When Rhaegar lifted his head, his expression was as deep and solemn as water.
"Prince, has something happened in King's Landing?"
Robb was slightly startled and asked.
Rhaegar sneered. "Dorne has interfered in the Stepstones War, only to then turn around and send an envoy to my father proposing a marriage alliance."
At the start of the Stepstones conflict, the kingdom had sent envoys to Dorne, attempting to mediate with Qoren Martell.
However, Qoren continuously avoided them and even went so far as to detain the kingdom's emissaries for a time.
It was only after Dorne sent troops to join the Three Daughters in attacking Bloodstone Island that the kingdom's envoys were finally released.
Now, in the midst of the war, Qoren had suddenly proposed a marriage alliance.
The timing of the Dornish envoy's arrival in King's Landing coincided precisely with the moment when Tyland and his forces suffered a devastating defeat, and the kingdom lost control of Bloodstone Island.
It was clear that Qoren had no genuine interest in forging a marriage alliance—this was nothing more than a deliberate humiliation.
"Qoren Martell is nothing more than a two-faced rat!"
Rhaegar tore the letter to shreds and let the pieces scatter in the wind, his heart full of contempt.
"Prince, are you returning to King's Landing?"
Tormund asked softly.
Rhaegar nodded. "Yes, I need to return, but first, I must discuss this with my aunt Rhaenys."
Despite their victory in the Stepstones, the wounded and the ashes of the fallen soldiers needed to be transported back to King's Landing.
The Sea Snake was gravely injured and on the verge of death—he had to be taken back to Driftmark immediately for treatment.
With that, Rhaegar descended the cliffside.
---
### A Few Days Earlier
King's Landing, the Red Keep.
Alicent knocked on Rhaenyra's chamber door.
"Come in," came Rhaenyra's voice from inside.
Alicent's expression lit up with hope as she pushed open the door and entered.
Inside the bedchamber, Rhaenyra sat before a vanity mirror, her long hair cascading down as she gently combed through it.
Helena was seated at a nearby table, idly playing with a carved dragon figurine.
Seeing Alicent enter, Helena looked up in surprise. "Mother?"
Alicent was momentarily stunned to see Helena there. "Helena, what are you doing here?"
"If she weren't here, would she just be sitting alone in her chambers playing with bugs?"
Rhaenyra shot Alicent a glance and retorted bluntly.
Ever since that night when she allowed Rhaegar to let Helena stay over, the young girl had taken a liking to her and often wandered into her presence.
Rhaenyra didn't bother to stop her, letting her do as she pleased.
Alicent looked as if she had come to a realization. Forcing a smile, she said, "Helena, I need to speak with your sister. Why don't you go rest in your room?"
Helena nodded obediently. "Alright, Mother."
She hopped off the stool, reluctantly leaving the carved dragon behind on the table as she walked out of the room.
With the only innocent presence now gone, the room fell into a brief silence.
Rhaenyra continued combing her hair with care and said casually, "If you have something to say, make it quick. I'm going to sleep soon."
Running her fingers through her hair, she felt its silky smoothness and smiled in satisfaction.
Rhaegar loved the scent of her hair—he was utterly intoxicated by it and never failed to praise it.
She took great care to maintain it.
At Rhaenyra's words, Alicent mustered her courage and spoke nervously. "Rhaenyra, I came to seek your help."
Rhaenyra gathered her long hair over her shoulder, her expression indifferent. "I know what you're going to ask, but I can't help you."
She already understood Alicent's intentions.
But she herself was among those being considered for marriage alliances—she had no power to assist Helena.
"Rhaenyra, you can help me. Only you can help me," Alicent pleaded, casting aside her pride for the sake of her daughter. She lowered her head humbly and said, "Your father cares most about you and Rhaegar. If you're willing to support Helena, your father will refuse the marriage proposal."
Rhaenyra frowned and decisively said, "Alicent, our relationship is already complicated enough—don't drag Rhaegar into this."
Rhaegar was not only her brother but also her emotional anchor.
He was out on the battlefield, fighting for their family's honor and the kingdom's safety.
She didn't want him to be burdened by matters at home.
Not even a little.
"Rhaenyra, you know the dangers of this marriage alliance. Helena is only nine years old—if she's married into Dorne, she won't survive."
Tears streamed down Alicent's face as she played on Rhaenyra's emotions. "Helena is closest to her brother Rhaegar, and he dotes on her so much."
She still vividly remembered the time when six-year-old Rhaegar was on his way to Dragonstone for training. On the ship, he had beaten Aegon black and blue—for Helena's sake.
At the time, Alicent had been too preoccupied with comforting the tearful Aegon to realize the truth.
It wasn't until Helena later told her what had really happened that she understood—and never forgot.
Rhaenyra, however, remained cold and unmoved.
Of course, she knew how much Rhaegar adored Helena.
That was precisely why she disliked Helena.
Yes, she didn't like her.
Because Helena possessed the same Dreamwalker gift as Rhaegar.
And she herself? Other than being Rhaegar's full-blooded sister, she shared few similarities with him.
Rhaegar often spoke about Helena's talent, claiming it was nearly equal to his own.
Deep down, Rhaenyra resented Helena and her cryptic, otherworldly demeanor.
The only reason she tolerated her more than her other half-brothers was out of consideration for Rhaegar.
Alicent's heart sank when she saw no change in Rhaenyra's expression.
She had assumed that since Rhaenyra allowed Helena to visit her room, the two sisters might have a close bond.
