Rhaegar didn't want to face Rhaenyra's wrath, so he had no choice but to sacrifice his stepmother.
"You think I'm a fool?"
Rhaenyra sneered, her gaze growing increasingly sharp.
Cold sweat ran down Rhaegar's back as he recalled the times in his childhood when Rhaenyra had tormented him.
Clearing his throat to mask his guilt, Rhaegar feigned seriousness. "The red carpet was just something I had no use for. Giving it away was simply making the most of it."
Rhaenyra remained silent, pinching the soft flesh at Rhaegar's waist.
It was just a red carpet—her wealth made such things insignificant.
But she didn't like that Rhaegar had regifted something she had given him.
It was a matter of principle.
"Sister, I've also prepared a gift for you."
Rhaegar grabbed the small hand at his waist with one hand while prying open the one clutching his collar with the other.
Rhaenyra bit her lip lightly, listening to his explanation.
She wanted to see what he had to offer.
Rhaegar extended his hand and spread his fingers wide in front of her.
"Look!"
With a slight flick of his arm, he closed his fingers and then opened them again—revealing a neatly wrapped, exquisite gift box that appeared out of thin air.
Rhaenyra lifted his sleeve, revealing a silver-gray spatial bracelet.
She had spent years by his side, day and night—was there anything about Rhaegar's belongings that she didn't know?
She had long been aware of his enchanted bracelet.
Rhaegar chuckled awkwardly, placing the gift box in her palm. He spoke softly, "Open it. You're going to love it."
"Hmph, let's see what trick you're playing."
Seeing that there was indeed a gift, Rhaenyra's mood instantly lifted, though she kept the corners of her lips from curling up.
Click—
She opened the gift box. Inside, a layer of black velvet lined the bottom, but it was empty.
Rhaenyra froze for a moment. She picked up the soft lining, thinking the gift might be hidden in a compartment.
However, even after thoroughly inspecting the box inside and out, she found nothing.
A brief silence followed.
Rhaenyra glanced at Rhaegar, who was grinning from ear to ear. Silently, she closed the box without saying a word.
"Do you like it?"
Rhaegar's excessive questioning only made things worse.
Rhaenyra closed her eyes, crossed her arms, and leaned back against her chair.
She couldn't be bothered to respond.
She would simply act as if she had received it.
Seeing her reaction, Rhaegar restrained his smile, waving his hand in front of her eyes and whispering, "Look again. You'll definitely like it."
Rhaenyra's knuckles turned white as she suppressed her anger.
Perhaps she had gone too long without disciplining Rhaegar, and now he had forgotten what it meant to awaken a sleeping dragon's fury.
Her hands were itching.
**Ding-ling-ling…**
Her breathing grew heavier as a crisp, delicate chime echoed in her ears.
"I won't tease you anymore. Open your eyes and look."
Rhaegar coaxed her gently.
Pouting angrily, Rhaenyra turned her head away, refusing to open her eyes.
She had already decided—she would beat Rhaegar tonight.
A mere gift wasn't going to change her mind.
Seeing her stubborn demeanor, Rhaegar chuckled and decided to take action.
Still fuming with her eyes shut, Rhaenyra suddenly felt something cool touch her cheek.
Instinctively, she opened her eyes. As she leaned back slightly, she saw a delicate silver-gray necklace.
Forged from steel, the necklace consisted of small interlocking links forming a fine, elegant chain.
With just one glance, Rhaenyra was captivated.
She turned to Rhaegar, eyes filled with surprise and suspicion. "A Valyrian steel necklace?"
"That's right."
Rhaegar smiled, letting the necklace dangle between his fingers, swaying gently.
There had been plenty of steel left over from forging the Valyrian steel greatswords.
He had specifically instructed the blacksmith to set aside some of it to craft an accessory for Rhaenyra.
After forging two weapons, just a small amount of steel remained—perfect for this necklace.
It was as if this piece had been made solely for Rhaenyra.
Rhaenyra stared in a daze, lowering her arms as she gently touched the Valyrian steel necklace before her.
