"The kingdom hasn't initiated any war; my father is still in negotiations," Rhaenyra countered the old woman's harsh criticism, her smile fading.
Another elderly lady chimed in, "Regardless of the king's denial, the war has begun, thanks to your uncle and the sea serpent."
"And what recent service have you rendered to the kindgom, Lady Redwyn?" Rhaenyra's patience wore thin. She glanced disdainfully at the pug-munching lady and quipped, "Is your contribution limited to biscuit indulgence?"
Her mocking words hung in the air, casting a silence over the scene.
"Pfft~" A sudden burst of laughter shattered the tense atmosphere, jarringly loud against the quiet.
Lady Redwyn's expression soured. She eyed the silver-haired boy stifling a smile and asked, her voice deep with disapproval, "Is this the prince, Your Highness?"
Ignoring her, Rhaenyra turned and left, leaving the old woman with a cool, dismissive glance.
Rhaegar couldn't contain his smile. Facing the group of noble ladies, he introduced himself warmly, "I am Rhaegar, Rhaegar Targaryen."
"Viserys I is my father, and I am his eldest son."
Saying that, he looked at Lady Redwine and asked, "Forgive me, I have being weak and sickly since I was a child and rarely appeared in front of people, I don't know if this Mrs. Biscuit has any impression of my name?"
"Pfft~"
Once again, someone couldn't hold back their laughter.
Rhaegar twisted his head to see a thin man with curly brown hair.
The man was surprisingly sitting in a pile of women.
It was still a group of long-winded women meeting point.
The other man held a cane in his hand, and Rhaegar's gaze traveled downward to find a grotesque shoe.
It was a handicapped man with one deformed foot.
Feeling his eyes, the man nodded politely and introduced himself, "Larys Strong, at your service, Your Highness."
Returning the courtesy, Rhaegar asked curiously, "And who might you be, are you related to Lord Lyonel?"
"Yes, I am his youngest son." Larys responded, shrinking his deformed foot at the prince's inquiry.
"Your father is known to be a good minister."
After a brief courtesy, Rhaegar stopped paying attention and redirected his gaze to Lady Redwyn.
"The Three Daughters invaded the kingdom's territory, plundered the ships that came and went, and trafficked in the people who were loyal to my father."
"It is true that my uncle Daemon went to war privately, but he did so to protect his brother's kingdom and do his duty as a Targaryen prince should."
Rhaegar paused briefly and swept a righteous glance at Lady Gilra, who had been the first to speak:
"I believe it won't take long for father to make a painful decision to participate in the war and send troops to defeat that crab-feeding fannish invader."
As the impassioned speech came to an end, Rhaegar focused on Mrs. Redwyn, who was embracing her pug and deepening her bond with the cookies.
Upon hearing his words, the expressions of the ladies who had just pressed Rhaenyra shifted, their initial camaraderie replaced by shock and discomfort.
It was as though they had been publicly rebuked. Alicent regarded him with surprise, seemingly encountering him anew.
No one expected such maturity from a six-year-old.
Mrs. Redwyn, especially, felt deeply humiliated, though she offered no defense.
"Queen Alicent, it falls upon you to discipline the king's children," she remarked, dropping her pug and storming off, her skirts trailing biscuit crumbs as she muttered curses under her breath.
"Oh, it seems my speech was too juvenile and did not resonate with you all." Rhaegar remarked with a smile, patting his chest lightly. With a polite bow, he excused himself, uninterested in conversing further with the gossiping, narrow-minded women.
His priority lay in finding his sister, knowing how vulnerable adolescent girls could be and the comfort they sought.
As he strode away from the gathering, uneven footsteps followed behind. Rhaegar turned to see Larys, leaning on his cane, trailing him.
"Ser Larys, aren't you fond of ladies' gossip?" Rhaegar questioned, puzzled by the man's presence.
Larys responded cryptically, "I enjoy all sorts of news, Your Highness."
"Including?" Rhaegar inquired, eyeing him curiously.
Larys leaned in, his smile ingratiating, "I came specifically to see you, Your Highness."
Nodding, Rhaegar motioned for him to continue.
"I heard the prince has been secluded in the palace due to illness?" Larys prompted.
"Yes, a complication during my birth endangered my life until age six," Rhaegar confirmed, wary of Larys's intentions.
"Thank the Seven Gods for sparing your life," Larys exaggeratedly praised. "Despite your infirmity, your talents shine, a boon to the kingdom."
Larys exaggerated his praise.
Rhaegar gradually ran out of patience and blandly said, "The years without running and playing afforded me a lot of reading time."
"Oh, what books does your highness like?"
"Some history books, reading history can make one wise and learn from the experience of one's forefathers."
Rhaegar lost interest in conversation and said nonchalantly, "History warns future generations to guard their honor and stay away from people with evil intentions."
Then he turned to leave.
Observing his departure, Larys leaned on his cane, a knowing smile in his eyes. "An intriguing young prince, yet the tide has yet to turn," he mused.
...
Parting ways with the gathering, Rhaegar continued his search for his sister. Despite his efforts, she remained elusive.
Concern gnawed at him, wondering if the confrontation had driven Rhaenyra to seek solace alone.
"Your Highness," a calm voice interrupted his thoughts as he wandered amidst the bonfires and fruit platters.
Turning, Rhaegar spotted a white knight clad in silver armor and robes, his face obscured by a helmet.
Under the helmet was a ponytail, thick eyebrows, and a thick beard.
This white knight had a face he had seen before, more than once actually.
The Kingsguard twins brothers, Arryk Cargyll and Erryk Cargyll.
The two brothers had extraordinary skills and hearts of justice, so they were elected to the Kingsguard together.
"Ser Erryk, what brings you to me?"
Rhaegar carried a bunch of red grapes and looked at the other party curiously.
Being accurately called out by name, Erryk was slightly stunned and seemed to be somewhat flattered.
He and his younger brother Arryk were simply too similar, and other than those who had spent long years together, very few people could distinguish between the two brothers.
It was not uncommon to be called by the wrong name.
Erryk took a few steps forward and bowed respectfully, "The king is looking for you."
"Alright, lead the way."
Rhaegar was very cooperative, Erryk hesitated slightly and reminded, "Your Highness, just now the king had a quarrel with the princess, his mood is not exactly wonderful."
"A quarrel? Because of what?"
Ignoring Rhaenyra whereabouts for now, Rhaegar inquired about the cause of the recent quarrel between his father and sister, eager to understand the situation.
"I dare not delve into the details of the princess's marital affairs," Erryk replied cautiously, evading the topic.
However, he subtly alluded to Jason Lannister's involvement, Tyland Lannister twin brother, sparking Rhaegar's realization.
Jason Lannister, the Duke of the West, had courted Rhaenyra privately, with his arrogant demeanor and full of ambitions for beauty and power.
Rhaenyra couldn't stand the sight of such a fool and politely refused the other party.
Returning to camp, in response to Jason Lannister's behavior, Rhaenyra resisted her father's manipulations regarding her marriage, leading to a heated exchange and tearful fallout.
As Rhaegar processed the information, the complex dynamics within the royal family weighed heavily on his mind.
(Word count: 1260)