

Rhaegar opened his mouth, about to point out that his attendants had been the ones taking care of him, not Alicent. But knowing that as queen, any credit for his well-being would still fall on her shoulders, he wisely chose to remain silent.

Rhaenyra, noticing her brother’s indignation, changed the topic. “Rhaegar, what happened? Why does the queen claim you bullied Aegon?”

Her choice of words was deliberate—replacing “tortured” with “bullied.”

In her mind, Rhaegar was an obedient and considerate boy, incapable of something so cruel.

Alicent caught the implication in her words and immediately countered, “He’s a monster! He burned Aegon with a red-hot steel bracelet!”

Viserys’ gaze shifted to the glowing bracelet in Rhaegar’s hand, astonishment written all over his face. “Rhaegar… that bracelet in your hand…”

He couldn’t mistake it—it was a red-hot steel bracelet.

Rhaegar held it barehanded, which deeply shocked his father.

With Viserys’ remark, the others finally noticed this detail.

Even Alicent, who had been locked in a standoff with Rhaegar, only now comprehended the situation.

Seeing their stunned expressions, Rhaegar replied casually, “After my burn healed, my tolerance for fire improved significantly.”

“See? I told you he’s a monster! Who isn’t afraid of fire?!” Alicent clung to Aegon in horror, shouting as though she’d found irrefutable evidence.

However, no one else shared her sentiments.

Viserys, seemingly cured of his seasickness, immediately gave an order: “Ser Harrold, block the corridor. Do not let anyone approach.”

Ser Harrold nodded instantly, though he hesitated for a moment, reluctant to take his eyes off Rhaegar.

Once the room was cleared of outsiders, Viserys’ breathing quickened as he turned to Rhaegar again. “Rhaegar, don’t you feel pain?”

“No, just some heat,” Rhaegar replied honestly. Since being burned by dragonfire, his [Blood and Fire] trait seemed to have strengthened.

Ordinary flames could hardly harm him anymore.

Now, even holding a red-hot steel bracelet in his hand only caused mild warmth—no burns or blisters.

Viserys stared at Rhaegar with awe, as though beholding a priceless treasure, barely able to contain his excitement. “It seems the dragonfire has awakened your ancient bloodline, granting you the ability to withstand flames.”

As a descendant of House Targaryen, a family steeped in ancient history, there were many records of individuals born with extraordinary gifts.

During the era of Valyria, the dragonlord families even worshipped fire mages.

Only a few people with the bloodline of dragon kings are capable of learning magic.

Although the Targaryen family never had ancestors immune to fire, Viserys believed that this might also be part of their inherited abilities.

As their family motto states—“Blood and fire are one.”

Rhaegar didn’t explain further, silently accepting his father’s imaginative assumptions about him.

He knew his abilities couldn’t be hidden forever. By revealing a small part now, he could ensure better acceptance in the future.

Watching the father and son discuss, Alicent became visibly anxious and interrupted, “Viserys! Rhaegar hurt Aegon, and you need to stand up for him!”

She had seen Rhaegar harm her child with her own eyes.

Her children were her emotional anchor.

She would never allow anyone to bully them.

Viserys's excited expression faded, and he scrutinized the disheveled Aegon. Noticing a red, swollen handprint on Aegon’s face, his expression darkened.

He then turned to Rhaegar and scolded him in frustration, “He’s your brother. Why did you hit him?”

“He was bullying Helaena and tried to take the bracelet I gave her. I caught him in the act,” Rhaegar replied matter-of-factly, pointing at Aegon’s face with a hint of amusement. “The worst injury on him isn’t even from me.”

Aegon trembled in fear under Rhaegar’s gaze, clutching tightly to his mother and refusing to show his face.

Viserys thought for a moment and realized that the handprint on Aegon’s face indeed didn’t seem like something Rhaegar, a boy of the same age, could have inflicted.

Walking over to Alicent, Viserys took Aegon’s hand and said sternly, “Aegon, look your father in the eyes!”

Tearing up, Aegon hesitated, but Alicent shook him lightly and, through gritted teeth, said, “Your father is standing up for you. Show some backbone!”

“If you really have backbone, go and fight Rhaegar like you do when you bully little girls,” Rhaenyra said coldly, her words dripping with sarcasm.

She knew why Helaena always sought out Rhaegar to play.

Because of their status and her own distaste for Aegon’s cowardice and tendency to bully the weak, Rhaenyra felt especially repelled by him.

