"Ah!"
A familiar soft exclamation reached his ears as Rhaegar skillfully caught her in his arms.
Looking down, he saw Rhaenyra's panicked face.
Rhaegar's breathing was heavy. "What are you doing here?"
"That's Jeyne's room."
Rhaenyra didn't flinch or evade his gaze as she pointed at the door behind him.
After losing her temper, she regretted speaking so harshly to Rhaegar.
She had wanted to talk to him.
Just then, she saw Jeyne and Rhaegar enter the room one after the other.
Hearing her question, Rhaegar grinned. "Yes, Jeyne's room. Can you believe I actually came out of there?"
"You…"
"Shh! Look at the foolish things I've done because of you."
Rhaegar cut her off, holding her close against the door.
Through the wooden door, muffled sobbing could be heard.
Before Rhaenyra could react, Rhaegar effortlessly lifted her into his arms in a princess carry and said seriously, "You have to make it up to me!"
With that, he strode quickly down the corridor.
Rhaenyra's mind went blank, and she instinctively clutched his sleeve in a daze.
---
Late at Night
The Red Keep was brightly lit. The night air was cool as torrential rain poured down.
Countless stories unfolded in the pattering rain.
By the early hours of the morning,
Rhaegar sat by the balcony, gazing through the rain-streaked glass at the downpour over King's Landing.
Boom—
Thunder roared like a shattering silver bottle. Lightning tore through the dark, stormy sky, illuminating the night for a fleeting moment.
"Whoo~~"
Blowing gently on his hot tea, Rhaegar took a deep sip.
At that moment, the thunder outside made him uneasy. A chill ran down his spine.
On the nearby bed, a slender figure lay curled beneath a thin blanket.
The person was fast asleep, silver hair cascading over their face, one arm tucked under their head.
Rhaegar stared out the window, his thoughts drifting.
Three hours ago, he had been very different.
His face remained the same, but his entire demeanor had changed dramatically.
The sharpness had faded, replaced by a quiet patience and steadiness.
He had followed his heart, rejecting Jeyne's invitation, staying true to his principles.
Setting down his teacup, Rhaegar stood and walked toward the bed.
Looking at the sleeping figure, he gently lay down beside her, brushing away the strands of hair covering her face.
Rhaenyra's cheeks were flushed, her lashes shimmering with a soft glow, her breathing steady.
Sitting at the edge of the bed, Rhaegar inhaled the faintly sweet scent of tea mixed with her fragrance.
It was a peaceful night. His mind was utterly blank.
Before he turned three, he spent his days in a deep slumber.
Back then, Rhaenyra would occasionally sing lullabies to him.
After turning three, he was always alone.
The only thing he ever looked forward to was Rhaenyra coming to him at night to vent her troubles.
His heart softened, and he murmured, "You're truly cruel… making me never want to leave your side."
"Don't eat too much, Rhaegar…"
Rhaenyra seemed to hear him in her sleep, shifting slightly as she mumbled.
Rhaegar chuckled, watching her peaceful face.
His dragon was called the Devourer, but he was not.
Knock, knock, knock…
Suddenly, a rapid knocking sounded at the door.
Rhaegar immediately sat up, reaching out to cover Rhaenyra's ears.
Her eyelids fluttered slightly, but she still woke up.
Half-asleep, she opened her eyes and asked hoarsely, "Rhaegar… is someone knocking?"
"I know. You don't need to get up."
Rhaegar pressed her shoulder down gently, tucking the blanket around her.
Walking to the door, he heard Helena's anxious, tearful voice.
"Brother, please open the door…"
"Helena?"
Rhaegar was momentarily stunned. He glanced down at his clothes.
Thankfully, he was still wearing his nightwear.
Creak—
He cracked the door open just a little, intending to ask why Helena was crying.
But as soon as the door opened, Helena's small head squeezed in, and like a slippery eel, she darted into the room.
"Brother, there's thunder outside, and Dayanna is in the banquet hall!"
Before Rhaegar could say a word, Helena threw her arms around him, her teary voice rambling on incoherently.
**Rhaegar More or Less Figured It Out.**
Dayana was Helena's personal maid and had been called to the banquet hall by Alicent to help.
Helena was afraid of thunder. With both Alicent and Dayana absent, she had run to him for comfort.
Rhaegar sighed, gently ruffling her small head, and spoke warmly, "Don't be afraid. You're going to be a dragon rider in the future—how can you be scared of thunder?"
Helena had come to his room before during thunderstorms; he knew she was simply frightened.
Rhaenyra, hearing the commotion, tried to sit up but felt utterly weak.
Her brows furrowed as she bit her lip, silently wrapping herself in the blanket.
"Rhaegar, I don't feel well."
It was more than just discomfort—she felt incredibly embarrassed.
Helena had come at the worst possible time.
She was exhausted and drowsy.
*Cough, cough.* "I'll take Helena back," Rhaegar responded, understanding what Rhaenyra meant.
She needed proper rest and careful attention.
"I don't want to go. Mother won't check on me tonight."
Tears welled up in Helena's eyes as she sobbed, "Brother, I want to sleep with you."
"I'll take you to Aemond and Daeron. They'll keep you company."
Rhaegar didn't want to put Rhaenyra in an awkward position, so he offered an alternative.
Helena let Rhaegar pick her up, biting her pink lips and looking at him pitifully.
She was truly afraid of thunder and hoped her brother would let her stay.
"Don't look at me like that. You're a big girl now—you can't sleep with me," Rhaegar sighed, explaining gently.
When they were younger, they used to sleep together often.
