Oh no, oh no-well, that settled it.

Ser Cole could not help remembering that day.

That day, every knight had been of nobler birth than he.

Yet Princess Rhaenyra had firmly chosen him from among them all.

He had raised his head in the courtyard and looked up at Rhaenyra.

She had leaned against the windowsill, sunlight spilling over her bright silver hair.

The faint smile in her eyes, the gleaming amethysts, the curve of her lips.

He could not look away.

Cole could only gaze up, a smile coming unbidden to his face as he answered her gently.

A beautiful princess.

A handsome knight.

His world had been bathed in the golden sunlight of a summer afternoon.

How like a scene from a knightly ballad.

Cole had sworn to guard Princess Rhaenyra faithfully, to take up his lance and fight for her with his martial skill.

When he had sworn his oath to become Rhaenyra's White Knight.

He had truly, willingly been ready to face every enemy in the world for Rhaenyra.

Even had Ser Ryan Redwyne returned to life, he would have charged with his lance leveled, offering his life to win Rhaenyra honor.

Times had changed, in just six short years.

Ser Cole opened his mouth and let out a hoarse, desolate laugh.

But saying any of that in this situation would have been far too ridiculous.

He tightened his grip on Rhaenyra's hair and said crazily, "Shut up!"

Baelon suddenly spoke. "Ser Cole, you filled the vacancy left by Ser Ryan Redwyne."

"You could have become a legendary Kingsguard, immortalized in ballads like Ser Ryan Redwyne."

"Even if the dragons went extinct and the Targaryen Dynasty fell, little boys as far away as the North would still recite your legend."

Cole's gaze fell on Baelon, and he laughed loudly. "I'm a legend now, just like the Rat Cook!"

"Rhaenyra." Daemon stared disapprovingly into Rhaenyra's eyes.

Don't risk it!

It's too dangerous!

The sharp blade is pressed right against Rhaenyra's skin!

Even if she does stab Cole in the neck, he won't die immediately!

He won't die immediately!

His hand will shake. He'll spasm!

The blade will slice Rhaenyra's throat open at once!

Rhaenyra did not hesitate at all.

Cole said, "Perhaps they'll call me the Rat Kni-ugh!"

The bright blade flashed, almost instantaneously!

Rhaenyra drove the dagger hard into the side of Cole's neck.

The situation reversed again within seconds!

Cole's right arm instantly lost the strength to hold his sword, and the weapon slipped from his hand and clattered to the floor.

Rhaenyra kicked the blade away!

Daemon and the Kingsguard immediately rushed forward together.

Viserys gasped for breath.

But Cole's left arm and both legs were still strong!

He lunged for Rhaenyra's throat.

Rhaenyra instinctively raised her right hand to block, never expecting Cole's desperate struggle to carry enough force to snap her wrist.

"Ah!"

Rhaenyra screamed.

The Kingsguard scrambled to pin Cole to the floor.

Rhaenyra was finally out of danger.

His limbs weak, Viserys stumbled forward and embraced Rhaenyra. "It's all right. It's all right!"

Rhaenyra opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

Only now did fear and terror belatedly surge over her.

Her hands and feet were icy, her whole body trembling.

Daemon coldly seized Cole's head and laid his blade across his throat.

"Don't... don't..."

Rhaenyra forced the words from her throat.

"Don't kill him!"

She shouted urgently, "Don't kill Cole!"

"What?" Daemon could not believe it. "He was just trying to kill you!"

Rhaenyra pulled free of Viserys's embrace and struggled over to Cole, breathing rapidly.

Cole stared blankly into empty space, unresponsive.

At this moment, he had utterly despaired.

At least, in the end, he would die at a dragonrider's hands.

Rhaenyra forced herself to swallow and curved her lips into a smile. "You... you taught me..."

"To kill someone with a lance, thrust at his belly. It's soft there, with no... no bones to protect it."

"You taught me where to stab the side of the neck to make someone's arm instantly lose its strength!"

Fine beads of cold sweat covered Rhaenyra's forehead, her silver hair plastered wetly to her head. She looked utterly disheveled.

She smiled brightly. "I learned well, didn't I, Ser Cole?"

Cole remained silent and unresponsive.

Trembling, Rhaenyra grasped the dagger's dragonbone hilt, but she could not muster any strength.

It took several attempts before she pulled the blade out.

Blood flowed steadily from Cole's neck.

"Thank you, Ser Cole."

Rhaenyra tightened her fingers and smiled. "I truly do like you."

"Even now, at this very moment!"

"I won't let these people kill you."

Cole slowly raised his eyes, hope appearing in them.

Viserys frowned and was just about to speak.

Rhaenyra plunged the dagger down hard!

