**Chapter 130: King's Landing Under the Shadows**

*Knock, knock...* 

The faint sound of knocking broke Rhaegar's train of thought. 

"Who is it?" 

Being disturbed in the middle of the night made Rhaegar instinctively frown. 

"It's me, your sister." 

Rhaenyra's voice came from outside the door. 

"Rhaenyra?" 

Rhaegar was slightly startled. He climbed out of bed and said, "Come in." 

*Creak—* 

The door opened, and Rhaenyra walked in gracefully, holding a tray. 

"Rhaenyra, what brings you here?" 

Rhaegar looked puzzled. 

"I heard you performed spectacularly today and even took on an important task. I came to check on you." 

Rhaenyra naturally sat down by the bedside, placing the tray to the side. On it sat a glass of milk. 

"I brought you some milk, so you won't suffer from insomnia or nightmares tonight." 

Rhaenyra crossed her legs, a playful smile on her face. 

"Thank you." 

Rhaegar took the glass of milk seriously and sipped from it. 

Suddenly, he noticed Rhaenyra's attire. 

It wasn't her usual choice of black or red dresses. Instead, she was wearing a slightly formal green dress—one that didn't seem to fit her very well. 

Rhaegar glanced at it and asked casually, "This dress... why does it feel so familiar?" 

"Hehe, you finally noticed." 

Rhaenyra tugged at the hem of the dress with a mischievous grin. "Last time, you were mumbling in your sleep about a 'stepmother's dress,' so I borrowed one from Alicent." 

*Pfft—cough, cough...* 

Hearing this, Rhaegar nearly spat out his milk and choked so badly he almost couldn't breathe. 

No wonder the dress seemed familiar. 

It really was Alicent's. 

"What's with the overreaction? I spent days debating whether to wear this dress," Rhaenyra said, rolling her eyes as she patted Rhaegar's back. 

Rhaegar's face turned bright red as he stammered, "That was just a dream about some random outfit. It wasn't about Alicent." 

Saying this made him feel thoroughly embarrassed. 

His dreams often contained fragmented images, and occasionally, outfits would appear. 

It had nothing to do with Alicent—absolutely nothing. 

"Rhaenyra, you should probably return the dress to Alicent," Rhaegar suggested, feeling uneasy. 

"What? You don't think it looks good?" 

Rhaenyra's competitive streak kicked in. She stood up and spun in a circle. 

Rhaegar couldn't bear to look, covering his face as he muttered, "You and Alicent don't have the same figure. She's slimmer than you." 

To be fair, even after having four children, Alicent still maintained a figure as youthful as a maiden's. 

It was no wonder their father, Viserys, had been captivated by her for so many years. 

The siblings, Rhaegar and Rhaenyra, both inherited the sturdy builds common to people of the Vale—healthy and well-proportioned but not exactly slim. 

Rhaenyra, wearing Alicent's green dress, had her waist cinched so tightly that both the upper and lower parts of the dress looked like they were about to burst. It was glaringly mismatched. 

No wonder Rhaegar noticed the difference at a glance. 

"Rhaegar, say that again if you dare!" 

A woman's thoughts are hard to predict. Rhaenyra's expression darkened instantly, and she glared at Rhaegar with hostility. 

Rhaegar hesitated for a moment and said cautiously, "What I mean is... you're not suited for Alicent's clothes. The sizes don't match." 

"You dare to keep talking!" 

In Rhaenyra's ears, his words translated to: *Your figure isn't as good as Alicent's.* 

She had gone to great lengths to wear this dress. 

Instead of receiving the praise she expected, she was criticized. How could she not be furious? 

Rhaenyra was so angry that her chest heaved dramatically. The peaks of her figure rose and fell with such force that, if not for the quality of the dress, it might have torn open. 

Seeing Rhaegar about to argue further, she suddenly pounced on him, pinning him down and wrapping her hands around his neck in mock anger. 

Of course, her strength was no match for Rhaegar's. 

