Ancient Valyrian

"Begin exploration!"

Now that he had encountered an exploration quest again, how could Rhaegar possibly pass it up?

He silently willed it to begin, and an exploration progress panel for the Dragon Horn Dagger appeared.

[Valyrian steel dagger]

Exploration progress: 2.5%

"Great!"

Rhaegar cheered inwardly, a huge smile on his face.

He refused Rhaenyra's request to examine the Dragon Horn Dagger, then pretended to be tired and said pitifully that he was sleepy.

"Fine, then. You can fall asleep hugging your dagger, you miser."

Rhaenyra snorted.

Rhaegar rubbed his dark circles, leaned against his sister, and yawned as he asked his father, "I'll give the dagger back before we get out of the carriage."

"Suit yourself, as long as you don't have a nightmare and start waving it around."

Viserys joked, watching him with satisfaction.

Was it because he hadn't seen his eldest son in so long?

He felt that Rhaegar had been more energetic than usual these past two days. He no longer started panting after only a few words.

As a father, Viserys was very happy.

The carriage continued on its way.

From early morning until the sun was high overhead.

"Exploration complete. Please collect the lost treasure."

The carriage came to a stop just then, and the coachman held the reins, calming the docile white horses.

Rhaegar woke at the sound of the System prompt. The tip of his nose felt ticklish.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Rhaenyra teasing his nose with a strand of her silver hair.

"Sister, you're so childish."

Rhaegar sat up and realized that at some point he had lain down on the seat, his head resting on Rhaenyra's lap.

"We've reached the camp. The ministers are all waiting outside to welcome us."

The corners of Rhaenyra's mouth curled up as she reminded her brother to wake up.

Rhaegar came to his senses and immediately checked the System panel.

[Valyrian steel dagger]

Exploration progress: 100%

He looked at the Dragon Horn Dagger in his hand. A blue orb of light clung to its horn hilt.

Rhaegar sneaked a glance at everyone in the carriage and saw that none of them had noticed the conspicuous blue orb.

"Looks like I'm the only one who can see it."

For reasons he couldn't explain, Rhaegar relaxed and quietly rejoiced.

He liked the feeling of being one of a kind.

He touched the blue orb. Like a bubble, it broke into tiny specks of light that seeped into his hand, just as before.

"Father, here's your dagger."

Viserys was straightening his clothes with Alicent's help. Rhaegar placed the dagger in his hand.

"Ask your sister to smooth out your clothes. You can't look untidy in front of the ministers."

Viserys fastened it at his waist, then reminded Rhaegar to mind his appearance.

Rhaenyra pulled him over with little gentleness and smiled as she combed his sleep-tousled silver hair.

Taking advantage of the moment, Rhaegar checked the System panel.

"Relic collected successfully. Detecting..."

"Detection complete. Relic rated as Excellent: The Old Man's Warning."

"Activate this relic?"

"Excellent?"

Noticing the different rating on the panel, Rhaegar thought it over.

The Dragon's Legacy he had found during his last exploration had been rated Legendary.

That relic's glow had been red.

This time, the relic was rated Excellent, and its glow was blue.

"Looks like relics have different grades. The Legendary relic awakened the bloodline of the Valyrian Dragonlords, so it must be very precious."

Aware of the changes brought to him by Blood of the Dragon, Rhaegar silently thanked Balerion.

"Activate relic."

He willed it, and a line of small text appeared on the System panel.

"Congratulations! The Old Man's Warning has been successfully activated. You have obtained..."

[Proficiency in Ancient Valyrian]

Rank: Excellent (Blue)

Effect: Proficiency in the Ancient Valyrian language

Evaluation: "You can't go wrong learning a new language."

The instant Rhaegar read the panel, it felt as though an electric current ran up his spine from his tailbone and shot straight to the crown of his head.

He shuddered, and knowledge of Ancient Valyrian filled his mind.

Both High Valyrian and the common tongue.

The language seemed to take root and sprout in his mind, as though he had known it since birth.

"Rhaegar, are you cold?"

Rhaenyra noticed his unusual reaction and asked if he was all right.

Rhaegar shook his head repeatedly. "No, I'm fine."

He patted his chest to show that he really was all right.

"Pull yourself together. We've kept the ministers waiting. Show some dignity."

With Blackfyre at his waist, Viserys led the way and lifted the carriage curtain.

Cheers immediately rose from the crowd outside as they greeted their king.

"Come along, children."

Alicent spoke softly and followed behind him.

Rhaenyra frowned, displeased by the remark.

Only a few years ago, she and Alicent had been close friends, inseparable and able to talk about anything.

After her mother died in childbirth, Alicent had turned around and married her father.

Now she spoke to Rhaenyra in the same tone one used with a child.

It was revolting.

With a stony expression, Rhaenyra led Rhaegar out of the carriage.

Compared with the cheers for the king, the crowd's welcome for Rhaenyra, the heir, was noticeably less enthusiastic.

Alicent, on the other hand, was accompanied by three princes and a princess, and smiled as she accepted greetings from several noblewomen.

Some fool even shouted, "Long live Prince Aegon!"

A large part of the crowd joined in, cheering for Prince Aegon.

Meanwhile, they ignored Rhaenyra, the rightful heir, and Rhaegar, the king's eldest son.

Rhaenyra forced herself to smile and followed behind Viserys as though she didn't care.

Rhaegar waved his hand. When she looked at him in confusion, he gave her a sweet smile.

Though his pale face and dark circles made him less than adorable.

"I'm fine, Rhaegar."

Rhaenyra's voice could not hide her sadness.

"I know. Targaryens never give up."

Rhaegar quietly agreed, but turned to look in the direction from which the inappropriate shout had first come.

In barely a second, he spotted the man who was still heckling.

He had curly blond hair and a large nose, and an elderly noblewoman stood beside him.

He looked like a knight skilled with bow and horse.

"Big-nosed idiot. I'll remember you."

Rhaegar got a good look at his face and silently committed it to memory.

Not for any other reason.

The man had a huge nose.

He just looked like he needed a good punch!

After a warm welcome, the camp celebrations began.

Tables were laid with all kinds of wine, fruit, and pastries for the nobles attending the hunt and their families to enjoy.

Viserys entered the main tent, took his seat on the throne, and received the ministers' greetings.

Rhaenyra and Rhaegar entered as well.

A group of noblewomen gathered together, discussing rumors from the Stepstones.

Apparently, a noblewoman had been abducted by pirates who fed people to crabs.

As soon as Rhaenyra approached, an elegantly dressed old woman with white hair called out to her and asked what she thought.

Glad that someone had spoken to her, Rhaenyra smiled and moved closer.

But her questions were not asked in good faith.

It took less than two sentences for her to seize on Daemon's unauthorized war and question whether Rhaenyra had stolen her position as heir from him.

"Lady Gerrula, Daemon brought this upon himself. The Princess is better suited to be heir."

Alicent had taken a seat beside the old woman and spoke up to defend Rhaenyra.

The reigning king was Viserys, her husband.

Whether the succession went to Rhaenyra or to one of her children, it would remain within the family.

Daemon had long since been disqualified from succession.

Alicent would never allow baseless claims that Daemon had been robbed of his place as heir to spread.

Lady Gerrula was momentarily at a loss for words, then turned to criticize Daemon for starting a war without permission.

"To fight this unnecessary war, your uncle dragged the kingdom into it, sending a fleet and soldiers to wipe out the Three Daughters."

"It will cost countless people and resources, and many soldiers will lose their lives."