Early in 262 AC, good news from Storms End brought joy to everyone.
Ser Steffon's wife gave birth to twins.
Like Rhaegar, these two children would be the next generation of Trendsetters.
"Has the wheel of fate begun to turn? Robert Baratheon, Brandon Stark, next are Eddard Stark, the Siblings Jaime and Cersei, and the Tully Sisters. I will change the course of history; this era belongs to me," Rhaegar thought.
Once these people grow up, the story begins to be written. I must seize the initiative and change history.
"Roberta Baratheon, my little bride? Even this development has already changed history. Soon, Robert, the Hammer and Cannon King, might become my brother-in-law." Rhaegar thought again of the girl from the Stag family, wondering how much she would change him. This butterfly effect caused by Rhaegar was intriguing.
King Jaehaerys and Duke Ormond's intentions did not seem like a joke.
The Dragonlords place too much importance on Dragon blood when choosing spouses. Roberta's grandmother was a Dragon Family Princess, and the girl has the closest Dragon Family Blood Ties. Combined with the special relationship between the Royal Family and the Baratheon family, it was practically set in stone.
The great alliance of the Dragon, Lion, and Stag still originated from the adventures of Aegon V and Duncan the Tall. Tywin's Grandfather Gerold supported Aegon V's ascension with gold, and The Laughing Storm was also a close friend to both. Their deep and lasting friendship dictates the pulse of the current era.
Rhaegar thought about it and felt relieved; it was impossible for him to deviate from Historical Inertia.
In the current Age of Noble Houses and Clans, people are extremely concerned with family, honor, heritage, and appearance.
Especially the Marriages of Great Noble Heirs, which are strictly confined within their circles. Unless they are of the highest kinship and nobility, they cannot intermarry, and even those with ugly appearances find no one proposing marriage.
Given the example of Prince Duncan, Rhaegar could not choose his marriage freely, especially since he was currently the Sole Heir.
The Royal Family could no longer withstand turmoil, and exercising free will in marriage would only further ignite the wrath of the Great Lords.
Fortunately, the Great Lords of the Stormlands, Westerlands, and Dorne generally produce handsome men and beautiful women in fixed quantities; their Genetic Improvement Projects are quite effective.
Robert was heroic and handsome in his youth, the dream lover of maidens. If he had an older sister, she would certainly be attractive too.
Princess Jocelyn of the Baratheon family back then was also a nationally renowned beauty, standing five feet eleven inches (about 1.8 meters) tall. Her hair was black as raven feathers and fell straight to her waist. The Princess had long legs and a graceful figure, and later married the heir to the iron throne.
While the adults sent messages of greeting to Storms End via raven, Rhaegar was most concerned with "The Autobiography of Bloodraven Brynden Rivers."
That ancient book, covered in the marks of history, always made Rhaegar feel like he saw the face of Duke Bloodraven when he read it—a face that was serious, harsh, and slightly melancholic.
Bloodraven's life was a contradiction; he was sometimes black, sometimes white, sometimes like raging fire, sometimes like cold ice.
He was born noble yet was a bastard; he was ruthless yet stabilized the kingdom; he used dark means to strive towards the light. He was a warrior, a Wizard, and a Hand of the King. Truly a contradictory figure. Even his deep affection for his sister Shireen turned into something bitter.
After obtaining the dragon kings ring, Rhaegar brought the book to his room.
Rhaegar flipped through the book but could only read the Upper Half of the Book; Rhaegar did not have the ability to unlock the Lower Half.
Bloodraven's memories, growth, Governing Philosophy, and even his Archery and Martial Arts benefited Rhaegar greatly, but the most mysterious part remained unopened.
Perhaps Duke Bloodraven had also placed some kind of Spell on the book.
Upon careful reading, Rhaegar indeed discovered some traces of Aegon IV.
Aegon IV was gone, yet he seemed to live on in everyone's hearts, albeit infamously.
"The world believes King Aegon IV was neither a good father nor a good lover. My father indulged in pleasure, deeply addicted to romance, unable to extricate himself. He was so affectionate, yet so fickle; his feelings for women were like the wind, coming and going easily. Aside from his nature, I always felt my father was also influenced or inspired by a prophecy.
He once told me when he was drunk that he believed The Prince That Was Promised would be born among his descendants, and that the descendant of one of his children would fulfill the prophecy.
