Hostility from the Kingsguard

Dragonstone.

Daeren stepped off the Prince, setting foot on his family's ancestral seat for the first time.

"Prince, be careful of the waves."

Davos offered a kind reminder, still worried about Daeren's physical condition.

Daeren didn't want to recall the nightmare. He nodded perfunctorily and surveyed Dragonstone in its entirety.

He had a feeling.

He might have been targeted by "Bloodraven," or rather, the "Three-Eyed Crow."

The Three-Eyed Crow possessed the ability to send dreams.

In the original work, his elder brother Rhaegar was obsessed with prophecy, and his father Aerys's dying cry of "Burn them all, burn them all" was hard to say wasn't influenced by the Three-Eyed Crow.

Especially since Targaryens were already prone to dreamwalking; receiving dreams might have been attributed to their talent.

"Is it because I changed history, or did the Dragon Tongue Farm attract them?"

Daeren couldn't fathom it and dared not jump to conclusions.

Based on the limited intelligence available, the other party seemed to intend to guide him.

The first time he found the Dragon eggs, the other party appeared in a dream.

This time, upon landing on Dragonstone, the other party showed up again.

"Looks like I can't go to the Wall."

Daeren was cautious.

He'd made up his mind: whoever wanted to go to the North could go, he wanted no part of it.

RUMBLE!

The black stone gate built on the cliff slowly opened. The guards above were fully armed, staring intently at the group below.

Daeren looked around and sensed something was wrong with the atmosphere.

"Prince, they don't seem to welcome you?"

Davos, a man of the world, cautiously leaned in and whispered to Daeren.

"Don't rush it."

Daeren signaled for calm and led his entourage through the Dragonstone gate.

The Stone Drum Tower was built on the side of Dragon Mountain, connected to the coast by a winding, steep stone bridge. At the end of the bridge, the Dragonstone city gate stood guard.

These were all built using the ancient Valyrian dragonstone technology mastered by the ancient Dragon Kings.

Upon reaching the gate, there was still no one to greet them.

Daeren frowned.

He had sent a letter to Rhaegar in advance. No matter what, someone should have been sent to receive him.

Just as he thought it, a Kingsguard clad in silver armor and white robes emerged from the mist-shrouded stone bridge. He stopped in front of the group and said indifferently, "Please follow me."

Daeren remained impassive and turned to meet Davos's gaze.

Davos understood instantly. He stepped forward and questioned, "A Prince of the Targaryens, the brother of Prince Rhaegar, has arrived, and you send only yourself? Is this the hospitality of Dragonstone?"

An insult to his lord was a death to his servant; he could not stand by and watch the Prince be slighted.

The Kingsguard paused his turning motion, raised his hand, and removed his helmet, revealing a stern face.

Oswell Hewett.

Daeren recognized him immediately.

This man hailed from the Hewett family of Harrenhal and was a staunch loyalist of Rhaegar.

Oswell glanced at Davos, not recognizing him, and sneered dismissively.

Then, he turned his gaze to Daeren, who stood before him:

"Prince Rhaegar has just returned and is currently attending to official duties in the map room. Prince, please proceed to the solar first."

Attending to official duties?

What duties were more important than one's own brother?

And the solar, Daeren had never even heard of it.

When had the Stone Drum Tower ever had such a structure?

"Please excuse us."

Oswell spoke courteously, but his attitude was perfunctory. He immediately turned and walked up the stone bridge.

"You...!"

Seeing the disrespect from the Iron Guard brothers, Ser Jon couldn't hold back first.

Daeren grabbed him, calming him down, "Let's keep up, don't be impulsive."

This was Dragonstone, Rhaegar's territory.

He had come to the island seeking a favor, so it was best not to start a conflict right away.

"Your Prince, he's too rude."

Ser Jon was furious.

Normal treatment for a Prince would at least involve a proxy lord or an honor guard, not to mention Rhaegar and Elia personally welcoming him.

How could they just send out a Kingsguard to lead the way and call it a day?

Moreover, the Kingsguard symbolized the King, could they represent Prince Rhaegar?

Stone Drum Tower.

The so-called conservatory was a sun-facing room.

The hard rock walls were shattered and replaced with glass to form a sunroom, dispelling the original gloom of the Stone Drum Tower, making the entire room bright and warm.

"Prince, please come in."

After opening the Gate of Opening, Oswell stood motionless at the doorway.

Daeren glanced sideways, remembering this arrogant fellow, and strode into the conservatory.

As soon as he entered, the sunlight refracted through the sunroom, and the floor was covered with potted plants and flowers.

The room's layout was also pleasing, with light-colored carpets and brown bookshelves, and various porcelain items neatly arranged, giving it a refined feel.

A young woman with soft black hair, fair skin with a yellowish undertone, wearing a yellow, high-slit Dorne dress, and possessing a beautiful appearance, stood in the room.

"You must be Daeren?"

Elia had been waiting for a long time and approached gracefully.

Her figure was slender, yet her curves were explosive. Under the revealing Dorne dress, her full thighs were faintly visible.

Daeren, not daring to look improperly, asked, "Elia?"

They had never met before.

After his father Aerys's madness worsened, his desire to control his children became very strong, forbidding them from meeting with Dorne people.

Elia smiled gently and took Daeren's hand, "It's me. I heard you were coming to Dragonstone, and I even wrote back to you."

"I assume I'm not disturbing you?"

Daeren glanced at the soft fingers on his wrist, surprised by the difference in Dorne women, and did not lower his guard.

No one would feel good about being looked down upon.

Elia looked confused, then glanced towards the door, and understood everything.

"I'm sorry, Sir Oswell didn't mean to."

Elia apologized and explained softly, "It's because my uncle Prince Lewyn was injured, and Rhaegar is also busy with something and can't get away. The atmosphere on Dragonstone is a bit strange."

Prince Lewyn is injured!

Daeren had a flash of inspiration, connecting it to Rhaegar's sailing trip.

Prince Lewyn was one of the Kingsguard.

At the same time, he was the brother of the previous Dorne Princess, and the uncle of the current Dorne Prince Doran Martell and Elia.

"How is Prince Lewyn's injury?" Daeren asked with concern.

Elia looked a little sad but didn't want to show it. She shook her head, "It's nothing serious, just a leg injury. The maester said it will take about a year or so to recover."

That was a serious injury.

Daeren nodded inwardly, gaining a general understanding of Dragonstone.

He turned and gestured to Davos guarding the door. The latter handed him an exquisite gift box.

Daeren presented the gift box to Elia and said, "We couldn't attend your and Rhaegar's wedding. This is a wedding gift from me on behalf of my sister and brothers."

"Thank you."

Elia was slightly surprised, not expecting a gift.

Daeren: "Open it and take a look. It should be helpful to you."

Elia didn't understand, but out of politeness, she opened the gift box, which had three red dragons and a sun-piercing spear printed on the surface.

When the box was opened, it revealed a golden star Strawberry and six Silver Star Strawberry.

"This gift is too precious."

Elia's expression froze.

As the Princess of Dorne, her knowledge was extraordinary, and she had seen countless treasures.

Even though special crops were precious, she never lacked for food.

But precisely because of this, she knew the value of this gift even more.

Special crops were already scarce, and high-quality ones were rare finds.

Seven high-quality fruits of the same variety, with one even being of the incredibly rare Gold Star quality, carried immense meaning.

Daeren said with a serious expression, "Rhaegar said you are pregnant and hopes these can help condition your body and assist you in a smooth delivery."