In the afternoon sun
The sun warmed the air in the forest.
Creak...
The small door to the castle's backyard opened from within, and Rhaenyra stepped out, radiant and transformed from her morning attire. Her long hair, now loosely coiled with tiny braids interwoven, swayed behind her. She wore a black long dress adorned with exquisite jewelry at the collar, accentuating her grace and nobility. Around her pink and white neck, she had donned a Valyrian steel necklace with three dragon heads.
"Rhaegar, hurry up," Rhaenyra called, smiling as she walked under the fish beam wood with her hands clasped behind her back. Her joy at their reunion was palpable.
Rhaegar followed slowly, his appearance markedly changed under Rhaenyra's careful grooming. The most noticeable difference was his hair: his long silver-golden locks had been trimmed to a clean, sharp, ear-length cut. This change was due to Rhaegar's casual complaint during their bath, "You're crushing my hair."
Despite the new hairstyle, Rhaegar's handsome face remained unaffected. Clad in a plain black dress, he exuded a cool and noble aura. Holding a large pile of fluffy cushions, he looked resigned but amused.
Effortlessly, Rhaegar placed the cushions in an open space free of tree roots, creating a soft, inviting area under the tree. Rhaenyra, pleased with the setup, raised her chin. "Do you want to snuggle up to me, or should I snuggle up to you?"
Rhaegar sighed and sat obediently on the cushion. "I'm not a kid anymore," he said, shaking his head with a smile.
Rhaenyra leaned into his arms, teasing, "You unweaned brat, you don't look grown up at all."
After a few moments of peaceful silence, Rhaenyra lifted her head, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. "What were those gains you mentioned?"
Rhaegar, undeterred by the loss of his Dragon Claw, had found numerous treasures. With a wave of his right hand, five dusty, petrified dragon eggs appeared. He also retrieved a green dragon egg that he had carefully guarded.
"Dragon eggs?" Rhaenyra's interest was piqued. She examined one of the fossilized eggs, her eyebrows knitting occasionally. She quickly determined that five of them were inactive. However, when she received the green dragon egg from Rhaegar, her expression changed.
"This is a good dragon egg," she said confidently, her extensive experience with dragon eggs evident.
"This dragon egg was unearthed with the fossilized eggs of the Belaerys family," Rhaegar explained.
"Belaerys... a top Dragonlord family..." Rhaenyra murmured, cradling the dragon egg gently. Suddenly, she declared, "Give it to me."
Rhaegar was puzzled. Rhaenyra climbed out of his embrace, her expression serious. "I want to leave it for our children, to hatch a dragon that originated from the Belaerys family."
"You've already saved a bronze-colored dragon egg?" Rhaegar asked, hesitant about placing this egg, unearthed from the Smoking Sea, in a child's cradle. He believed it should be kept under the care of the Dragonkeepers.
Rhaenyra shook her head, hugging the dragon egg tightly. "I won't have just one child. I'll leave it for our second."
Afraid Rhaegar might refuse, she blushed and drew closer, whispering in his ear, "I love riding dragons, and I love riding you. Who knows, we might breed an army."
Her face turned crimson, and she hid it behind the green dragon egg.
Rhaegar froze, his earlobes reddening. He lowered his voice, "That's Grandmother's love talk to Grandfather. You're not allowed to mimic it."
Grandmother Alyssa Targaryen was not traditionally beautiful, but she was bold and spirited. Her passionate relationship with Grandfather Baelon had become a popular joke.
On their wedding night, the sounds of their pleasure echoed throughout the Red Keep and beyond, much to the amusement of their guests.
The morning after, Alyssa brazenly declared, "I mounted him and took him for a ride, and I mean to do the same tonight. I love to ride."
She referred to Rhaegar's grandfather, Baelon Targaryen. The couple was inseparable, spending every moment together, except when riding their dragons.
Alyssa had also tamed Meleys, the Red Queen, strapping her nine-day-old son, Viserys, to her chest and soaring through the skies on her dragon. Unfortunately, she didn't fulfill her promise to bear twenty sons, dying of puerperal fever six months after her third child's death.
Rhaegar had taken Rhaenyra's hand, firmly against the notion that childbirth was a woman's battlefield. He didn't want Rhaenyra to be part of such a battle.
"I understand what you're saying, but it's not something we can control," Rhaenyra replied seriously.
The shadow of her mother's death in childbirth always loomed over her. But she accepted it as a woman's fate, ready to face it for someone she truly loved and cared for.
Sensing her determination, Rhaegar squeezed her hand. After a few moments of silence, he took out the Valyrian steel sword, Brightroar, and plunged it into the soil under the fish beam wood.
"Valyrian steel sword!" Rhaenyra exclaimed, examining the sword's body, which was wider than her palm. Her eyes landed on the lion's head on the hilt. "Is this Lannister's Brightroar?"
The brothers Jason and Tyland had often boasted to her about the Lannisters' achievements.
