A visitor approached Viserys eagerly, delivering a letter into his hands.
Rhaegar observed the newcomer unabashedly. With his neatly trimmed beard and combed-back blond hair, he exuded an air of respectability.
Viserys accepted the letter, musing, "A plea for help—sounds like something Daemon wouldn't do, doesn't it?"
Tyland Lannister nodded solemnly. "It's a letter from Ser Vaemond Velaryon, the brother of the Sea Serpent. He's the one who sent it."
"I knew that, with that bastard's pride, he wouldn't take the initiative to write to me, his brother."
The contents of the letter were soon divulged.
Viserys's expression shifted slightly as he addressed the ministers present, "The Stepstone Islands are in a stalemate. The cowards who feed the crabs are avoiding confrontation. Daemon and the others are hindered."
The ministers exchanged glances, offering various suggestions—ranging from sending troops to waiting for Daemon and the Sea Serpent's army to falter.
Viserys rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. He detested war.
This conflict in the Stepstones was instigated privately by Daemon under the Sea Serpent's guidance. Now, in dire straits, they sought aid.
Should he clean up the mess left by these crownless men?
"Rhaenyra, take your brother away, the discussion won't be over for a while, don't tire him out."
Viserys kissed Rhaegar's forehead and left him in his daughter's care.
Knowing that the matter was more complicated, Rhaenyra didn't object and walked out of the hall, holding her brother's hand.
...
Once outside the council hall, the siblings reached a corridor adorned with floor-to-ceiling windows.
As Rhaenyra gazed out through the stained glass, she asked, "Do you think Uncle Daemon can defeat the crab feeders?"
"Dear sister, I just turned six," Rhaegar replied, casting a melancholic glance at his shorter stature.
After a moment of silence, Rhaenyra slapped her forehead in realization. "I'm so foolish. I always treat you like a miniature adult, forgetting that you might not even know who the crab feeder is."
Rhaegar interjected, "If Uncle Daemon hadn't mentioned that I was a future crown prince, I wouldn't have even known he was my 'uncle'."
...
Turning to his sister, Rhaegar whispered, "I noticed Father is missing two fingers."
"He's unwell, and the Grand Maester is attending to him," Rhaenyra reassured, gently stroking his head. She suspected her brother was unnerved by their father's injuries.
However, Rhaegar remained composed, holding his sister's hand and pressing a fingernail into her skin.
"Ouch! What are you doing? That hurts!" Rhaenyra exclaimed, pulling her hand away to reveal a red mark.
Undeterred by his sister's reaction, Rhaegar spoke seriously, "A small wound makes you cry out, but Father lost two fingers. Perhaps he bears other wounds..."
He paused, adding, "As king, he cannot afford to show weakness. As his children, we must focus not on personal vendettas but on strengthening ourselves and aiding our father."
Rhaenyra was taken aback by her brother's wisdom. Pointing at him, she stammered, "You...you just said you were six years old, and now you're lecturing me?"
Rhaegar replied matter-of-factly, "My age limits my wisdom, but books inspire my knowledge."
"Sister, you should read more and not spend all your time riding dragons and getting caught up in rumors and troubles," he advised, pretending to pat her on the shoulder, though he couldn't reach even if he stood on tiptoe. Settling for her slender waist, he turned and left gracefully.
Rhaenyra stood frozen for a moment before a gust of wind jolted her back to reality. Then, with a roar, she declared, "Rhaegar, you dare disrespect your sister? Prepare to face the wrath of the sleeping dragon!"
...
Two days later, a luxurious carriage made its way toward the imperial forest, accompanied by guards and attendants.
Inside, Viserys sat between Queen Alicent and Rhaenyra, while Aegon and Helaena sat opposite them, nursing a breastfeeding baby.
Rhaegar, seated next to his sister, eyed the infant in boredom, remarking, "Such a tiny thing, yet it cries as if in agony. Quite unsettling."
Alicent chuckled, explaining, "Aemond isn't accustomed to carriages yet. He cries often."
Viserys added with a smile, "A remarkable cry—he'll be a brave warrior one day."
Alicent smiled sweetly and handed the little toddler to Rhaegar, softly saying, "Do you want to hold him?"
"'Might as well try."
Rhaegar hesitated before taking the infant, amusing himself with the baby's antics for a while.
Rhaegar pinched the baby's two armpits with both hands and let him flop and kick around, lifting and playing for a while.
'In the future, if you little thing dares to mess with me, you will definitely not be spared.'
Rhaegar curled up the corner of his mouth, already thinking of the image of teaching him a lesson in the future.
It didn't take long for Aemond to be devastated and returned to his mother crying loudly.
Viserys couldn't help but relax at the sight, reveling in the joy of his family's company.
A wife to keep him company, a luxury carriage to get him around, and children to surround him.
Is there anything more beautiful than this?
Noticing Viserys' happiness, Rhaegar said at the right time, "Father, is that Aegon the Conqueror's Blackfire beside you?"
Viserys smiled and picked up the sheathed longsword beside him, and said with a proud face, "Yes, the Blackfyre that symbolizes kingship, with which the Conqueror had swept away the Seven Kingdoms."
"May I admire it?"
Rhaegar's eyes were glowing, staring eagerly at the Blackfyre.
Viserys presented the sword but withdrew it midway.
Looking at Rhaegar's thin body bones, he regretfully said, "Not yet, Blackfyre is a sharp weapon full of blood, wait until you're a bit older before you can pick it up."
"But I want to try it."
An inherited sword with enough age and experience to rival Balerion's skull, Rhaegar didn't want to give it up.
Viserys shook his head and sheathed Blackfyre again, refusing his request.
Rhaegar was filled with disappointment and lowered his head.
"If you want to see a sharp blade, this would be a good choice."
Seemingly unable to see his eldest son unhappy, Viserys unhooked a dragonhorn dagger from his waist and tossed it to Rhaegar with a mysterious face.
Rhaegar caught it with his hands and looked at his father in confusion.
Viserys laughed, "This dagger was once owned by the same Aegon the Conqueror, and before him, belonged to Aenar."
"Wow, old enough."
Rhaegar expressed his amazement and drew his dragonhorn dagger.
Swish-
The dagger came out of its sheath, as if a cold light came out.
Rhaegar squinted slightly and saw that the dagger was covered in patterns, and the material and workmanship was impeccable.
"This is a Valyrian steel dagger?"
Rhaenyra was attracted to the dagger and was very surprised.
Viserys nodded, "Anything handed down by our ancestors has its own extraordinary features."
At the same time, a system notification sounded in Rhaegar's ears.
"Lost treasure found, contains trace of magic."
"Magic?"
Rhaegar's spirit was revitalized.
The system sounded again.
"Detection successful, the dagger records the Song of Ice and Fire, do you wish to proceed with the exploration?"
(Word count: 1187)