Naturally, she sided with her younger brother.

*Chapter 52: Pick It Up!*

"Rhaenyra, keep quiet!"

Viserys scolded loudly before turning back to question Aegon again.

"Tell me, did you bully Helaena?"

"Yes."

Aegon, too frightened to cry, answered timidly.

"Did Rhaegar hit you because of it?"

"Yes."

"Did he scare you with a heated steel bracelet but not harm you?"

"Yes."

Under his father’s stern gaze, Aegon dared not lie and obediently confessed to everything.

Viserys touched Aegon's swollen cheek, glanced at Alicent's hand, and pieced everything together.

"Alicent, Rhaegar's way of disciplining Aegon was indeed inappropriate, but it doesn’t seem to have reached the level you're claiming," Viserys said in a deep voice.

Alicent, clearly displeased by the interrogation-like questioning, stubbornly responded, "If no one had intervened tonight, who knows what Rhaegar might have done to him?"

"But Aegon wasn’t burned, was he? Rhaegar didn’t do that," Viserys retorted, his voice rising as he glared at her.

Alicent opened her mouth to argue, but Viserys interrupted, "It’s normal for brothers to fight. I used to do the same with Daemon."

"Did you ever corner Daemon and scare him to the point of tears?" Alicent retorted, clutching Aegon tightly as she stared at her husband.

Her father had warned her long ago that once Rhaenyra ascended the throne, she would never spare Alicent’s children.

At the time, she hadn’t believed it.

But now, it seemed more likely than ever.

Rhaenyra hadn’t even made her move yet, and Rhaegar was already showing signs of hostility.

Viserys ruffled his hair in frustration and helped Alicent up from the floor. Controlling his temper, he said softly, "Let’s end this here tonight, my dear."

"Rhaegar needs to apologize to Aegon and promise not to threaten him again," Alicent insisted, knowing her husband’s tendency to smooth things over. She seized the opportunity to fight for justice for her child.

Viserys hesitated for a moment, glancing back at Rhaegar and Rhaenyra. Then he lowered his head and deliberated, "Both children are at fault. Let them apologize to each other."

"Aegon started it by bullying his sister. He should go first," Viserys added.

Alicent said nothing but looked down at Aegon in her arms.

Aegon, his face tear-streaked and disheveled, timidly stole glances at Rhaegar. After a long pause, he finally mustered up the courage, closed his eyes, and blurted out, "I’m sorry, big brother."

"Good. Now it’s Rhaegar’s turn," Viserys gestured toward Rhaegar, urging him to cooperate.

Rhaegar’s gaze darkened like deep water before a sudden smile broke across his face.

"I accept your apology, and I apologize for my rough behavior. I shouldn’t have scared you like that," he said.

He didn’t want to make things harder for his father, and humoring Alicent’s motherly protectiveness was no trouble to him.

Viserys gave Alicent a strained smile and suggested, "It’s late. Let’s have the children go back and rest."

Alicent nodded, saying no more.

She had achieved the fairness she wanted—Aegon was only frightened, and there was no further point in pursuing the matter.

Viserys turned to leave, and Alicent held Aegon’s hand.

It seemed like the matter was about to come to an end.

But then Rhaegar suddenly spoke.

"Aegon, don’t you like bracelets? Take it with you!"

Viserys turned back and saw Rhaegar, expressionless, tossing the heated steel bracelet onto the floor in front of Aegon.

Aegon jumped back in fright, retreating quickly to avoid being hit.

Viserys was furious. "Rhaegar, it’s over. Enough!"

Rhaegar replied calmly, "I know, but Aegon likes the bracelet. I promised to give it to him."

Fixing his gaze on Aegon, Rhaegar pointed to the bracelet on the floor and commanded, "Pick it up. Take it."

"No... I can’t pick it up..."

Aegon shook his head repeatedly, cowering into Alicent’s arms and looking at Rhaegar in terror.

"It’s yours. You have to take it," Rhaegar insisted.

"I don’t want it. I really don’t. I’ll never want it again..."

Rhaegar ignored Aegon’s pleading, his tone turning colder. "Pick it up. I said pick it up!"

"No, I won’t..."

As Aegon became increasingly panicked and disoriented, Alicent’s expression began to crumble. She stared silently at Viserys.

Her tear-filled eyes seemed to say:

"Do you see now? Your precious son dares to torment Aegon even in your presence."

