**Chapter 103: Is It Rhaegar?**
*Bang!*
The door slammed shut with a heavy thud.
Viserys sat on his chair, rubbing his temples with his eyes closed, letting out a weary sigh.
*Creak!*
The door opened again, and Harold's voice broke the silence. "Your Grace, the prince has been under the princess's care since he was young. Your proposal is too abrupt and cruel for him."
"He has to face it eventually."
Viserys lowered his head. "Rhaenyra is soft-hearted and lacks foresight. If she were to inherit the Iron Throne, it would do neither her nor the realm any good."
"And yet, you chose the princess back then," Harold replied with a hint of resignation.
"Yes, because she's so much like me. We are a pair of weak father and daughter," Viserys said with bitter self-mockery, his lips curling into a faint, self-deprecating smile.
*Mastering the art of leadership? What nonsense.*
He spoke this way to mask his mediocrity and indecisiveness.
Deep down, he yearned to be like his brother Daemon or his eldest son Rhaegar—strong, fearless leaders who dared to wield the sword without hesitation.
But he was born with a gentle and pliant nature.
His life, filled with smooth sailing and an almost undeserved throne, had taken him to the pinnacle without much effort.
Everything had come too easily.
His grandfather, Jaehaerys, had little time left to instill in him the courage to say "no."
Now, he wanted a resolute and valiant ruler to succeed him.
To restore the Targaryen family's former glory.
And the only person fit for that role was his eldest son, Rhaegar.
After a moment of contemplation, Viserys waved his hand weakly and said, "Bring Rhaenyra here. Tell her I have something to discuss with her."
Harold glanced at the troubled expression on the king's face, nodded, and replied, "Yes, Your Grace."
---
Rhaegar walked quickly down the corridor, his thoughts a chaotic mess. Without realizing it, he had left the castle entirely.
When he finally came to his senses, he found himself standing at the cliff's edge.
"Hiss... Grr..."
Sensing its rider's presence, the black dragon, Caraxes, let out a low growl, tilting its massive head to look at him, puzzled.
It could feel the fear in him.
This wasn't like the young man it knew.
Rhaegar gazed at the towering, pitch-black dragon before him, panting heavily. "Take me for a ride, buddy."
Caraxes rose, flicking its tail to wrap around his waist, lifting him onto its back.
"Hiss... Grr..."
It let out a roar, flapped its mighty wings, and launched itself into the sky, soaring high above the clouds.
A flight around the skies—so simple, yet so freeing.
The sky and sea had a way of washing away all confusion.
---
Inside the castle.
Rhaenyra had finished freshening up and was heading to the dining hall for breakfast.
Sitting across from her was the visibly weary Alicent.
Rhaenyra nibbled on her bread calmly, her expression indifferent.
Alicent, on the other hand, sat there without appetite, occasionally sneaking glances at Rhaenyra.
She opened her mouth several times but stopped herself each time.
Rhaenyra suppressed a smirk. This former friend of hers certainly knew how to put on a show.
She had no idea what Alicent had gone through the night before, instinctively assuming her behavior was part of some ploy.
"Princess, the king has summoned you to discuss something important."
As breakfast was nearing its end, Harold descended the stairs and spoke softly.
Rhaenyra dabbed her mouth with a cloth and asked, "Where's Rhaegar? Has he had breakfast?"
"Not yet. The prince stepped out on urgent business," Harold replied with a forced smile before adding hesitantly, "You should see the king first. It's something of great importance."
"Very well, Ser Harold."
Rhaenyra frowned slightly in confusion as she rose from the table.
---
Shortly after, Rhaenyra entered her father's chambers.
Viserys had been waiting for some time. Upon seeing her, he greeted her with a warm smile. "Come, sit, Rhaenyra."
"You wanted to see me?"
Rhaenyra slowly approached, pulling out a chair to sit opposite her father.
Seeing the awkward, almost ingratiating smile on his face, her sense of unease grew stronger.
Viserys poured himself a cup of wine, downing half of it in one gulp. He chuckled briefly, then lowered his head, struggling to find the words.
Rhaenyra's eyes glimmered with suspicion as a troubling thought crossed her mind.
She pressed her lips together and said softly, "If Rhaegar returns safely, what about the choice you promised me..."
"No! We're not discussing your marriage today."
Viserys quickly interrupted, afraid that his daughter might reveal her decision.
Rhaenyra let out a sigh of relief and chuckled lightly. "If it's not about that, then what could be troubling you so much?"
She naively thought her father was about to urge her to marry.
For that reason, she had already secretly made a choice.
Facing his daughter's question, Viserys raised his head, looked her in the eyes, and spoke with difficulty. "Rhaenyra, I believe Rhaegar is a fine boy. He's brave and clever."
"Of course, while Rhaegar can be a bit unruly, he always has a plan in mind."
At the mention of her brother, Rhaenyra couldn't help but smile.
He was the only blood relative her mother had left her.
And he would be her greatest support.
Hearing her daughter's words, particularly the phrase "a bit unruly," Viserys' expression subtly changed, and he drained his wine in one gulp.
"Rhaenyra, you are a smart and kind girl. Have you ever felt that the responsibility of being the heir has made it hard for you to breathe?"
Viserys maintained a faint smile, cautiously testing the waters with his question.
"Sometimes, yes, but you've always supported me, and Rhaegar has been helping me too. I'm so fortunate to have both of you," Rhaenyra answered, clasping her hands over her abdomen and smiling warmly.
Her words felt like a dagger stabbing into Viserys' chest.
He struggled to breathe, feeling as if the air had been knocked out of him.
"The dream keeps appearing—Rhaegar is the prince that was promised. A decision must be made!"
Repeating this thought to himself, Viserys gathered his courage and forced his stiff lips to move.
Bang—
The goblet landed heavily on the table. Viserys straightened his face and said seriously, "Rhaenyra, to be honest with you, the reason I called you here is to discuss the matter of changing the heir."
Finally expressing what he had been holding back, Viserys outwardly appeared composed, but internally, he was relieved.
At least he had said it to her face.
Even though this truth was like a sharp knife that would hurt his daughter, it was better than keeping it hidden.
"..."
Rhaenyra froze in place upon hearing his words, disbelief filling her eyes. She seemed to stop breathing.
What had she just heard?
Her father, who had always supported her, was talking about changing the heir.
She was to be replaced!
Viserys stood up for the first time that morning, walking quickly to her side, and said awkwardly, "Rhaenyra, I know this might be hard for you to accept at first. After all, you've been the heir for six years."
"But your position has always been unstable. I've found someone more suitable to succeed me."
"As your father, I hope you won't be alarmed. I love you deeply, and this decision is not out of rejection..."
Seeing the expression of his daughter, who was clearly struggling to accept this, Viserys kept trying to console her, attempting to mend the hurt he had caused.
After a long silence, Rhaenyra blinked and seemed to snap out of the shock.
She lifted her head, staring directly at her father.
There was no anger, no tears, no hysterics—none of the reactions he had expected.
Rhaenyra was calm. She placed one hand over her chest, which was rising and falling rapidly, trying to steady her emotions.
With the other hand, she grasped her father's, forcing a smile and asking, "Father, is that person Rhaegar?"
Rhaenyra had already resolved to let go of her claim to the throne in favor of Rhaegar. The bond between brother and sister was unbreakable.
(End of Chapter)