(A/N):
Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.
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As Syrax soared through the clouds,
The wind whipped past Leo's face, cool and sharp against the warmth of the dragon's scales.
Rhaenyra held tightly behind him,
While Aemma stood steady beside them,
Her crimson eyes glowing faintly under the moonlight.
Then, in Leo's mind, the familiar tone of his system chimed softly.
"...."
[DING...]
[Task Completed!]
[Objective: Save Aemma Arryn and her child.]
[Reward: Perfect Kingdom Set x 1.]
A faint smile crossed Leo's lips.
'Perfect Kingdom Set,'
But before he could even dwell on it,
Another notification appeared in his vision.
[DING...]
[Hidden Quest Completed!]
[Objective: Claim your first Vampire Bride under your dominion.]
[Reward: Daylight Tattoos (Automatic Application)]
[Effect of Reward: All Vampire Brides under the Host gain immunity to solar exposure, wooden stakes, and blood dependency. The tattoos are invisible unless the Host chooses otherwise.]
Leo exhaled quietly, content.
'So, it's done.'
He looked over at Aemma,
Who seemed completely at ease under the moonlight.
Her hair, once tangled and pale from suffering,
Shimmered silver again in the night air.
A faint glow traced along her collarbone for a moment —
Intricate sigils forming and fading just as quickly.
The Daylight Tattoos had already manifested.
Leo's eyes softened.
She wouldn't burn under the sun,
Nor suffer the thirst that haunted other vampires.
He'd given her a second life —
One free from weakness, bound only by choice.
Rhaenyra, seated just behind him, stole glances at her mother in silent wonder.
"...."
The woman beside her looked like the mother she knew —
Yet something within her presence felt vast, commanding, alive in a way no mortal could ever be.
As Syrax descended through the soft veil of morning mist,
The familiar lake came into view—
Still, quiet, and glimmering beneath the moon light.
This was the place where destiny had first shifted,
Where a curious princess had met a knight who defied her world's rules.
Leo stepped off Syrax's back,
Helping both Rhaenyra and Aemma down.
His eyes scanned the area briefly,
Ensuring no one was nearby.
With a wave of his hand, faint threads of illusion magic shimmered across their forms—
Subtle but effective.
Aemma's regal presence softened.
Her silver hair dulled to a warm chestnut hue, her fine gown replaced by the modest attire of a traveling noblewoman.
Rhaenyra's appearance shifted too,
Her hair darkening slightly, her eyes losing their Valyrian glow.
They looked like a mother and daughter from a minor house,
Far from the reach of King's Landing's eyes.
"Keep those on,"
Leo said quietly, brushing a bit of dust from his sleeve.
"Your faces are too well known in this city. For now, we'll blend in as travelers."
Rhaenyra nodded silently, still processing everything.
Nod~
"...."
Her mother's calmness unsettled her most—
The woman who had once wept and smiled so easily now carried an aura of quiet power, her movements graceful and precise.
Together, they walked the short distance toward the nearby keep Leo had previously,
A sturdy stone building near the edge of the lake.
The scent of roasted bread and wood smoke drifted from within.
As they entered, the keep owner, a broad man with a grizzled beard, looked up from his counter.
His gaze flicked to Leo—
"...."
Recognition sparking instantly.
A knowing grin crept onto his face.
Grin~
"Back again, my lord,"
He said with a chuckle.
Chuckle~
"And this time with two fine ladies in tow, eh?"
Leo sighed inwardly but managed a faint, polite smile.
Sigh~
The man had seen him arrive with women before—
Setsura, Kejoro, Hagoromo Gitsune, even Sasami—
And had drawn his own conclusions.
"Just travelers under my care,"
Leo replied evenly, his tone firm enough to end any further teasing.
He reached into his coat and handed over a few dragon gold coins.
"A private room for them. No interruptions."
The landlord chuckled, counting the coins with a gleam in his eye.
Chuckle~
"Of course, of course. Discretion's my finest service."
He handed over an ornate brass key.
"Top floor, end of the hall."
Leo turned and pressed the key into Rhaenyra's hand.
"You and your mother will share the room. Rest as long as you need—it's been a long night."
Rhaenyra hesitated.
"What about you?"
"I already have a room booked," he said simply stated.
"Don't worry—I'll be nearby."
Aemma nodded, her crimson-tinged eyes softening.
Nod~
"Thank you… for everything."
Leo inclined his head slightly.
"We'll talk more once you've both rested."
The next morning came quietly,
Sunlight slipping through the curtains and painting the inn's walls gold.
Leo was half-dressed, hair still slightly tousled,
When a sharp knock came at the door.
Knock~ Knock~
He sighed.
Sigh~
"It's too early for assassins."
When he opened it,
Kejoro, Hagoromo Gitsune, Setsura, and Sasami stood in the hallway —
Every one of them wearing a look that spelled trouble.
Kejoro crossed her arms.
"So…"
She began sweetly,
"we leave you alone for one night—one—and when we come back, your harem counter's up by two?"
Sasami nodded solemnly beside her.
Nod~
"At this rate..."