The situation was on the verge of spiraling out of control. Rhaenyra took out a handkerchief, dampened it with water, folded it, and wrapped it around the bracelet before stuffing it into Aegon's hand.

Then, with concern, she turned to Rhaegar and said, "Let it go, Rhaegar."

Glancing at his sister, who was clearly thinking of his well-being, Rhaegar's icy gaze softened. With a hint of sarcasm, he said, "It's a simple task—how could Aegon fail at it?"

With the exchange between the siblings, the tense atmosphere in the cabin eased slightly.

But everyone knew that the balance within this family had already been broken.

Viserys cast Rhaegar a complicated look before silently stepping out of the cabin.

Alicent snatched the damp handkerchief from Aegon's hand. Tears streaming down her face, she choked out, "Remember your promise. I’ll make sure Aegon stays away from you."

Rhaegar watched her leave, his expression indifferent.

It was clear Alicent held a grudge against him. No matter how much he explained, in her eyes, it was all just excuses.

He didn’t feel like saying anything more.

Once they left, only Rhaegar and Rhaenyra remained in the cabin.

Rhaenyra shut the cabin door, leaned against it with her arms crossed, and sighed. "Who upset you? Why such a big outburst?"

"I only meant to scare Aegon," Rhaegar replied helplessly.

"In Alicent's eyes, it wasn’t just a scare."

"What could I do? She happened to catch me and immediately accused me of plotting against Aegon."

Seeing the fatigue in her brother's expression, Rhaenyra’s heart softened. She stepped forward and pulled him into her embrace, stroking his silvery hair. "From now on, don’t meddle in things. Alicent is like a lioness fiercely protecting her cubs."

"So, because we don’t have a mother, we’re inherently inferior?"

"You know that’s not what I mean."

"It doesn’t matter. Cubs without a lioness’s protection must grow sharp fangs and claws even faster."

Rhaegar pushed away his sister’s hand that had been ruffling his hair and flopped onto the bed, frustrated.

His original intention had simply been to stand up for Helaena.

But Alicent treated him as though he were some kind of villain, using "motherly love" as an excuse to lash out at him.

Wasn’t it just because he didn’t have a mother?

If not for being fed up with Alicent’s overbearing protective attitude, he wouldn’t have troubled Aegon again.

"Alright, calm down. Tonight, I’ll sleep beside you," Rhaenyra said, fully understanding what her brother was feeling. She affectionately squeezed his right hand and lay down next to him.

She noticed that Rhaegar’s hand showed no signs of change—nothing to suggest it had touched red-hot iron.

"You really are different, Rhaegar."

"Oh!"

Rhaegar had no interest in continuing the conversation. He stripped off his clothes and pulled the blanket over himself.

Rhaenyra didn’t say anything further. She simply patted his back and softly hummed a lullaby, just as she used to sing to the unconscious Rhaegar when they were younger.

…

By the next morning, the sailboat had braved the wind and waves, reaching the vicinity of the Gullet.

On the deck, Rhaenyra held Rhaegar’s hand as they gazed out at the sea. She began describing her observations:

"The waters governed by King’s Landing are part of Blackwater Bay. We’ve been sailing for a day and a night, and now we’re about to enter the Gullet."

"Do you know what the Gullet represents?"

Rhaegar, enjoying the fresh air, replied, "The Gullet is the gateway to Blackwater Bay. It’s as important as a throat to the body."

"Exactly. The Gullet is surrounded by Dragonstone, Driftmark, and Sharp Point—three fortresses forming an impenetrable maritime defense."

Rhaenyra pointed toward a massive island’s towering cliffs in the distance. "That’s Driftmark, the ancestral seat of Lord Corlys Velaryon, the Sea Snake."

(Chapter Ends)  

Chapter 53: Dragonstone

"The Velaryon family?"

Rhaegar's interest was piqued.

Rhaenyra chuckled. "Yes, a family well-versed in long voyages and historically allied with ours."

"I’ve heard Lord Corlys is quite the troublemaker, giving Father a lot of headaches," Rhaegar remarked pointedly.

"That was an issue of inheritance disputes from the older generation," Rhaenyra explained, trying to dispel her brother's bias. "Part of our journey this time is to reconcile with the Velaryons."

Rhaegar frowned. "The Velaryons aren’t as powerful as the Targaryens. Why are we the ones seeking reconciliation?"

"That’s something for the king to worry about," Rhaenyra replied, tugging playfully on his nose with a hint of displeasure in her tone.

