The maester serving Count Amber of Harrenhal recorded the events of the largest tournament in history, held in the spring of the year 283 of the Conquest, in a parchment book of his own making. Later generations would consult such historical records to study the champion of the jousting competition, Prince Rhaegar, and his actions. According to the maester's account, Rhaegar won the crown of love and beauty and, with the help of his brother, presented it to Lyanna Stark, the daughter of the Duke of the North. After the beautiful winter rose was placed on the girl's head, Prince Rhaegar dismounted and sincerely proposed to her. Everything was as perfect as a legendary ballad—
But someone discovered that Moonboy, King Aerys's jester, had a completely different description. "A mess. Lyanna looked like she'd been pricked by the thorns of the rose when the crown was placed on her head, she cried out in surprise—but the Prince's next words stunned her: His Grace apologized to her, the black knight dismounted, bowed slightly, but did not kiss her hand. His Grace said he had inadvertently offended her in the forest yesterday, please don't mind, he would take responsibility and marry her. The girl's father and brother were overjoyed to hear this—but as the Prince's words finished, the audience became even more chaotic and noisy, Robert of the Stormlands shouted and protested against the Prince. Then the Prince's brother, the Prince of Summerhall, stepped forward to argue with Robert, cursing him for having more than thirty illegitimate children and not being qualified to covet the daughter of any good family—I've never seen such a chaotic and ridiculous proposal."
What? What valuable content could a jester, whose job was to make people laugh, possibly say? He's exaggerating, he's talking nonsense! The academic scholars of later generations denied this, and asserted that the maester's records should be the standard! Do you understand? What the jester said was just a folk tale!
So, in fact-----
Viserys himself was also shocked when his brother dismounted, reached out to his chest armor, and with the standard knightly, graceful and dignified posture, requested Lyanna to marry him! This was too fast, too hasty, wasn't it? He stared blankly at his brother's figure so close to him, his heart in a mess—Was his brother happy? Viserys stared at his flawless, calm expression, his purple eyes, more beautiful than his own—golden sunlight sinking into them, why wasn't it bright and full? Rhaegar lowered his eyes, his thick eyelashes blocking deeper exploration, and Viserys suddenly felt something was wrong! His brother's happy and joyful eyes weren't like this! He knew it!
But! His brother had gotten his wish! No more unloved wife, the Dornish Princess forced upon him by their father with malicious intent! And now Lyanna was completely free—Didn't I successfully change history, change my brother's sorrowful fate? He thought anxiously, had something gone wrong? Was his brother worried that the mad King wouldn't agree? He was exploring the possibilities, when suddenly, he heard a furious roar: "What!? Prince! You can't take my Lyanna!!"
Robert Baratheon! His face was flushed red, his nostrils flared! The acting Duke of the Stormlands was like a storm, roaring over! He angrily pushed away the attendants, flipped over several rows of the audience seats and charged towards them! Clenching his fists, his momentum was fierce! "How did you offend her! Damn it! You have insulted her!?"
Viserys suddenly felt a strong sense of crisis!! This usurper!! He jumped up like a sword drawn from its sheath! He stepped over his position, stood in the front row, and fiercely pointed at Robert: "Shut up! Don't you dare insult my brother! Do you think my brother is like you, unable to move his feet when he sees a woman!?"
Robert lost his mind the moment he heard Rhaegar propose to Lyanna – not that he had much to begin with. Viserys's angry curses were like adding fuel to the fire; he wanted to lunge forward! But the Crown Prince immediately stepped in front of Viserys, raising his hand holding Dark Sister, his eyes icy. "I don't mind stepping in if you try to attack the Prince of Summerhall, Targaryen!"
"Who's afraid of you!!! You used your power to steal my Lyanna!!" Robert's eyes burned fiercely, and he spat on the ground coarsely. "I want a duel! I want a duel!!"
A duel between them? This was the biggest landmine in Viserys's heart! Robert would have to step over his dead body to face his brother!!
