*
Summerhall, Varezes Purple Palace.
Aulis Celas Mill, the envoy from Braavos, smiled as he watched the children, who had run back to the courtyard where they studied with candy, lower his head again to tend to the flowers and plants in the palace. As a guest minister of Dragonzel, Aulis had no personal freedom, but he did have his unique channels of information, though this channel was often used directly by Tigaro in person.
"Prince Rhaegor has been 'exiled' by His Highness the Prince." Aulis mused internally over this piece of news, which was no secret to the "insiders" of the Varezes family in the Purple Palace and Dragon Nest City, but was definitely a secret to outsiders. He didn't consider the possibility of winning over Rhaegor; no matter what the intelligence said, Aulis had eyes and a brain, and he knew very well that Dragonzel's "exiling" of Rhaegor, sending his eldest son on an expedition, was actually to temper the naive youth. No matter how "indifferent" he might seem, if he, an outsider, dared to meddle with the Varezes family's heir, hmph.
However, with necessary goodwill, Aulis's scissors suddenly paused, but still precisely snipped off the withered leaf of a precious plant that could only be found in the Dothraki Great Grass Sea.
Thanks to Braavos's tradition, every advisor to the Sea King, every political entity in Braavos, must master a skill: to constantly be aware of the whereabouts of those around them, to guard against assassins, or that organization whose name they dared not speak. So even though Aulis was not at risk of assassination, he still developed the skill of quickly disappearing into the shadows.
"Are those two lads?" The envoy, hidden behind a pillar in the long corridor, watched two teenagers stealthily climbing over the wall of Ray Palace in the Purple Palace.
He happened to know both of these lads. The tall, slender, handsome youth with silver buzz-cut hair was Reigen Kaawen, son of Count Caron and heir to House Caron, who had just celebrated his fourteenth nameday a few days prior. The other muscular, agile young man was young Ailarion, the youngest son of Count Tigris Hoth. Back then, his father, due to young Ailarion's weak constitution and House Hoth's rapid development at the time, had no time to care for his youngest son. To pray for blessings for his youngest son, he gave his eldest son's name to the youngest, and the original older Ailarion was renamed Aesarion. Now, Ser Aesarion Hoth has also become an important commander of the Varezes family. During the Dance of the Dragons, fifteen-year-old Aesarion Hoth earned the nickname "the Merciless" for his outstanding performance in battle and was personally knighted by Valarr.
Their relationship with Prince Rhaegor was like that of Lord Hofa, Lord Aslan, and Lord Sebastian with His Highness the Prince.
Aulis sighed inwardly. What a pity, they were also children who grew up in the Purple Palace. What was the difference between them and Rhaegor, who grew up in Dragon Nest City and Vaerezys Black Palace? They were all children of peace, raised in the Green Lands; their elders bore the baptism of blood and fire for them.
But can such things be solved by simple substitution? So, whether it was Rhaegor or these two children, if Aulis himself were to evaluate them...
He believed Dragonzel would make the same evaluation.
These children are all equally naive and foolish.
"Legan, I know the wall here is shorter, and there's a forest next to it, so no one will find out we left until the Scholar comes for class tomorrow." Ailarion, eager to try, pulled Legan towards the spot he used to climb over when skipping class. Legan had just taken a step when he suddenly looked at the corridor pillar with some vigilance.
"What's wrong?" Seeing Legan suddenly look at the corridor pillar, Ailarion instantly became alert. He knew Legan's senses were very keen, no worse than that hypocritical Tarly. If Legan thought it was worth being wary of, it definitely was. "Who's there?"
Legan looked for a moment, then tugged Ailarion's sleeve: "Let's go, it must be that tall-hatted uncle. He won't betray us."
The tall-hatted uncle. Ailarion relaxed. Among the children who grew up in the Purple Palace, the most familiar people, besides the teachers who came for class every day, and the three Dragonzel brothers, Mrs. Diana, Lady Leia, and Rhaegor, was this Braavosi man who always lived in Dragonzel Palace.
Everyone knew this uncle was very kind and could take a joke, and the children loved playing with him. Even when they sometimes secretly climbed over the wall to Dragonzel Palace, where almost no one else came, to barbecue or skip class, this uncle would never betray them.
However, to be safe, Legan still raised his voice slightly and winked at Ailarion: "Ailarion, I heard Uncle Ba'er's shop got a batch of Arbor wine. Let's try it first and make those little guys drool for a few days."