As a powerless heir, how could she possibly understand what weighed on their father's mind?

Rhaegar pondered for a moment. "The Velaryons riding our dragons—that’s a dangerous thing."

Rhaenyra was momentarily stunned by his words and said in surprise, "That’s only because of Aunt Rhaenys."

"Then it should stay limited to Aunt Rhaenys," Rhaegar concluded.

---

The sun hung high in the sky.

The ship anchored in the waters around Dragonstone.

Guards rowed two small boats, carrying the group to the sandy shore.

After the voyage, Viserys sighed with relief, enjoying the solid feel of the soft sand underfoot.

"Your Grace, the castle has prepared a feast with fine food and wine," the acting castellan of Dragonstone said as he led a group of attendants, bowing respectfully in greeting.

Viserys smiled broadly at the mention of a banquet. "Good, that’s exactly what I had in mind."

He beckoned his wife and children forward, trying to use words and smiles to ease the tension left from the previous night’s discord.

Alicent followed with the younger children at his right, while Rhaegar and his sister walked hand in hand on the left.

The division between the two groups was stark.

The acting castellan noticed this and tactfully changed the subject.

"Is this the prince and princess’s first time on the island? Would you like me to give you an introduction?"

Without even looking at him, Rhaegar replied, "My sister is the Princess of Dragonstone."

Rhaenyra squeezed his hand, signaling him not to speak out of turn.

The castellan hesitated slightly, then Rhaenyra smoothed over the moment. "Lord Robert, please explain it to my younger siblings."

"Of course, Princess," Robert said, bowing slightly with a smile. "Dragonstone is a large island with rugged terrain and scarce crops."

"But thanks to an active volcano, it’s an ideal place for dragons to live."

Though he appeared serious on the surface, Lord Robert turned out to be quite a chatterbox.

Even without anyone responding, he continued prattling on endlessly.

Viserys shook his head and chuckled, while only Rhaenyra occasionally responded to him.

As they passed towering cliffs, a massive ebony gate carved with dragon motifs appeared ahead.

Lord Robert stopped talking and called out to the tower guards stationed on either side of the gate.

The black gate slowly opened, revealing a winding staircase that stretched for miles, climbing up the mountain to a gigantic castle perched at its peak.

The castle, built entirely of black stone and modeled after the form of a dragon, was a sight to behold.

Behind the gate, a line of tall, disciplined guards stood on either side.

As the gate opened, they shouted greetings to Viserys in unison.

The imposing atmosphere left Rhaegar awestruck.

Viserys led the group forward onto the stone staircase that resembled a bridge, visibly pleased with the welcome.

Lord Robert resumed his chatter.

"Dragonstone Castle was built during the Valyrian Freehold as a stronghold on Westeros."

"Thanks to Valyria's advanced stoneworking, the castle was entirely constructed from black stone and designed with techniques far beyond what we can achieve today."

"From a distance, it looks like an ancient dragon resting atop the mountain, watching over Westeros."

This time, Rhaegar listened intently.

The dragon-shaped castle of Dragonstone and the winding staircase beneath their feet truly seemed like marvels of craftsmanship, inspiring awe.

After some time, they finally entered the castle.

The main hall, decorated predominantly in black and red, matched the Targaryen family’s aesthetic.

After a brief handwashing, the formal feast began.

After finishing most of the meal, Viserys rubbed his satisfied stomach, sipped on fine wine, and asked, "I sent you a raven. How are things on Dragonstone?"

Lord Robert reported, "Your Grace, two days ago, the volcano on the island erupted, spewing lava. It startled Vermithor and Silverwing, but thankfully, they didn’t harm anyone and quickly returned to their nests."

"As long as nothing happened, that’s good. Tomorrow, we can prepare to help my two sons bond with their dragons," Viserys said with a cheerful smile.

Lord Robert shook his head and replied with difficulty, "Because of the upheaval, the two young dragons we had secured earlier have gone into hiding. We're still searching for them."

Hearing this, Viserys’s expression darkened instantly. He set down his wineglass and fixed Lord Robert with a questioning stare.

"Both young dragons are missing? What are the dragonkeepers and the Dragon Guard on the island doing?"

Lowering his head like a guilty child, Lord Robert apologized, "I’m truly sorry, Your Grace. The young dragons were quiet and had been roaming freely on Dragonstone. We grew too complacent."

To his credit, Lord Robert took full responsibility for the mistake without making excuses.

