Throwing a Tantrum

Knock, knock...

As he was thinking, a soft knock came from the door.

Rhaegar frowned in confusion, wondering who would come at this hour.

"Brother, I've come to see you..."

Helaena's soft, childish voice came through the door.

Rhaegar recalled his promise from last night and said, "Come in, the door isn't locked."

Creak--

The door was slowly pushed open, and Helaena, dressed in a silk nightgown, cautiously poked her small head in.

After looking around the room to confirm no one else was there, she entered the room entirely.

She quickly turned and closed the door.

The entire sequence was smooth and fluid, like a skilled little thief.

Rhaegar found it amusing and asked, "What are you afraid of? Are there monsters in my room?"

Helaena shook her head, placing her index finger to her lips, "Shh, I snuck out. Mother hasn't gone to bed yet."

"Is Alicent in your room?"

Rhaegar asked, puzzled.

Helaena tiptoed to the bedside and replied, "She just went to see Father."

Rhaegar's lips curved upwards, knowing Alicent had likely been summoned by their father.

This was for the best, at least he wouldn't have to endure her insincere condolences.

He looked up at Helaena, whose face was full of anticipation, and pointed towards the fireplace, "I bought a ball, and some other toys. Go take a look."

"Mhm, mhm~"

Helaena nodded her small head quickly and excitedly ran towards the pile of toys by the fireplace.

Illyric was a meticulous person; he had diligently completed the tasks Rhaegar had assigned him.

The toys he bought were the most popular items from various shops, sure to delight children.

Helaena first picked up a colorful ball, then grabbed a stuffed dragon doll filled with goose feathers.

The little girl plopped down on the carpet and began playing with her new toys.

Rhaegar smiled, not disturbing her self-amusement, and lay on the bed with his eyes closed, resting.

He had promised Helaena she could come to his room to play, so there was no reason to refuse.

Moreover, this half-sister of his seemed to possess prophetic abilities; interacting with her more wouldn't hurt.

Who knew, it might even help him figure out the patterns of his Dreamer talent.

Although, he wasn't sure if his Dreamer talent even had any patterns.

Neither sibling spoke, and the room grew quiet.

The handsome young boy lay in bed, looking sickly, while the rosy-cheeked little girl played by the fireplace.

It was a warm, harmonious, and beautiful scene.

Until Helaena picked up a bright silver bracelet, held it up, and asked, "Brother, is this bracelet for me too?"

Rhaegar looked over at the sound. It was a replica made by the blacksmith. He casually replied, "No, that's my accessory."

"Oh..."

Helaena responded with a soft "oh" and no further words, quietly putting the bracelet down.

Seeing the little girl's disappointed expression, Rhaegar couldn't help but think of Rhaenyra refusing him, and his chest felt heavy.

After a moment of hesitation, Rhaegar smiled with resignation, "It's yours now. If you like it, wear it. Consider it a gift from me."

He didn't want to refuse Helaena, just as he hadn't wanted his sister to refuse him.

With a turn of events, Helaena's face lit up with a smile, "Yes, thank you, Brother. I like it very much."

"It's alright. You have to fight for what you like. You deserve it."

Rhaegar replied softly. The movement of his chest pulled at his back injury, causing him to wince in pain.

Helaena finally noticed Rhaegar's discomfort. Clutching the bracelet, she returned to his bedside and asked, as if confused, "Brother, why are you lying on your stomach?"

"I'm a bit injured and can only lie in bed to recover for a while."

Rhaegar told her truthfully.

"Does it hurt a lot? Aegon sometimes pinches me secretly, and it hurts."

Helaena innocently assumed Rhaegar had also been pinched. She stood on tiptoe to climb onto the bed, puffed out her cheeks, and said, "I'll blow on it for you. It won't hurt after a few blows."

Rhaegar was amused by the silly girl.

His laughter pulled at his back muscles, intensifying the pain.

"Damn these chains, why don't they just burn me to death!"

Pain wracked him, and Rhaegar cursed the bastard who'd swapped the chains, venting his frustration.

Helaena was startled by him and cowered in a corner of the bed, afraid to come closer.

"Don't be scared, I'm cursing the person who hurt me, not you."

Once he'd calmed down, Rhaegar gave a wry smile and comforted his sister.

This is really hard for me.

His back hurt, and he still had to comfort such a silly sister.

Helaena couldn't hear his thoughts, but she had her own unique way of thinking.

She tiptoed to Rhaegar's side, pouted, and blew with all her might on his bandaged back.

Rhaegar watched this scene, feeling a strange sensation in his heart.

It felt like an inexplicable comfort.

He reached out and ruffled Helaena's silver hair, smiling, "Alright, my wound doesn't hurt anymore."

Helaena stopped blowing and stared at him blankly.

Her clear eyes held confusion.

It was as if she was asking, "Really?"

Rhaegar noticed the bracelet in her hand and suggested, "Shall I help you put it on?"

Helaena tilted her small head in thought, then nodded.

Taking the bracelet, Rhaegar took one of his sister's hands and slipped the bracelet on.

Thanks to Rhaegar's past frailty, his frame was too thin.

The bracelet, sized for him, fit Helaena's slightly chubby baby wrists perfectly.

Rhaegar praised with satisfaction, "A chubby little girl, this bracelet suits you perfectly."

Unexpectedly, Helaena, whose cheeks had been rosy just moments before, changed her expression instantly.

She stopped smiling, pouted, moved away from Rhaegar, and curled into a ball with her back to him.

Rhaegar's smile froze. He hadn't expected a two-year-old girl to care about being fat or thin.

He called Helaena's name a few times, but she didn't respond, silently protesting.

Seeing this, Rhaegar smiled helplessly and turned his head, preparing to sleep.

As for apologizing?

Heh, Targaryen men never apologize!

Time ticked by, and night deepened.

Helaena turned her head and secretly glanced at the sleeping Rhaegar.

Seeing that her brother wasn't moving, she slid off the bed and left the room.

Meanwhile, Rhaenyra had just returned from Dragonstone.

As soon as she entered the Red Keep, a servant stopped her and informed her that the King wanted to speak with her.

"Alright, let me change my clothes."

Having had her fill of playing all day, Rhaenyra washed up and changed before going to see her father.

As Rhaenyra approached the door to Viserys's chambers, just as she was about to knock, the door opened from the inside.

Alicent, dressed in a magnificent gown, emerged from the room.

Rhaenyra, in a good mood, greeted her stepmother and best friend.

Alicent managed a smile and whispered, "Rhaegar is injured, and your father is very angry. Don't talk back to him later."

Although Alicent had already shown disloyalty to their past friendship at this time, without the influence of her father, Otto Hightower, she hadn't yet reached the point of breaking off with Rhaenyra.

She showed Rhaenyra kindness at the opportune moment, maintaining their already strained friendship.

Upon hearing that Rhaegar was injured, Rhaenyra's mind went blank, and she immediately pressed, "How did Rhaegar get injured? Doesn't Sir Illyric protect him?"

Alicent glanced back into the room. Just as she was about to reveal more information, she was interrupted by Viserys's voice.

"Rhaenyra, how much longer do you expect your King to wait?"

It was clear from Viserys's tone that he was in a foul mood, suppressing a surge of anger.

"I'm sorry, I need to go back and look after the children."

Alicent gave Rhaenyra an apologetic look, gathered her skirt, and brushed past her.

Rhaenyra was bewildered, frowning as she entered the room.

Viserys was sitting by the stone model of the throne room, fiddling with a dragon-shaped stone carving.