"Okay," he finally said, his voice calm but with a weight of promise, "I will be there on your stage.
As for how to perform this play..." He chuckled, "I guarantee that your father and those princes will be impressed."
He didn't promise specific steps, but Rhaenyra understood. That was enough.
She hummed softly, her tense body finally relaxed, and she gave her whole body weight to him.
Outside the window, Qohor is getting dark at night, but far away in King's Landing on the other side of the Narrow Sea, a storm surrounding the inheritance rights of Iron Throne is quietly brewing under the cover of a grand celebration.
Redd knew that his trip to the west would no longer be simply to observe the ceremony or exert pressure, but to officially step into the center of Westeros's power vortex.
Rhaenyra is his entry point, but it is by no means the end point.
He stroked the smooth back of the woman in his arms, but his eyes had already passed through the wall and cast towards the unknown west.
The integration of the three city-states must be accelerated. Marcus must return from Lorath to take charge of the overall situation as soon as possible, and the reception of Norvos must also complete key steps before he leaves.
The East is his foundation and source of strength. The West will be his next conquest, or at least the chessboard he must control.
The Iron Throne that Rhaenyra wants may become the most important piece on his chessboard - of course, this piece must be in his hands.
After handling Qohor's most important post-war matters quickly and roughly, Redd showed his clear control over personnel layout.
He entrusted all administrative, economic and preliminary integration affairs of the six huge city-states including Volantis, Pentos, Braavos, Qohor and even the newly surrendered Norvos and Lorath to Douglas.
Behind this trust is heavy pressure and absolute authority.
Marcus was left as the military deputy, which not only provided checks and balances to Douglas, but also ensured that the foundation of military power was firmly within the Redd system.
He stationed two powerful magic dragons, Aegon and Ehm, in Volantis as the ultimate guarantee to deter the Three Daughters kingdom and suppress any potential rebellion.
At the same time, returning Sheepstealer to Dragonstone not only strengthens Dragonstone's home base, but also subtly adjusts the configuration of the force around him.
After the arrangements were made, he hugged Rhaenyra, boarded her mount Syrax, and flew towards King's Landing on the other side of the Narrow Sea.
King Ghidorah's terrifying figure like a moving mountain followed closely behind him. This was not only a guard, but also a silent and majestic declaration of strength - not only was he back, but he was back in an attitude far better than before.
The private realm above the cloud: the intertwining of power and desire
The dragon saddle on Syrax's back is meant to be a single seat, so it does seem crowded to accommodate two people.
But this kind of physical intimacy has become a private area for Redd to express another kind of desire for conquest.
The biting wind at high altitude, the powerful flying rhythm of the dragon beneath him, and the fierce yet gentle entanglement on the dragon's saddle formed a strange and strong contrast.
Rhaenyra, this "Light of the Kingdom" known for his perseverance and ambition, turned into the softest spring water in his arms at this moment, as if confirming the old saying - women are made of water.
Her youth and vitality bloom unreservedly at this moment, far away from the palace's calculations, with only each other and the sky.
For Redd, this flight is the ultimate enjoyment at the peak of power. While controlling the dragon, he also conquers the body and mind of another dragon knight.
When the huge shadow of Syrax passed by Blackwater Bay and landed near Dragonpit outside King's Landing, Redd looked full of energy,
But Rhaenyra could hardly stand on its own, hanging softly on Redd's body, with flushed cheeks and moist eyes, unwilling to leave this warm and powerful support.
On the specially made dragon saddle, there was an obvious dark mark of moisture. The water vapor that should not have existed at high altitude and low temperature has left irrefutable traces at this moment.
This trace is the mark of lust, and perhaps a metaphor for some more complex relationship between power and intimacy.
For Viserys I, this symbolizes that the unbreakable alliance between Redd and Rhaenyra (or in other words, Redd's undisputed possession and influence over Rhaenyra) has surpassed Narrow Sea and directly approached his throne.
To the supporters of "Greens", especially Queen Alicent·Hai Tarth and her father Sir Otto,
This is undoubtedly a dazzling alarm - Redd not only possesses destructive power, but also profoundly affects the first successor of Iron Throne.
For Rhaenyra herself, this is not only a physical mark of surrender, but it may also be transformed into a more complex and subtle psychological bargaining chip for her in the upcoming palace struggle.
Redd hugged the limp Rhaenyra and looked up at Red Keep on the hill in the distance with deep eyes.
King Ghidorah landed slowly behind him, with three heads lowered, and golden eyes scanning the capital of Seven Kingdoms, bringing a silent and suffocating sense of oppression.
The celebration to celebrate the birth of the prince is about to begin, but everyone understands that the real drama may have nothing to do with the newborn.
It's about commitment, betrayal, inheritance, and how a Dragon King from the East will redefine the rules of this game.
The wet dragon saddle is just a fragrant and suggestive opening to this great drama.
When Syrax was hovering over King's Landing, the afternoon sun was shining brightly, making the water surface of Blackwater Bay shine like gold.
The dragon's shadow passed over the high tower of Red Keep and the crowded roof of Flea Bottom, causing commotion and exclamations below.
For the residents of King's Landing, dragons are no strangers, but seeing two giant dragons coming so close (especially the terrifying King Ghidorah with three proud heads) is still a heart-stopping spectacle.
Redd took the lead to step off the dragon saddle with a neat movement. He reached out to help Rhaenyra, but the blush on the latter's cheeks had not completely faded away.
There was a thin layer of moisture in the violet eyes, whether it was the wind at high altitude or some other reason.
When she landed on the ground holding his arm, her legs softened a little, and she almost hung on him again, causing Redd to let out a deep chuckle.
"Stand still, Your Highness, Princess." He leaned close to her ear and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "Your people are watching."
Rhaenyra bit her lower lip lightly, took a deep breath, forced herself to stand up straight, straightened her somewhat wrinkled riding clothes, and pushed her silver hair back.
The pride and grace that belonged to a princess quickly returned to her, although there was still a hint of laziness and charm that was not easily noticeable in the corners of her eyes and eyebrows.
In Red Keep's courtyard, there was already a small team of Kingsguard and royal attendants waiting.
The leader is Hand of the King, Otto Sir Hai Tarth. His gray hair is meticulously combed and his face is serious. His eyes quickly swept between Redd and Rhaenyra.
Especially Rhaenyra paused for half a second on the reddish cheekbones and slightly unnatural stance, and then lowered his eyes to hide the complicated emotions in it.