Leo rubbed the bridge of his nose, exhaling a weary breath.
"It's not like that."
Leo explained to them what happened yesterday night when he went out.
Hagoromo Gitsune tilted her head,
Amusement dancing in her golden eyes.
"You saved a queen from death, turned her into your bride, and brought her daughter along. If it's not like that, then what is it like?"
Setsura, ever the calm one, added softly,
"They're not wrong, Leo."
Leo gave them all a flat look, then muttered,
"I'm surrounded by comedians."
Kejoro grinned and flicked his shoulder.
Grin~
"No, by women who know exactly what you're doing even when you don't admit it."
Before he could retort,
A light knock came from behind him.
Knock~
He turned to see Aemma and Rhaenyra entering,
Both still under their illusionary guises —
Mother and daughter appearing as modest travelers.
Aemma moved with surprising grace,
Her aura calm and composed.
She smiled warmly at the others.
"I hope we're not intruding."
"Not at all,"
Setsura said with a polite bow of her head,
Though her sharp eyes were studying Aemma closely —
"...."
She could feel the faint thrum of vampiric power in her now.
Rhaenyra, however, stood stiffly beside her mother, clearly struggling to relax.
"...."
The lively princess of yesterday was gone,
Replaced by someone cautious, quiet, and completely out of her depth.
Leo motioned toward the table.
"Come. Let's eat before the innkeeper burns the bread again."
They gathered around the breakfast table —
Plates of fresh fruit, bread, and tea laid out before them.
Aemma blended in almost effortlessly,
Smiling and conversing softly with Kejoro and Setsura as though she had been part of their circle for years.
Her natural poise returned easily, now enhanced by her calm, almost ethereal presence.
Rhaenyra, on the other hand, sat awkwardly between Sasami and Hagoromo Gitsune,
Fidgeting with her spoon and answering questions in short sentences.
Sasami leaned toward her with a playful smile.
"Relax, princess. We don't bite."
Rhaenyra blinked, momentarily forgetting the idiom.
"...."
"You're sure about that?"
Kejoro chuckled, whispering from across the table,
Chuckle~
"Depends on the night."
That earned her a groan from Leo and a round of soft laughter from the others.
Aemma smiled faintly, watching the banter with warmth in her eyes.
For the first time since her rebirth,
She felt something akin to peace.
Leo glanced around the table — the mismatched group of yokais, human and vampires—
And thought briefly of the system message from the night before.
'Perfect Kingdom Set.'
A fitting reward.
He leaned back in his chair, arms folded,
And allowed himself a small smile.
Quiet laughter, clinking cups,
And the low hum of the inn's morning bustle outside.
Yet Leo's focus was elsewhere.
He leaned back in his chair,
Half-listening to the conversation as his eyes flicked to the faintly glowing system screen visible only to him.
"...."
[Perfect Kingdom Set – Construction Progress: 66%]
[Estimated Completion Time: 4 Hours, 12 Minutes]
He exhaled quietly through his nose.
'Good. Just a few more hours.'
After a moment,
He straightened and looked at the group.
"I'll be heading to the Red Keep today. The invitation I received yesterday still stands."
The name struck the table like a crack of thunder.
"...."
Aemma's expression instantly hardened,
Her fingers tightening around the edge of her cup.
The warmth in her crimson eyes dimmed to something cold.
"The Red Keep?"
She repeated quietly, her tone sharp beneath its calm.
"Why go back there? You've seen what kind of place it is."
Leo met her gaze evenly.
"Because power doesn't stay quiet forever. If we vanish, questions will come. It's better show my face before leaving..."
Before Aemma could answer,
"...."
Rhaenyra spoke up. Her voice trembled only slightly.
"Then I'm coming with you."
Aemma turned to her sharply.
"Rhaenyra, no."
The princess rose from her seat, eyes steady.
"Mother, I won't hide while my name burns in whispers. They'll call me a coward — a Targaryen who ran from her father's court. I'll leave the Red Keep openly."
The silence around the table deepened.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Setsura exchanged a quiet look with Hagoromo Gitsune.
Even they could sense the weight of what Rhaenyra was declaring.
Aemma reached for her daughter's hand, voice softening.
"You don't understand how cruel they are, Rhaenyra. That court feeds on blood and envy. You don't have to—"
But Leo raised a hand gently, cutting her off.
"...."
His voice was calm,
But it carried that quiet authority that made everyone listen.
"Let her speak, Aemma."
He looked to Rhaenyra,
Studying her for a long moment.
"...."
The fire in her violet eyes was unmistakable —
The same defiance he had once seen in her mother.
Finally, he nodded.
Nod~
"Very well."
Aemma's eyes widened.
"Lord Leo—"
He turned toward her, his tone steady and reassuring.
"She'll be with me. I'll bring her back safely."
The queen hesitated,
Her gaze darting between her daughter and the man who had given her life back.
Then she sighed, the tension easing from her shoulders.
Sigh~
"If you say so…"
Leo gave a faint smile.
"Trust me. I have no intention of letting history repeat itself."
