GOT King of Dragon

A faint trace of pride hid within the voice. 

"Rhaegar, was it you who set the fire to cover my tracks?" 

Rhaenyra lowered her head guiltily, realizing the importance of the fire. 

"Who else? Aside from me, your brother, who else would deal with your troubles in the middle of the night!?" 

Rhaegar's face was stern, and his voice rose. 

"Shh! Who told you where I was?" 

Rhaenyra quickly covered her brother's mouth, trying to find out who had tipped him off. 

Rhaegar shook his head to avoid her hand and widened his eyes. "There's no such thing as a wall without cracks. You did something foolish, and you're afraid of people finding out?" 

"I didn't expect this to happen. I just wanted… I just wanted to clear my mind." 

Her soft, trembling reply struck a chord in Rhaenyra, leaving her momentarily speechless. 

"Did Daemon… hurt you?" Rhaegar asked worriedly. 

"He didn't succeed. Ser Erryk arrived just in time." 

Rhaenyra ruffled Rhaegar's hair and forced a smile. 

What happened tonight had been entirely unexpected. 

In the past, she had admired and trusted Daemon deeply. 

But now, knowing the fire's true origin, she felt only fear and regret. 

Rhaegar, angered by her naivety, scolded her mercilessly: 

"If it weren't for timely information, do you realize that by morning, everyone would be talking about you and Daemon wandering into a brothel together?" 

"I snuck out through the secret passages; no one noticed me…" 

Rhaenyra's fingers fidgeted nervously. 

Rhaegar didn't mince words. "If no one noticed, then how did I get the tip-off?" 

"Daemon… someone secretly watching you… the informant who warned me…" 

"Think carefully—there are already three groups of people keeping tabs on you. Nothing that happened tonight is a secret anymore." 

Rhaenyra fell silent. 

She wasn't a fool—she had simply trusted Daemon too much. 

She hadn't expected her once-doting uncle to suddenly bare his fangs. 

If Rhaegar hadn't quietly intervened tonight, she dared not imagine what might have happened. 

What rumors might circulate by morning? 

"I'm sorry. I was just feeling overwhelmed and wanted to take a walk." 

After a long pause, Rhaenyra finally spoke, her voice trembling. 

"You'd better mean it. Daemon has always coveted the throne, and you're nothing but a tempting piece of bait to him!" 

Rhaegar looked at her with frustration and pity. 

This sister of his was too naïve—being manipulated like a puppet on strings was nothing short of humiliating. 

"What's with that look? I'm still your elder sister, after all." 

Rhaenyra flushed bright red, unable to bear the way her brother's eyes seemed to view her as a fool. 

Rhaegar simply watched her outburst quietly and shook his head. 

"Pfft—" 

Seeing his expression, Rhaenyra was both angry and amused. 

Rhaegar turned to glance at her, and their eyes met. 

In that instant, scenes from their past—moments of care and concern—flooded their minds, pulling at their heartstrings. 

The next moment… 

Rhaenyra's eyes reddened. She slowly crouched down and gently hugged Rhaegar, her voice filled with guilt. "I'm so sorry… for all the foolish things I've done, for always leaving you to clean up my mess." 

"Your position is too important. You must learn to treasure yourself." Rhaegar sighed softly. 

"I'm sorry… truly sorry." Rhaenyra's voice trembled as she began to cry. 

"I won't always be able to come to your rescue in time." 

Rhaegar leaned his cheek against her hair, speaking in a gentle tone that reached deep into her heart. 

"Sister, don't let Father be disappointed again." 

"Rhaegar…" 

Choking on her sobs, Rhaenyra couldn't form complete words. She only wanted to hold her brother tightly, though she feared touching his wounds. 

"Until the Stranger comes to take me, I'll stay by your side." 

Rhaegar gently patted Rhaenyra's back, his soft voice a soothing balm to her soul. 

Reflecting on her reckless escapade tonight, Daemon's sinister ambitions, and the embrace of her brother… 

Rhaenyra felt a whirlwind of emotions. She realized she was nothing more than a pawn in others' schemes. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. 

Burying her head in Rhaegar's shoulder, she wept quietly. 

Her tears soon soaked through Rhaegar's collar, and he gave Ser Erryk a helpless smile. 

Ser Erryk bowed, turned, and silently left through the hidden passage. 

