**Chapter 15: The Egg of Dreamfyre**  

"Those two old fools are practically murdering a young prince." 

Every time this topic came up, Rhaegar felt a pounding headache, wishing he could smash the shriveled brains of those old maesters to see if they contained anything besides knowledge—perhaps just mush. 

Ser Erryk only smiled silently, showing no interest in commenting on the king's teaching arrangements for his son. 

Since the royal hunt six months ago, the two hadn't interacted much. 

That changed a few days ago when Viserys heard that Rhaenyra had concluded her travels. 

He assigned Ser Erryk to Rhaegar's side, swearing him to protect the king's eldest son and carry out all tasks assigned to him. 

Rhaegar couldn't figure out his father's motives. 

Still, having a reliable member of the Kingsguard around wasn't something to complain about. 

Considering their shared trials in the past, the two got along rather well. 

Even a strict knight like Ser Erryk occasionally exchanged harmless jokes with Rhaegar. 

"I'm tired, Ser." 

After sitting for a while, Rhaegar grew impatient. With Erryk following closely, he returned to his chambers. 

The Kingsguard's duty was solely to protect the king and those he designated. There was no reason for them to enter the prince's quarters; they merely stood guard outside. 

Once back in his room, Rhaegar went straight to the hearth. 

There, a container resembling a small furnace rested. 

Opening its lid, a wave of heat hit him. 

Rhaegar faced the scorching air without flinching, leaning forward to peer inside. 

Within lay a dragon egg—pitch black with scales that shimmered like diamonds. 

It was his dragon egg. 

He touched the egg's searing surface, his eyes dimming with disappointment as he sighed, "Still no movement. When will you hatch?" 

Perhaps he was just unlucky. 

Rhaegar's dragon egg showed no signs of hatching, sitting in the container like a stone for six years. 

It had become a habit for him to stroke the egg, talking to it as though it could hear him. 

Rhaegar believed this might encourage the egg to hatch. 

When his throat grew parched from speaking, he closed the container's lid, ending that day's "conversation" with the egg. 

Pouring himself a cup of hot water, Rhaegar muttered to himself, "At least Aegon's egg hasn't hatched either. Otherwise, that'd be embarrassing." 

The thought of his foolish younger brother failing to hatch his dragon egg brought Rhaegar a sense of comfort. 

Sure, it was disappointing that his own egg hadn't hatched. 

But if his brother's egg had, it would have been far more upsetting. 

... 

Days turned into weeks, and time passed as usual. 

At last, Rhaenyra returned to King's Landing. 

Ever conscious of appearances, Viserys did not personally welcome her. Instead, Queen Alicent led the nobles in an official reception outside the city gates. 

The two women, like long-lost friends, walked arm in arm, laughing and chatting under the watchful eyes of the crowd. 

The display of harmony naturally drew cheers from the citizens. 

Rhaegar, whose confinement had been lifted, joined the welcoming procession. 

Walking behind the two women, observing their cordial interaction, he couldn't shake a strange unease. 

Tugging on Erryk's white cloak, Rhaegar whispered, "Do women always act like this with each other?" 

Erryk glanced around, ensuring no one was paying attention, then lowered his voice, "Most of the time, yes. But the Queen and the Princess are leaders among women, so they're even more formidable." 

"Because of power? But my sister's already the heir," Rhaegar replied, puzzled. 

Erryk shook his head. "Speaking ill of royal family members is forbidden. All I can say is: be cautious." 

"Will I be harmed? I have no intention of involving myself in the throne business," Rhaegar asked. 

"I can't say for sure. But as the saying goes, 'One can never be too careful.'" Erryk's tone carried weight. 

Rhaegar chuckled. "Then I'll rely on you to keep me safe, Ser." 

"That is my duty." 

With so many eyes on them, the two refrained from further discussion, accompanying the reception party until the procession reached its end. 

By nightfall, the group finally entered the Red Keep. 

Though clearly furious about Rhaenyra's unauthorized return voyage, Viserys refrained from embarrassing her publicly. 

Instead, he hosted a grand banquet to celebrate her return. 

Rhaegar disliked the loud and chaotic atmosphere. After nibbling on a few pastries and dishes, he excused himself, taking the gift Rhaenyra had prepared for him as he left. 

... 

Rhaenyra's return brought the most benefit to Rhaegar. 

Not only was he free to roam beyond the Red Keep, but his daily lessons were also drastically reduced. 

Rather than enduring eight hours of study, he now only needed to attend three hours in the morning, with the rest of the day for leisure. 

Even his homework was canceled. 

Rhaegar celebrated the changes with a cheer, feeling utterly elated. 

When Rhaenyra came to visit him, he kissed her twice in delight. 

These carefree days continued for some time. 

**And Then, the Red Keep Bustled Once More.** 

It was the fifth wedding anniversary of King Viserys and Queen Alicent. 

To express his gratitude for Alicent's companionship over the past five years, Viserys made a grand gesture—he decided to host a grand tournament. 

He planned to invite nobles and knights from all over the realm to participate. 

A generous reward was also prepared for the champion, encouraging the passionate young warriors to sign up and provide him with a spectacular clash of blood and steel. 

Whether Alicent liked it or not, Viserys absolutely adored such tournaments. 

Thanks to his good grandfather, the former King Jaehaerys, who had accumulated vast wealth for the royal treasury, Viserys could afford to host lavish feasts and tournaments. 

The servants of the Red Keep were already accustomed to such events, and under Alicent's meticulous management, the tournament was organized beautifully. 

Before long, the king and queen's fifth anniversary arrived. 

As expected, the tournament was a grand success, drawing an enormous crowd to King's Landing. 

It was rumored that even the city's brothels saw a surge in business. 

The prostitutes could barely keep up with the demand, and many noble lords were eager to shed blood on the battlefield—perhaps just to work up a sweat. 

--- 

On the day of the event, Alicent prepared a lavish feast. 

The guests dined and drank to their hearts' content while watching the brutal matches with Viserys. When they grew tired of the combat, they simply indulged in the festivities nearby. 

Rhaegar and Rhaenyra sat just below Viserys' main seat, watching the battles unfold in the arena. 

At that moment, the jousting event was taking place. 

Two knights, clad in armor and armed with sharp lances, charged at each other atop their warhorses. 

As they crossed paths, a knight in black armor raised his lance and struck his opponent precisely in the shoulder. 

**Bang!** 

The sheer force of the impact sent the opposing knight flying. His body traced an arc through the air before crashing heavily into the muddy ground. 

A pained scream rang out from beneath the armor as he landed, his leg twisted unnaturally beneath him. 

As he writhed and howled, Rhaegar noticed that he was only moving one arm. 

The other hung limply at his side. 

"He's most likely shattered his shoulder blade. If he doesn't receive immediate treatment, he'll be permanently disabled," whispered Ser Erryk, who was standing behind him. 

Rhaegar, unfamiliar with such violent scenes, couldn't help but feel sympathy. "Even if they treat him in time, he'll still be crippled. That leg is ruined." 

"Tournaments are like this," Erryk said, attempting to help Rhaegar accept the harsh reality. "What matters is winning or losing." 

"I can't understand why so many skilled young warriors would willingly participate in something like this. How many of them will return unscathed?" Rhaegar said, clearly disturbed. 

Erryk patiently explained, "The kingdom is at peace, and young men full of passion have no outlet for their energy. Many also seek the king's attention." Rhaegar had yet to hatch a dragon egg, so he was considering the path of dragon-riding instead. 

*(End of Chapter)*