Ambiguous Answers

"This is the prophecy of the Song of Ice and Fire."

Viserys explained patiently, "Before Aegon died, the last sorcerer of Valyria hid his song within a dagger."

"Knowing this is a responsibility, and even more so, a heavy burden."

"More important than the throne and the King!"

As he spoke, he watched Rhaegar's every move.

Under the bright firelight, the shadows of father and son stretched and magnified.

As the wind blew the flames, they twisted and changed continuously.

Rhaegar blinked, bewildered, "The Song of Ice and Fire? I thought it was just superstition made up in books."

He did know about the Song of Ice and Fire.

When he had previously explored this dragonbone dagger, the system's prompt had mentioned that the dagger contained the Song of Ice and Fire.

And the relic obtained from the exploration was called "The Old Man's Warning."

Now, it seemed to hold a deeper meaning.

Viserys said gravely, "The prophecy is real. I hope you will engrave it in your heart and always be vigilant against the unknown darkness and the coming winter."

"I will, Father."

Rhaegar didn't fully understand, but he realized the gravity of the matter.

Viserys paced around the brazier, hesitating, "I once asked Rhaenyra a question. Do you want to know what it was?"

"What was it?"

His father's words were becoming increasingly profound, and Rhaegar couldn't fathom them. He asked subconsciously.

"About dragons, your view on dragons!"

Having come this far, Viserys saw no reason to stop and continued, "Dragons are ancient creatures that have followed the Targaryen family since Old Valyria; they are great and flawed."

"What are your thoughts on this?"

Rhaegar shook his head, "My dragon egg hasn't hatched yet, and my sister refuses to let me ride a dragon. The closest I've been to a dragon is Balerion's skull."

As a Targaryen, he had his own dragon egg.

It came from a dragon named Dreamfyre.

Rhaenyra had personally chosen it for him in the Dragonpit before he was born.

Many years had passed, and the dragon egg showed no signs of hatching.

Viserys didn't dwell on this, emphasizing, "It doesn't matter. I just need you to express your views on dragons."

Looking at his father's solemn expression.

Rhaegar knew this was important.

He recalled Balerion's massive skull.

Even without scales and flesh, the oppressive feeling from facing the skull was still immense.

And then there was his dragon egg.

Baked in a specially made furnace, it was resistant to high temperatures and solid in texture.

It was very different from the bird eggs and chicken eggs he had seen.

Lastly, there was Rhaenyra.

She could ride dragons and soar through the sky at the age of seven, becoming a dragon knight.

Every time he saw her, when he was close to her.

Rhaegar could smell a faint scent of sulfur.

He knew that was the smell of dragons.

After a moment of thought, Rhaegar organized his words and replied, "Dragons are the most powerful controllable weapons in the current world. Even with Aegon the Conqueror's astonishing wisdom and courage, he unified the Seven Kingdoms riding on the back of a dragon."

"Dragons are dangerous, but only by mastering dragons can Targaryens rise above ordinary people."

"Otherwise, they will inevitably fall from the Iron Throne."

These were his true feelings.

And they were the most objective views he could offer at the moment.

Viserys listened intently, a hint of relief appearing on his face. He asked again, "If one day you ride a dragon and face a rebellion from disrespectful individuals, how would you deal with it?"

"Burn them!"

Rhaegar blurted out the words without hesitation.

"You said dragons are dangerous?"

Viserys frowned.

Rhaegar didn't sense anything amiss, "But without dragons, the majesty of the Targaryens cannot deter the petty ones."

"If necessary, Dragonflame will eliminate those who disobey, leaving the Westeros Continent with but a single voice."

Hearing his eldest son's will, Viserys fell silent.

Subjectively speaking, Rhaegar was not wrong.

The Targaryen family's ability to be King of the Seven Kingdoms was inseparable from the help of dragons.

But the moment he thought of the prophecy of the Song of Ice and Fire.

He was unwilling to rely too heavily on dragons.

Valyria fell because they were complacent in their mastery of dragons, their greed and desire never sated.

It brought about a world-ending catastrophe.

He remembered, years ago, on the eve of establishing Rhaenyra as his heir.

He had asked the same question.

Rhaenyra's answer was almost identical to Rhaegar's initial response.

But Rhaenyra saw the relationship between dragons and the Targaryens more clearly.

She did not believe that mastering dragons would grant them everything.

Her personality was very similar to her father, Viserys; neither liked war, and they were strict with themselves.

In contrast, Rhaegar's answer resembled that of one person.

Daemon Targaryen.

His own brother.

To be honest, for a time, he had considered naming Daemon his heir.

Putting aside the disloyal and unjust scandals Daemon had committed against him.

Daemon's view of dragons was extreme.

Dragons were the sharp sword in his hand.

When one holds a sharp weapon, the urge to kill arises.

With this peerless weapon in hand, he would eventually be unable to control his desires and would actively provoke war.

For some reason, jealousy welled up in Viserys's heart.

Under Rhaegar's confused gaze, he said calmly, "I understand what you mean. Do not forget the prophecy of the Song of Ice and Fire. You may go rest now."

Rhaegar did not press further, understandingly saying, "Yes, Father. You should drink less alcohol as well."

Viserys smiled kindly, watching him leave the tent.

In the dim firelight, his face was indistinct.

Exiting the tent, the midday sun shone on his face.

It stung Rhaegar's eyes, making him unable to open them.

A shadow fell, shielding him from the dazzling light.

"Sir Arryk."

Rhaegar tilted his head, recognizing the person blocking the light.

Arryk, holding his white cloak over the little prince's head, said sincerely, "Thank you for pleading for my brother, Prince."

Rhaegar gently shook his head, "Do not say that. I coerced Illyric into bringing me out of the camp; he should not bear the blame for me."

"The Kingsguard obeys the King's command. My brother's dereliction of duty was a grave mistake in itself."

Arryk was a very astute man. Realizing the Prince's standing in the King's heart, he showed great respect.

"What about Sir Illyric?"

Rhaegar changed the subject.

Arryk replied, "There was just a commotion at the camp entrance. He went to investigate."

"There's excitement? Then I'll go take a look too."

Rhaegar's interest was piqued. He did not forget to remind him, "My father is still inside. Sir, please be careful."

"It is my duty."

Arryk raised his hand in a salute.

Far from the royal tent, Rhaegar did not immediately go to watch the excitement.

He first picked and chose from the various pastries and roasted meats, eating until he was seven-tenths full.

He had only drunk a few sips of water after rushing on the road since early morning.

Pity him, a child without a mother.

"Rhaegar!"

As he waited by a barbecue grill, Rhaenyra's voice called out from behind him.

Rhaegar turned his head, startled.

Rhaenyra was covered in blood, her silver hair darkened by dried blood, as if she had just emerged from a battle.

"Rhaenyra, how did you get like this!"

Rhaegar, no longer caring about the meat, scurried over on his short legs.

"I came to find you yesterday, but I couldn't."

Rhaenyra tapped his forehead, threatening, "You have to call me 'sister.' You shouldn't call me Rhaenyra, and you shouldn't run around."

"Why bother with those formalities now? Where are you hurt? Is it serious?"

Rhaegar anxiously checked her injuries.

Rhaenyra lifted his chin, proudly stating, "This isn't my blood. I'm not hurt."