The Clubfoot Larys

"The kingdom isn't at war. My father is still deliberating."

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

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

"How have you served the realm lately, Lady Redwyne?"

Rhaenyra had run out of patience. She glanced disdainfully at the pug eating biscuits in the woman's arms and asked, "By eating biscuits?"

The blatant mockery silenced the room.

Everyone fell quiet.

"Pfft—"

Suddenly, a burst of laughter escaped someone, especially jarring in the stillness.

Lady Redwyne's expression darkened. She looked at the silver-haired boy struggling to hold back his laughter and said sternly, "Your Highness, is this the prince you mentioned?"

Rhaenyra couldn't be bothered with him. She turned and walked away.

She left the old woman with a cool view of her back.

Rhaegar couldn't hold back his amusement. Standing before the noblewomen, he introduced himself with ease. "My name is Rhaegar. Rhaegar Targaryen!"

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

As he spoke, he looked at Lady Redwyne and asked, "Forgive me for being frail and sickly since childhood, and seldom seen in public. Does the name mean anything to you, Lady Biscuit?"

"Pfft—"

Someone else couldn't hold back a laugh.

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

Strangely, the man was sitting among the women.

And not just any women—a whole gathering of gossips.

The man held a cane in his hand. Rhaegar's gaze dropped and settled on an oddly shaped shoe.

The man was disabled, with one deformed foot.

Noticing his gaze, the man nodded politely and introduced himself. "Larys Strong, at your service, Your Highness."

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

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

Larys tucked his deformed foot in and answered the prince's question.

"Your father is renowned as a loyal and capable counselor."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Rhaegar paid him no further attention and turned his gaze back to Lady Redwyne.

"The Three Daughters are invading the kingdom's territory, plundering passing ships and selling the people who are loyal to my father."

"My uncle Daemon did start a war on his own, but he did so to protect his brother's kingdom and fulfill the duty expected of a Targaryen prince."

Rhaegar paused briefly, then glanced at Lady Gerrula, who had spoken first, and said righteously:

"We did not start this war. The Three Daughters have gone too far, challenging the authority of Targaryen rule."

"I'm sure it won't be long before my father makes the difficult decision to send troops and defeat those foreign invaders who feed the crabs, even if he must bear the criticism for joining the war."

"Besides, the king and his councilors are already devoting themselves to the affairs of the realm. There is no need for a biscuit-loving lady to worry about them."

His impassioned speech ended with Rhaegar pointedly mentioning Lady Redwyne, who was holding the pug.

He deepened her bond with biscuits.

After hearing him, the noblewomen who had just mocked Rhaenyra's face changed again and again.

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

Alicent stared at him in astonishment, as if she were seeing him for the first time.

Who could have imagined that a six-year-old child could say such a thing?

Lady Redwyne, in particular, felt deeply humiliated.

Yet she had no idea how to defend herself.

"Queen Alicent, you should teach the king's children some manners."

She tossed the pug to the ground, lifted her biscuit-crumb-covered skirts, and stormed away.

She continued muttering curses under her breath.

"Heh, it seems my speech was too immature to win anyone over."

Rhaegar kept smiling, gently rubbing his slightly heaving chest. He raised a hand in farewell and took his leave.

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

He needed to find his sister.

A teenage girl who lacked a sense of security could easily get upset.

She needed his comfort.

He had only just left the tent when he heard uneven footsteps behind him.

Rhaegar turned around and saw Larys leaning on his cane.

"Ser Larys, don't you like listening to the noblewomen gossip?"

Rhaegar asked curiously.

Larys answered tactfully, "No, I enjoy hearing all sorts of news."

"Then why?"

Rhaegar looked at him in confusion.

Larys bent down to bring himself closer to Rhaegar's eye level, smiling with a hint of ingratiation. "I came specifically to see you, Your Highness."

Rhaegar nodded, indicating for him to continue.

Larys said, "I heard the king's eldest son—that is, you, Your Highness—has been confined to the palace because of your health?"

"That's right. My mother had a difficult labor when she gave birth to me, and until I was six, I was always at risk of dying."

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

"Thank the Seven. Though you are frail and sickly, Your Highness, your astonishing intelligence cannot be buried. It is truly the realm's good fortune."

Larys praised him extravagantly.

Rhaegar was gradually losing patience. He said coolly, "I simply read more books, since I couldn't spend my days running around and playing."

"Oh? What books do you like, Your Highness?"

"Some histories. Studying history makes one wiser and teaches one the lessons of those who came before."

Rhaegar had no interest in continuing the conversation. He said bluntly, "History teaches future generations to guard their honor and keep their distance from those with ulterior motives."

Then he turned and left.

Larys leaned on his cane and watched him go with a faint smile, his gaze meaningful.

"An interesting little prince. The waves keep coming, one after another. It's not time to come ashore yet."

After parting from the bad uncle without a word, Rhaegar continued looking for his sister.

He searched for a long time but didn't see her anywhere.

He couldn't help wondering if she had taken the blow too hard and hidden in a corner to cry her little pearls in secret.

"Your Highness."

As he walked between the bonfires and platters of fruit, a steady voice called out to him.

Rhaegar looked around and saw a White Knight in silver armor and a white cloak.

Beneath his helmet was a ponytail; he had thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a bushy beard.

Rhaegar had seen this White Knight's face before.

In fact, he could see two of them at once.

Among the king's Kingsguard were a pair of twin brothers.

The elder was Ser Illyric Cagell.

The younger was Ser Arryk Cagell.

The brothers were both skilled fighters with a strong sense of justice, so they had been chosen together for the Kingsguard.

"Ser Illyric, did you need something?"

Rhaegar held a bunch of red grapes and looked at him curiously.

Illyric was slightly taken aback at being recognized by name, seeming almost flattered.

He and his younger brother Arryk looked so alike that few people could tell them apart unless they had known them for a long time.

People often mixed up their names.

Illyric stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "The king is looking for you."

"Very well. Lead the way."

Rhaegar readily agreed. Illyric hesitated a little, then reminded him, "Your Highness, the king and the princess just had an argument. His mood isn't very good."

"An argument? About what?"

Ignoring the question of why Rhaenyra had returned to the tent, after all that searching had led him in a circle, Rhaegar first wanted to know what the argument was about.

"It concerned the princess's marriage. I dare not speak of it."

Illyric was an honorable man and was unwilling to discuss the king and his daughter's family matters.

However, he did mention one person.

Jaehaerys Lannister.

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

In short, he had a whole slew of titles.

Rhaegar didn't understand at first.

Only after Illyric explained did he get the full picture.

The man was Talyn Lannister's elder brother.

He was the head of House Lannister.

It had started when Jaehaerys Lannister had privately sought Rhaenyra's hand in marriage.

He had also been arrogant and conceited, openly lusting after her beauty and power.

Rhaenyra had no interest in that peacock-brained fool.

She had politely turned him down.

Back in the tent, she had defied Viserys's attempts to control her marriage by challenging Jaehaerys Lannister's behavior.

And then...

The inevitable family lesson had followed.

The debate had ended with Viserys furious and Rhaenyra in tears.