GOT King of Dragon

"Yes, please wait a moment…" 

The captain of the guard, clad in full iron armor, looked at the enormous Devourer with fear and hurriedly descended from the city wall. 

The arrival of a dragon was certainly enough to draw everyone's attention. 

The castle gates were already open. 

A group of attendants walked out in two orderly rows, taking small steps and keeping their heads bowed, not daring to gaze upon the dragon's majestic presence. 

Amidst the attendants were several nobles dressed in lavish attire. 

At the forefront was an elderly man with a stern expression. 

The old man had the traditional silver hair of Valyrian descent, sparsely remaining atop his head. 

His loose skin caused his eyelids to droop, and his piercing green eyes shone with sharp intelligence. 

The group moved quickly but maintained decorum as they approached. 

When the gates opened fully, they stopped at the entrance, gazing at the prince perched atop the dragon. 

"Devourer, let me down," Rhaegar said softly. 

"Hssaa…" 

The Devourer let out a low growl, lowering its massive body so its rider could slide down from its back. 

A hundred meters separated the two parties. 

No one dared approach the dragon, choosing instead to wait by the gates to receive their guest. 

Rhaegar slowly walked forward, his eyes scanning the group until his gaze suddenly brightened. 

He had spotted a familiar face. 

"Seven Gods bless us! To meet the prince here is truly a miracle!" 

Before Rhaegar could speak, a round figure pushed forward from the group, his expression alight with excitement as he approached quickly. 

Rhaegar smiled in surprise. "Lord Laenor, what brings you here?" 

The man wasn't a stranger—it was Laenor Strong, the Hand of the King. 

Laenor, moving too fast, caused the fat around his belly to jiggle slightly, though it didn't dampen his joy. "Prince, it is such a relief to see you safe! I've been searching for you across the seas for days now." 

Since Rhaegar's disappearance while riding his dragon, Laenor had been dispatched to scour the Narrow Sea for any trace of him. 

Just recently, he had visited Driftmark, home of House Velaryon. 

Unexpectedly, he now encountered Rhaegar during a visit to Crab Isle, home of House Celtigar. 

Upon seeing him, Laenor bent down with some effort, holding Rhaegar's shoulders and inspecting him closely, as if ensuring he was unharmed. 

Rhaegar chuckled lightly. "I'm fine. My dragon was injured and landed on the Crabclaw Peninsula to recover. It only healed a few days ago." 

He wasn't lying. 

The Devourer had indeed sustained serious injuries and had only recently regained its strength. 

However, the events Rhaegar had experienced during this time were numerous and tumultuous, culminating in a rather dramatic outcome. 

All in all, he had been away from Dragonstone for less than ten days. 

Seeing that the prince was unharmed, Laenor let out a deep sigh of relief. "Prince, you've been gone for so long without any news. The king and princess have been deeply worried about your safety." 

"I'm truly sorry. Some unforeseen events delayed my journey. I returned as soon as I could after resolving them." 

Hearing that his father and sister had been so concerned moved Rhaegar deeply. 

"Your safe return is the greatest news of all," Laenor said, straightening up and leading Rhaegar toward the castle gate. He introduced him courteously: "This is Lord Bartimos Celtigar, the head of House Celtigar and the lord of Crab Isle." 

"He is also one of your father's most loyal vassals." 

Rhaegar turned his gaze toward the white-haired elder, nodding politely. "Greetings, Lord Bartimos." 

The elder maintained his genial smile, bowing slightly as he said, "It is an honor to welcome you to Crab Isle, Prince." 

He stepped aside and gestured toward the direction of the castle, speaking softly, "As a guest from afar, please, allow us to host you in the castle." 

"It would be my honor, my lord," Rhaegar replied with a faint smile and followed Laenor into the castle. 

As one of the notable seafaring families, House Celtigar, like House Velaryon, had initially risen to power by collecting tolls from passing ships. 

