Light of the Kingdom

Chapter 3: Light of the Kingdom

[Rhaegar Targaryen]

Talent: Dreamer (Gold)

Bloodline: Valyrian Dragonlord (+8%)

Skills: Literature (Beginner), History (Beginner)

Relic: Blood of the Dragon (Flame Resistance +50%)

Evaluation: "Signs of revival in the ancient bloodline; if a miracle occurs, perhaps the predicament can be escaped."

Rhaegar looked at the panel and pondered slightly.

The bloodline, relic, and evaluation on the panel had all changed.

"The ancient bloodline..."

Rhaegar murmured in a low voice, "Did Blood of the Dragon awaken the true dragon's blood?"

"Forget it, don't waste your brain on things you can't figure out. It's better to keep searching for lost treasures."

His body felt much lighter. Rhaegar attempted to jump off the altar and succeeded.

"An explorer will surely be able to cure my frailty."

Carrying an excited heart, Rhaegar's eyebrows rose, secretly congratulating himself on his fortunate encounter.

Excitement did not cloud his mind.

The young prince needed to go back to sleep.

He walked out of the great hall. Outside, it was already approaching nightfall. Servants lit the oil lamps on the walls, illuminating the Red Keep in the night.

No one paid him any attention along the way. Rhaegar quickly returned to his residence.

Creak--

He pushed open the door. The room was dim, moonlight filtering through the glass window, casting a hazy glow.

"Who! Who's there?"

Standing at the door, Rhaegar questioned sternly, his gaze fixed on the silhouette by the window.

Ambushed in his bedroom late at night, could someone be planning to harm him?

"It's me, Rhaegar."

The silhouette turned around. In the moonlight, a young girl in a fitted leather skirt could be seen.

She also had golden-blonde hair.

The girl turned to look at him and shrugged, "What, didn't even recognize your own sister on your birthday?"

"Rhaenyra, why are you in my room?"

Seeing the girl's face clearly, Rhaegar breathed a sigh of relief, joy appearing in his eyes.

The girl was his full sister.

The rightful heir to the Iron Throne.

The Light of the Kingdom—Princess Rhaenyra.

Rhaenyra leaned against the window, her gaze complex as she stared at his pale face, a flicker of tenderness flashing in her eyes.

Turning her head away, Rhaenyra hesitated, "It's your birthday today. As your sister, I should come see you."

Rhaegar smiled happily, "Sister, I'm so glad you came to see me."

"But I don't like celebrating birthdays, you know."

Rhaenyra let out a sigh, "I know. I visited Mother today and came to find you in the afternoon, waiting until now."

"You haven't eaten?"

Rhaegar asked out of the blue.

Rhaenyra didn't react immediately, "I had a piece of bread this morning, and the rest of the time..."

"So you haven't eaten."

Rhaegar interrupted her, got up, and rummaged through the bedside table.

"What are you looking for?" Rhaenyra asked, confused.

"No rush, I have some supplies."

Saying that, Rhaegar took out a bag of biscuits from the drawer.

Handing the biscuits to Rhaenyra, Rhaegar then placed the pot of cold tea on the table over the fireplace and lit the charcoal fire within.

"The Red Keep is close to the sea, so it's damp and cold no matter the season."

Rhaegar sat casually by the fireplace, patted the seat opposite him, signaling Rhaenyra to sit down.

"How have you been lately? Still having nightmares?"

Not refusing her brother's kindness, Rhaenyra took a biscuit and ate one generously, warming herself by the fire with him.

"Give me one, I haven't eaten either."

Rhaegar snatched the second biscuit she offered and replied, "Nightmares always follow, I'm used to it."

"Where have you been playing until now? You haven't even eaten?"

Rhaenyra was curious, her eyes filled with worry: "The Grand Maester said you've been refusing your medicine lately, Father and I are very worried about you."

"Just wandering around. My body knows itself. Drinking medicine won't solve the problem, but I believe it will get better soon."

