The Peculiar Informant

Driven by curiosity, Rhaegar slowly pushed himself up.

Without aggravating his wounds, he moved slowly and deliberately to the window.

Looking down, he confirmed it wasn't a cuckoo calling.

It was a short swordsman with curly brown hair.

Shiryu cupped his hands around his mouth, mimicking a cuckoo's call, standing in the garden and gazing up at Rhaegar's window.

Rhaegar opened the glass window and shouted down, "Hey, what are you doing making noise in the middle of the night?"

Seeing Rhaegar appear, Shiryu bowed and left without a word.

"Crazy!"

Rhaegar muttered, closing the window.

But in his heart, he wondered if the nightmare he'd just had was prophetic.

What was it foretelling?

"Wait, how is Shiryu at the Red Keep?"

Rhaegar suddenly remembered Shiryu's origins and quickly called out the door, "Illyric, I need you."

Creak--

Illyric pushed the door open and entered respectfully, "What are your orders?"

Rhaegar explained that he had just seen Shiryu.

Illyric replied, "Shiryu won the champion of the jousting tournament and requested to stay at the Red Keep as a master-at-arms, even swearing fealty to you."

"Shiryu swore fealty to me?"

Rhaegar was stunned for a moment, unaware of the tournament.

After Illyric's repeated explanations, he finally understood that Shiryu wished to be his swordmaster and had stayed for that reason.

Rhaegar asked, puzzled, "Since he got what he wanted, why disturb my sleep in the middle of the night? Does he perhaps want to see me?"

"That's very possible, but it's late now, and meeting him alone might not be safe."

Illyric had been specifically instructed by the King not to allow Rhaegar to have any private contact with Shiryu, and to remain vigilant at all times.

Rhaegar thought that made sense.

But the nightmare lingered in his mind, and he felt a connection to Shiryu.

After a moment of hesitation, Rhaegar decided he still wanted to see him.

"Sir, take me to the garden. Let's see what he wants?"

Illyric rubbed his sword hilt and nodded, "Get on my back, Prince."

Rhaegar didn't refuse and was carried out by Illyric.

Even with his rapid recovery, three days was still too short.

He relied entirely on Illyric's help to get some fresh air.

They descended the many stairs, avoiding the servants cleaning the hall, and entered the small garden.

Shiryu was waiting beneath the Weirwood tree.

Upon seeing each other, Rhaegar eagerly asked, "Shiryu, why did you seek me out so late at night?"

Shiryu smiled, "I apologize for disturbing you so late. It was an accidental observation that caught my eye."

"Tell me, what did you see?"

Rhaegar's inner certainty that Shiryu was connected to the nightmare grew.

Shiryu said, "After the feast, I was strolling in the garden and happened to see two figures sneaking past."

"Who were they? Did you see their faces clearly?"

Rhaegar asked, full of doubt.

"One was wearing homespun clothes and a tattered hat, but I would never forget that beautiful face. It was your sister, Princess Rhaenyra."

Shiryu described their appearances and added, "The other had a tall build, and I felt a sense of familiarity. If I recall correctly, Prince Daemon left the feast before it ended..."

Shiryu said no more.

But his meaning was perfectly clear.

Rhaenyra and Daemon had snuck out of the Red Keep.

Rhaegar furrowed his brow, scrutinizing Shiryu.

Rhaenyra and Daemon had a close relationship; everyone in the Red Keep knew that.

Rhaenyra had admired her uncle since childhood.

Daemon was also very fond of his niece, always bringing her gifts and showing her great affection whenever they traveled.

The fact that the two of them had snuck out wasn't such a big deal.

Shiryu stood with his hands behind his back, kicking at a stone by his feet, looking like he had something heavy on his mind.

Rhaegar inwardly thought, Just as I suspected. He spoke directly, "Go on, is there something else?"

Shiryu confessed, "I inquired with Prince Daemon's attendant, and he booked a suite at a brothel on Silk Street for tonight."

Rhaegar froze on the spot, staring at Shiryu with confusion.

His second half of the sentence echoed repeatedly in his mind.

"A brothel, a suite, Daemon and... Rhaenyra?"

Young Rhaegar's brain momentarily short-circuited, guessing at a possibility that defied all ethics.