Later, they established a formidable fleet and began engaging in maritime trade, amassing a fortune in the process. 

In just a few generations, they became fabulously wealthy. 

The moment Rhaegar entered the castle, he was struck by the opulence of House Celtigar's wealth. 

The hall was covered in exquisite Myrish carpets, the windows adorned with Valyrian glass, and the walls decorated with gold and silver inlays. 

Rhaegar glanced around and had only one thought in his mind. 

"They're swimming in wealth!" 

Bartimos, a noble who prided himself on appearances, noticed the prince admiring the lavish décor. A trace of smug satisfaction appeared at the corners of his mouth. 

"Prince, I apologize for not preparing a grander welcome banquet for you." 

"However, the kitchen has prepared a fairly elaborate feast to welcome Lord Laenor. I hope it will suffice." 

Bartimos feigned regret, though his tone carried a hint of boastfulness. 

Rhaegar didn't have high expectations for such things. 

He was here for more important matters, not merely as a guest. 

During the time it took the attendants to prepare the feast, Bartimos engaged in conversation with Rhaegar and Laenor. 

Laenor spoke of the events that had occurred on Dragonstone after Rhaegar's disappearance. 

Several Dragonkeepers and dragon tamers had been interrogated, and some had even been executed for suspicion of foul play. 

Rhaenyra had argued fiercely with her father several times, demanding to ride her dragon to the Narrow Sea to search for Rhaegar. 

In turn, Rhaegar recounted his experiences on the peninsula during his absence. 

The two deep-thinking adults were stunned as they listened. They had never imagined such an extraordinary tale. 

The mention of the Shadowbinder's curse and the Forest Witch's magic deeply challenged their rigid, old-fashioned beliefs. 

Baltimos, his face full of doubt, asked in disbelief, "Prince, are you saying magic is real and has invaded the Crab Claw Peninsula?" 

"Obviously," Rhaegar shrugged. 

Leonor spoke more tactfully, "Prince, magic has been gone for many years. Most people consider it a myth." 

"If dragons were to go extinct one day, would people think they were just legends too?" Rhaegar asked innocently. 

"Uh…" 

The two were momentarily at a loss, unsure how to respond. 

Baltimos clapped his hands and laughed. "The prince makes a good point. When I was young and sailed across the Narrow Sea, I had many thrilling adventures myself." 

Seated on a soft couch, Rhaegar spoke earnestly, "My lord, I've come to Crab Island this time to borrow ships to transport the freemen who follow me. I humbly ask for your assistance." 

"No problem, but…" 

Baltimos hesitated, glancing at the silent Leonor. 

When a member of the royal family made a request, something as minor as borrowing ships was usually not an issue. 

But transporting a group of peninsula wildlings… 

That wasn't something he could agree to so easily. 

Following his gaze, Rhaegar turned to Leonor and said, "If you don't believe me, you can come to the Crab Claw Peninsula with me and see for yourselves. The nobles there have already sworn allegiance to me." 

The atmosphere turned tense. 

Leonor raised his head, his eyes glinting with an unreadable expression. 

His brown eyes seemed as if they were trying to pierce through Rhaegar. 

Baltimos, on the other hand, lowered his head in thought, recalling his interactions with the peninsula's nobles. 

They were a group of wild, arrogant aristocrats. 

A single disagreement could easily lead to an all-out brawl, igniting conflicts between two or even several families. 

Due to the region's poverty, the kingdom had seldom interfered. 

Most of the time, the nobles were left to their own devices, allowed to bicker and fight as they pleased. 

This had made the soldiers under the peninsula nobles exceptionally battle-hardened and troublesome to deal with. 

If the young prince truly had the allegiance of these nobles, it would mean he had gathered a formidable fighting force. 

And with the wildlings following him, they could serve as useful cannon fodder. 

Rhaegar's ambitions would grow in time, though likely only upon his return to King's Landing. 

(End of Chapter)