"Heh, she's doing a fine job playing the virtuous wife and loving mother."
Walking among the courtiers, Rhaenyra watched it all with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
The resentment made Rhaegar, standing beside her, shiver.
"Big sister, you're holding my hand so tight it hurts."
Rhaegar complained, trying to pull his little hand free from Rhaenyra's grasp.
Rhaenyra quickly let go. "Sorry, I forgot you were still there."
"It's okay. Just watch your expression. There are a lot of people watching at an occasion like this."
Rhaegar rubbed his little hand and kindly reminded his sister.
He glanced around, then suddenly found himself drawn to a face in the crowd.
Daemon was standing beside Viserys, quietly watching his brother and sister-in-law bare their hearts to each other. A faint, mocking smile curled his lips.
Rhaegar furrowed his brow and tilted his head, trying to get a better look.
Suddenly, Daemon turned and fixed his gaze on Rhaegar.
Rhaegar jumped and couldn't help taking a step back.
Wait, why am I scared? It's not like he can eat me.
Thinking of his status, Rhaegar found his courage and stared right back.
There was no clash of wills like he'd imagined.
Daemon looked Rhaegar up and down with interest, nodded with a smile, then paid him no further attention.
The ordinary nod left Rhaegar a little disappointed, but also somewhat relieved.
What a terrifying look. He's so intimidating.
Rhaegar secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but couldn't stop thinking about the mocking smile Daemon had just worn.
What had it meant?
Why had Daemon looked so "disdainful" when he saw his father being affectionate with Alicent?
Rhaegar wondered if he'd imagined it.
But he couldn't forget the slight curve of Daemon's lips. He was sure that smile had been real.
Forget it. Nobody else saw it. I'd better just stay quietly behind everyone else.
Thinking this, Rhaegar moved two steps behind Rhaenyra.
The banquet began, and the guests took their seats.
Viserys called Rhaenyra and Rhaegar over to greet Daemon.
Rhaenyra had admired her uncle ever since she was little. That went without saying.
Viserys took Rhaegar's hand and introduced him to his brother. "Rhaegar, my eldest son. You already know that, of course."
Daemon nodded. His stern face struggled to form a kind smile, making for an awkward sight.
Viserys didn't force his brother to say more. He smiled and said, "The Seven be praised. Rhaegar recently had an extraordinary encounter, and his frail condition has been cured. It lifted a great weight from my heart."
Daemon said, "I heard about it. A magical fruit gifted by a White Hart—it sounds like something out of a storybook."
"Haha, I didn't believe it myself when I first heard. But the gods' will is always full of meaning. Rhaegar is a Targaryen favored by the gods."
Viserys fixed Daemon with a strange look. His words made everyone present uneasy.
The king's eldest son, blessed by a White Hart, and now the king himself had called him favored by the gods...
What did the king mean?
Was it true, as people had been whispering, that he might change his heir?
The words struck everyone like a heavy blow.
Rhaenyra's expression shifted slightly as she looked down at her brother, who was growing healthier by the day.
Daemon didn't seem to care. He patted Rhaegar on the head and offered his blessing. "I hope you stay healthy forever and never suffer from illness again."
Alicent reacted most strongly of all.
Her gentle expression froze for an instant. She secretly dug her fingernail into the crease beside her thumb, forcing a smile.
She had known this day would come eventually.
Rhaegar had once been so gravely ill that he hadn't been expected to live much longer.
Once the king's eldest son died, she could put her own son, Aegon, on the throne.
Even if the king refused, the members of the council would quietly support her and urge the king to change his heir.
But Rhaegar's miraculous recovery had dealt her a devastating blow.
From now on, even those who objected to Rhaenyra inheriting the throne because she was a woman would support Rhaegar, the eldest son.
They wouldn't go out of their way to support Aegon, her second son.
Have all my years of effort been for nothing?
Alicent was overcome with despair, her thumb marked with blood where she had dug in her nail.
To keep anyone from noticing her distressed expression, Alicent silently lowered her head and tried to make herself less noticeable.
Faced with his uncle's blessing, Rhaegar felt uncomfortable but replied politely, "Thank you, Uncle."
"I said some foolish things before. I hope you won't take them to heart. This is our first time meeting, and we still have a whole new future ahead of us."
How could Rhaegar's little thoughts escape Daemon? He saw right through him.
Daemon rolled up his sleeve and removed a silver metal bracelet. His voice turned solemn. "After the war in the Stepstones ended, the soldiers looted a great many treasures."
"Countless gold coins, gems in every color, and glittering jewelry..."
Rhaegar listened intently. He was very interested in war.
Daemon handed him the bracelet. "This was found in a chest at the back of the Crabfeeder's vault. It's made of Valyrian steel. Take it as a gift for our first meeting."
"Valyrian steel? That really is precious."
Rhaegar's eyes lit up, but his pride stopped him from reaching for it. He looked at his father expectantly.
Viserys nodded. "Your uncle gave it to you. You don't have to refuse."
"Great! Thank you, Uncle."
With his father's approval, Rhaegar immediately cast all his resentment toward Daemon aside and snatched up the bracelet.
Never mind whatever old grudges they might have had.
At this very moment, Daemon was a good uncle.
"What a pretty bracelet. It even has a pattern engraved on it."
Rhaegar happily held the bracelet and slipped it over his slender wrist.
Rhaenyra couldn't help covering her face with a hand. "Perhaps you should put it away. Your wrist is so thin, you could easily lose it."
"Hmph. I've always known how to treasure hard-won rewards."
Rhaegar gave an indignant little huff and held up his wrist to admire the Valyrian steel bracelet in the sunlight.
This was the sort of treasure that could be passed down through generations.
The next exploration mission has begun. Target: Mysterious Valyrian steel bracelet.
The System prompt suddenly rang out. Rhaegar was already happy, and now he could barely keep the grin off his face.
With a thought, the System panel appeared.
[Mysterious Valyrian steel bracelet] Exploration progress: 0.5%
After half a year, he'd gotten another chance to explore. Rhaegar couldn't have been happier.
He looked at Daemon with heartfelt gratitude. "Thank you so much, Uncle Daemon."
The sudden show of gratitude left Daemon bewildered.
But his nephew really did seem to like the gift, so he accepted the thanks with a smile.
Viserys patted Rhaegar on the back of the head and advised him, "You don't need to say thank you twice, especially to family."
"Mm-hmm. Uncle Daemon is family."
Rhaegar nodded vigorously, his handsome little face full of comic sincerity.
Never mind whether they were family or not.
If Daemon slapped Alicent right now, Rhaegar would applaud and say it was a satisfying smack.
"Enough with that unsightly, wide-eyed look. Act like a prince."
Unable to bear the sight, Rhaenyra gave her brother a hard whack on the back of the head and gritted out a warning.
Rhaegar clutched the back of his head and protested, "Everyone keeps hitting me on the head. Who'll be responsible if I turn stupid?"
"If you really become stupid, I'll lock you in the Little Black Room in the Red Keep."
Rhaenyra gave him a sweet smile.
Daemon was a complicated man, embodying both sides of the Targaryen family's nature: genius and madness.
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