Varys was a renowned master of whispers, brought across the Narrow Sea by King Aerys. Though many in the court looked down on the plump, effeminate man with his ostentatious silk clothing and excessive makeup, the King stubbornly granted the former slave the position of Master of Whispers. Varys was Aerys's all-seeing eye, a crystal ball providing the paranoid monarch with information on every event, no matter how small, that occurred in King's Landing. Varys was diligent, always striving to please those in power.
The room in Maegor's Holdfast was dim. Only the Golden Dragon Crown perched atop the King's head and his silver hair emitted a cold, faint light. Varys's silk shoes made no sound as they trod across the carpet. He bent low, respectfully approaching, and whispered in the King's ear, detailing everything that had happened at the afternoon's tourney, even the young prince's every word.
"Is that so? That Dornish woman is barren?"
Varys replied, having consulted the royal physician. He reported that, judging by her physique, she would indeed have difficulty bearing children, and even if she managed to give birth, she would be bedridden for a year.
"Then she is even worse than the Queen I wrongly married," the Mad King grumbled, idly stroking the hilt of his sword. In his mind, a woman's inability to conceive, stillbirths, or the early deaths of children were all the woman's fault.
"This..." Varys cautiously replied, "The True Dragon Bloodline is still different. The True Dragon is, after all, a True Dragon. Prince Viserys is very healthy and, moreover, brave."
This pleased Aerys. The fact that his youngest son was boisterous and energetic was undeniable. More importantly, Viserys was still young. Before he was old enough to understand the power of a monarch, the Mad King did not have to view him as a threat to the throne. His birth and good health gave Aerys a powerful pawn to use against the influence of his eldest son.
"My eldest son, Rhaegar, is he malicious towards my youngest son, the second in line? He wouldn't even give him a mere flower crown, let alone this," Aerys gestured to the Golden Dragon Crown on his head. "He won't give him any chance to compete. Haha, such is the allure of power. It's the same for everyone."
Varys knew very well how to avoid enraging the Mad King. "No one would dare disobey your command, Your Grace."
The Mad King let out a nervous laugh. "Yes, I am the king. They can't disobey. I decide who the Prince of Dragonstone will be."
This was a provocation against the system of primogeniture. The Mad King's arrogance wasn't a new development; many people blamed it on his favorites, such as the spymaster Varys. But Varys understood that even without him, someone else would still be whispering all sorts of information into Aerys's ear. It was better it was him, at least his intelligence was accurate, and he could hide his own agenda with objectivity.
He already had enough money, a sprawling network of informants, and a king who almost believed everything he said.
Varys continued the topic of the heir, as the Mad King had initiated it. "Once the Crown Prince is married, he will certainly be appointed Prince of Dragonstone and move to his fiefdom. Do you..."
Aerys waved a hand, and Varys understood and fell silent. But he saw the king's purple eyes twitch, revealing a malicious glint... Could it be...?
No. He knew the man sitting before him, wearing the heavy crown, was extremely proud of his True Dragon Bloodline, believing the Targaryens were not gods, but demigods, superior to all other families on the continent. He wouldn't want Rhaegar, who truly inherited the pure blood of the Targaryen family, to marry a woman who might hinder his succession.
The Mad King tilted his head. "The Dornish feel humiliated, and the king should express his feelings. But, a True Dragon cannot be wrong. It would be better for the Hand of the King to make amends. Tywin Lannister has brought his children to King's Landing, hehehehe, just right."
It seemed the King intended to marry Elia to the Lannisters to "make amends." Varys didn't think this union between Dorne and the Westerlands was a good thing for the stability of the dynasty.
The Mad King, however, seemed to not care about the hidden dangers. He chuckled to himself, his eyes rolling about. He informed the outsider, "I know Tywin Lannister best. Just wait and watch the show. No matter what Tywin Lannister does, whether they marry or not, Dorne and Casterly Rock will become enemies."
He was arrogant and confident. He had been just as confident during the War of the Ninepenny Kings. As the Prince of Dragonstone, he had strategized and worked closely with Tywin, forging a bond.
But trust was such a fragile thing. After more than a decade, everything had changed. At this moment, in the King's dark purple eyes, there was still a glimmer of the light that Tywin had admired in his youth. But now, Aerys's every calculated effort was aimed at striking him and the Lannister Family.
The days grew shorter. The court attendants lit candles made of beeswax or whale oil, illuminating the dim corridors with the polished silver mirrors embedded in the walls behind the candelabras. The wall mirrors also vaguely reflected the shadows of those passing by, though they were just indistinct silver blobs.
Crown Prince Rhaegar's long hair shone like molten silver, held in place by a dragonbone clip. His hair cascaded down his athletic shoulders, now free of armor. The knightly figure was now clad in a purple velvet robe, making his eyes appear even darker and more melancholic. The Crown Prince stopped, gazing at a snowflake falling outside the castle window.