Back then, Helena would always come to his room to play with toys. Sometimes, she played so late that she would fall asleep by the fireplace.
At some point, Helena stopped coming to play.
They hardly saw each other anymore.
Perhaps Alicent resented him and didn't want Helena getting too close.
Helena curled up in his arms, burying her face in his chest, and mumbled, "But Sister is older than me, and she didn't leave."
"This is different."
"Rhaegar, let her stay."
Rhaenyra's voice interrupted his attempt to argue.
Rhaegar turned around in surprise, not understanding why she had changed her mind.
Rhaenyra had put on a nightgown and was now leaning against the headboard, motioning with her hand. "Alicent is too busy to look after her. Let her stay for the night."
She couldn't resist Helena's pitiful expression.
More importantly, she didn't want Helena to go out and blurt out something inappropriate in her innocence.
Rhaegar shrugged. "Tonight, you decide."
He carried Helena to the bed and gently placed her down.
Helena immediately rolled over and threw herself into Rhaenyra's arms. "Thank you, Sister," she said gratefully.
She knew exactly who had the final say and did her best to win her favor.
Looking at Helena's slightly chubby cheeks, Rhaenyra's eyes gleamed mischievously as she pinched both sides.
Helena's face turned bright red as she squirmed but dared not complain.
"All right, stop teasing her."
Rhaegar pulled Helena back, saving her from Rhaenyra's grasp.
"Hmph, I'll sleep with her—you sleep on the floor."
Rhaenyra snatched Helena back, her eyes full of warning.
Rhaegar chuckled helplessly and pulled out two fresh blankets.
One he spread over the damp bed for the sisters, and the other he laid out on the cold floor for himself.
As a coastal city, King's Landing was always humid.
Helena's big eyes were hazy with sleep as she nestled into Rhaenyra's embrace, holding onto something soft.
She really liked her sister's *big teddy bears*.
---
**At the Same Time, in the Stepstones**
A fierce wind howled across the sea, though no rain had yet fallen.
Dozens of warships drifted on the waves, their sails adorned with sigils: the three-headed red dragon, the seahorse, and the trident-wielding mermaid.
On one of the ships flying the three-headed dragon banner, several figures gathered inside the cabin, deep in discussion.
Among them were Tyland, Cole, Vaemond…
And from White Harbor, the heir of House Manderly—Wyll Manderly.
A sand table sat at the center of their meeting, marked with strategic positions. Tyland pointed to a particular spot, speaking excitedly:
"Our spies report that the pirates of the Three Daughters are hiding on this deserted island."
"We should strike under the cover of darkness and catch them off guard."
Wyll Manderly, a rugged-looking man with a booming voice, agreed. "That's right! Let's deal a heavy blow to the Three Daughters—damn their so-called strong defenses!"
"Wyll, watch your language."
Vaemond raised his head, his tone sharp with warning.
His brother, Corlys, had devised the strategy of maintaining a strong defense.
"Relax, that's just his way—he means no offense."
Tylan tried to mediate and continued, "Lord Corlys is too cautious, always holding back. When will we finally drive out the Kingdom of the Three Daughters?"
Vaemond let out a cold snort, his hands clasped behind his back.
He respected his elder brother and would defend him.
But the fact that he was on this ship proved that, deep down, he also opposed the Sea Snake's strategy.
The Velaryon family had sacrificed too much for this war.
One warship after another had been damaged, and their sailors and soldiers had died in large numbers.
He had come here for the future of his family and to earn military merit—he couldn't just sit idly by.
Seeing this, Tylan straightened his posture and said confidently, "Ser Vaemond, we have the King's fleet, White Harbor's forces, and part of the Velaryon fleet. If we launch a surprise night attack on the Kingdom of the Three Daughters' encampment, we can surely achieve victory in one swift strike."
Ser Cole remained silent, his eyes gleaming as he tightened his grip on his sword hilt.
Tylan had convinced him.
He wanted to earn military glory and return to King's Landing in triumph.
"My spies have also confirmed that the Kingdom of the Three Daughters has gathered there. This plan is feasible."
Vaemond, his face stern, said gravely, "With forty-three warships, five thousand soldiers, and ample supplies of arrows and wildfire, our chances of victory are high."
He had followed his elder brother on multiple voyages and had participated in the last campaign in the Stepstones.
He was well-versed in battlefield command and naval warfare.
He believed his talent was no less than his brother's.
Tylan took a deep breath and declared solemnly, "Then it's decided—we launch a night raid on the Kingdom of the Three Daughters' camp tonight."
To him, ending the war as quickly as possible was the right choice.
With his strategies, Vaemond's command of naval battles, and their formidable fleet, victory was within reach!
"Haha! Wiping out those pirate scum—I can't wait to see the look on my old man's face when he hears about this," Will Manderly laughed heartily, slapping his round belly.
—
Bloodstone Island.
A messenger rushed in, shouting urgently and demanding to see the sleeping Sea Snake.
Awakened by the commotion, the Sea Snake summoned him at once.
The messenger, his face filled with panic, reported that Tylan and the others had secretly set sail from the island, their whereabouts unknown.
"Fools! How dare they defy orders and act on their own!?"
The Sea Snake's face darkened, and he roared in fury.
Whatever intelligence Tylan and Vaemond had received, he had his own sources as well.
Attacking the Kingdom of the Three Daughters' stronghold was indeed tempting.
But reward and risk always went hand in hand.
His fury was uncontrollable. His dark complexion grew even more somber as he bellowed, "Prepare the army at once—war is coming!"
(End of Chapter)