Aside from his brother, Viserys couldn't tell one knight from another, all of them covered head to toe. However, when the heir to Storm's End entered the arena, Stannis stood up with a stern expression, leaning over the railing to watch. The Duchess, holding her baby, also gazed intently at her eldest son. Thus, Viserys locked onto Robert, immediately adopting the mindset of "I need to thoroughly study this man's fighting ability," and carefully observed the knight wielding a massive warhammer.
He was tall, and his strength was evident in the way he swung the warhammer. But his brother wasn't any shorter, and he could easily lift himself with one arm, so his strength wasn't bad either, right?
Witnessing the charge, the warhammer barely touched the opponent's chest armor before the other knight was knocked off his horse, his armor dented. Viserys suppressed the urge to think about his brother... At that moment, his chest and ribs would probably be broken.
This couldn't happen. He tugged hard at his hair, thinking about how he could take down Robert Baratheon when the time came, as long as he didn't follow the so-called knightly code. There were plenty of ways. The key to defeating cavalry was to disrupt their charging acceleration; it wasn't difficult. To deal with heavy armored cavalry like those with warhammers, he remembered countless methods that had been proven in actual combat in the history of the world he came from. For example, the longbows of the Hundred Years' War, or the Shenbi Bows used by Yue Fei's army to defeat the Jin army... And the most crucial thing that would eliminate cavalry and sweep them into the dustbin of history was the fire-gun. But did he know how to do it? Before he could obtain a weapon of mass destruction like a dragon, he could only rely on bows and crossbows and his limited knowledge.
Over there, the triumphant Robert Baratheon removed his helmet.
He had thick, dark hair and a pair of deep blue eyes like a deep-water harbor. This truly handsome appearance made Viserys sigh. Time really was a butcher's knife. The young Robert was indeed worthy of the title of a maiden's dream lover, judging by how many women in the stands were cheering for him! Everyone waved their embroidered handkerchiefs at the victor—
Even the proud Cersei was looking at Robert at this moment, thinking, Although he's not as beautiful as her Jaime, he's not bad either. Hmm, so far, she hadn't seen anyone who could compare to Jaime and be worthy of her... She turned her head and gave her brother a bright smile, but Jaime didn't notice, his eyes filled with enthusiasm as he looked down at the arena, "I'll tell Father that he must let me represent the Westerlands next time!"
Oh, Cersei saw her uncle, Kevan Lannister's, majestic figure. He led the elite knights of House Lannister, entering the arena under the banner of the Golden Lion Sigil.
The guest seated in front of Cersei stood up. The smooth pearl hair ornament on her head made Cersei frown, as she thought it was blocking others from seeing her. More of the audience around her rose to their feet, both men and women, and they all stood on tiptoe, cheering and jumping with joy.
"What's going on?"
A young lady from King's Landing, her face flushed with excitement, told her to look, Prince Rhaegar was making his entrance!
Oh, Cersei had heard that Crown Prince Rhaegar was the most handsome man in the world. She felt competitive. Could he surpass her own brother? Perhaps it was just an exaggeration for the heir to the throne, but if he were truly as handsome as Jaime, she would be satisfied with her father's suggestion of marriage.
Then, she saw a knight entering the arena. His gleaming golden armor was beneath a breastplate inlaid with gemstones. He rode towards the light, and his posture... Cersei narrowed her eyes, wanting to see clearly. She had never seen anyone ride a horse so pleasingly.
He reined in his horse and gave a simple bow. Was he really wearing armor? Why was he moving so freely and elegantly?
The horse's hooves thundered.
What was flowing? It was the gold and crimson ribbons on his helmet, undulating as he rode, like the most beautiful woven belt she had ever seen. Cersei's fingers curled, wanting to grab it. She opened her mouth slightly, but no sound came out.
She saw her uncle, Kevan, fall from his horse in no time. Then another uncle was defeated. Following that, the strongest dozen knights of the Westerlands, the guard her father had so carefully prepared, were all knocked off their horses by that agile and powerful opponent, like crumbling rocks.
The undisputed champion, no one disagreed.
The prince removed his helmet. Viserys was about to cry, he really was about to weep, this was an artful battle!! His brother's martial prowess was so strong—how could he lose to Robert?! His brother's death was absolutely the malicious result of this bloody, dark game of power!! No!! No!!!
Cersei was still blinking in a daze, how could this be?! Was this a god? This was a god!
Her green eyes widened, greedily watching such a handsome face. She felt her heart ignited by the silver-haired prince, and a frenzy began to spread—she, like the other ladies, shouted towards Rhaegar! Even her brother followed, shouting and jumping, "Awesome!! I want to become the strongest knight too!!"
