Chapter 297: Lyonel Disciplines His Son


    Viserys sighed softly, smiling wryly at theints from his children. "Don''t make your father seem so uncaring," he said. "The people fear the dragons because they’re so powerful."


    Hena, with her round eyes wide, asked innocently, "But why should they fear us if we don’t do bad things?"


    Viserys was momentarily stunned, embarrassment shing in his eyes. He knew everyone had their own misdeeds, and dragons'' power was inherently fearsome.


    Alicent intervened with a smile. "Hena, your dragon is too fierce. It''s natural for people to be afraid."


    Hena blinked, her confusion clear. "Oh, okay."


    Viserys smiled at his well-behaved, adorable daughter, pulling her into his arms and rubbing her head. Hena leaned into her father, wrapping her arms around his waist.


    Feeling his youngest daughter''s warmth, Viserys''s smile deepened. He looked at Alicent and sighed, "Alicent, you''ve given me wonderful children."


    "It''s our children," Alicent replied, her eyes gentle. She knew exactly how to touch her husband''s heart.


    The children, watching their parents'' tender exchange, fell silent. Rhaenyra’s eyes shed with a hint of contempt, unwilling to witness her former friend so close to her father. Beside her, Rhaegar leaned back, staring out the window.


    Murmuring to himself about the forbidden magic spells, Rhaegar’s thoughts wandered. Half a month ago, Viserys had learned the spell but hesitated to use it for taming dragons on Dragonstone Ind. Rhaegar couldn’t force his father’s decision and suggested teaching the spell to the rest of the Targaryens.


    Viserys had refused, saying, "Targaryens are products of disorder and arrogance. Venturing into magic will only bring disaster!"


    Rhaegar realized his father was right. The Targaryen House was disorganized, with scattered members. Daemon was unpredictable, and the three brothers born to Alicent were not entirely loyal to their eldest sibling. Targaryens, proud because of their dragons, would not settle for less. Daemon’s unpredictability was a prime example.


    "What are you thinking about, so lost in thought?" Rhaenyra’s soft voice broke his reverie as she gently brushed her hand across his face.


    Rhaegar smiled, "Nothing, just thinking it''s been a while since we visited the Kingswood."


    "Really?" Rhaenyra was skeptical.


    Rhaegar shrugged, toozy to lie. Seeing his nonchnt attitude, Rhaenyraughed. "We’ll arrive at the Kingswood soon. Rest a while."


    She helped him lie back, his head resting on herp. Alicent, seeing this,ughed. "The first time we went hunting in the Kingswood, Rhaegar was smaller than Daeron andy in your arms just like this."


    Rhaenyra smiled without replying. If it weren’t for her father and siblings all being in the same carriage, she wouldn’t have bothered with Alicent at all. Being a stepmother really required maintaining appearances.


    ...


    By noon, the group finally arrived at the camp on the edge of the Kingswood, having navigated through a muddy stretch of road from the melted snow. The Kingsguard on white horses entered the camp first, announcing the arrival of the royal family.


    The camp was bustling with colorful tents, bonfires, and food, filled with nobles from all over the realm.


    "Phew~"


    The carriage halted in an open area at the camp''s entrance. The thick door slowly opened under the watchful eyes of the assembled nobles and knights.


    Viserys stepped out first, smiling and waving at the gathered nobility as he descended from the carriage with the help of a short stool. Alicent followed, elegantly dressed in a pale yellow gown and a red cloak, taking her husband’s hand as she stepped down.


    "Your Grace the King... Your Grace the Queen..."


    The nobles erupted in cheers and apuse, greeting the king and queen enthusiastically.


    Rhaegar was the third to emerge, surveying the camp with keen eyes.


    Thud.


    He jumped off the carriage, then turned to assist Rhaenyra, gently helping her down. Rhaenyra habitually opened her arms, smiling.


    "Brother, hug," Hena called, squeezing her way to the carriage door with outstretched arms.


    Rhaegarughed softly. "Of course."


    Rhaenyra gave him a warning look but said nothing. She had already warned him privately.


    Aegon, squeezed to the side, grumbled impatiently, "What''s with all the squeezing?"


    The family then proceeded together towards the main tent. Along the way, nobles cheered and celebrated their presence.


    Rhaenyra held Rhaegar’s hand as they walked behind their father and Alicent. Rhaegar felt the warmth of his sister’s touch, smiling gently while scanning the nobles around them.


    Near the entrance, Lyonel Strong, cloaked and riding a ck horse, watched the scene with gleaming eyes. Beside him were his sons, Harwinand Larys, who stood on the ground observing the royal family.