Although, for the Targaryen family, such a possibility was hardly uncommon.

But Daemon was different!

That guy clearly had ulterior motives.

Illyric spoke at the opportune moment, "Your Highness, this matter is of utmost importance. I believe we should inform His Majesty the King."

This was too vile.

Prince Daemon, as an uncle, luring his niece Princess Rhaenyra to a brothel to book a room – this was treason.

"Wait, don't alert my father just yet."

Rhaegar immediately objected, not wanting to bring this to his father's attention right now.

An enraged father could easily cause a huge commotion.

Regardless of whether the matter succeeded or failed, Rhaenyra's reputation would be tarnished.

It would inevitably cause a sensation.

His mind raced, Rhaegar looked at Shiryu and questioned, "How long have they been gone?"

"About half an hour,"

Shiryu said after thinking for a moment.

"Are you sure you saw my sister? It's alright if your eyes were mistaken, but saying the wrong thing with your mouth can be fatal!"

Rhaegar still couldn't quite believe it.

Shiryu solemnly swore, "I swear by the gods old and new, I did not misidentify her."

"Good, then. Keep this quiet, understand?"

Rhaegar's words carried a veiled threat.

Shiryu nodded, bowed, and took his leave.

His objective had been achieved; staying here any longer would be pointless.

Rhaegar gazed at the Weirwood tree before him. The strange face carved into its trunk wept blood, seeming to merge with the blood from his nightmares.

Shiryu's appearance had been too sudden.

But he didn't have time to ponder his motives.

He had to find Rhaenyra.

"Sir, let's depart immediately and find my sister."

Rhaegar couldn't wait another moment, wanting to find Rhaenyra before anyone discovered her absence.

The Red Keep was not far from Silk Street. Rhaenyra had only slipped away for half an hour; there was still time.

Illyric frowned, "This is a serious matter. Going to find her ourselves would be like searching for a needle in a haystack."

"It's alright. Rhaenyra told me Daemon has shares in the largest brothel on Silk Street. He'll definitely go there."

Rhaegar stated earnestly, "Daemon has designs on my sister. We must stop him in time."

"Yes, Your Highness. It seems we must resolve this problem before it escalates."

Illyric turned to leave, with Rhaegar behind him.

Hearing his words, a flash of inspiration struck Rhaegar, and he vaguely sensed something was amiss.

"Wait, Sir!"

Rhaegar immediately called out, organizing his thoughts.

Shiryu was by no means a trustworthy person.

His sudden appearance to report this, while seemingly showing favor to Rhaegar on the surface, might have other plans hidden beneath.

Rhaegar felt he needed to think carefully, to untangle this mess of thoughts.

The matter of Daemon luring Rhaenyra didn't seem fake.

Daemon had always coveted the throne. If he could win Rhaenyra's heart and become King Consort, he could return to the center of power, perhaps even sideline Rhaenyra, the heir.

Shiryu's act of reporting this would be tentatively classified as showing favor to Rhaegar.

To earn Rhaegar's trust.

Then what role should Rhaegar play in this matter?

Was he a naive child who told his father, provoking the King's sleeping dragon's wrath and ordering Daemon's arrest?

Or did he sneak out of the Red Keep to find Rhaenyra for his sister's honor?

Or perhaps he feigned ignorance, kept the matter hidden, and waited for it to blow up?

"Yes, let it blow up! Someone wants to make this bigger and bigger."

Rhaegar suddenly understood, realizing a sinister intention.

Whether he told his father or secretly searched for her himself.

As long as someone with intent spread the word, this matter would surely blow up and ruin Rhaenyra's reputation.

If he turned a blind eye, it would play right into Daemon's hands.

At this thought, Rhaegar felt enlightened, sensing the scent of conspiracy.

Rhaenyra needed to be found, but not in a way that would draw attention.

"I need to think of a way to divert everyone's attention!"

After reading reader feedback from yesterday, there was significant debate about Rhaenyra's relationship with the protagonist.

The author has reflected deeply, pursuing too many details in the story.

This led to some sections being too misleading and the wording imprecise.

Some inappropriate words and sentences have been replaced.

Similar chapters will absolutely not appear in the future.