Rumors spread like wildfire in late spring and early summer. Whispers within and outside the Red Keep spoke of the Crown Prince's disfavor with the King. The Crown Prince even decided not to remain in King's Landing after the wedding, planning to return to Dragonstone with his new bride. "Have you heard? He's marrying so quickly because Prince Viserys was made a prince first. Prince Rhaegar felt he had to become the Prince of Dragonstone quickly as well."
"Perhaps the Crown Prince will try to usurp the throne," said a malicious and scheming person.
The relationship between father and son grew increasingly tense. The conflict within the royal family was further exposed when Aerys announced that he, the Queen, and Viserys would not attend the formal wedding ceremony held in front of the Great Sept of Baelor.
"I will not leave the Red Keep again. Lest I be assassinated." Aerys patted the armrest of the Iron Throne – Viserys saw that the mad old man had cut himself again, and blood was dripping – You are already being stabbed every day, he thought, annoyed.
As expected, the King flatly refused his request to attend the wedding, only permitting him to attend the evening banquet. Viserys was indignant. Orders? What were orders? He was going! This was one of the results of his efforts for so long!! His brother was finally marrying Lyanna openly and honestly!! Why couldn't he witness it? Even if he had to wear someone else's face, he would go and watch!
Because Viserys felt extremely aggrieved for his brother's situation, he convinced himself that he had found a reason for his restless mood these days: he knew the Mad King would torment and humiliate his brother!
What made him even more upset was that his brother himself didn't mind the low wedding budget and the limited scale. The Crown Prince went about his business, practicing swordsmanship with his young knight friends and handling affairs. Besides starting to prepare for married life on Dragonstone, he was the same as before.
Is this the power of true love? Because of the core of love, external material conditions like ceremonies are not important? Viserys sourly found a reason. He was so envious of Lyanna, who had won his brother's heart. Well, who told his brother that he was destined to love her? He understood why his brother in the previous timeline would disregard honor and reputation. A girl like Lyanna was a fragrant rose that bloomed in his brother's depressing life! He firmly believed that his brother, who would marry his beloved in this life, would be happy.
Before the end of spring, the Crown Prince of Summerhall indifferently went through another birthday. Viserys wasn't grateful at all to his mad father for spending so much money on his celebration, and he was filled with anger and contempt for the courtiers who crowded around to flatter him while neglecting his brother – if it weren't for his brother's upcoming wedding, which made it unlucky to be joyful and bloody inside and out, he would have killed them all!
The only thing that comforted Viserys was that he had received another gift from his brother: a set of expensive, finely crafted knight's armor. And, in the dream that night, the black technology gift he received for turning a year older: the exact formula for Wildfire and its historical methods of use, along with a knowledge attachment package: locations of easily obtainable petroleum on the continent of Westeros.
Wow, it seems I can set the whole continent on fire. Viserys believed in the power of science. This famous Wildfire was actually the prototype of Wildfire created by the Mad King and the Alchemists' Guild. The sorcerers said that making Wildfire required magic----humph, science is a kind of magic.
The old madman king had Wildfire but only wanted to use it to take a bath, and he would still blow up King's Landing when he was at the end of his rope. Why not use it correctly earlier? Watch me. Viserys believed that he was burdened with the mission of building an invincible navy for the Targaryen family, and to subdue the Seven Kingdoms. He was full of confidence: a highly centralized Westeros in the future would surely be governed by his beloved brother! This is called the true divine right of kings! The God of Science is more worthy of worship than the Seven Gods and the God of Light! The way to worship the God of Science is of course to study and research!
Yes! I must write this down. The New Citadel near King's Landing is the city of the God of Science.
The maesters of Oldtown, who were unaware that the Citadel's status would be replaced, observed the celestial phenomena to measure the length of the day, and finally sent out a white raven to announce the beginning of summer.
The Crown Prince's wedding was also fast approaching. The Northerners came, bringing the bride and her dowry. The great lords from all over the land also came; this was an important social occasion, and they brought gifts. Even Robert Baratheon from the Stormlands came angrily to attend the wedding, his gift being a fur coat inlaid with jewels for the bride.