She hadn't expected Rhaegar to prepare such a precious gift for her.
As a thought struck her, she quickly asked, "You said you were forging two weapons. After making this necklace, is there still enough Valyrian steel left?"
Rhaegar draped the necklace over her fingers and smiled. "Don't worry—this piece won't make a difference."
"A Valyrian steel necklace… You're so extravagant."
Rhaenyra rolled her eyes at him, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't suppress the smile at her lips as she caressed the necklace like a treasured gem.
The necklace, aside from its chain, naturally has a unique pendant.
This pendant was personally designed by Rhaegar, who avoided conventional designs and refrained from using pearls or gemstones.
Instead, it features three miniature dragon heads, each the size of a fingernail.
The design pays homage to the three legendary dragons of House Targaryen's early days:
From left to right, they represent Meraxes, Balerion, and Vhagar.
Meraxes has sharp, crown-like horns, with slitted eyes half-closed, exuding a regal elegance.
Balerion's visage is fierce, with glaring eyes full of solemn majesty, radiating an aura of power without anger.
Vhagar, inspired by her mature years, is depicted with dense horns and closed eyes, as if in a deep slumber.
The three dragon heads, arranged with one slightly lower than the other two, hang vividly from the chain, their intricate carvings so lifelike that they seem to house the spirits of dragons within.
"It's absolutely beautiful!"
Rhaenyra exclaimed sincerely, marveling at the necklace and refusing to miss even the smallest detail.
There was no denying it—Kohor's blacksmiths deserved their reputation as the finest.
The necklace was crafted with extraordinary precision, as if it was always destined to be this breathtaking.
"I'm glad you like it."
Rhaegar leaned on the back of her chair, admiring Rhaenyra's profile.
He recalled how Daemon once gifted Rhaenyra a Valyrian steel necklace.
Though Rhaenyra despised Daemon's actions, she had kept the necklace buried at the bottom of her jewelry box.
Reflecting on this, Rhaegar leaned closer to her ear and said in a deep voice, "Now, you have a new family heirloom."
Rhaenyra glanced at him in surprise before understanding his meaning.
Raising the necklace over her head with a radiant smile, she said, "Rhaegar, put it on for me!"
"Of course."
Rhaegar obliged without hesitation, removing the necklace she was already wearing and expertly fastening the new one around her fair, snow-white neck.
As for the old necklace, he casually tossed it out the window.
Rhaenyra lowered her head to admire the necklace, the three dragon heads resembling protective talismans, growing more charming the longer she looked.
*Smack!*
Wrapping her arms around Rhaegar's neck, she planted a playful kiss on his cheek.
Rhaegar buried his head in her hair, inhaling the soothing scent of lavender, before saying, "Rhaenyra, my father has given me a list of potential marriage alliances."
"What are you planning to do?"
Rhaenyra asked softly, tilting her head slightly as she toyed with the necklace.
"You already know what I mean," Rhaegar replied.
"Ha-ha..."
Rhaenyra chuckled, her eyes sparkling mischievously. She teased, "If you want something, just talk to your father. He always spoils you."
"I'm quite greedy, you know," Rhaegar said with a playful glint in his eye, feigning mystery.
He knew that Rhaenyra cared for him just as much as he cared for her.
As he mused, his hand rested on the rocking chair's arm, feeling the smooth texture of the polished wood.
Outside the window,
a weirwood tree stood tall, its massive trunk crawling with two small green caterpillars.
One caterpillar slowly climbed upward, while the other made its way downward.
The upper caterpillar reached a branch and found a tender, juicy leaf.
It crawled onto the leaf and began devouring it hungrily, as if it hadn't eaten in ages.
Meanwhile, the lower caterpillar struggled along, its eyes fixed on a sticky glob of tree sap.
*Smack!*
Just as it reached the sap and prepared for a feast, a small hand suddenly covered it.
"Rhaegar, don't!"
Rhaenyra would always remain the leading lady.
Her children would never be illegitimate; I will ensure the conditions make sense.
(End of Chapter)