"You, Legan, how dare you eat alone! Do you believe I'll tell Renly and the others when we get back?"
"You tell them, see if they believe me or you?"
Ailarion understood his good friend's intention, deliberately waved his fist, and secretly glanced at the corridor pillar. Finding no movement, he continued to quietly make his way with Legan towards the low wall of Dragonzel Palace.
Aulis couldn't help but shake his head, then went back to tending his flowers and plants.
You two silly boys, that section of the wall, which twelve or thirteen-year-olds could easily climb over, was made for you.
Only the gods probably know how many pairs of eyes are hidden in the small woods outside the wall.
Dragon Nest City, Silver Blood Tower, Five Fingers Hall.
"Brother, are you really willing to let Rhaegor travel all Seven Kingdoms alone?" Valarr hugged his arms, somewhat worried. Ever since Daniela was born, Valarr had developed a special affection for children over the years, and he naturally cared deeply for Rhaegor, who would one day 'steal' his precious daughter. "When we were temporarily staying in Black Harbor, you were afraid of the family's bloodline flowing out, so you specifically put us in the same room, and even if we weren't in the same room, you would arrange someone to guard the door. But now, letting Rhaegor, a child, go out… I'm afraid…"
"I didn't expect my second brother, who fears neither the gods, nor swords, nor dragonfire, to have a moment of fear." Ray, now a father, was clearly in a good mood, teasing his second brother. He also looked at his older brother, who was gazing at the map of Westeros on the long table.
"You don't need to worry about this." Dragonzel suddenly smiled when he heard Valarr's fear. "As long as I live, the family's bloodline will not easily flow out. As for the rest…"
Dragonzel gently pricked his finger on the candlestick, and a drop of blood with silver threads fell onto the long table, almost instantly merging into it.
A scene, visible only to the three brothers, suddenly appeared before them.
The red-glowing scene was not complex; Dragon Nest City was still as peaceful as ever. The only slight difference was Diana, standing on the balcony of the Silver Blood Tower. She held the sleeping Danni, but her eyes were fixed in another direction. Following her gaze, there was a solitary figure.
The youth had a longsword at his waist, a cloth-wrapped spear on his back, and rode an ordinary-looking warhorse, slowly disappearing at the edge of the scene.
Valarr was the first to notice the sword at Rhaegor's waist. Although it looked like an ordinary rapier, as a frequent visitor to the Varezes family's armory, Valarr recognized at a glance which sword it was, despite its seemingly normal appearance.
One of the Valyrian steel rapiers in the Varezes family's inventory: Star Singer.
This rapier originally had amethysts, rubies, turquoise, moonstones, and diamonds inlaid in a specific order on the guard, quillons, and the end of the blade. However, from this image alone, it seemed someone had pried out all the gems and disguised this Valyrian steel sword as a normal longsword.
"Ray, was that you?" Valarr deliberately looked at his younger brother with feigned anguish: "Do you know how precious original Valyrian steel weapons are? If you pry out the gems, it'll be a hassle to inlay them back when Rhaegor returns."
Ray spread his hands: "That really wasn't me." He pointed at his older brother, who hadn't spoken, whose expression hadn't changed, but whose lips were slightly curved. "Ask big brother, he knows."
"If it wasn't you, then it was Diana." Valarr suddenly looked at his elder brother with some alarm: "Could it have been Daniela?" Dragonzel nodded: "That girl meant well. She read too many knight novels and thought that rascal was going on a knightly adventure like in the stories."
"And then she learned the stories spun by bards who could only gaze from afar at noble ladies and young misses at feasts? Giving her beloved a divine weapon blessed by a Princess?"
Valarr felt his heart drop instantly, but he could only feel it for a moment. "Brother, you won't punish Daniela, will you?"
"Why would I?" Dragonzel shook his head with a wry smile. Daniela's actions, though naive, proved that the second generation of the Varezes family was still as united and harmonious as they, the brothers, were. He was too happy to punish Daniela.
"Rather, you two, my good brothers, would you like to confess to me what you prepared for Rhaegor?"
Valarr scratched his head, a little embarrassed. The "things" he had prepared for Rhaegor were indeed a bit excessive. If Valarr had truly managed it, the items he prepared for Rhaegor included a set of Valyrian steel armor from the armory, a Valyrian steel hand-and-a-half sword, and no less than a hundred elite Silver Blood Army cavalry… It could be said that he had prepared everything his nephew could take, except for Star Song.
