Laena Joins the Journey

Aemon found it strange and asked, "What's in the cage?"

Could it be a parting gift?

"Caw! Caw!"

The cage shook violently, accompanied by piercing raven cries.

Rhaenyra shrugged and chuckled. "You're leaving tomorrow, so I specially asked Grand Maester Mellos for a raven, so it'll be easier for us to keep in touch between King's Landing and Runestone."

With that, she shoved the cage into Aemon's hands.

"Rhaenyra, you're so thoughtful."

Aemon praised her, still rather fascinated by the raven.

Across Westeros, ravens were the main messenger birds used for communication between noble lords.

They flew faster than pigeons and had greater endurance.

Every noble castle had maesters dedicated to raising them, and they could remember the routes they had flown.

Runestone had a flock of ravens,

but they were for general use and unsuitable for private correspondence.

Rhaenyra clasped her hands behind her back, a trace of reluctance flashing through her eyes as she reminded him, "Remember to write to me when you have time. If something is troubling me, I'll write to you too."

"Don't worry, no problem!"

Aemon patted his chest in assurance.

He secretly glanced at the smiling Laena. What could she possibly need?

"Laena is leaving too."

Rhaenyra came to her senses and explained, "The Velaryon Family's ship is heading the same way as yours. Traveling together means you can look after one another."

Aemon understood. She had found him someone to escort and protect him.

"Thank you."

"It's nothing. Besides, I'd like to get to know you better."

Laena had a gentle temperament, and every smile and frown of hers was charming.

Yet when Aemon looked at her, he could not help but shudder.

Beautiful women were all bad women.

Girls like Rhaenyra, who possessed breathtaking beauty but was essentially a brainless young girl, were rare after all.

Laena smiled sweetly, her tender, water-soft eyes narrowing slightly as she said in a gentle voice, "Don't worry. I'll take good care of you."

Aemon's face darkened, and he decisively chose to retreat.

The next day.

Outside Mud Gate, on Blackwater Bay.

Two large ships were docked at the harbor, flying the banners of House Targaryen and the Velaryon Family respectively.

Aemon stood on the shore, saying goodbye to everyone one by one.

"When you return, study the art of governance diligently. In the future, work for the welfare of Runestone's people."

Viserys had personally come outside the city to see him off, his face filled with guilt and reluctance.

If not for the rumors spreading throughout King's Landing, portraying Aemon riding the White Hart as something near divine, as though he were the Conqueror reborn,

he would not have been willing to send his nephew back to the Vale.

"I will."

Aemon nodded vigorously.

His little hand tugged at Ser Steve's white cloak as he stared wordlessly at his uncle Viserys.

Ser Steve was thoroughly embarrassed, lowering his head and not daring to look at anyone.

Viserys felt deeply frustrated. After hesitating for a moment, he waved a hand. "Ser Steve, accompany him back to the Vale and teach him martial skills properly."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Ser Steve breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as the King let him go, it was fine. Otherwise, he would have been caught in an awkward position.

Aemon immediately smiled and went to bid Rhaenyra farewell.

Rhaenyra looked dejected. She held him close for a long while, once again reminding him, "Remember to write to me."

"Mm."

Aemon buried his face against her flat stomach and nodded muffledly.

After spending so many days together, he knew Rhaenyra was a very good person.

She was merely confused and lost when it came to life choices, but ordinarily she was a clever, warm-hearted older sister.

Just as when the Dance of the Dragons broke out, at first she had only wanted to kill her usurping brother Aegon, rather than punish everyone in the Green Party by association.

Whenever he needed help, she would spare no effort in helping him as well.

After a while, Aemon let go and grinned. "Next time I come, remember to take me flying on your dragon."

Rhaenyra burst out laughing and rubbed his little head.

Lastly, Aemon bid Alicent a reluctant farewell, and her eyes reddened at once.

"Bye-bye! I'll be back!"

As the sailing ship left the harbor, the Little One stood at the stern and waved continuously at the shore.

Before long, the two sides grew farther and farther apart.

"Prince, how should we handle these chests?"

Ser Lyon, the Seagull Knight, approached lightly, afraid of startling him.

Aemon turned around, frowning. "Ser, I'm a Prince now!"

"Of course, Prince."

Ser Lyon smiled apologetically and immediately corrected himself.

He had forgotten. The Little One before him was a genuine Dragon Prince.

A Prince at such a young age showed just how dearly the King loved and favored his nephew.

There was not another like him in all the Seven Kingdoms.

Aemon adjusted his mood and looked at the several treasure chests piled on the deck. Delighted, he said, "Put them away. Store them in my little treasury."

The chests were carved with the Roaring Lion sigil.

That was the "compensation" he had demanded from Duke Jason, who was bedridden while recovering from his injuries, before leaving.

A flat price: ten thousand Gold Dragons!

They had not brought that much for this trip?

The royal treasury would advance the payment first, Uncle Viserys would sign a note, and then they could wait for Casterly Rock to send the money to make up the difference.

Duke Jason had been furious but unable to say anything. Between feeling humiliated and getting angry, he chose to stew in humiliation.

In the end, he handed over the money.

But the one most heartbroken was not him, but his younger brother Tyland.

Tyland had been quite pleased about his brother's injuries. He only regretted that the White Hart had not killed him outright, so that he could take his place as Duke of Casterly Rock.

And now this happened.

His brother had survived, and they still had to pay.

Still, the Lannister Family had mines—gold mines that had not run dry despite being excavated for thousands of years. They could treat it as spending money to avert disaster.

"Yes, Prince."

Ser Lyon acknowledged the order and instructed the men to safeguard the chests of Gold Dragons.

"Thank you for your hard work, Ser."

Aemon waved his hand, filled with happiness.

He felt as though his waist had grown two sizes wider.

Perhaps this was the swelling feeling of being loaded with wealth.

Come to think of it, the escort squad his mother had given him was truly excellent.

Unlike the taciturn Gonsal, who was a full-time bodyguard,

Ser Lyon was good at thinking and better suited to management. He could handle all the large and small matters around him very well.

As for William...

Fortunately, they now had the White Knight, Ser Steve, so the escort squad had gained another member.

King's Landing, the Red Keep gatehouse.

The sky suddenly darkened, and a light drizzle began to fall.

The first spring rain of the year watered the tender grass and nourished the soil.

A carriage passed through the gatehouse and resolutely entered the curtain of rain.

Alicent hurried over, lifting her skirts as she stood beneath the battlements and watched the carriage gradually disappear into the distance.

Otto had left.

Right after Aemon departed, King Viserys had dismissed him from office and forcibly sent him back to Oldtown.

The facts proved that royal power outweighed the power of the Hand.

Hand Otto's era had passed, and the Small Council was about to replace the old with the new.

A trace of heartache hid in Alicent's eyes as she remained standing there for a long time.

Unless she had no other choice, she did not want her only family member to leave.

But she did not want to continue living a life controlled by others.

The White Knights, the Cargyll brothers, held a red umbrella over the Queen's head.

Two farewells in one day would make anyone sad.

"Let's go back."

Alicent took a deep breath and turned to face a new beginning.

Gradually, the soft drizzle grew heavier.

Halfway there, Ilik took a cage covered in black cloth from a Servant and hurriedly said, "Queen, this is a parting gift the Prince entrusted to me. He asked me to give it to you."

"What is it?"

Alicent wiped the corners of her eyes and resumed her usual composure.

Ilik lifted the black cloth and answered, "A raven. The Prince asked me to tell you that if you miss him, you can send him a letter."

Alicent paused, a beautiful curve rising at the corners of her lips.

Then she quickened her pace, eager to return and write him a letter.

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