Elia's expression shifted slightly, and she could not help but feel moved.
Unlike the wild Dornish women people imagined, she was quiet by nature and in poor health, having been frail and sickly since childhood.
Childbirth was a major ordeal for a woman.
Not wanting her brother, Prince Doran, to worry, she had temporarily kept her pregnancy from him so he would not run about on her behalf.
She had not expected her husband's younger brother to be so considerate.
Seizing the opportunity, Daeren pressed his advantage. "I'm looking forward to having another niece or nephew. Please take care of yourself and don't wear yourself out."
Pregnant women were all vulnerable.
Without enough care and affection, they would grow thorns and wound others.
He understood that deeply from his mother, Rhaella.
"Daeren, you really resemble my brother Qoren."
Elia's gaze softened as she recalled, "Young and handsome, capable, and deeply devoted to family."
As she spoke, she grew a little despondent.
Daeren neither confirmed nor denied it.
He only wanted her to be healthier.
He did not want her to be like in the original story, losing her ability to bear children after two pregnancies and then being ruthlessly abandoned by Rhaegar.
"Enough of that. I'll take you downstairs to get settled. You must be tired too."
Elia smiled faintly and looped her slender arm through Daeren's without the slightest reserve.
Afternoon.
Daeren left the Stone Drum Tower with a cloth sack slung over his shoulder, heading toward Dragon Mountain.
He did not see Rhaegar.
But it did not matter. Who cared whether Rhaegar wanted to see him?
He only needed to go to Dragon Mountain and search for Dragon Eggs.
After a difficult trek.
Daeren arrived before the towering Dragon Mountain, only to find a squad of Dragon Guard in heavy armor, equipped with longswords and morningstars, patrolling it tightly.
The Dragon Guard were the Targaryens' exclusive force, established during the reign of the Old King, Jaehaerys I. They were responsible for protecting Dragon Mountain and the Dragonpit in King's Landing.
When the King's Landing Dragonpit rioted, the Dragon Guard had been wiped out to the last man.
With the dragons gone, no later king had ever rebuilt the force.
Where had Rhaegar found a squad of Dragon Guard to guard Dragon Mountain?
Daeren did not act rashly. He turned to find Davos and ordered him to gather intelligence.
Having only just arrived on Dragonstone, there were many things he did not know.
Caution came first.
"Let's take a look around Dragonstone and familiarize ourselves with the terrain."
Daeren had a strong mindset and followed his principle of surveying the surroundings whenever he arrived somewhere new.
Sure enough, though Dragonstone's land was barren, it was not lacking in special wild plants.
Stopping and starting along the way, he found several summer Gatherables.
Night fell.
Daeren returned to the Stone Drum Tower, worn out from travel and facing the sea wind.
"The wind outside is so strong. Where have you been?"
Elia came forward with a towel in hand and said helplessly, "Aren't you cold? Wipe yourself off."
"I took a walk around the East Coast."
Daeren did not refuse her kindness. He accepted the towel and wiped his clothes.
In truth, he had gone fishing on the East Coast.
The East Coast was where the wild dragon Grey Ghost had once been active, and he wanted to explore it.
He found no trace of a dragon, but the scenery was exceptionally beautiful.
Unable to resist, he cast his line a few times to earn some extra money.
"Come get ready. Dinner is about to be served."
Elia wore an expression that said she truly did not know what to do with him.
Dinner was served in the hall, and the Retainers had already begun setting everything out.
Daeren waited for a while.
A set of footsteps came from upstairs. Someone was coming down.
A young man appeared, with long silver hair falling over his shoulders, indigo-blue eyes, and a tall, straight build. He was handsome, yet carried an air of melancholy.
"Rhaegar." Daeren looked him over openly.
After half a year apart, he had finally seen his dear older brother again.
The moment Rhaegar Targaryen came downstairs, he spotted Daeren and gave him a slight nod.
"Sit."
His voice was rather deep, but it did not make him seem distant. Instead, it carried a hint of warmth.
Daeren nodded back, his gaze settling on the man and woman behind Rhaegar.
