Sibling Love

There was a hint of pride hidden in his voice.

"Rhaegar, was it you who helped me cover my tracks during the fire?"

Rhaenyra lowered her head guiltily, realizing the importance of the great fire.

"What else! Besides me, your brother, who else would solve your troubles in the middle of the night!?"

Rhaegar's expression turned serious, his voice rising.

"Shh, who told you where I was?"

Rhaenyra covered her brother's mouth, asking who had tipped him off.

Rhaegar shook his head, evading her hand, his eyes wide. "There are no secrets under the sun. You did something foolish, and you're afraid of people knowing?"

"I didn't expect this, I just wanted to clear my head."

This struck a nerve with Rhaenyra, and she murmured absently.

"Did Daemon... bully you?" Rhaegar asked, worried.

"He didn't succeed, Sir Illyric arrived just in time."

Rhaenyra ruffled Rhaegar's hair, forcing a smile.

What happened tonight was truly unexpected.

She used to admire Daemon greatly and trusted him completely.

Learning the cause of the fire left her with only fear and lingering dread.

Seeing Rhaenyra foolishly fall into someone's trap made Rhaegar angry, and he said bluntly:

"If it weren't for the timely intelligence, believe it or not, by tomorrow morning, your visit to the brothel with Daemon would be known to everyone!"

"I snuck out through a secret passage, no one noticed me..."

Rhaenyra fidgeted with her fingers, feeling nervous.

Rhaegar stated plainly: "If no one knew, who would have tipped me off?"

"Daemon, the people watching you secretly, the one who tipped me off..."

"Think carefully, you've already been targeted by three groups. Everything that happened tonight is no secret."

Rhaenyra fell silent.

She wasn't stupid, she had just trusted Daemon too much.

She hadn't expected her usually meticulous uncle to suddenly bare his fangs.

If Rhaegar hadn't secretly helped tonight, she dared not imagine what would have happened?

What version of the rumors would spread tomorrow?

"I'm sorry, I was just too stressed and wanted to go for a walk."

After a long pause, Rhaenyra finally spoke hesitantly.

"It's best if that's the case. Daemon has always coveted the throne, and you're like a prize walking right into his hands!"

Rhaegar looked at Rhaenyra with melancholy.

His sister was too naive, being toyed with like a puppet, it was truly embarrassing for him.

"What's with that look? I'm your sister, after all."

Rhaenyra couldn't stand her brother's look, as if he were looking at an idiot, and her face turned bright red.

Rhaegar watched her tantrum quietly and shook his head.

"Pfft~"

Seeing his reaction, Rhaenyra burst into laughter, annoyed.

Rhaegar turned his head to meet her gaze.

In that instant, brother and sister locked eyes.

Scenes of mutual concern from the past flashed through their minds, touching their hearts.

The next second.

Rhaenyra's eyes reddened, and she silently crouched down, gently hugging Rhaegar, blaming herself: "I'm so sorry, I did so many foolish things, and still had you clean up my mess."

"Your identity is very important, you need to learn to cherish yourself," Rhaegar sighed.

"I'm sorry, I'm truly sorry," Rhaenyra sobbed softly.

"I can't always help you in time."

Rhaegar rested his cheek against the tip of Rhaenyra's hair and whispered:

"Sister, don't disappoint Father again."

"Rhaegar..."

Rhaenyra choked back tears, unable to speak, wanting only to hold her brother's thin body tightly, yet afraid of touching his wounds.

"I'll stay with you until the Stranger takes me."

Rhaegar gently stroked Rhaenyra's back, his voice soft and touching her heart.

Recalling the night's unrestrained revelry, Uncle Daemon's wolfish ambition, and then embracing her brother...

Rhaenyra's heart was a mix of emotions. Realizing she was merely a tool in the eyes of others, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

She buried her head in Rhaegar's shoulder, sobbing quietly.

Her tears soon soaked Rhaegar's collar. He gave Illyric a helpless smile.

Illyric bowed, the secret passage entrance spun shut, and he silently left.

It would be impolite to linger any longer in such a situation.

Leaving through the door wasn't an option either, Cole was still on guard.

The secret passage was a good choice.

She cried for a long time, until Rhaenyra was too exhausted to cry anymore, until Rhaegar's collar was soaked through.