Viserys glared at him angrily, his freshly full stomach now seeming even rounder, and said, "Find those young dragons as quickly as possible. It takes time for the princes to bond with them."

"Yes, Your Grace," Lord Robert replied, bowing repeatedly before hastily leaving to oversee the search for the dragons.

The dining table was left with only the family. Rhaenyra questioned, "Vermithor and Silverwing have been dormant for years. How is it they’ve reappeared now?"

"It’s nothing surprising," Viserys replied. "A volcanic eruption is a natural disaster, and even dragons know how to avoid danger."

His thoughts drifted to his own former dragon, Balerion the Black Dread.

Balerion had been larger than Vhagar, with wings that could block out the sky and flames hot enough to melt stone.

Unfortunately, by the time Viserys began riding Balerion, it was already too late.

He had only managed one flight over King’s Landing as a boy, barely able to make a round trip to Dragonstone.

Reflecting on those days, Viserys chuckled softly, pushed back his chair, and stood up. "Your king and father has had his fill. Now, I’m off for a nice nap."

After he left, the table grew quiet.

The rest hurriedly finished their meals and left one by one.

---

The sun was still high when Rhaegar clung to Rhaenyra, asking her to take him on a tour of Dragonstone.

With nothing better to do, Rhaenyra agreed to his request.

The two first wandered around the castle, admiring the grand architecture from the ancient Valyrian era.

Rhaegar was amazed.

Not only was the castle shaped like a dragon, but there were also two towering spires, also dragon-shaped, rising into the sky with dragon heads gazing in all directions.

By afternoon, Rhaenyra, growing tired of Rhaegar’s persistent requests, took him for a walk on the beach.

Looking up at the towering cliffs, Rhaegar felt utterly free, cheering with joy.

Compared to the cage-like Red Keep, he adored the natural beauty of Dragonstone.

Watching her brother running along the shore, Rhaenyra chuckled and said, "Poor child, you’ve never been far from home."

Rhaegar hadn’t yet realized that Dragonstone was merely the Targaryen family’s doorstep.

Only by leaving the Crownlands would one truly step into the Seven Kingdoms.

"Sister, come quickly! Look, there’s a really deep and dark cave here!"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 54: Dragon Crystal*

Stepping onto the soft sand, Rhaenyra shook the water from her soaked boots. From afar, she heard Rhaegar calling out.

She looked up, but Rhaegar’s figure was nowhere in sight.

Panic struck her momentarily as she shouted anxiously, “Where are you? I’m coming to find you!”

“I’m here! I’ll check it out first!”

Rhaegar’s voice came again, though it was much fainter this time.

Rhaenyra quickly ran in the direction of the voice. Endless cliffs covered in moss stretched before her, their bases riddled with numerous caves.

“Where did he go…”

Scanning the cliffside full of caves, Rhaenyra muttered in confusion, unable to tell which one Rhaegar had entered.

“Rhaegar! Stop hiding from your sister and come out!”

Rhaenyra shouted loudly, both angry and anxious as she searched for her brother.

She thought Rhaegar was playing a prank on her on purpose.

However, after waiting for a long time, there was still no response from Rhaegar.

This time, Rhaenyra was truly scared.

She inspected the entrances of the caves one by one, finding nothing but bat droppings, seashells, and conchs left behind by the tide.

There was no trace of Rhaegar.

Taking a deep breath, Rhaenyra’s pupils dilated as she realized Rhaegar wasn’t just playing hide-and-seek with her.

He had really gone into one of the caves.

“Seven hells! Who knows how deep these caves go or what’s inside them?”

Panicked, Rhaenyra turned and ran back, intending to gather the guards to search.

---

In the castle, Viserys was deep in sleep in his chamber.

Middle-aged and growing portly, his energy was no longer what it used to be.

Before Rhaegar was born, he would have surely embraced his wife passionately before drifting into slumber.

Alicent opened the door to check on him. Seeing him fast asleep, she frowned and went to another room.

Despite years of marriage and her refined upbringing, she still couldn’t stand the smell of alcohol on her husband.

She entered the adjacent room, which was equally luxurious but had fresher air.

The children were being cared for by the maids, and she wanted a moment to relax.

Knock, knock...  

Just as she was half-asleep in a reclining chair, a series of knocks startled her awake.

Alicent turned her head toward the door, assuming it was a maid calling her because one of the children was crying.

But the door showed no signs of movement, nor was there any sound from the maids.

Knock, knock...  