The man was around thirty, ordinary in appearance, wearing the Kingsguard's Silver Armor and White Robe, with a two-handed greatsword as tall as a man strapped to his back.
Daeren recognized him.
One of the legendary Kingsguard, Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning.
Ser Arthur's appearance was plain and unremarkable. He wore a close-cropped haircut and had thick, short stubble.
But his eyes were bright and sharp, radiating incomparable confidence, as if they declared that he was the greatest man in the world.
That confidence elevated his bearing immeasurably.
No one cared about his appearance anymore.
Beside him stood a slender young woman.
She had long, smooth black hair, violet eyes, skin as white as milk, and wore a purple Dornish slip dress that exposed her collarbones and fair, slender arms.
She was very beautiful.
Moreover, hers was the intellectual beauty of a mature woman, one that did not match her age.
One could imagine how tranquil and gentle she would look with a book in her hands.
Daeren studied her for a moment.
Dark hair, violet eyes, about his age, and following Ser Arthur Dayne.
She was probably his younger sister, Ashara Dayne.
Looking like that, it was no wonder she had captivated both Barristan and Ned Stark.
Neither sibling sat down.
One stood guard beside Rhaegar, while the other attended Elia during dinner.
No one spoke throughout the meal, leaving the atmosphere rather cold.
Once dinner was over.
Elia took out several Silver Star strawberries and gave one to everyone present.
Daeren received one as well.
He picked up the fresh strawberry he had given her and naturally took a small bite.
Those who knew how to share were often kinder.
Elia possessed such a noble quality.
Rhaegar also ate a Silver Star strawberry. When he learned it had been given by Daeren, understanding appeared in his indigo-blue eyes.
Dragonstone was barren, and Dorne was not exactly wealthy either.
If his wife could produce such Special Crops, they could only have been a gift from someone else.
And as for his younger brother, Daeren...
If it was him, then it was not surprising.
Rhaegar wiped his lips and said, "Daeren, Dragon Mountain is closed off. Don't go there for now. Wait a while."
After saying that, he did not explain the reason and simply rose to leave.
Ser Arthur remained at his side every step of the way.
Daeren:???
Cryptic bastards, get out of Westeros!
Elia smiled apologetically and beckoned to her companion. "Ashara, come here."
She took out a Silver Star strawberry, intending to let her companion try it.
Ashara walked lightly, her fair toes exposed beyond her sandals. As she moved, her purple skirt swayed, revealing a pair of calves outlined by purple ribbons.
Dornish women really were bold!
Daeren glanced over unintentionally. It was the first time he had seen such a sexually charged outfit in the Seven Kingdoms.
Holding the strawberry, Elia fed it to her companion.
Ashara held an extremely high position at Elia's side and possessed considerable political value.
The Dayne family of Starfall were great nobles of Dorne.
Moreover, she was doted on by Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning, making her a valuable means of winning over this Kingsguard.
"Thank you, Princess."
Ashara's voice was clear and cool. Then she gave Daeren a slight curtsy to express her thanks.
Daeren raised a hand, signaling that there was no need for such formality.
Night.
Daeren remained in his room, inspecting the Dragon Egg inside the incubator.
Knock, knock, knock!
Davos knocked on the door, his voice carrying through.
"Prince, may I come in?"
"Come in!"
Davos pushed the door open, then carefully shut it behind him.
Daeren did not mind him seeing the Dragon Egg and asked, "What did you find?"
"A... a Dragon Egg!?"
Davos was stunned by the living Dragon Egg.
Born lowly, it was his first time seeing something so precious, and he could not help losing his composure.
Once he recovered, he immediately grew serious. "Prince, according to my investigation, the Dragon Guard on Dragon Mountain were originally ordinary soldiers. They were recently reassigned as Dragon Guard to patrol Dragon Mountain."
That was not the important part.
The important part was this: "I bribed one of the Dragon Guard and learned that monsters have appeared inside Dragon Mountain. The Prince Lewyn you mentioned was following Crown Prince Rhaegar to investigate Dragon Mountain not long ago when he was accidentally bitten on the lower right leg."
Before you continue