"Want a duel?! Robert Baratheon, you'll have to get through me first!!" He shouted desperately: "But on what grounds? You're not worthy! What is your relationship to Lyanna? Just a failed suitor! Do you think she wants to be the stepmother of your thirty-six bastards?! No good girl wants to marry you!! You arrogant fool! No woman really likes you!! You deserve to spend your life with the castle cooks!!"
Robert's face turned the color of liver. He wanted to come up with something to retort to Viserys! No! He wanted to punch him even more! Shut that awful mouth!
Viserys, having insulted him, immediately turned to the father and son of House Stark and shouted, "Didn't you explicitly reject this man's proposal in the past? He's still lusting after Lyanna! And he wants to ruin any other good match for Lyanna! Aren't you going to stop him? Shouldn't it be her father and brother who duel with Robert?!"
Count Rickard glanced at Brandon, and the eldest son immediately walked towards Robert! "Hey! Don't you dare slander my sister's reputation! House Stark has not made any marriage arrangements with House Baratheon! The Crown Prince has the right to choose Lyanna!"
Ned also hurried forward, grabbing Robert by the arm. He called to his brother Stannis, leading the Stormlands attendants. The two worked together, joining a group of attendants, and forcibly dragged away the young man who was shouting and cursing incessantly.
This isn't over! We need to isolate Robert Baratheon! Make that damned usurper a commander without any soldiers!
Viserys thought through gritted teeth. He was still furious, consumed by killing intent, and also a little frightened, afraid that his brother would fight a duel—afraid that the Ruby on his chest would once again spill onto the riverbank. He couldn't help but grab his brother's arms, staring blankly at the three-headed dragon on the black helmet. "Don't get involved with him, brother!"
Rhaegar stood there quietly, watching his younger brother. How strange, he felt half his blood boil and the other half run cold. His brother's touch and care could warm him, but the meaning of giving the rose crown to another made his heart chill—the Targaryen queen with silver hair whom he kept in his heart, his dream lover, was, in the end, just an illusion.
A gentle breeze stirred the two brothers' silver hair. Melancholy and sadness lingered in Rhaegar's eyes. Viserys looked up at his brother, first stunned, then urgently said, "Don't worry, brother! There's nothing that can't be resolved! Including Father! We can make him agree to this marriage!"
Rhaegar raised his hand to put an arm around his brother's shoulder but stopped himself. He finally nodded slowly, "Yes."
"Your Grace! Your Grace!" Lyanna broke free from her father and brother, calling out to Rhaegar repeatedly, "May I speak with you alone?"
"You may, Miss Lyanna." Rhaegar nodded at her, polite as ever. "Please—" Since acting rashly had not brought about good results, the Crown Prince had always been clear about how to proceed in the future.
"Viserys—" He reached out and stopped his younger brother, who wanted to follow. He said gently, "My dear brother, what Lyanna and I talk about... is not suitable for you to hear."
Viserys reluctantly stopped, watching his brother lead Lyanna towards the godswood of Harrenhal. He felt a bit crestfallen; his brother had, for the first time, refused to let him tag along. Now that he has a wife, he forgets his brother… Still, he supposed, his brother loved Lyanna the most.
He thought miserably, They say that… when he died in battle… the name he called was Lyanna's…
He clutched his chest, the pain spurring him to fiercely prevent that fate.
Only the sound of a babbling stream filled the shadowed woods. They looked at each other, and Lyanna saw melancholy and helplessness in the Crown Prince's eyes. She raised her face. "Your Grace, you are a good man. But how could you propose so abruptly? You don't love me. And of course, I don't love you—"
Rhaegar nodded slightly. "Miss Lyanna. I understood from a young age that my marriage would likely have nothing to do with love. It would probably only be a pact. And from Viserys's words and my own judgment, Miss Lyanna, you are not a naive girl filled with romantic fantasies. You are brave, passionate, and have a sense of justice. You stand up for the weak, and you are more like a true knight than many men. There is no greedy ambition in your grey eyes—I hope to form a marriage alliance with you. Even, to become friends."