The Red Keep's courtyard was piled high with wedding gifts sent by the Seven Kingdoms to the Crown Prince. Precious spices from the Vale, stone sculptures from the Iron Islands, silver-inlaid furniture from the Riverlands, silk from Dorne, and the gifts from the richest Westerlands and Reach were even more dazzling: the armor sent to the Dragon Prince was also inlaid with sapphires, and the cloth made of pearls and gold thread made Viserys's eyes dizzy. He was wondering whether his brother would take them all back to Dragonstone or keep them in the King's Landing's treasury?
Who could have predicted that King Aerys would stoop to a new low? He declared that all items containing curses should be burned to prevent contamination, and that's exactly what his pyromancer did, using a jar of Wildfire! The king was still unsatisfied and summoned his two sons to watch.
Viserys was stunned.
Faced with the roaring flames, clothes, wood, leather, and steel were all consumed! The prince, who had spent a fortune on his brother's wedding, was heartbroken. He couldn't believe his brother was being subjected to such torment and humiliation! His eyes were bloodshot, and he almost rushed forward to argue, but Tyrion grabbed his cloak, pulling him back!
"Don't," the dwarf whispered. "You won't help the Crown Prince this way." He gestured for him to look at Rhaegar.
Viserys looked at his brother: Rhaegar stood firm, but his right arm was subtly raised, as if to block something – specifically, Viserys. His brother had been keeping an eye on him, preventing him from rushing forward.
Viserys sniffled, his eyes red as he gazed at his brother's face: the leaping flames cast a pale golden-red glow on his impossibly handsome features, and his purple eyes were illuminated! But there wasn't a trace of anger. It was like the sunset reflected in a deep pool, radiant but unmoved. Yes! His brother didn't care about these possessions at all!
Feeling Viserys's gaze, Rhaegar even turned and gave his brother a small smile, signaling him not to worry, not to be afraid.
Viserys felt pain. His entire body felt as if it had been ignited by Wildfire, boiling and burning. Clenching his teeth, he imitated his brother's composure and stood quietly, suppressing his desires: he just wanted to rush over and embrace his brother, bury his head in his shoulder, and hold him tightly until the end of time. He swore, he vowed, that anyone or anything that harmed his brother's interests or feelings – he would eliminate them, one by one! He would!! He would!!
The eve of the wedding. Viserys looked up at the starry river and the nearly full moon, judging that tomorrow would definitely be a good day.
The young prince happily carried two large velvet boxes towards the Godswood. His brother was unusually calm on the eve of his wedding, not carousing with friends like an ordinary man about to end his single life, but instead, he carried a silver harp and sat alone under the heart tree, playing music.
Even the dense green shade of summer couldn't conceal his silver hair and purple robe. His brother had finally put on the clothes he had brought back from Braavos. Viserys was overjoyed by this fact. He paused, listening carefully—then frowned. Why was his brother's heart still filled with sorrow, even now?
It must be the wedding ceremony tomorrow, with no one from the royal family attending. Brother thinks I can't go either. It doesn't matter, I'll tell brother secretly, I'll go!
Viserys brushed aside a cluster of blooming wisteria and walked towards his brother with a smile.
The Crown Prince stopped playing, put down his harp, and smiled at his younger brother. Moonlight shone on his brother's head, like pure silver. Just like the song he had just played, "Daemon and Castor" sang: My beloved, pure as winter snow, radiant as the sun, moonlight on the hair...
"Brother." Viserys's eyes sparkled. "Brother's wedding is approaching. I've seen brother's dress, the purple embroidery, it suits you very well. So, I prepared this for brother a long time ago!"
He opened the box, presenting his gift—
A flash of brilliance, even the stars in the sky couldn't rival the radiance of this crown. Exquisite Gold and Silver Laurel Leaves, arranged in a circular embrace, encircled an Indigo Teardrop Diamond suspended at the center. Viserys thought it was incredibly close to his brother's eye color.
No Targaryen king, throughout the dynasty, had ever possessed a crown so beautiful and solemn, so refined and elegant. It was a perfect match for his brother!
Rhaegar's slender fingers gently touched the gold leaves. "Viserys," he sighed, "thank you. It's truly beautiful. But this must have cost a fortune. You've spent too much for my wedding."
"As long as you like it, what does the cost matter?" Viserys said happily. "It's mainly the exquisite craftsmanship. In terms of gold and gems, hey, it's not even as heavy as the big crown Father wears now."