Alicent frowned slightly, looking toward the source of the sound. She immediately sat up in shock.

The knocking was coming from inside the wall.

More precisely, from within the wall itself.

Alicent’s heart raced as she thought about calling someone to check.

Just then, the bedroom wall slowly began to move, rotating open.

Alicent froze in shock, hastily grabbing a small knife from the table and retreating to the door.

The wall rotated halfway and stopped, revealing a pitch-black space.

Alicent couldn’t believe it. She had randomly chosen a room, and it turned out to have a hidden passage.

Carefully observing the entrance to the hidden passage, Alicent gripped the knife tightly, her palms sweating.

“Who’s there? Who are you?”

Knock, knock…  

Two more knocks echoed, followed by a faint breeze from the passage.

The next moment, a figure cloaked in black suddenly emerged from the darkness.

---

In the dim underground cave, faint rustling noises echoed.

Clack!  

The sound of flint striking rang out, and a torch was lit.

The firelight illuminated the cave, casting a warm glow on Rhaegar’s flushed cheeks.

“Rhaenyra didn’t follow me. Should I go back?”

Rhaegar murmured to himself, placing the flint back into his spatial bracelet.

Ever since he acquired this treasure, he had secretly stored supplies in it for emergencies.

Looking around, Rhaegar realized he was in a tunnel.

The surrounding walls bore marks of excavation, indicating someone had been here before.

“Well, since I’m already here, I might as well explore.”

Calming his racing heart, Rhaegar held up the torch and ventured deeper.

The cave was spacious, with good airflow, making it a viable place to take some risks.

More importantly, Rhaegar wanted to find the young dragon that had escaped.

There was a chance the dragon was hiding in the cave, and he might stumble upon it.

After walking for a while, the tunnel gradually narrowed, and the excavation marks became more pronounced.

On the stone walls, a dark, glossy crystal began to appear, seemingly swallowing the torchlight.

“Is this dragon crystal?”

Touching the black crystals on the wall, Rhaegar recalled his half-year of rigorous education from the two maesters.

He had learned that this crystal was called dragon crystal—

A mineral unique to Dragonstone, also known as obsidian.

There were also dragon crystals in the Red Keep, decorated on some special garments and weapons.

Their practical use was almost negligible.

Rhaegar pried off a piece of dragon crystal from a loose chiseled pit and carefully stored it in his spatial bracelet.

He couldn't leave empty-handed after coming all this way.

Illuminating the path ahead, Rhaegar noticed that the tunnel extended deep into the earth, so he continued forward.

Since there was only one path, he wasn't worried about getting lost.

As he walked, the tunnel gradually became narrower.

Dragon crystal deposits grew denser, densely packed and embedded in the walls.

Eventually, the entire tunnel was carved out of dragon crystal.

Before long, the tunnel reached its end.

Under the light of the fire jar, Rhaegar faintly saw patterns engraved on the dragon crystal walls.

Shepherds, dragons, giants...

And even some grotesque and terrifying creatures.

Rhaegar moved closer to examine the carvings, taking in the details to decipher their meaning.

"A Song of Ice and Fire!"

The legend immediately came to Rhaegar's mind.

The carvings on the dragon crystal wall depicted the prophecy of the Song of Ice and Fire.

From the Fourteen Flames of Old Valyria to Aenar's voyage across the sea...

And even an ancient depiction of the Long Night, a catastrophe brought by monstrous creatures, from an unknown age.

"Conqueror Aegon’s prophecy was true. White Walkers really exist in this world?"

Rhaegar stared at the dragon crystal wall in shock, murmuring to himself.

The sense of awe far surpassed even the sight of a great dragon.

The legendary creatures truly existed, and someone had foreseen this calamity, carving it into the dragon crystal mines of Dragonstone.

Rhaegar reached out, intending to brush away the dust on the carvings.

As soon as he touched the surface, a system notification sounded in his ears.

"The exploration mission has been activated. Target: Dragon Crystal Wall."

He opened the system panel, where the exploration data began to load.

*[Dragon Crystal Wall]*

Exploration Progress: 0.2%

"An exploration mission? It seems these carvings are not a hoax."

Based on the initial progress of the exploration, Rhaegar deduced that the dragon crystal wall was of significant value.

This indicated that it was either exceedingly rare or incredibly ancient.

The value of the prophetic carvings was undeniable, and the time scale they recorded extended far beyond his knowledge.

