In 263 AC, King's Landing was generally filled with joy.
Peace reigned across the four seas, and it seemed that peace was within reach.
Since the war in the Stepstones ended, the remaining Ninepenny King still lingered on the other side of the Narrow Sea, preoccupied with their own affairs, with little desire to conquer Westeros. The iron throne was as stable as a rock.
The only cause for concern, perhaps, was the sparse population of the Dragonlords, which was truly a pity.
The bloodline of the Dragonlords, after many years, was now at its weakest.
The situation of the iron throne still relied on a single heir for three generations. However, Prince Aerys and Princess Rhaella were still young, and it was optimistically estimated that they could continue to add to the Dragonlord family.
Although King Jaehaerys II was frail, he still steered the ship of state. In 262 AC, the King fell seriously ill but surprisingly pulled through. All the Dragonlords visited the King, especially Prince Rhaegar, who stayed by his side day and night, showing a maturity and filial piety beyond his years. The King's illness slowly improved, and even the Maesters marveled that it might be divine intervention, a testament to the Prince's sincere heart.
Prince Rhaegar's moniker of "lucky one" spread further and further. Born in Summer Hall, an early bloomer, a lucky one—rumor had it that the Prince's luck had infected and revived both Lord Ormond and King Jaehaerys.
They automatically ignored Ser Jason; Ser Jason's father, Lord Gerold the Golden Lion, was suspected of kinslaying, which was retribution, and even the Prince could not save him.
There were even country bumpkins who traveled from afar, hoping to find Prince Rhaegar to bless them with a child or cure their illnesses. Fortunately, these people were either driven out of King's Landing by the Gold Cloaks or sent to the church, and the area outside the Red Keep became much quieter. Rhaegar didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It seemed he needed to use the Flame of the Eternal Spring less often, or he would truly become a charlatan in the future.
Currently, there were two explosive pieces of news in King's Landing: one concerned Prince Aerys, and the other concerned Lord Tywin, the Master of Coin. The King had specially approved Ser Tywin and his cousin, Lady Joanna, to marry in the Great Sept of Baelor. Such an honor was truly rare, and it would be a grand feast.
Westeros needed to dispel the sorrow of Summer Hall, and a grand wedding feast was the best solution. Coupled with the wealth of House Lannister and the strong support of the royal family, the wedding's splendor was bound to rival that of the Crown Prince's wedding.
Thus, Lords great and small from Westeros flocked to King's Landing, and even many spectators came from across the Narrow Sea.
Ser Tywin had traveled to King's Landing the previous year, bringing a fresh, youthful trend to the Small Council.
Although Ser Tywin was still young, he was energetic, resolute, and decisive in his actions, earning him universal praise.
Prince Aerys wanted to recommend his friend for the position of Hand, but the proud Old Stag, Lord Ormond, was not yet willing to vacate the position himself. The Old Stag could give it up, but not have it taken from him. Moreover, in terms of seniority, prestige, nobility, and relationship with the royal family, Ser Tywin was no match for Lord Ormond.
However, Lord Ormond often traveled to Storms End to visit his grandchildren, so King Jaehaerys also looked favorably upon Ser Tywin.
But speaking of Prince Aerys, this year was greatly unlucky for him, and a look of disappointment always hung on the Prince's face.
The spear points outside the Red Keep were already impaled with many heads, male and female, of varying ages, for passersby to observe.
Those who were busybodies or well-informed knew that many of the dead were humble sycophants, mistresses, and stable boys from Prince Aerys's entourage. They danced around Prince Aerys, leading him into lust, infidelity, philandering, and extravagance.
This was the Dragonlord's wrath; when the Old King raged, blood would flow like rivers.
Rhaegar thought, it's better that you die early, otherwise, when my father goes mad in the future, your whole family will die.
Rhaegar didn't have time to mourn these sycophants and rumor-mongers, because his father, Crown Prince Aerys, was making a fool of himself in King's Landing.
Rhaegar saw that the faces of the Red Keep's attendants and servants were all serene and happy, far from the smoke and flames of war.
However, their gaze towards Rhaegar was a bit strange, with a hint of novelty. Could the Prince truly bring good luck?
Rhaegar stood on a very high point of the Red Keep. The wind blew through his silver hair, bringing the dampness of the sea. Rhaegar watched Prince Aerys walking on the streets of King's Landing, dressed in the simplest clothes, having discarded the Crown Prince's elaborate attire and jeweled crown, walking on foot towards the Great Sept of Baelor.
Prince Aerys first fasted for five days, then embarked on a penitential procession, traversing the capital to the Great Sept, where he would pray with the High Septon.
Although the Prince wore simple commoner's clothes, his distinctive silver hair and handsome face still attracted many people to watch along the road. To Prince Aerys's left and right, Ser Tywin and Ser Steffon guarded him; they were sworn friends, destined to live and die together.