He believed Daemon possessed more warrior qualities, and that Daemon Blackfyre's Descendants were more likely to fulfill this prophecy, which led to chaos, bloodshed, and war. Moreover, Daemon's mother was Princess Daena, who had Dragon blood flowing in her veins, making him no weaker than the Legitimate Son Daeron. Daeron was not a born warrior, and Daeron's mother was frail and would not bear him three Dragons. Daeron was also arranged to marry a Dornish Woman back then, and his children were all Dornish in flavor, completely lacking the Targaryen Strain," Brynden Rivers recalled. Rhaegar could feel the indignation in his tone.
In terms of paternal responsibility, Aegon IV certainly failed too much. He indulged in his own romantic affairs but was unwilling to bear the honor of his children. He even spread rumors that his own wife had committed adultery, simply because he disliked his son Daeron inheriting.
Rhaegar was deeply shocked. Could Aegon IV's Widespread Sowing of Seed have had such a consideration?
Furthermore, Aegon IV's mindset was always, 'After I die, let the floodwaters rage.' He wouldn't care how chaotic things became after fathering so many children. He was even willing to give away three dragon eggs just to sleep with women.
Rhaegar gained a deep understanding of the Targaryen Family's Obsession with Prophecies. So, Rhaegar continued reading.
"I believe 'The Prince That Was Promised' is mostly nonsense, a hypothesis my father used to cover up his affection and desires. His words were half-truths; perhaps he was superstitious about prophecy, but he loved women more. However, the Targaryen Family is too legendary, yet also too superstitious. Everyone knows the Targaryens always produce geniuses or madmen. They are superstitious about prophecies and Dragon Dreams, and remain deluded their whole lives. They would do anything for a Dragon Dream. My poor great-nephew Aerion has already turned to dust.
To my knowledge, besides Dragon Dreams, the Targaryens are most superstitious about three prophecies: The Prince That Was Promised, A Song of Ice and Fire, and The Dragon Has Three Heads."
A Song of Ice and Fire: Ice and fire, hate and love, bitterness and joy, Cold Winter and happiness, winter and Summer Hall, evil and justice.
The Dragon Has Three Heads means there should be three Dragonlord members. Initially, those three heads were Aegon the Conqueror and his two wives, Rhaenys and Visenya. But the later meaning is hard to define.
"Still The Prince That Was Promised?" Rhaegar's heart trembled. This prophecy, in particular, had troubled the Dragonlords for many years.
The Prince is born amidst the Land of Salt and Smoke, beneath a Bleeding Star.
Rhaegar's Grandfather believed this prophecy. Because the Woods Witch predicted that the union of Prince Aerys and Rhaella would produce The Prince That Was Promised, he ordered Rhaegar's parents to marry. Rhaegar himself later became obsessed with this prophecy, first believing it was himself—the Summer Hall Fire was the smoke, and the people's tears were the salt. Later, he thought it was his Son Aegon, and he also became obsessed with The Dragon Has Three Heads, only to fail in the end.
It turned out that his Distant Ancestor, Aegon IV, also believed this prophecy. However, this particular individual's method of fulfilling the prophecy was certainly unconventional.
Aegon IV transformed into the King's Landing Sower, associating with all kinds of women across the known world, his lovers spanning beyond the Narrow Sea. In Braavos, it was the Courtesan Black Pearl. In King's Landing, he slept with Princess Daena. In the Riverlands, it was the Bracken Family and the Blackwood family. He even managed to secure the Lysene Witch, who bore him Shireen Seastar.
Perhaps Aegon IV believed that the more Dragonseeds there were in the world, the greater the possibility of fulfilling the prophecy. This line of reasoning seems plausible.
Maybe we were all wrong? Rhaegar thought.
Prince Aerys and Rhaegar himself later fell into prophecy madness. Half of this was due to the Dragon Family Population Crisis and scarcity, and half was the inability to fulfill the prophecy of The Dragon Has Three Heads.
He felt that the world seemed trapped in a Trajectory of Fate. According to the Red Priests, The Prince That Was Promised had been foretold for over five thousand years. How could he easily believe that he was The Prince That Was Promised?
Moreover, there are quite a few Dragonseeds now, and perhaps every one of them harbors such a beautiful dream.
Rhaegar understood the prophecy, but he would not blindly believe it.
Prophecy is prophecy after all; becoming too obsessed will only lead to counterproductive results.
Closing Bloodraven's Autobiography, Rhaegar muttered to himself.
I am not superstitious about prophecy.
The False Silver Prince believes in prophecy; the True Silver Prince must create history.