Rhaegar defended himself, then changed the subject: "Tell me, what else do you have to share with me?"

Rhaenyra said displeasedly, "We're talking about you."

"But every time you come to see me, you just complain to me."

Rhaegar munched on a biscuit: "Dear sister, I'm already used to being your sounding board."

"Bastard."

Rhaenyra snorted coldly: "It's this dirty game of power. Those ministers think women shouldn't sit on the Iron Throne and want to pull me down, to have Father change his mind and name Aegon."

"Father loves you deeply, sister."

Rhaegar didn't think King Viserys would hurt his own daughter because of what the ministers thought.

"No way!"

Rhaenyra retorted loudly.

Rhaegar was startled and looked at her sheepishly.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to. I'm going crazy with all the gossip."

Realizing her outburst, Rhaenyra patted her brother's head and lowered her voice: "Father wants to marry me off to those powerful figures who can help him solidify his royal power. I feel like... like..."

"Like you're being sold like cargo?"

Rhaegar finished her thought for her.

"Rhaegar, my brother."

Her thoughts laid bare, Rhaenyra's eyes reddened, and she helplessly pulled her brother's hand.

Ever since their mother died, their father married her best friend, and their uncle Daemon was driven out of King's Landing.

She had no one to confide in.

Besides flying in the sky on her dragon, she felt like a lonely ghost in the vast Red Keep.

No one listened to her, no one genuinely helped her.

Rhaenyra tightly gripped her brother's thin, small hand: "Fortunately, The Stranger didn't take you, otherwise I really don't know who else would care about me."

Rhaegar shook his head: "Don't think like that, sister."

"Father hasn't replaced you as heir, which means he still loves you."

"The gossip outside isn't just affecting you, it's also hitting Father, who shields you from the storm."

Rhaenyra lowered her head: "But I don't want to marry those vultures with ill intentions. They just want to feast on my flesh and blood."

"If you don't want to, perhaps I can talk to Father. Maybe he'll see our sibling bond and temporarily forget about this."

An idea struck Rhaegar, his expression very gentle as he tried his best to comfort his sister.

"But..."

Rhaenyra hesitated, unable to voice her words.

Rhaegar said bitterly: "I know. Every time Father sees me, his frail son who could die at any moment, he thinks of Mother and is consumed by self-blame and guilt."

"He doesn't want to get close to me, and he's afraid he won't be able to bear the blow if he loses me one day."

"But I am Rhaegar Targaryen. I belong to the sky and the sea. I can't always be caged in the Red Keep."

Rhaegar's young face was firm, and he looked at his sister with anticipation.

Hearing her brother's hopeful words, Rhaenyra empathized.

Hadn't she also been caged by her father, deeply bound by power?

The young girl didn't think much further and readily agreed: "Okay, I'll take you to see Father tomorrow. He should fulfill his responsibility as a father."

A smile appeared on Rhaegar's tender face. He affectionately nestled into Rhaenyra's not-so-plump chest, rubbing his cheek against her and saying, "Sister, this is the birthday gift I truly want."

Forget the damn cake and birthday celebrations.

He just wanted the love of his family.

That wasn't greedy.

Rhaenyra hugged her brother, her chin resting on his shoulder where she could feel his bones clearly. Her eyes were lost and helpless.

After a long silence, she said with regret: "I wish you had a healthy body?"

"Then you could meet everyone's expectations, and you could protect me."

"I'll stay with you until The Stranger takes me, sister."

Rhaegar responded with a muffled sound, feeling the warmth of the young girl's embrace.

In his young world, there was only his father, Viserys, and his sister, Rhaenyra.

He didn't want these two loved ones to be harmed.

There are slight differences between the book and the show. The show's timeline spans a longer period, concentrating time on a series of events to facilitate adaptation.

In the book, the author adheres to the original timeline.

The events are the same, but a bit clearer, avoiding issues with character ages and other ambiguities.