She hadn't expected such an indifferent reaction.
After much deliberation, Alicent closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh.
Larys had given her advice on how to obtain Rhaenyra's help.
Opening her eyes once more, Alicent wiped away her tears and stepped toward Rhaenyra.
Rhaenyra looked at her calmly and asked, "Do you have anything else to say?"
Throughout all of King's Landing, if she were to rank those she despised most, Alicent would undoubtedly be at the top.
They were no longer the inseparable childhood friends who once shared everything.
Now, they were an evil stepmother and a stepdaughter.
Alicent remained silent as she walked to Rhaenyra's side and slowly knelt down.
"What do you mean by this?"
Rhaenyra asked, puzzled.
Alicent placed a hand on Rhaenyra's leg, looked up at her, and said sincerely, "Rhaenyra, help me, and I will repay you."
"What could you possibly offer me? I already have the best."
Rhaenyra's tone was filled with undisguised disdain.
The year she lost her title as heir, she gained her freedom.
She had raised Rhaegar herself, and his heart and mind belonged entirely to her.
She couldn't think of anything else she needed.
"I will let go of unrealistic ambitions," Alicent said. "Once the War of the Stepstones ends, I will ask your father to send Aegon away, far from King's Landing."
"Aemond and Daeron as well. They will not stay in King's Landing to trouble you and Rhaegar."
Rhaenyra's eyes flickered, but she refused. "That won't be necessary. They pose no threat to Rhaegar."
She was tempted.
But she didn't trust Alicent. She didn't believe she would follow through.
After all, Alicent had once climbed into her father's bed behind her back.
"Rhaenyra, please trust me, just a little. I only want to protect my children. There will be no more green in King's Landing."
Alicent grasped Rhaenyra's hand, pleading desperately.
Rhaenyra didn't respond. Instead, she glanced at Alicent's green dress.
If she were truly determined to withdraw from the struggle, she wouldn't have worn green to meet her.
Alicent noticed her gaze and suddenly understood.
She turned to the dressing table, pulled a pair of scissors from the drawer, and began cutting into her sleeves and the hem of her dress.
"Enough. Stop putting on a show for me."
Rhaenyra was momentarily shocked and reached out to stop her.
"Rhaenyra, Hightowers keep their word. I will not hold onto any illusions."
Alicent dropped the scissors and took a folded page from her sleeve.
Seeing the familiar yet unexpected page, Rhaenyra froze, momentarily lost in thought.
She reached out, unfolded it, and revealed the words and illustrations inside.
It documented the marriage of Nymeria and her first husband, Mors Martell.
There was even an illustration of their wedding ceremony.
It was the missing page from *The Voyage of Ten Thousand Ships*.
Rhaenyra stared at the page, unblinking, and asked in surprise, "You kept this page?"
That was back before she had been stripped of her inheritance.
Before her mother passed away. Before Rhaegar was even born.
Back then, she and Alicent had read the book together.
Alicent had always struggled to remember the details.
One day, Rhaenyra had been in a bad mood and tore out the page, hoping it would force Alicent to remember.
Thirteen years had passed since then.
As she traced the edges of the page with her fingers, Rhaenyra's expression softened. "Looking at this now, it feels like just yesterday."
"Rhaenyra, I know you hate me. I've done many things to wrong you."
Alicent's eyes reddened, her voice choked with emotion. "But I had no choice. I was a pawn for my family."
Rhaenyra tore her gaze away from the page and looked at Alicent.
"In my heart, you have always been my dear friend—just like this page I've kept all these years."
Alicent clutched Rhaenyra's hand tightly, her voice raw with sincerity. "Please, help my daughter. Don't let her live the same life I did."
Rhaenyra pressed her lips together and looked back down at the page in her hands.
After a moment, she said softly, "Let me think about it. Leave me."
"Rhaenyra…"
Alicent wanted to plead further.
"Leave!"
Rhaenyra interrupted her, her tone firm.
She had just recalled the beautiful memories of their past and didn't want this woman before her to tarnish the image of the friend she once had.
"…Alright. Take your time."
Alicent stood up and walked out of the chamber, glancing back at every step.
*Bang*—
The door shut behind her.
Leaning against it, Alicent took a deep breath, trying to suppress the shame and helplessness coursing through her.
Inside the chamber—
Rhaenyra lifted one pale leg and held the pages of the book in both hands, studying them repeatedly.
A long pause.
She sighed, set the pages down, and took out paper and ink.
It wasn't for Alicent.
It wasn't for Helaena.
She was mourning the beauty that had been lost.
…
Time returned to its course.
Two days later, upon the Narrow Sea.
Several large ships drifted on the waves, their sails adorned with the sigils of the three-headed red dragon and the seahorse.
At the entrance of a cabin—
Rhaegar and Rhaenys spoke in hushed tones.
"Aunt, has Lord Corlys still not recovered?"
Rhaenys shook her head and sighed. "His fever won't break. The maester says the wound is infected."
"Don't worry too much. Lord Corlys is strong—he'll pull through," Rhaegar reassured her softly. "I'll check on him again later."
Rhaenys nodded and turned to enter the cabin.
How could she not be worried?
She and her husband had built a life together, raised children, and shared decades of deep affection.
In an age with such primitive medicine, a high fever and an infected wound could be fatal.
Rhaegar turned away without another word.
He was considering whether to use the ouroboros to heal Corlys.
(End of Chapter)