    "Ahem..."


    Larys coughed lightly, keeping his head down and his eyes wandering.


    Among the crowd, a middle-aged man with a constant smile and a familiarrge nose caught Rhaegar''s attention.


    "That''s HobertHightower, remember?" Rhaenyra whispered.


    Rhaegar nodded, smirking. "Of course, the big-nosed fool."


    Hobert Hightower, Lord of the Hightower House and Otto''s brother, had attended Rhaegar’s coronation as heir. He stood with a haughty noblewoman and a sturdy young man.


    The siblings continued to talk andugh as they recognized more familiar faces. Near an isted fence stood Daemon, Laena, and their twin daughters.


    Rhaegar exchanged a look with Daemon, who gazed back with an intense, aggressive expression.


    ...


    Soon, the family entered the main tent.


    "Your Grace, it''s been too long."


    As soon as Rhaegar entered, he saw a figure with blonde hair striding forward,ughing loudly in a disy of self-assured bravado.


    Viserys recognized the man and greeted him warmly. "Lord Jason, indeed it has been a long time."


    The neer was none other than Jason Lannister, the Warden of the West and Lord of Casterly Rock. With his curly blonde hair, thick beard, andvish attire adorned with the crest of the Roaring Lion, Jason exuded arrogance, often looking down his nose at others.


    After greeting the king, Jason turned his attention to Alicent, saying courteously, "Your Grace, you are as beautiful as ever."


    He then took Alicent''s hand and kissed it with an air of exaggerated honor.


    Alicent''s smile was forced as she replied, "You are still as valiant as ever, Lord Jason."


    She felt ufortable every time she interacted with Jason, the egomaniac.


    Noticing his wife''s difort, Viserys intervened. "Alright, let''s not block the entrance. Let''s go inside and talk."


    "Please, Your Grace,e in." Jason''s smile remained unyielding.


    As he turned around, his eyes briefly lingered on Rhaenyra, seemingly disappointed that he couldn’t greet her directly.


    Rhaegar gave Jason a cursory nce, feeling a slight tingle of irritation.


    "Prince," a voice called from the corner of the tent.


    It was Erryk, dressed in silver armor and white robes. Rhaenyra’s eyes flickered as she and Rhaegar approached him, finding a secluded spot behind one of the tent''s pirs.


    Rhaegar''s expression turned serious as he asked, "Any news?"


    "None," Erryk replied, his face grim. "I''ve searched the entire Red Keep, but there''s no sign of the woman you described."


    Rhaegar frowned. "Alys Rivers’ features are very distinctive. Anyone who’s seen her should remember her."


    Alys Rivers was a dangerous figure, suspected to be the bastard daughter or nursemaid of Hand of the King Lyonel Strong. Old Tully had warned that she might have defected to Larys Strong and was now lurking in the Red Keep. Rhaegar had tasked Erryk with finding her discreetly, to avoid alerting their enemies. Yet there had been no trace of her.


    "Prince, there are no buxom women with green eyes and prominent features in the Red Keep," Erryk said helplessly. "Could she be hiding in an outer mansion or somewhere outside the castle?"


    "It''s possible," Rhaegar conceded. "But continue searching the Red Keep thoroughly. Don’t overlook any detail."


    His mind was racing, ever vignt.


    ...


    Meanwhile, in the camp''s horse stable, Lyonel dismounted and tethered his mount.


    As he turned around, he noticed his two sons, Harwin and Larys, lingering near the fence, each gazing intently in different directions.


    "You two,e here!" Lyonel barked, his anger evident.


    "Yes, father," Harwin responded hastily, reluctantly tearing his gaze away.


    "What are you looking at?" Lyonel demanded, frowning as he followed Harwin''s line of sight.


    In the distance, the backs of the king''s family were barely visible. Lyonel''s anger red, and heshed his eldest son with a horsewhip. "Put away your foolish thoughts, you unproductive fool!"


    "I wasn''t—" Harwin began to protest, his head bowed.


    Snap! Snap! Lyonel struck him twice more with the whip. "Whether you were or not, you''re past the age of marriage. Take this opportunity during the Kingswood hunt to find a suitable nobledy."


    "Father..." Harwin looked up in surprise, but before he could finish, anothersh from the whip nearly struck his face.


    "Shut up and show me you can change," Lyonel growled, gritting his teeth.


    Reluctantly, Harwin nodded in agreement, looking disheveled and chastised.


    "Ahem..." Larys limped closer, his presence entuated by his deliberate coughs.