GOT King of Dragon

"Why was she so fearful, even guilty?" 

Rhaegar kept pondering this question. 

Surely, it wasn't out of concern for him, was it? 

From what he knew about Alicent, she would probably be thrilled if he never returned. 

With one less brother in Aegon's way, it would make competing with Rhaenyra for the claim to the throne that much easier. 

Plates of exquisite food were laid on the table as the family feast officially began. 

Rhaegar picked a few of his favorite pastries, but as he chewed, they felt like tasteless wax in his mouth. 

Noticing his distraction, Rhaenyra nudged him with her elbow. "What's on your mind?" she asked. 

Rhaegar furrowed his brow and abruptly stood up. "Father!" he called out. 

"What is it, Rhaegar?" 

Viserys looked at him, puzzled. 

With a serious expression, Rhaegar asked, "Father, what makes someone afraid to the point of guilt?" 

Viserys's gaze flickered as he set down his knife and fork. "A criminal who breaks the law might feel fear when they're not yet caught and guilt when they face interrogation," he replied. 

"Exactly." 

Rhaegar nodded in agreement, then shifted the topic. "The night I left, I was ambushed by two dragons. The reason? Someone had fed the Cannibal a dragon egg laid by Silverwing." 

"Who did this, or rather, who ordered it to be done?" 

The joy of reuniting with family hadn't clouded Rhaegar's judgment. 

He remained sharply aware of the danger he had faced. 

This time, he was determined to expose the mastermind behind it and make them pay. 

As Rhaegar's words sank in, the room fell into a tense silence. 

Rhaenyra stared at Rhaegar in astonishment, her eyes filled with disbelief. 

She had suspected something about the two dragons attacking the Cannibal, but her concern for Rhaegar's safety had kept her from thinking deeply about it. 

Now, with Rhaegar bringing it up, she immediately realized someone had tried to harm her brother. 

Viserys's expression darkened. Setting aside his usual calm demeanor, he said gravely, "After your disappearance, I began investigating. The guard who fed the dragon egg to the Cannibal was found dead, his body dumped on the beach." 

"But don't worry, I haven't given up. I will make sure justice is served," he assured. 

Rhaegar's tone was solemn. "Before I tamed the Cannibal, someone lured me into Dragonmount. Who was behind that?" 

"The two guards claimed ignorance, and the dragonkeeper who spread the false information was relocated beforehand, leaving no leads," Viserys admitted, his face clouded with guilt over his failure to uncover the truth. 

Rhaegar pressed on. "When I escaped Vermithor and Silverwing, I was attacked by a third dragon—a flame of crimson red!" 

Bang! 

Viserys shot to his feet, his face contorted with rage as he slammed both fists on the table. 

"You're certain it was crimson flame?" he demanded, his words slow and deliberate. 

"I'm certain," Rhaegar confirmed firmly. 

Viserys's eyes were bloodshot, fury consuming him as he ground his teeth. "Daemon! You wretched beast…" 

The Targaryen family's dragons were few in number. 

Only two dragons had flames of crimson red: Caraxes and Meleys. 

Meleys belonged to his cousin, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen. 

Rhaenys, who had once contested him for the Iron Throne, was known as the Queen Who Never Was. 

But Viserys knew her character—she was a paragon of integrity, someone who valued honor above all else. 

She would never stoop to harming the heir to the throne. 

Daemon, on the other hand, had just been banished from King's Landing. 

Consumed with anger and resentment, he had every reason to retaliate. 

Considering his knowledge of Dragonstone's secret paths, his ability to bribe dragonkeepers, and his familiarity with the area, all evidence pointed directly to Daemon. 

"It must be him! Because I refused to wed Rhaenyra to him, he's taking revenge by targeting my children!" 

Viserys erupted in a fit of rage, his body trembling violently. 

"Viserys, please, calm yourself!" Alicent rushed to his side, trying to comfort him. 

But Viserys shoved her away, roaring, "Guards! Inform the Maester to send a message to King's Landing! Post a warrant for Daemon's capture, dead or alive!" 

Harrold, standing by the door, cautioned, "Your Grace, Prince Daemon has a dragon. Posting notices might alert him. Perhaps we should first send word to the Vale—he may be hiding in Runestone." 

"Good! Not just the Vale—notify the Free Cities as well. Any lord who captures Daemon will be rewarded with his weight in gold!" 

Viserys bellowed with what little composure he had left. 

"Father, please calm down. Your health…" 

Seeing his father in such a state, Rhaegar softened his tone, concern evident in his eyes. 

Viserys fixed his bloodshot eyes on Rhaegar. "I promise you, my son, I will see justice done. No matter the cost!" 

Rhaegar glanced at Alicent, who stood nearby, looking as if she wanted to say something but held back. 

He swallowed his own suspicions, deciding against voicing them for now. 

His father's condition was fragile, and his accusations were still unproven. 

"I trust you, Father," Rhaegar said softly. 

--- 

Rhaegar displayed a faint smile and sat back in his seat.

Viserys, still consumed by anger, lost all interest in continuing the feast. He left the table and returned to his room.

Alicent quickly followed after him, instructing the servants to take care of the children at the table.

With the two adults gone, the family dinner was effectively over in name and spirit.

As their parents' figures disappeared around the corner of the staircase, Aegon was the first to jump off his chair and briskly leave.

He had no intention of dining with his half-siblings—especially not his brother, whom he despised the most.

Helaena watched her brother Aegon leave with a blank expression, sitting in her chair in confusion. She couldn't understand why her father and brother Rhaegar had gotten so upset over a few words.

But she did know one thing: she was hungry, and hungry people needed to eat.

After sneaking a glance at Rhaegar and Rhaenyra, whose faces were dark with displeasure, she tried to make herself as inconspicuous as possible, nibbling on the cake on her plate.

As for Aemond…

He was still sound asleep in the nursemaid's arms.

In the midst of this tense and awkward atmosphere, Rhaenyra finally broke the silence. She grabbed Rhaegar's wrist and said seriously, "Did your disappearance have to do with Daemon attacking you?"

"Ninety percent sure it was him," Rhaegar replied.

Rhaenyra let go of his hand, her fists clenched tightly, her delicate face turning cold as ice. "That scoundrel! Has he abandoned all sense of shame for the sake of the throne?"

"Don't worry. He'll answer for what he's done," Rhaegar said softly.

"He dared to target you—he wants to kill his own nephew!" Rhaenyra seethed with fury.

She was standing up for her brother.

But she was also bidding farewell to the memory of an uncle who had once doted on her as a child.

Since the last kidnapping incident, her opinion of Daemon had plummeted drastically.

And now, he had dared to harm her brother.

The uncle she had once admired was now gone entirely.

In his place stood nothing but a degenerate scoundrel.

---

Night fell.

The castle descended into silence.

Viserys locked himself in his room, gulping down wine until he was thoroughly drunk.

After the feast ended, everyone returned to their chambers.

Alicent, unable to console her husband or discipline her children, went back to her own room to rest.

She lay on the soft bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Her mind kept circling back to the events of the day.

Rhaegar's initial nervousness had left a deep impression on her.

Even though the blame had fallen squarely on Daemon and had nothing to do with her, she still felt deeply uneasy.

With such thoughts weighing on her, how could she possibly fall asleep?

*(End of Chapter)*