Winter had come early this year. Flea Bottom…
Rhaegar was filled with worry, lost in thought. But at that moment, the sound of hurried footsteps came from the corner, making quite a commotion. Then, Viserys appeared, his eyes lighting up when he saw him. He pounced over—of course—towards Rhaegar's long legs, trying to hug him.
The attendants on both sides wanted to stop the little prince. Seeing that he was about to start screaming again...
Rhaegar bent down, patiently prying his brother's tight grip away, and then picked him up. A pair of small hands, smelling of honey, immediately wrapped around his neck.
Viserys snuggled against Rhaegar's chest, "Don't be angry with me, brother."
Rhaegar was taken aback for a moment, then realized Viserys had misunderstood.
"I'm not," he soothed. "But if you disregard danger again next time, I will be angry."
"Mmhmm." Viserys nodded repeatedly. "I understand. If I get hurt, it will involve many people, and that's not good. Right?"
Rhaegar was pleased by his brother's intelligence. Viserys, with his violet eyes, asked, "Then, brother, if I'm with you, will I definitely be safe? You're the best knight in the kingdom!"
"Of course, I will protect you, Viserys."
"You won't leave me, brother?"
"Of course not." Rhaegar promised steadily.
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----Actually, Viserys wanted to go along, ever since he heard Rhaegar was secretly going to the Flea Bottom outside King's Landing, pretending to be a wandering musician. He was preparing to fish for information for this purpose, because a knight's promise was very reliable.
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The two brothers went together to the banquet in the Queen's Ballroom. The nobles saluted the two princes, and at the head of the table, sitting firmly on the throne, was a man wearing the Golden Dragon Crown. Viserys composed his expression, feeling reluctant, but he also behaved obediently and saluted his father, sitting on his small throne to one side.
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Hmm? Where was Rhaegar's seat?
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As if he hadn't noticed that the king hadn't set up his throne, Rhaegar saluted and walked calmly towards the silver-stringed harp placed to one side of the hall. In this era, the necessary skills for a knight included music, and Rhaegar was especially good at it.
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To Viserys's delighted gaze, the Crown Prince with silver hair plucked the strings, and the moonlight seemed to flow coldly. Under the pure silver notes, he sang a melancholic narrative poem.
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"My dearest king, kind and noble king, what future will dawn bring into my prison? Is it my heart that betrays me? Only because you were too quick to judge me, I must fall, I must fall."
Viserys was startled! Judging from the lyrics, this was a queen singing to her king while imprisoned. Rhaegar was performing for his father, Aerys, in public, likely to make a request!
Until now, Viserys realized he'd never even seen his mother, Queen Rhaella…
He glanced at the Mad King, and saw that the king's expression wasn't good. The king's fingers, adorned with a large ruby ring, were tapping on the armrest of the Iron Throne. The rhythm definitely didn't match Rhaegar's music; it highlighted his impatience!
Viserys sensed that the man known as king was about to explode. He racked his brains, trying to figure out how to stop it—and so, he couldn't enjoy his brother's music at all.
Meanwhile, many people in the ballroom, including Cersei, were wiping away tears.
Cersei was watching Rhaegar, who was so close. He was the god of her heart. She was lost in those captivating, melancholy purple eyes. He has pain in his heart. Cersei thought, It doesn't matter. After they get married, she will love him and heal him.
After finishing the performance, Rhaegar bowed slowly, "Father."
Aerys looked at his eldest son coldly, "Put away your request. The Queen must stay in the Maidenvault and pray for God to forgive her sins. This is the King's command!"
Seeing his brother's request rejected, the Mad King showed no sign of a father's affection. Viserys, still unsure of his Queen mother's situation, couldn't help but start plotting a rebellion—against the Mad King. But he was too young, not even a knight, and without any land—whether Aerys's reign would even last until the day he was knighted was questionable. Could he, perhaps, help his brother ascend the throne sooner?
Lost in thought, he didn't miss his brother Rhaegar's expression. Although surrounded by people, he seemed troubled and depressed.
Looking at the Mad King again, he didn't give his eldest son a single glance. He narrowed his eyes, turning towards the lavishly dressed head of the Lannister Family in the hall.
The King spoke, "Since my eldest son, Rhaegar, has reached the age of seventeen, he should fulfill the Targaryen family's duty to produce an heir—My loyal ministers, and the Hand of the King, what suggestions do you have?"
This is bad!! Viserys saw Tywin preparing to speak! No! The King would never agree to Cersei and Rhaegar's marriage! This was just another public humiliation for Tywin and the Lannister Family!! And, by extension, a way to force Rhaegar to obey!!
No matter!
Before the Hand of the King could speak, Viserys jumped up from the throne, giggling and clapping his hands. "Great!! I want to marry my brother!!"
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