Two months passed in the blink of an eye.
At the harbor of King's Landing, a sailboat from a faraway land docked, and a guest disembarked.
The arrival of outsiders brought a buzz of activity to the harbor, with the number of traders increasing day by day.
At the city gates of King's Landing, soldiers escorted a procession of ornate carriages into the city. These carriages bore various noble emblems—roaring lions, direwolves, and sky-blue falcons.
After two months of anticipation, nobles from all over the continent had gathered in King's Landing to participate in the king's announcement regarding the heir change.
Inside the Red Keep, servants were bustling about, decorating the castle and preparing banquet ingredients. As queen, Alicent was in charge of all affairs. During this period, she was the busiest person in all of King's Landing.
Having just finished coordinating the banquet performances, Alicent wiped the sweat from her forehead. She called over a maid and urgently said, "Where's Rhaenyra? Tell her to come and help me. I can't finish everything on my own."
Her husband, the king, was a hands-off ruler who made decisions but left the execution to others. She needed someone to assist her.
The maid, head bowed, replied, "The Princess has gone to the Dragonpit to look for the Prince."
"Seven hells, is there no one in the Red Keep to help me?" Alicent exclaimed in frustration, her chest heaving with anger.
...
Meanwhile, at the Dragon's Lair, Rhaenyra made her way up the stairs to the top landing, her steps slow and deliberate.
She was well aware of the bustling activity at the Red Keep, but she felt no obligation to partake in it.
After all, she was the princess who had been replaced. How could anyone expect her to organize a banquet for her own replacement? The thought was simply too cruel.
Reaching the empty platform, Rhaenyra spotted a familiar figure. "Rhaegar, you're really here," she called out, surprised.
Rhaegar turned at her voice, a hint of helplessness in his expression. "I only have two places I can go, and since I'm not needed at the Red Keep, of course I'm here."
Rhaenyra quickly stepped forward and grabbed her brother's ear in frustration. "You spend more than half your time in the Dragonpit, Rhaegar. Do you consider this place your home now?"
Rhaegar winced in pain but managed to reply, "Soon the whole continent will be mine. It doesn't matter where I make my home."
"Nonsense. Father still has a few decades left to live. It's not your turn yet," Rhaenyra scolded, pushing him slightly.
Rhaegar didn't resist, closing his eyes and enduring her anger in silence. Seeing him so passive only fueled Rhaenyra's frustration.
She released his ear and pressed down on his shoulder, speaking seriously, "Rhaegar, the day after tomorrow is the heir replacement ceremony. You need to be prepared and focused."
"I know, I don't need you to remind me," Rhaegar responded with an indifferent smile.
Rhaenyra squatted down, looked directly into his eyes, and said sadly, "I never blamed you. Don't be like this, okay?"
Since their return to King's Landing, the siblings had rarely seen each other. Rhaenyra knew it was because Rhaegar was intentionally avoiding her. She even considered moving to the Dragonpit just to be close to him.
"I'm fine, Rhaenyra," Rhaegar sighed. "I've been observing the dragons' habits lately and planning to restructure the Dragonpit."
He wasn't lying. The Dragonpit was crucial, and as a family that relied on dragons to conquer the continent, he compared the importance of renovating to the period in which the Red Keep was built.
Rhaenyra put his hand on Rhaegar's face and asked, "So, have you noticed anything?"
"Not yet. The Dragonpit here is too simple, far from what I had in mind," Rhaegar admitted, shaking his head.
The Dragonlords of Valyria lived in the Fourteen Flames, with natural volcanic and underground caves forming perfect dragon lairs. In contrast, King's Landing's Dragon's Lair was just a massive dome filled with ground-level holes, lacking the spacious, high-temperature environment ideal for dragons.
Rhaenyra sighed as she looked at her brother, who seemed so serious. The thing she least expected had happened: Rhaegar was avoiding her, no longer as affectionate as he used to be.
She took him by the shoulders, embraced him, and kissed his neck. "Rhaegar, I'm the one who's been replaced. You shouldn't avoid me. It's really cruel to me."
Rhaegar, lost in thought, turned his head to the stone wall, unsure how to respond. He didn't mean to avoid her; he just didn't know how to face her. Now, he was at a loss for words.
After a while, he heard a soft sob. Rhaegar turned back and saw tears on Rhaenyra's cheeks. She pulled a gold coin from her pocket and offered it to him. "Do you want me to make a wish?" she choked out.
Rhaegar stared at the coin in a daze. After a long moment, he embraced her and whispered, "No, I understand."
Rhaenyra held him tightly and admonished, "You're the one our mother left me to rely on. No matter what, you shouldn't run away from me. You will be the heir, and your every word and action represents the royal family."
Rhaegar buried his face in her hair and said, "I understand. I am the flame that all should look up to."
He accepted his status as heir and was determined to live up to it.
...
Two days later, in the morning.
The gates of the Red Keep were opened wide, welcoming the nobles arriving for the ceremony. Leading the procession were the prominent families, each bearing their respective crests on their attire.
Following them were nobles from various regions, accompanying their lords.
The nobles were led by the Kingsguard to the expansive back garden, rather than into the castle hall.
This area boasted a large schoolyard, an arbor, a pond, and a fish beam, providing a picturesque setting for the gathering.
King Viserys and Queen Alicent awaited the attendees in a pavilion, accompanied by their children: Aegon, Helaena, and Aemond, who was in the arms of a maid.
"Your Grace and Queen..."
At the sight of the royal couple, the nobles bowed deeply, creating a scene of grand and solemn respect. Many of these nobles hailed from the North, the West, and the Vale—regions far from King's Landing, with treacherous roads making their journey arduous.
Viserys surveyed the gathered bannermen, pride swelling within him. He glanced at his wife and then addressed the assembly in a loud voice:
"All of you, I am honored to see you here after your long and bumpy journey. I offer my heartfelt thanks and blessings!"
"Today is a great event for the Targaryen dynasty, and you're all here to witness it."
(Word count: 1,340)