*Westeros*
Since Aegon the Conqueror tamed his dragons and, alongside his sister-wives, Queen Visenya and Queen Rhaenys, subdued the Seven Kingdoms, the land of Westeros was united under one banner.
From Aegon's ascension, the calendar began anew: the first year of Aegon's reign was marked as 1 AC (Aegon's Conquest). The years before were labeled BC (Before Conquest), while those after were designated AC.
---
**111 AC**
It was early summer, just after dawn.
In the capital city of King's Landing, on the continent of Westeros, the Red Keep loomed over the eastern coastline, its walls standing firm against the sea. Within its confines lay a small garden, secluded and inaccessible to outsiders.
"White stag, dirty handkerchief, a bear in the sea..."
A boy of five or six years, with silver-gold hair and striking violet eyes, leaned against the trunk of a massive weirwood tree, mumbling to himself out of boredom.
"Another nightmare... endless, as always."
His name was **Rhaegar Targaryen**, a child of true dragon blood.
His father, **Viserys Targaryen**, was the fifth king of the Seven Kingdoms and the current occupant of the Iron Throne.
"Prince Rhaegar, your birthday celebration is about to begin. The Queen is calling for you," a young handmaiden softly informed him as she approached.
Rhaegar looked up. His pale, gaunt face and dark circles under his large, melancholic eyes gave him a fragile appearance. He spoke in a low voice: "I've said before, I don't like birthday celebrations."
The handmaiden clasped her hands together nervously, forcing a smile. "I'm sorry, Your Grace, but the Queen has been asking for you."
"Fine. I'll go."
Rhaegar nodded, unwilling to make things difficult for the girl caught in the middle. He rose and followed her into the Red Keep.
He was the firstborn son of King Viserys.
His mother, Queen Aemma Arryn, had died in childbirth.
Thus, his birthday was also the anniversary of his mother's death.
So...
The fact that my birthday is celebrated every year—without fail—truly shows the dedication of the current Queen, Lady Alicent Hightower.
---
The Red Keep's interior was vast, grand, and imposing.
Rhaegar climbed to one of the upper floors, where an open door emitted the sound of a child crying.
He gestured for the handmaiden to leave and stepped to the doorway.
Inside the room, a richly dressed young woman was holding a wailing toddler in her arms.
At her feet, a little girl was staring hungrily at a cake.
Catching sight of Rhaegar's thin frame from the corner of her eye, **Alicent Hightower** turned immediately, offering an apologetic smile.
"Aegon's eyeing your cake. If you didn't come soon, I wasn't sure how much longer I could hold him off."
*(Note: It is a common practice in Westeros to name children after their ancestors.)*
Rhaegar stepped inside. "It doesn't matter. Let him have it. How much can he eat, anyway?"
"You're such a good older brother, Rhaegar."
Alicent handed the squirming **Aegon** to a servant, then gently took Rhaegar's small hand and led him to sit at a low table.
"Your father is busy with affairs of state, and Rhaenyra is off somewhere, probably causing trouble. So, it's up to me to celebrate your birthday this year," she said kindly. "Now, blow out the candles and make a wish."
Rhaegar remained silent but complied, blowing out the candles and clasping his hands together to close his eyes.
Weakened by his frail health, Rhaegar was naturally quiet and reserved.
His difficult birth had left its mark—his mother, Aemma, had been forced into a brutal Caesarean to deliver him, sacrificing her own life.
Despite this, Rhaegar's body remained fragile.
Until the age of three, he was so weak that after his first cry at birth, he spent nearly all his time in a coma, sustained by wet nurses.
The Grand Maester once predicted he wouldn't survive past his first day.
This earned him the morbid nickname: **"The Prince for a Day."**
Yet he did not perish.
At three, a foreign sorceress's intervention brought him out of his coma.
Even so, his health was poor, and there was an unusual side effect—frequent, vivid nightmares.
His dreams were filled with strange, fragmented images: dragons, fire, war...
Terrifying visions that often left him trembling awake, further exhausting his frail body and keeping him in a state of perpetual lethargy.
"I want some! Give it to me!"
Suddenly, Aegon's voice broke through Rhaegar's thoughts, prompting him to look up instinctively.