Oh! Cersei couldn't be bothered to talk to her brother now, she stared fixedly at Rhaegar's every move, she saw him ride his horse, the tip of his silver spear lifted that Rose Crown, he would give it to the queen of love and beauty on the field, ah! Cersei's cheeks flushed with excitement, making the crimson flower crown even more beautiful—this is mine!!
However, the prince rode his horse past her, over there... he stopped in front of Elia of the Dornish royal family, who had just lost face—
No! No! Cersei screamed in her heart—how could he give it to that little mouse? She didn't deserve it! She didn't deserve it!!
At that moment, someone gave voice to her innermost scream: a deafening shriek erupted, "I want the Rose Crown! I want it!! It's mine!!!"
Cersei saw, near the Duchess of Storm's End, a small figure clamber over the railing, tumbling to the ground. His fine clothes were now covered in dirt, a sorry sight.
Indeed, it was Viserys.
He was being a terribly, terribly naughty child today. He'd broken free from the Duchess of Storm's End, who was holding him, and climbed into the arena! He spat out the sand in his mouth, then continued to shout relentlessly, "Mine! I want the Rose Crown!!"
As he yelled, he charged at Rhaegar.
There were several knightly attendants in the arena, who had been surrounding the victorious prince. How dangerous were their horses' iron hooves to a child who had run into the arena? The audience was terrified – even Viserys himself felt he was risking everything to prevent any sign of this marriage! He wanted to stop even a hint of that bloody, dark story from unfolding before him!
"Brother!!" he roared.
Rhaegar realized Viserys had entered the arena and immediately abandoned Princess Elia. He dropped the lance adorned with the Rose Crown and hastily dismounted, running towards him! "Don't run around! Viserys!"
He heard his brother's shout. He stood still, not daring to move. The knights guided their horses aside, and Rhaegar reached him in the blink of an eye, scooping him up and holding him tightly against his chest.
Rhaegar's heavy armor seemed not to be a burden at all; he easily vaulted over the barrier and handed Viserys back to the audience.
The Duchess of Storm's End's face was ashen.
The Crown Prince frowned, his expression serious, and for the first time reprimanded his younger brother, "You're too reckless, Viserys! My apologies, Lady, please have him sent back to his quarters."
In his opinion, Viserys's lively energy was a good thing, but today, to jump into the jousting grounds filled with horses, was a reckless act that almost led to terrible consequences. He had to educate him, so he was no longer gentle. Seeing Viserys still staring at the Rose Crown over there, he refused to give it to him.
The prince stared at him sternly. Viserys, surrounded by a tall Kingsguard and a maid, was about to be taken back to wash up and change clothes—Viserys struggled, reaching out, "Brother! Brother!!"
Rhaegar turned around, picked up the Rose Crown, and began to walk towards Elia, who was at a loss.
In Viserys's eyes, it was as if Rhaegar was walking towards his destined fate—no, no!!
Fear, grievance, and anxiety made the little prince's wails deafening - no one had ever witnessed such a heartbroken and wronged child. He cried at the top of his lungs, and even the clueless baby Renly started to cry too - Robert, who was leaning to the side chatting up a pretty girl, was so annoyed he wanted to punch someone.
"Crown Prince! Control your brother!" he shouted unhappily.
Rhaegar stopped. He looked at the crown in his hand that his brother so desperately wanted: woven from green olive branches and rosebuds, symbolizing love and beauty. It was a bit too big to fit on Viserys's little head, but he could wear it as a necklace.
But, he couldn't give in and indulge him.
Rhaegar didn't go to Elia. He sighed, bent down, and placed the crown squarely on the yellow earth in the center of the arena. Then, he turned and silently watched Viserys.
The crying finally subsided, and the little prince, his eyes blurry with tears, hiccuped, gasping for breath.
"Viserys," Rhaegar encouraged his brother clearly, "Impulsiveness and tears are useless. This is a reward for the champion. When you grow up and become a knight, you will be qualified to challenge me, and you will be qualified to receive the crown. I look forward to that day."
Hmm, that's not what happened at all. Viserys thought, sobbing, but he still nodded.
All of this was recorded by someone present and later appeared in legends: the daily stories of the wise King Rhaegar I and Prince Viserys of Summerhall in King's Landing. These famous brothers in the history of Westeros have attracted people's visits and archaeological studies for thousands of years. The debate around whether Viserys was a mischievous child or had a mind far superior to others since childhood has raged for eight hundred rounds. Some have even examined various materials to prove that the brothers had a harmonious relationship since childhood, and that Viserys's collusion with Robert Baratheon's rebellion could not have been to remove Rhaegar from the position of Crown Prince... etc., etc. The truth of history must be, etc., etc.