Watching her determined efforts, Rhaegar couldn't help but laugh. He reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist, treating it as yet another one of their playful scuffles. 

When Rhaenyra was younger, she always used her seniority to lecture him.

Rhaenyra pinched for a long time, but seeing no effect, she angrily scolded, "Rhaegar, if you dare to talk nonsense again, I'll rip out your tongue."

"Heh, whatever you say."

Rhaegar, still unaware of the gravity of the situation, provocatively opened his mouth wide.

"Ow~!"

Rhaenyra grew increasingly furious and bit down hard on his shoulder.

"Rhaenyra, that really hurts! Let go!"

The sharp pain made Rhaegar immediately change his tone, begging for mercy.

"Dream on! You just need to be taught a lesson."

Still biting down on his shoulder, Rhaenyra flipped him over and raised her hand to strike him.

*Thud—*

Rhaegar suddenly flipped them both, pinning her beneath him.

Even so, Rhaenyra kept her teeth clamped on his shoulder, glaring at him indignantly.

The moon outside the window shone brightly, casting its glow into the bedroom. 

The night breeze rustled through the weirwood trees in the garden, their leaves whispering softly.

Rhaegar looked down at Rhaenyra, enduring the pain in silence.

For a long moment, neither spoke.

Finally, blood seeped from the corner of Rhaenyra's mouth as she slowly let go.

"Ow! You really bit hard!" 

Rhaegar quickly backed away, clutching his bleeding shoulder, his face contorted in pain. 

Rhaenyra had never been this angry before—it really hurt.

She lay on the bed, sulking, and said begrudgingly, "I'm coming with you to Driftmark." 

"Who told you about that?" 

Rhaegar leaned against the bedhead, cleaning the saliva off his shoulder, and looked at her in surprise.

"In all of King's Landing, do you think your dragon pit is the only thing people talk about?"

Rhaenyra shot him a glance, her tone laced with sarcasm.

Rhaegar nodded slightly at her words, choosing not to argue.

As the political center of the entire continent, King's Landing was constantly under watch, its secrets always at risk of exposure.

"I can go to Driftmark on my own. The Sea Snake wouldn't dare try anything."

Rhaegar leaned back, speaking calmly. "Besides, it's just for my name day celebration—and Aunt Rhaenys will be there, too."

"And what about Laena and Daemon?"

Rhaenyra raised her head, her expression serious.

Rhaegar froze, not expecting her to know even that.

"Ah, you've been the heir to the throne for years now, and you're good at many things—but you're too arrogant," Rhaenyra sighed, her voice tinged with helplessness.

Under Rhaegar's puzzled gaze, she kicked off her boots, leaned back against the headboard, and pulled him into an embrace.

Rhaegar obediently rested his head against her soft shoulder, his previously restless mind suddenly calming.

Then, he heard Rhaenyra's wistful voice.

"Rhaegar, I was once chosen by Father as the heir."

"But simply because I am not a man, those vassals who swore allegiance to me belittled me and only paid lip service to my words."

"King's Landing is the largest cesspool in the world, teeming with countless snakes and vermin."

"Every preference you show, every decision you make, will become a target for these pests to exploit."

At this, Rhaenyra leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Rhaegar's forehead, warning him earnestly, "Trust no one. They're only after the flesh and blood we share."

Her heartfelt words were full of caution, urging her younger brother to stay vigilant and avoid becoming someone else's pawn.

Rhaegar silently wrapped his arms around her slender waist, rubbing his cheek against her shoulder. Moved, he said, "I understand. I know."

"No, you don't," Rhaenyra said firmly, holding him tighter. "I've experienced the loneliness of having no one to rely on. You, on the other hand, have always lived in the sun."

She tightened her grip and continued seriously, "You have no foundation in the Small Council, and Father is easily swayed by others."

*Sigh.* 

I wish I could write something great, but the censorship is too overwhelming. If you know, you know.

*(End of Chapter)*