Lyanna was surprised. "Marriage, an alliance? To become friends?"
The Crown Prince's voice was calm, as if he were talking about someone else's story. "You are the person my brother recommended to me. I do need a marriage to dispel my father's unrealistic plans. I need a marriage to be granted the title of Prince of Dragonstone and to experiment with Viserys on my fiefdom, such as trying to grow food and vegetables on volcanic rock. Miss Lyanna, since your father and brothers are also eagerly arranging a marriage for you, you might as well consider me."
He chuckled briefly as he said this, the mirth failing to reach his melancholy eyes. "Viserys gave you the flower crown because he believed that you and I had fallen in love at first sight…"
"Huh?" Lyanna could hardly believe her ears. "This… how could he possibly think that?"
"He simply wants the person he loves to be happy," the Crown Prince said softly. "I promise that I will treat you like my best friend. Even if you feel reluctant, I won't force you to share my bed and bear an heir. I will respect my wife, listen to her opinions like a friend, and will not bind you with royal rules; you will be completely free on Dragonstone. And I, no matter what, will never take a mistress."
It was truly amazing. Lyanna didn't believe Robert's promises that he would change after marriage, but she completely trusted the silver-haired Targaryen Crown Prince's words. She thought, because he is a true knight, a man of his word, and worthy of respect. Facing the young man with his melancholic demeanor, her heart softened. What else could marriage be about? She thought, what the Crown Prince said was generous and fair.
She tentatively asked, "Completely free? You mean, I can ride horses and wear a sword? Like a man?"
"Of course, my lady. I agree with Viserys's view that women should be educated like men, and those with the talent can also become knights. Even, women should have the right to end a marriage."
"You mean go become a Silent Sister?"
Rhaegar shook his head. "No, do you know about what happened to Queen Naerys in the past?"
"I know, the poor queen," Lyanna said sympathetically.
"Even as a Targaryen princess, she was forced to bear child after child by a king with countless mistresses, a king who didn't love her at all. The king took pleasure in tormenting her, and she wasn't even allowed to become a nun. Eventually, she died in a childbirth she never wanted," Rhaegar said sorrowfully. "Therefore, Viserys said that Queen Naerys's marriage was a great tragedy. She should have had the right to dissolve her marriage with a philandering husband, but the inheritance of her legitimate children would remain unchanged. Naerys could still remain a Targaryen princess and remarry the truly loved Aemon—the most noble Dragonknight would not have died young like her. Preventing such tragedies and granting women such freedom is the fair marriage system that Viserys and I hope to establish in the Seven Kingdoms."
"You brothers are planning to change the Seven Kingdoms! How wonderful!! From the status of women to growing food! This is a very remarkable thing!" The gray-eyed girl's eyes sparkled, shining brightly.
"Welcome, Miss Lyanna, to join us and become a friend, a companion," Rhaegar said, reaching out his hand to the girl—he was already sure of victory.
Lyanna imitated the man and high-fived the Crown Prince. Whatever, she thought, my father will definitely make me get married, so why not marry a partner like the Crown Prince? I also want to be involved in their grand transformation of Westeros!
Meanwhile, in the gloomy room of Harrenhal, Viserys piled all the golden dragons in front of Baelish, the king's favored pyromancer, and the gold coins glittered into a mountain. But Baelish didn't dare to be blinded, because—
The Prince of Summerhall held Dark Sister in his other hand, as if ready to draw it at any moment.
"I am willing to serve you, Your Highness," Baelish stammered.
Viserys stared at the other person. "Excellent. All this money is yours! Just tell the King that you foresaw the future in the flames: a Targaryen, born of ice and fire, a union of Dragonflame and the blood of the running wolf, will become the glorious King of all Kings! You can see it, the Dornish desert transformed into an oasis! A new barrier built beyond The Wall! A new Kingsroad, crisscrossing every corner of Westeros, and a new white city rising near the Royal City! The largest fleet in the world will sail from Blackwater Bay, straight to Braavos – a new world will be revealed to the Targaryen King!"
...
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(End Chapter)