Many White Knights and Gold Cloaks stood beside the Prince, guarding him. Recently, King's Landing was crowded and chaotic due to Ser Tywin's wedding, making security work very important.
The wandering swordsman, Cesar, stood beside Rhaegar, wanting to say something but unable to. Such an embarrassing matter was indeed difficult to discuss in front of one's son. Ser Barristan had also been dispatched by Rhaegar to Aerys's side; despite the scolding, they still relied on his father to expand the Dragonlord family.
"My friend, you don't have to be sad. Perhaps the Prince will mature a lot after this experience," Cesar said to Rhaegar. From ancient times, doting parents often spoiled their children. Cesar knew that in Braavos, the Sea Lord's sons also included many wastrels.
"I hope so, Master Cesar," Rhaegar said expressionlessly, feeling no sorrow internally, even quite pleased. He had long disliked the sycophants around Aerys, who led the Prince to be unfaithful to his marriage and disloyal to his father.
"Why is Larys Velaryon of House Velaryon absent from this commotion?" Rhaegar asked. He remembered this great sycophant vividly. Considering the many gifts he had received, it was also a form of concern.
"Ser Thalassar only occasionally attended meetings. When he discovered that the Prince's low-ranking friends were even more reckless and greedy, he feigned illness overnight and fled back to Driftmark. So the King didn't punish him severely, only making Ser Thalassar work three months of hard labor in the shipyard," Cesar replied.
"Truly a Sea Snake, slippery as an eel," Rhaegar chuckled. This man was truly skilled at adapting to circumstances.
Crown Prince Aerys's troubles were entirely self-inflicted. During King Jaehaerys's severe illness, he thought he would soon ascend the throne and acted excessively.
The cause of the incident was, to some extent, related to Prince Rhaegar. Rhaegar used the flame seed, changing a subtle part of history, and the Old King survived.
When Rhaegar grew a little older, he would embark on an expedition to find a method to hatch dragon eggs. While he was away, King's Landing had to remain stable.
Prince Aerys was impulsive, narrow-minded, and conceited, not a quiet and conservative King. His grandfather was more reliable.
King Jaehaerys II suddenly fell seriously ill, and King's Landing was in turmoil, with various rumors spreading. The King had been frail since childhood and did not even enjoy weapons. People heard that funeral arrangements were quietly being made. Sycophants and mistresses gathered around Crown Prince Aerys, spouting extravagant words. They were overjoyed, believing their good days were about to begin, and among their words were not a few contemptuous remarks about the King.
But King Jaehaerys II miraculously recovered from his near-fatal illness, which greatly disappointed the sycophants surrounding Crown Prince Aerys. They had expected to be rewarded upon the King's sudden death, and so more grievances arose.
For the Crown Prince, the iron throne had been within reach, but now it was distant again. In a moment of confusion, he even joined in speaking some nonsense. What made Prince Aerys even more tormented was that these foolish words had now all been revealed to the King's ears.
King Jaehaerys II miraculously recovered, and this information was secretly conveyed to the King. King Jaehaerys, hearing that his son had even cursed him to an early death, became furious. Immediately, King's Landing was swept by a storm of bloodshed under the direction of King Jaehaerys II and Lord Ormond.
"Tell your sycophants, mistresses, and clowns that this is King's Landing, not a clown stage or a brothel. This time I'll cut out their tongues, next time it will be their heads." It is said these were the King's original words to Crown Prince Aerys after he awoke. King Jaehaerys, his face flushed, smashed a crystal goblet on the Prince's head, and blood flowed profusely. People said this was a rare display of the King's anger in his life.
Subsequently, Lord Ormond secretly dispatched two hundred veterans from Storms End to cooperate with the Gold Cloaks in a thorough sweep of King's Landing.
King Jaehaerys could forgive his son, as he was the only remaining heir, but he would never forgive the sycophants, jackals, bad friends, and mistresses around his son.
Those who spread rumors, along with Prince Aerys's sycophants and talkative mistresses, were severely punished.
Those with greater offenses were charged with cursing the King and high treason, their heads impaled on spear points, blood flowing everywhere.
Those with lesser offenses were also punished with slaps, whippings, or tongue-cutting.
Prince Aerys was distraught and disheartened by this upheaval, and recently had no interest in attending balls or banquets.
Prince Aerys no longer sought out those bad friends, and of course, due to Old King Jaehaerys's bloody methods, no one wanted to provoke him anymore. Many of those bad friends had already become dried heads.
According to Rhaegar's observation, his scumbag father was currently so flustered and anxious that he began to portray himself as a deeply devoted person. He was about to swear to the High Septon that he would be faithful to his wife, respectful to his father, and would not have affairs with women outside of his marriage.
Rhaegar watched the Prince walk on foot, his devout posture startling everyone.
A wisp of colorless flame rose from Rhaegar's fingertip, then slowly disappeared.
I hope this time you learn your lesson, my father.