Bent-Foot Larys

Chapter 7: Larys the Clubfoot

"The realm is not at war; my father is still in negotiations."

Rhaenyra's smile faded as she retorted to the old woman's scolding.

Another old woman spoke up, "Although the King refuses to admit it, the war has already begun. It all started with your uncle and the Sea Snake."

"How have you been serving the realm lately, Lady Redwyne?"

Rhaenyra completely lost her patience. She glanced dismissively at the pug in the other woman's arms, eating biscuits, and retorted, "By eating biscuits?"

The naked mockery hung in the air, and the scene fell silent.

Silence descended.

"Pfft~"

Suddenly, a stifled laugh broke the quiet, piercing the stillness.

Lady Redwyne's face darkened. She looked at the silver-haired boy struggling to suppress his laughter and said sternly, "Your Highness, is this that Prince?"

Rhaenyra couldn't be bothered to respond and turned to leave.

She left the old woman with a cool silhouette.

Rhaegar couldn't hold back his laughter. Standing before the group of noblewomen, he announced grandly, "My name is Rhaegar, Rhaegar Targaryen!"

"Viserys I is my father, and I am his eldest son."

He then looked at Lady Redwyne and asked, "Please forgive me, I have been sickly since childhood and rarely appeared in public. Do you recall my name, Madam Biscuit?"

"Pfft~"

Someone else couldn't hold back a laugh.

Rhaegar turned his head and saw a thin man with curly brown hair.

The man was oddly seated among the women.

In a gathering of gossiping old hens.

He held a cane in his hand, and Rhaegar's gaze dropped to a peculiar shoe.

The man was a cripple with a deformed foot.

Sensing his gaze, the man politely nodded and introduced himself, "Larys Strong, greetings to Your Highness."

Rhaegar returned the courtesy and asked curiously, "What relation is Lord Lyonel to you?"

"He is my father. I am his youngest son."

Larys tucked his deformed foot away as he answered the Prince's question.

"Your father is a renowned loyal minister."

After a brief pleasantry, Rhaegar turned his attention back to Lady Redwyne.

"The Three Daughters have invaded the realm's territory, plundering ships, and selling our people, loyal to my father, into slavery."

"While my uncle Daemon did wage war privately, he did so to protect his brother's kingdom and fulfill his duty as a Targaryen Prince."

Rhaegar paused slightly, scanning the Lady Gerrula who had spoken first, and declared righteously:

"We did not initiate this war; it is the Three Daughters who have gone too far, provoking the authority of the Targaryen rule."

"I believe it won't be long before my father makes the difficult decision to bear the criticism of war and send troops to defeat that foreign invader who feeds crabs."

"Furthermore, the realm's affairs are managed diligently by the King and his ministers, so there's no need for this biscuit-loving lady to worry."

His impassioned speech concluded, Rhaegar emphasized the Lady Redwyne holding the pug.

He deepened her association with biscuits.

After hearing his words, the noblewomen who had just badgered Rhaenyra's expression changed repeatedly.

It was as if they had been slapped in the face in front of everyone.

Alicent stared at him in surprise, as if seeing him for the first time.

No one could have imagined that a 6-year-old child could say such things.

Lady Redwyne, in particular, felt deeply humiliated.

Yet, she didn't know how to defend herself.

"Queen Alicent, you should discipline the King's children."

She threw the pug to the ground, lifted her biscuit-crumb-covered skirt, and stormed off indignantly.

She continued to mutter curses under her breath.

"Heh, it seems my speech was too immature to resonate with you all."

Rhaegar maintained his smile, gently patted his slightly heaving chest, bowed, and took his leave.

He had no time to chat with a group of short-sighted gossips.

He had to find his sister.

A teenage girl lacking security is prone to sadness.

She needs his comfort.

Shortly after leaving the tent, discordant footsteps sounded from behind.

Rhaegar turned his head and saw Larys leaning on his cane.