It seemed he was about to acquire another high-quality relic.

Rhaegar retrieved a small stool from his spatial bracelet, leaned against the dragon crystal wall, and waited for the exploration progress to complete.

"I hope Rhaenyra doesn't panic and think I've gotten lost."

---

Meanwhile, in Alicent’s chambers.

Alicent, drenched in cold sweat, sat angrily on her armchair, glaring ahead.

The man in the black cloak stood before her, hands crossed in front of his abdomen.

Breathing heavily, Alicent demanded furiously, "Why are you on Dragonstone? What is your purpose?"

The black-cloaked man seemed indifferent to her hostility. In a low voice, he replied, "My purpose is unimportant. What matters is the purpose of your visit."

"What do you mean?"

Alicent was baffled.

The black-cloaked man continued, "The two princes tried to tame young dragons, but unfortunately, they were frightened away."

"The guards are searching tirelessly and will soon discover where the young dragons are hiding."

"Is that so? Well, I happen to know where the two young dragons are."

"What do you want?" Alicent asked.

"I'll tell you where the young dragons are. Prince Aegon can choose one first, but you must share the location of the other."

The black-cloaked man spoke with deliberate intent.

Alicent stared at the man, unable to discern his motives.

However, considering the significance of a dragon to a Targaryen heir, Alicent asked, "Where are the young dragons?"

---

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 55: The Second Legend*

Time flew by, and the sky turned dim.

Inside the dragon crystal mine, in front of the stone mural.

The young prince was immersed in a dream, completely unaware of the passing of time outside.

Suddenly, Rhaegar shivered and woke up from his sleep.

He groggily looked around, still half-asleep.

At that moment, a system notification sounded.

*"Exploration complete. Please collect the lost relic."*

Rhaegar immediately perked up, scanning every corner with his eyes.

*[Dragon Crystal Wall]*

*Exploration Progress: 100%*

"Where is it?"

After searching around, Rhaegar spotted a round, glowing red halo on the dragon crystal wall above him.

"Red… It's a legendary relic!"

Rhaegar's eyes widened, and he carefully poked at the red halo.

A burst of brilliant red light exploded like fireworks, cascading down onto his head.

*"Relic successfully collected. Scanning in progress…"*

*"Scan complete. Determined to be a legendary relic: The Last Ember."*

"As expected of a legendary relic, comparable to the mysterious [Bloodfire Kin]."

Rhaegar eagerly rubbed his hands together, staring at the faint flame that appeared on his system panel.

The core of the flame was orange, surrounded by flickering red edges, as if it could extinguish at any moment.

"The Last Ember... It looks like it's about to go out."

Filled with curiosity, Rhaegar attempted to activate the weak flame.

*"Activation failed. Legendary relics are unique and require special conditions to activate."*

Hearing the system’s explanation, Rhaegar recalled his first exploration of Balerion’s skull, where he obtained the [Dragon’s Legacy].

That scarred dragon scale could only be activated with true dragon blood.

"Precious things are always one of a kind."

Rhaegar frowned slightly and pulled up the annotation for [The Last Ember] on his system panel.

He read the description:

"Fire is the enlightenment of a civilization. Ancient civilizations grew from infancy to mighty empires, only to fall into ruin…"  

"Each civilization has a unique legacy. The immortal crystal preserves the Last Ember, waiting for a hero to restore its glory…"  

The two lines briefly described the origin of the Last Ember but offered no clues on how to activate it.

Rhaegar frowned slightly, feeling a little regretful about having a treasure he couldn’t use.

"If it's called the Last Ember, it must be related to fire and magic."

When it came to fire and magic, the first thing Rhaegar thought of was dragons.

"The Dragon’s Legacy required true dragon blood. Maybe the Last Ember requires dragonfire?"

Rhaegar couldn’t stop his thoughts from running wild.

As night fell, the temperature inside the cave gradually dropped.

Rhaegar’s breath turned into white mist, creating a stark contrast between ice and fire near the torchlight.

"Uh-oh, it must be really late now."

Having obtained the relic, Rhaegar’s adventure was a success, but now he had to face the consequences of sneaking out.

Following the path back, Rhaegar racked his brain, thinking of excuses.

Outside, a bright half-moon hung high in the sky, and stars scattered across the night.

Waves crashed against the beach, unable to drown out the sound of soldiers searching.

As Rhaegar climbed out of the narrow cave entrance, he looked up to see flickering torches and heard voices calling his name.