*SMACK!*
---
A chubby little hand plunged into the cake, scattering crumbs as it waved.
A dollop of cream landed squarely on Rhaegar's face.
"Oh heavens! Keep an eye on Aegon!"
Alicent scolded the negligent attendant, quickly pulling out a handkerchief to wipe Rhaegar's face. She apologized, "I'm so sorry. Aegon's such a mischievous little monkey. If you don't like the cake, I can have the kitchen make a new one for you."
Rhaegar, enjoying the Queen's attentiveness, replied calmly, "It's fine. My brother loves it, and we can share one piece."
Alicent glanced at Rhaegar's composed expression, then at Aegon, who was gnawing on the cake.
For a moment, she felt like she was about to lose her composure.
Fortunately, a voice interrupted the tense atmosphere.
"Your Grace, the King is discussing the hunting plans and requests your presence," announced a knight clad in silver armor and a white cloak, standing solemnly at the door.
This was a member of the Kingsguard, the royal bodyguards sworn to protect the King.
The Kingsguard consisted of seven knights who pledged absolute loyalty to the King, following his every command. Because of their white cloaks, they were also known as the White Cloaks.
"Understood, I'll be there shortly," Alicent replied.
She cast an apologetic glance at Rhaegar, her tone gentle. "Your father is calling for me. I must go at once. If there's any gift you'd like, let me know now."
"Nothing," Rhaegar answered curtly.
After a brief pause, he added, "Well, if there is something, I'd like to take fewer medicines. They taste awful."
Alicent forced a smile. "That's something you'll have to ask your father about."
With that, she stood and followed the Kingsguard out, not forgetting to instruct the attendants to look after the princes and princesses and ensure they didn't overeat.
The moment Alicent stepped out, the little princess sitting nearby, who had been picking up cake crumbs from the floor, turned her head to gaze out the window.
Out of nowhere, she said, "Don't disturb a sleeping beast."
Rhaegar gave her a puzzled look.
The little princess, named Helaena, was Queen Alicent's two-year-old daughter.
They didn't interact much.
According to rumors among the attendants, Helaena seemed different from other children.
She often seemed lost in her own world, blurting out nonsensical remarks and acting in a peculiar, mysterious manner.
It appeared the rumors weren't wrong.
Once Alicent was out of sight, Rhaegar shifted his gaze to Aegon, who was devouring the cake.
"Do you enjoy eating that much?" Rhaegar asked softly as he approached Aegon.
Without even looking at him, Aegon casually grabbed a piece of cream and handed it to Helaena before continuing to eat.
Seeing this, Rhaegar's lips curled into a smirk. "Sharing with your little sister? What a good brother you are. That deserves a reward."
"What kind of reward?"
At the mention of a reward, Aegon finally looked at him, his innocent eyes brimming with naïve curiosity.
"If you love it so much, then eat to your heart's content. It's all yours," Rhaegar said, reaching out to grasp the back of Aegon's head and forcefully pressing it into the cake on the table.
*Thud!*
Aegon's entire face was smashed into the greasy cake, eliciting gasps from the attendants nearby.
Helaena watched the scene with interest, licking the cream on her fingers.
Rhaegar released Aegon and walked over to Helaena. He gently stroked her silvery hair.
"Prince Rhaegar, please don't do this. The Queen will be angry," one of the attendants pleaded in a panic, simultaneously wiping Aegon's face and trying to shield the little princess.
Rhaegar ignored her.
Instead, he ruffled Helaena's small head.
"When you want something to eat, take it yourself. Don't pick things off the floor or accept someone's leftovers."
"Brother! Hehe~"
Helaena giggled, clapping her tiny hands as she mocked the now cream-covered Aegon.
"How silly!"
Rhaegar withdrew his now-cleaned hand, stepped around the wailing Aegon, and left the room.
---
**Author's Notes:**
In the original draft, the Crown Prince's name was Baelon, named after Viserys's father in his honor.
In the final version, the protagonist was renamed Rhaegar because the author didn't like the name Baelon.
I much prefer the title of "Prince Rhaegar" from *Game of Thrones*.
(End of Chapter)