"Sir Larys, do you dislike the gossip of noble ladies as well?"

Rhaegar asked, confused.

Larys replied evasively, "No, I enjoy gathering all sorts of news."

"Then?"

Rhaegar looked at him strangely.

Larys bent down, lowering his gaze as much as possible, and smiled somewhat ingratiatingly, "I came specifically to see you, Your Highness."

Rhaegar nodded, signaling him to continue.

Larys said, "I heard that the King's eldest son, that is, you, Your Highness, have been staying in the palace due to health reasons?"

"That's right. My mother had a difficult childbirth when she bore me, and I was at risk of dying before the age of six,"

Rhaegar spoke frankly, wanting to see what he was up to.

"Thank the Seven Gods, even though you are sickly, Your Highness, it does not diminish your astonishing intellect. It is truly the kingdom's fortune,"

Larys praised him exaggeratedly.

Rhaegar gradually lost patience and said indifferently, "In the years I couldn't run and play, I simply read more books."

"Oh, what kind of books do you like, Your Highness?"

"Some history books. Reading history can make one wise and learn from the experiences of our ancestors."

Rhaegar lost interest in the conversation and said bluntly, "History warns future generations, protect one's honor, and stay away from those with ill intentions."

He then turned and left.

Larys leaned on his cane, gazing at Rhaegar's retreating back with a faint smile and a meaningful look in his eyes.

"An interesting little prince. The tides keep coming one after another; it's not yet time to reach the shore."

Having bid farewell to the bad uncle without notice, Rhaegar continued to search for his sister.

He searched for a long time but couldn't find her.

This made him suspect that perhaps the blow was too great, and Rhaenyra had hidden in a corner, shedding tears alone.

"Your Highness."

Weaving through bonfires and fruit platters, a steady voice called out to him.

Rhaegar looked around and saw a white knight clad in silver armor and a white cloak.

Beneath the helmet was a ponytail, thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a dense beard.

This white knight's face was familiar to him.

In fact, he could see two such faces at once.

Among the King's Kingsguard, there was a pair of twin brothers.

The elder brother, Illyric Cagell.

The younger brother, Arryk Cagell.

The brothers were both skilled and righteous, which led to their selection for the Kingsguard together.

"Sir Illyric, do you need something?"

Rhaegar, holding a bunch of red grapes, looked at the other man curiously.

Being addressed by name accurately, Illyric was slightly taken aback, seeming a bit flattered.

He and his brother Aleric were too similar; few people, except those who spent years with them, could distinguish the brothers.

It was common for people to misidentify them.

Illyric stepped forward a few paces and bowed respectfully, "The King is looking for you."

"Alright, lead the way."

Rhaegar was very cooperative. Illyric hesitated slightly and reminded him, "Your Highness, the King and the Princess just had an argument, and his mood is not very good."

"An argument? About what?"

Ignoring the problem of Rhaenyra returning to the camp and him having walked around for nothing, Rhaegar first sought the reason for the argument.

"It concerns the Princess's marriage. I dare not say more."

Illyric acted with integrity and was unwilling to elaborate on the private affairs of the King and his daughter.

However, one person was actively brought up.

Jaehaerys Lannister.

Duke of the West, Lord of Casterly Rock, Warden of the West...

In short, a bunch of messy titles.

Rhaegar didn't react for a moment.

It wasn't until Illyric reminded him that he understood the situation.

This guy was the elder brother of Tyran Lannister.

The current leader of the Lannister family.

The reason was that Jaehaerys Lannister had privately proposed to Rhaenyra.

And his attitude was arrogant, self-important, with undisguised lust for beauty and power in his words.

Rhaenyra couldn't stand such a foolish peacock showing off.

She politely declined him.

After returning to the tent, in response to Jaehaerys Lannister's actions, she resisted Viserys's control over her marriage.

And then...

Naturally, there was the much-anticipated family education.

The debate ended with Viserys in a rage and Rhaenyra in tears.