Rhaegar laughed softly, "Its last name is Targaryen now."
Rhaenyra blinked and then turned away, "I'll send a message to the blacksmith in Qohor to have the sword recast."
Brightroar had been excavated from the ruins of the Smoking Sea, and no one but Rhaegar knew about it. The mercenaries who helped didn't recognize its significance.
Rhaenyra's plan was simple. Brightroar couldn't be exposed, or the Lannisters would claim it. While no one knew, the sword would be secretly recast. Then, it would be Rhaegar's new weapon, not the Lannister family's Brightroar.
"Wait, I summoned the blacksmith from Qohor as soon as I got out of the Smoking Sea."
Rhaegar tugged on 's sleeve Rhaenyra, slowing her down. With a flip of his palm, he conjured a bunch of peculiar fruits, holding them in front of her eyes as if by magic.
Rhaenyra glanced at the fruits. They resembled cherries, lychee-sized and red, with two on a bunch.
"A trophy I snatched from a sea monster's nest," Rhaegar said, handing over the fruit. "Eat it, it will bring you good luck."
After many days, the Brightroar and the sea monster's corpse had been thoroughly explored. Calling up the system panel, Rhaegar checked the exploration record, which still showed progress.
[Brightroar]
Exploration Progress: 100%
"This exploration is complete. Please pick up the lost treasure."
"Pickup successful. You have obtained..."
[Lion's Treasure]
Grade: Epic (Purple)
Trigger Cue: "Blood of the King."
Rhaegar had tried using his own blood, but it didn't trigger, likely because he hadn't ascended the Iron Throne yet.
[Cursed Sea Monster]
Exploration Progress: 100%
"This exploration is complete. Please pick up the lost treasure."
"Pickup successful. You have gained..."
[Gift of the Sea Monster]
Grade: Rare (Blue)
Trigger Prompt: "Poor sea monster, to have such a trivial wish."
The bunch of fruit in Rhaegar's hand was the relic [Gift of the Sea Monster].
For a moment, it made him nostalgic for the White Hart that had given him the [Auspicious Blessing] for him. Magical creatures seemed to have a fondness for fruit.
Rhaenyra half-heartedly took the fruit and brought it to her mouth. "Should I eat it?"
"That's right," Rhaegar confirmed.
Rhaenyra rolled her eyes at him before opening her mouth to eat the two fruits on the bunch. She chewed thoughtfully, savoring the flavor.
Once the fruit was in her belly, a system beep echoed in Rhaegar's ears.
"Congratulations, Relic activation was successful. You have obtained..."
[Long Lasting Face]
Grade: Ordinary (White)
Effect: "Maintains appearance and slows down aging."
Evaluation: "Very average!"
Watching a blinding white light drill into Rhaenyra's belly, Rhaegar was momentarily silent. He hadn't encountered many ordinary-grade relics. The [Sea Monster's Gift] was at least rare; perhaps Rhaenyra wasn't very lucky today?
Rhaenyra didn't seem to notice anything unusual. "Sweet and sour, does it do anything?"
Rhaegar glanced at the evaluation and kindly said, "It makes you look beautiful."
The fruit's effect naturally manifested in Rhaenyra, fulfilling her wish, albeit modestly.
Rhaenyra wrapped her arms around Rhaegar and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek, laughing softly, "Mysterious."
Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out.
"Ha! ..."
Rhaenyra's eyes widened and she whispered, "That sounds like Helaena."
Rhaegar put away the fossilized dragon eggs and Brightroar, then got up and walked to the side of the thick fish beam wood.
On the other side of the sacred wood, two figures were engaged in a sword fight. Helaena, with her mouth set in a determined line and her eyes red, swung her wooden sword furiously, as if venting her anger. Each swing was accompanied by a shout, as if she were cheering herself on.
Opposite her, Mushroom, dressed in a comical costume, held a short, thick wooden sword and was playfully cooperating in the duel.
Seeing Mushroom, a dwarf, Rhaegar involuntarily frowned.
Rhaenyra whispered softly, "Borros of House Baratheon is making moves in private. Otto is proposing a marriage between Aegon and his daughter, and Alicent wants Helaena and Aegon together."
Rhaegar, who had just returned and was unaware of the latest events in King's Landing, listened attentively.
After a moment of thought, Rhaegar's frown deepened. "Baratheon..."
The problem was Borros Baratheon's insubordination. But Aegon and Helaena's marriage was also a significant issue.
"Otto proposes Aegon's marriage, Alicent favors family tradition. It needs to be resolved before it's too late."
...
On the other side, in the open-air gallery, Aegon and Aemond stood side by side, watching Helaena wield her wooden sword.
"Mother actually wants me to marry her," Aegon spat, disgust evident in his voice. "She's a fool."
"Aegon, she is our sister!" Aemond's voice intensified as he spoke, defending Helaena.
(Word count: 1,633)