"Brother. Don't worry, even though Father won't let me go to the Great Sept of Baelor, I'll disguise myself and go! I won't miss the moment you swear your vows in your wedding attire!" As Viserys spoke, he noticed a hint of sadness in his brother's eyes—sure enough, his brother was also upset about being forbidden from watching the ceremony.
"It's okay, brother," he said softly. "We've both grown up. And Father is getting older every day. We are the rising sun."
Rhaegar gently took his younger brother's hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it firmly.
His breath was warm, his lips cool, or were they burning? Either way, Viserys was intoxicated! A shiver ran down his spine, but it wasn't enough! He wanted more—could his brother hold him tight, kissing him gently from his forehead to his cheek? Could he ask for a cheek kiss? They were brothers, and they'd kissed like that before—
But Rhaegar slowly lowered his hand. Was this the end?
Viserys still wanted to be affectionate with his brother. He whispered, "Brother, let me crown you? Try it on for size?"
Rhaegar smiled and agreed.
Viserys held his breath, carefully holding the Crown with both hands. Rhaegar sat still, as if waiting for a coronation—
"In the name of the Seven, the embodiment of the gods on earth, I hereby crown my dearest brother the unprecedented King of Westeros, the King of Light, under whose rule all Seven Kingdoms shall be, and whose people shall recognize only you as their king—Rhaegar Targaryen."
Viserys spoke his heart with utmost seriousness, and carefully placed the dazzling Crown on his brother's head.
How fitting. More than fitting, his brother was breathtakingly perfect! His focused gaze, his purple eyes brighter than diamonds! His silver hair was perfectly in place, soft and long, and Viserys couldn't resist picking up a strand to kiss it.
Viserys's older brother's eyes were gentle and indulgent. Viserys wrapped his arms around his broad shoulders, and even through the soft clothes, he could feel his brother's body heat up. "Brother will definitely be the greatest king! Unprecedented!"
Rhaegar's arms were strong and tightened around him as well, but after a moment, they gradually loosened, and he didn't kiss his face.
Viserys felt a little disappointed—he could sense that their closeness as brothers wasn't the same. Why was that? Lyanna couldn't possibly control their brotherly affection, could she? Did his brother attribute all his kisses and affection to the gray-eyed North's Direwolf?
Viserys was a bit sensitive, but when it came to Rhaegar, he had always been clingy, even if he had to force it, and he refused to believe that his brother didn't love his persistence. With a hint of defiance towards Lyanna's position, Viserys opened another velvet box.
"This is the Crown of the Crown Princess." He took out a crown identical to the other, only smaller. He reached out to gently brush the dangling gray pearls, then took it off and replaced it with a smaller purple diamond of the same style. "I still think purple looks the best."
After saying that, he put the crown directly on his own head. "How is it, Brother?" He tilted his head slightly, smiling, and the purple dangling diamonds in the center of his forehead emitted a cool, rainbow-like glow.
Rhaegar's pupils clearly reflected Viserys. He even held his breath: his dream Queen—the silver-haired dream lover! Those suppressed emotions were fighting again, his blood was hot and cold, and reason and emotion were constantly battling! Then, the Crown Prince heard his own voice, gentle and hoarse: "Very, fitting. Viserys. Shall I, crown you once?"
Viserys was overjoyed! He quickly took it off and handed it to his brother! He himself knelt on one knee, imitating the pose of a knight being knighted—
Viserys felt his brother's fingers, burning hot, gently caress his temples and the curve of his ear. Was his brother trembling slightly? Confused, he remained bowed, awaiting the arrival of the Crown.
"I, Rhaegar Targaryen. I bestow this sacred Crown of Love upon my beloved brother, and-----"
Why was his brother's voice laced with such obvious tension? Viserys inhaled the intoxicating fragrance of the dragon's breath grass. He heard the second half of his brother's sentence, like the cracking of thick winter ice, the gushing forth of a flowing stream, his brother's resolute words crashing over him. For the first few seconds, he felt as if he were drowning, his mind blank.
----"And the man I deeply love, Viserys Targaryen."
...
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"Game of Thrones: Dragon Prince"
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(End Chapter)