The young girl's sobs gradually subsided.

Rhaenyra wiped her nose on her brother's collar, revealing eyes red and swollen from crying.

Rhaegar's expression darkened. "I think we both need to change into clean clothes."

"Huh?"

Rhaenyra raised her head in confusion, first glancing at Rhaegar's snot-and-tear-covered shirt.

Then she looked down at herself, still dressed in rough, patched homespun.

"Turn around first, I'm going to change."

Rhaenyra picked up Rhaegar and forced him to lie on the bed.

She then moved to Rhaegar's blind spot, took off her patched homespun, and changed into a nightgown.

Afterward, she rummaged through the wardrobe and tossed a small nightgown to Rhaegar.

"I don't have your pajamas, you can wear this for now."

Rhaegar's face darkened as he removed the pink nightgown covering his head and refused without a second thought.

"I have wounds on my back, I don't need to wear clothes when I sleep at night."

"No, you have to sleep with me tonight, and you must wear clothes."

Rhaenyra reached out to undress Rhaegar, intending to put on the nightgown.

"No, no, no, I'd rather go back and sleep by myself than wear that."

Rhaegar resisted desperately.

"..."

After a bout of playful struggle, the candles in the room were extinguished.

Rhaenyra hugged Rhaegar, who was only wearing his small shorts, and closed her eyes, breathing steadily.

Rhaegar, forced to act as a pillow, shifted uncomfortably, finding a soft, comfortable spot to rest his face.

Neither sibling spoke, waiting for sleep to claim them.

The next day.

Early in the morning, a scout entered the Red Keep and delivered a message to the Hand.

Lyonel realized something was wrong and immediately found Viserys, who was eating breakfast.

He informed him of the news from last night.

Lyonel's expression was grave. "A scout reported that last night, the Princess and Prince Daemon roamed Silk Street, and later went to a brothel."

"Strangely, that brothel caught fire that night. Daemon was helped out of the brothel, but the Princess was nowhere to be seen."

Viserys's face turned extremely grim.

He knew his brother's character; he was a complete scoundrel.

He was capable of anything.

He shook his head, forcing a smile. "That's a lie, you've been deceived."

"I wish that were so, Your Majesty."

Lyonel's expression was heavy.

Viserys immediately understood that the matter was more than likely true.

Lyonel was not Otto Hightower; he wouldn't attack Rhaenyra, the heir, for the sake of his grandson.

His words and actions were consistently fair, without any personal agenda.

"Daemon! He's a starving wolf!"

Viserys slammed his fist on the table, like a furious beast.

The thought of Daemon doing something with his daughter made him want to strangle that bastard brother of his immediately.

His remaining sanity allowed him to calm himself, and he doubted, "This can't be true. Rhaenyra probably just snuck out and left after Daemon entered the brothel."

He refused to believe his daughter would go to a brothel, let alone fool around with Daemon.

Lyonel said, "This is precisely what puzzles me. The fire was strange, and I heard it was arson."

"Daemon left the brothel when the fire first broke out. Many people can attest that he seemed injured."

"On the other hand, the Princess vanished without a trace. No one has seen her since."

Viserys seemed to have grasped a lifeline and rejoiced secretly, "That's right. No one saw Rhaenyra, so no one can prove she was at the brothel. All's well that ends well."

But beneath this smiling face, deep-seated rage lay hidden.

"Go summon Rhaenyra. Tell her her father invites her for breakfast."

Viserys shouted at the attendant outside the door, intending to test Rhaenyra first.

Regardless of the truth, Rhaenyra's innocence was paramount.

As a father, he had to make this clear.

This would determine the direction of the matter.

"No need. I was just coming."

The door was pushed open from the outside, and Rhaenyra walked in gracefully, lifting a face as beautiful as a blooming flower.

Viserys looked at her with surprise and uncertainty, "Rhaenyra, why are you here?"

"Didn't you ask me to have breakfast with you? Strange question."

Rhaenyra sat down boldly on the stool, showing no sign of guilt after having engaged in scandalous behavior.

Viserys and Lyonel exchanged glances, both seeing doubt in each other's eyes.

This chapter is beyond saving, so I'll make a few changes.

From now on, I will focus on the dragon-taming plot.