It wouldn't have been proper for him to linger. 

Walking out the main door wasn't an option either, as Ser Criston was still on duty. 

The secret passage was the perfect choice. 

Rhaenyra cried for a long time, until she was exhausted and Rhaegar's collar was drenched. 

The girl's sobs gradually subsided.

Rhaenyra wiped her nose on her younger brother's collar, revealing a pair of red, swollen eyes from crying.

Rhaegar sighed in exasperation. "I think we both need to change into some clean clothes."

"Huh?"

Rhaenyra looked up in confusion, first noticing Rhaegar's shirt, smeared with tears and mucus. Then, she looked down at her own rough, patched linen dress.

"Turn around first. I'm going to change."

Rhaenyra picked Rhaegar up and forced him to lie face-down on the bed. She then stepped out of his line of sight, removed her patched dress, and put on a nightgown. Afterward, she rummaged through the wardrobe and tossed a smaller nightgown toward Rhaegar.

"I don't have pajamas in your size. You'll have to wear this."

Rhaegar pulled the pink nightgown off his head, his face darkening as he flatly refused. "I have an injury on my back. I don't need to wear clothes to sleep."

"No way. You're sleeping with me tonight, so you have to wear something."

Rhaenyra reached out, trying to strip him and force the nightgown on.

"No, no, no! I'd rather go back to my own bed than wear that."

Rhaegar fought back with all his might.

"…"

After a bout of playful tussling, the room's candles were finally extinguished. 

Rhaenyra hugged Rhaegar, who was now wearing only his underwear, and peacefully closed her eyes. 

Rhaegar, serving as an unwilling body pillow, shifted uncomfortably before finding a soft spot to rest his face. 

Neither of them spoke, silently waiting for sleep to come.

---

The next morning.

At dawn, a spy entered the Red Keep to report to the Hand of the King. 

Laenor, sensing trouble, immediately sought out Viserys, who was having breakfast.

He shared the news from the night before, his expression grim.

"A spy reported that Princess Rhaenyra and Prince Daemon were seen wandering Silk Street last night. Later, they entered a brothel."

"What's strange is that the brothel caught fire that same night. Daemon was seen being helped out of the brothel, but there's no sign of the princess."

Viserys's face darkened considerably. 

He knew his brother's character well—an unrepentant scoundrel, capable of any kind of depravity. Shaking his head, he forced a smile. "That's a lie. Someone must be trying to deceive you."

"I hope so too, Your Grace," Laenor replied, his tone heavy.

Viserys immediately realized that the report was likely true. Laenor was not Otto Hightower; he wouldn't accuse Rhaenyra, the heir to the throne, without cause or personal motive. His words were always impartial and devoid of self-interest.

"Daemon! He's a ravenous wolf!" Viserys slammed his fist on the table, his fury erupting like a wild beast's roar. 

The thought of Daemon doing something scandalous with his daughter made him want to strangle his younger brother on the spot. 

His remaining sense of reason calmed him slightly as he tried to rationalize. "This can't be true. Rhaenyra might've just snuck out and left after Daemon entered the brothel."

He refused to believe that his daughter would enter a brothel, let alone do anything improper with Daemon.

Laenor added, "That's exactly what's puzzling. The fire at the brothel seemed deliberate. I've heard it was an act of arson."

"Daemon left the brothel just as the fire started, and many witnesses confirmed that he appeared to be injured."

"As for the princess, she vanished without a trace. No one has seen her since."

Viserys clung to this as if it were a lifeline, his mood lifting slightly. "Exactly. If no one saw Rhaenyra, then no one can prove she was there. All's well that ends well."

But beneath his forced smile lay a deep and simmering anger.

"Summon Rhaenyra," he barked to the attendant outside the door. "Tell her that her father invites her to share breakfast."

Viserys planned to test her. Regardless of the truth, his daughter's reputation was paramount. As her father, he had to get to the bottom of this.

"No need. I was just about to come here."

The door swung open, and Rhaenyra walked in gracefully, her face radiant with a bright, blooming smile.

Viserys was startled. "Rhaenyra, why are you here?"

"Didn't you invite me to breakfast? What a strange question."

She sat down on the round stool without hesitation, her demeanor calm and composed—showing no hint of guilt or unease.

Viserys exchanged a glance with Laenor, both men seeing the same doubt in each other's eyes.

(End of Chapter)