"Because I've decided to kill you myself," Rhaenyra said through gritted teeth.

The bright blade flashed across Cole's disbelieving eyes.

She yanked the dagger out, blood spraying.

She stabbed down again!

Once!

Then again!

Cole's eyes widened in unwilling acceptance as his vision gradually blurred.

In the hall stood six powerful Kingsguard, a dragonrider, a king, and an heir.

They were legendary knights, or powerful, or highborn.

And he, an outstanding knight among knights!

The most skilled fighter in the Kingsguard, yet in the end, he died at a woman's hands!

Cole's vision went black, and his soul entered the Stranger's realm.

All his resentment and hatred dissipated, however great they had been.

The Kingsguard exchanged glances.

They could feel the limbs of the powerful body beneath their hands go limp.

They withdrew their hands.

Cole lay dead in a pool of blood.

Half of Rhaenyra's face was covered in blood, and at last her tears spilled over.

Those green eyes.

Like a stream, they had flowed out of her life.

In the silence, Baelon stepped forward.

After confirming that Cole's heart had stopped and that neither his neck nor his wrist had a pulse.

He relaxed and picked up the bloodstained Dragon Egg.

Fortunately, she had stabbed his neck. Otherwise, he would have worried that Cole's heart might be on the right side or in the sole of his foot.

But his neck had been stabbed into a bloody mess, so he ought to have been as dead as could be.

Rhaenyra said, "Father, let the Silent Sisters prepare his body."

At least let his body be buried in the earth rather than pecked at by pigeons.

"Let's see to your injuries first!"

Baelon sighed.

Grand Maester Mellos gently wrapped Rhaenyra's wrist in disinfected linen.

He reported quietly to Viserys, "Even once it heals, Princess Rhaenyra's wrist..."

"Aching in cold, rainy weather will be the least of it."

"I fear she will never again be able to bend and rotate her wrist fully as a normal person could."

"Her grip will be only seventy or eighty percent of what it was."

"And that is not the worst of it."

Viserys was utterly exhausted. "What other bad news is there?"

Mellos looked grave. "What worries me is..."

"The numbness in Princess Rhaenyra's middle and ring fingers may be permanent."

"Permanent?" Viserys's silver hair lay disheveled over his shoulders, tears spilling from the corners of his eyes.

Daemon clenched both fists, his chest heaving.

Viserys choked out, "It's my fault. It's my fault..."

Baelon spoke. "Mellos, treat the wound on Father's little finger too."

There was no grief on Rhaenyra's face.

Instead, she comforted Viserys. "Father, at least I kept my life."

She raised her tightly bandaged right hand and said calmly, "Perhaps..."

"This is the bitter fruit of love."

Viserys reached out to touch her wrist, but did not dare, afraid of causing her more pain.

He gently stroked Rhaenyra's loose, damp hair. "It's all right. Get some rest."

"When the sun rises tomorrow, everything will be as it was."

Rhaenyra nodded gently.

"Daemon..." Viserys's soul was weary beyond measure.

He tightly embraced Daemon, his brother.

Daemon pressed his lips together. Usually lively and restless, he now merely returned Viserys's embrace in silence.

Viserys patted Daemon's chest firmly and let out a long sigh.

The Dragon Egg had been recovered. After everything that had happened in one day, he no longer had the strength to pursue anything further.

Nor did he want to.

Viserys put his other arm around Rhaenyra and beckoned to Baelon with his hand. "Baelon, come here."

Baelon looked at the three embracing figures and met Daemon's eyes without showing any distaste.

He stepped forward and let Viserys and Rhaenyra put their arms around him.

Daemon snorted.

The four of them embraced.

Throughout the long embrace, the bedchamber remained silent.

Night's veil quietly shrouded the Red Keep.

Viserys rested his chin on Baelon's head and relaxed.

All the world's clamor retreated into the distance.

At this very moment.

Only the warmth of the family in his arms felt real and tangible.

Viserys's heart settled into peace and calm.

Ambition and desire slowly receded.

All he wanted was for his family to be safe and well.

Baelon: So hot...

How much longer were they going to keep hugging?

Baelon and Daemon met each other's eyes, both silently giving the other a disdainful look at the same time.

The night deepened.

Viserys lifted the covers, just about to drift into peaceful sleep.

This day of twists and turns was finally over.

A knock suddenly sounded at the door.

Viserys smiled. "What is it?"

Baelon pushed the door open and entered. "Father, I'd like to postpone attending the Small Council."

"Because I plan to set out for Dragonstone and tame Vermithor."

"What?!"

Viserys wondered if he was dreaming.

Perhaps everything he had experienced today was a nightmare.

Dawn had yet to break, and he had not yet woken from the nightmare.