"I'm here!"

Rhaegar raised his torch and shouted to the soldiers nearby.

"Your Highness! Quickly, someone, we’ve found Prince Rhaegar!"

A soldier hurriedly yelled out.

The sound of hurried footsteps filled the beach, and Rhaegar was soon surrounded by guards.

Before long, Viserys and Rhaenyra appeared before him.

Before his father, Viserys, could say anything, Rhaenyra rushed forward and tackled him to the ground.

Her face was full of anger, and her voice was hoarse with tears. "You little brat, where did you run off to?!"

"I was just in the cave… I found something," Rhaegar mumbled, lowering his head and not daring to move.

"What could be more important than your safety?! You nearly scared me to death!"

Rhaenyra, like an enraged mother dragon, had tears streaming down her cheeks. She choked out, "You disappeared right under my nose! If something happened to you, what would I do?!"

"Mother left me with only you to rely on. Without you, what would I do?!"

As she spoke, tears rolled down her face. Overcome with emotion, she pulled Rhaegar over her lap and started spanking him.

Seeing his sister so heartbroken, Rhaegar didn’t dare resist. He covered his face with his hands and let her scold him.

"That’s enough, Rhaenyra."

Viserys, who had been furious at first, sighed when he saw the scene. He walked over to console his daughter.

After all, he had just found his son. He couldn’t afford to have his daughter fall ill from anger.

Rhaenyra stopped, wiping her tears with her sleeve, and threatened, "If you do this again, I’ll break your legs and drag you back to the Red Keep, locking you in the attic for life."

Rhaegar nodded repeatedly, like a pecking bird, and assured her there wouldn’t be a next time.

As he spoke, he pulled out a piece of dragonglass from his pocket and said with a mix of truth and lies, "I didn’t wander off on purpose. I was guided by a mysterious call from somewhere."

"That’s nonsense, just another excuse!" Rhaenyra cursed outright.

Viserys furrowed his brow, asking in confusion, "You entered the dragonglass cave?"

"Yes," Rhaegar affirmed. "Some unknown force led me there, and I uncovered an ancient legend."

"What is it?"

Viserys was half-convinced by his eldest son’s mysterious tale. As a dreamer, Rhaegar held significant weight in his eyes, and Viserys was willing to listen to his adventures.

Rhaegar sketched a few crude diagrams in the sand and said solemnly, "Long ago, someone carved the legend of The Song of Ice and Fire inside the dragonglass cave."

Observing the sand drawings, Viserys eagerly asked, "Truly The Song of Ice and Fire? Which cave is it in?"

He remembered the prophecy recorded on the catspaw dagger.

Faced with a legend so closely tied to the prophecy, how could he not investigate?

Rhaegar pointed out the entrance to the cave. Viserys instructed, "You and Rhaenyra should go back and rest. She’s been searching for you all day and must be exhausted."

He then led the Kingsguard commander Harrold and two guards into the cave.

Rhaenyra, still puzzled, muttered, "What’s this Song of Ice and Fire? Isn’t it just a legend?"

"It’s hard to explain right now. Let’s head back first," Rhaegar said, taking her hand in an attempt to please her.

"Explain it to me when we get back," Rhaenyra replied, turning her head but firmly holding his hand.

By now, it was already midnight.

She’d been searching for him since lunch, utterly exhausted, hungry, and worn out.

…

After dinner, in Rhaegar’s bedroom.

The siblings had finished washing up, dressed in their nightwear, and lay down on the bed.

Rhaegar carefully explained the history of The Song of Ice and Fire and his discoveries in the cave.

Rhaenyra’s beautiful eyes widened. She whispered, "There really are White Walkers and an army of the dead?"

"Who knows? The last age of legends was thousands of years ago."

Leaning against her, enjoying the soft warmth, Rhaegar said, "Our ancestors were dragonlords during ancient Valyria, but if you trace back far enough, they were just a bunch of shepherds."

"I think The Song of Ice and Fire must be a disaster unique to Westeros."

Rhaenyra raised her brow slightly. "Like Valyria’s Doom?"

"Probably not. The Long Night is a catastrophe of extreme cold caused by the White Walkers. According to history, humanity defeated the Night King and saved the continent."

"In contrast, the Valyrian civilization, which had so many dragons and far surpassed any era of Westeros in power, still fell to the Doom of Valyria."

"This shows that the Doom was far more terrifying—leaving no chance for resistance."

---

---

(End of chapter)