Of course, it only remained at the preparation stage. Valarr was not foolish; he knew why Dragonzel wanted to "exile" Rhaegor, and he also knew that it would be unwise to rashly display the Varezes family's power without sufficient gain.
He wondered what that lad Ray had prepared for his nephew.
Judging by his expression, he must have prepared something good, and it had already been taken by the lad—whether the lad himself knew it or not.
Wait, could it be that the third brother instigated my Daniela to secretly give the sword to Rhaegor?
Valarr's gaze towards Ray instantly filled with resentment.
Ray, who was already prepared, was about to play dead to escape, when he saw the equally "death-defying" Five Fingers quartet walk in with their heads bowed.
In the blink of an eye, both Ray, who was about to lie on the table pretending to be dead to escape his brother's interrogation, and Valarr, who was looking at his younger brother with eyes full of resentment, instantly returned to their dignified states.
Coupled with Dragonzel, who had been smiling all along, it inexplicably added a sense of solemnity and grandeur to Five Fingers Hall.
Dragonzel naturally knew the loyalty and love his brothers and these four subordinates and friends—or rather, "bosom buddies"—who had grown up together since childhood, held for his child.
He also knew what these fellows had done after learning he was going to "exile" that silly boy. Aslan Rondell, in cooperation with Valarr, not only dispatched over two hundred Silver Blood Army cavalry, but he also sent out ravens to notify nearby Silver Blood Army Manors… If he hadn't been warned, it's likely that the entire Borderland Principality, and even the families friendly with their own, would now know that rascal might pass through their lands.
Sebastian's prepared travel expenses for Rhaegor were also urgently halted. Tigaro and Ray had concocted something, and Dragonzel was too lazy to know, as among the three brothers, Ray was the one he trusted the most. Even if the third brother wanted to spoil Rhaegor, he would do so moderately, ensuring that the growth journey he had prepared for Rhaegor would not be compromised.
As for Hofa, he was also someone Dragonzel trusted, though Dragonzel knew that despite his strictness, he would quietly let some things slide.
For instance, the items prepared by Ray and Tigaro were probably let through by Hofa during a body search.
This caused Hofa to now be somewhat afraid to meet Dragonzel's eyes.
"Alright, alright." Dragonzel, seeing that no one was speaking, was the first to break the silence. He waved his hand, signaling everyone to sit down. "I am very grateful for your concern for my unworthy son, but the necessary tempering cannot be omitted. Therefore, I do not allow you to give him too much help. A boy who has not undergone the baptism of travel and blood and fire cannot grow into a true man."
It was only then that Valarr and Ray noticed Rhaegor's appearance in the scene visible only to them, already almost disappearing into the wilderness.
The youth had cut his silver short hair, revealing his eyes, but now his hair was not silver, but dark brown, and his deep purple eyes had turned emerald green.
The change in hair and eye color altered Rhaegor's entire demeanor, and with a little magical disguise, though the current Rhaegor still resembled his true self by seventy or eighty percent, strangers and those not very familiar with him would definitely not recognize the youth as the heir to the Varezes family at first glance.
Ray suddenly laughed inwardly. He laughed because he had anticipated his brother's actions, so the things he and Tigaro had prepared for Rhaegor, though neither precious nor abundant, were absolutely the best and most suitable for travel. He also laughed at himself for underestimating his brother's dedication to truly letting the next generation grow up.
"Brother, it seems Rhaegor, like us, has some very good friends," Valarr suddenly remarked with emotion.
He saw Reigen Kaawen and Ailarion Hoth riding horses, having ridden out from Summerhall, and were now following the road, chasing after Rhaegor, who had completely disappeared from the scene.
For some reason, their direction of pursuit was correct.
At this, Valarr covered his head again. Rhaegor was indeed inexperienced, actually just following the main road…
But that's fine too.
The main road is safe.
More precisely, the Borderland Principality is safe.
But what about other regions?
"Wish him good luck, everyone." Dragonzel suddenly said with a smile.
Ray glanced into his brother's eyes and pursed his lips; he had confirmed something in his elder brother's gaze just now.
It was only at this moment that Ray truly relaxed. However, he also rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
Rhaegor, I hope you don't disappoint us.
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