Rhaenyra exhaled slowly, relief flickering across her face.
For the first time since the night of her mother's rebirth,
She felt something other than confusion—
A sense of purpose.
Kejoro leaned back in her chair with a smirk.
Smirk~
"Looks like our quiet morning's about to turn into another royal mess."
Sasami groaned softly.
"Every time he says 'I'll handle it,' something explodes."
Leo chuckled under his breath.
Chuckle~
"Then let's try to keep today quiet for once."
Red Keep...
Meanwhile, in the Red Keep,
Grief hung over the halls like a heavy shroud.
The once bright and echoing corridors were quiet,
The servants moving like shadows.
The banners of House Targaryen hung limp, and black drapes covered the marble walls.
The King's court mourned its queen and prince.
Or at least, that was the image it chose to show.
Inside the royal solar,
Viserys I Targaryen sat slumped on his throne, his crown absent, his eyes hollow.
"...."
The faint morning light from the windows barely touched him.
A guard knelt before him, helm tucked under one arm.
"Your Grace,"
The guard said cautiously,
"the funeral rites are ready to begin. The pyres await your word."
Viserys didn't respond immediately.
He rubbed his temples, the grief dulling every thought.
"My wife… my son…"
He murmured under his breath.
Then, his weary gaze lifted slightly.
"And my daughter? Where is Rhaenyra?"
The guard hesitated.
"...."
"Your Grace… the princess has not been seen since yesterday."
Viserys's head snapped up, eyes narrowing with sudden alarm.
Frown~
"Not seen?"
His voice cracked.
"You mean to tell me she's missing?"
"Her chambers are empty, sire,"
The man said quickly.
"We've searched the grounds. She's not in the city. A squad has been dispatched to bring her back."
Viserys rose to his feet shakily, gripping the armrest for support.
"Find her. She should be here beside her family—not wandering the gods know where!"
The guard bowed deeply and hurried from the room.
"...."
Viserys exhaled, trembling hands covering his face.
"Aemma… Rhaenyra… why does the gods' cruelty never end?"
But beyond the walls of his private grief,
King's Landing was stirring in darker ways.
In the torch-lit corridors and shadowed council chambers,
Whispers spread like wildfire.
Nobles, lords, and schemers all moved their unseen pieces across the board.
"The king has no heir now."
"The realm needs stability."
"Perhaps the next queen should come from our house."
One by one, letters were written and ravens sent.
Proposals were drafted, alliances whispered.
Ambition, not mourning, filled the Red Keep's heart that day.
Behind closed doors...
The Hightowers, Lannisters, and Velaryons each played their hand —
Eager to see their daughters seated beside the Iron Throne.
After all, the line of succession had grown fragile,
And many were quick to remind others that women could not inherit the crown.
Outside, the bells tolled for the dead queen and her infant son.
Dragonpit...
The funeral pyres had been raised in the Dragonpit,
Solemn and grand beneath the cloudy sky.
Black banners of House Targaryen rippled in the wind.
Incense smoke curled through the air,
Mingling with the scent of ash and sorrow.
The royal family and nobles stood in silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Viserys I stood at the forefront,
His crown heavy, his eyes empty.
His wife's body—
What they believed to be her body—
Was laid out beside the small shrouded form of their infant son.
According to Targaryen tradition,
Both would be sent to the heavens in flame—
By dragon's breath, to be one with fire and blood.
Viserys looked to the sky for his daughter again.
"Where is she?"
He murmured, the words breaking the tense quiet.
"She should be here."
He turned to a nearby guard.
"Has the search party returned?"
The man bowed.
"Not yet, Your Grace."
At that,
Daemon Targaryen, standing a few paces behind, let out a quiet, humorless laugh.
Haha~
"...."
His half-healed face was still wrapped in fresh bandages from his duel days before—
Proof of the humiliation he'd suffered.
Viserys's weary eyes flicked toward him, his patience thin.
"Something amusing, brother?"
Daemon smirked faintly beneath the wrappings.
Smirk~
"Only that your daughter seems to have inherited your stubbornness… and your timing."
Viserys shot him a glare,
But Daemon only folded his arms, eyes drifting to the crowd.
They landed on Otto Hightower,
Standing prim and cold beside the other councillors.
"...."
A sneer crept onto Daemon's lips.
Sneer~
"And yet, you still listen to that snake instead of your own kin,"
He muttered under his breath.
Otto glanced briefly his way,
But Daemon's stare was sharp enough to make him turn away first.
The tension was thick—
Until the ground itself began to tremble.
A faint vibration rippled through the stones of the Dragonpit,
And several lords turned their heads sharply. The sound that followed silenced all conversation.
A dragon's roar.
ROAAARRR!
Low, thunderous, and unmistakable.
The sky above the city split with the beating of vast wings.
Shadows passed over the crowd as people craned their necks upward.
There, descending from the clouds, came the familiar golden form of Syrax—
Her scales glinting faintly in the muted sunlight.
The nobles gasped and stepped back,
Shielding their faces from the powerful gust of wind that followed her landing.
Viserys froze, disbelief flooding his tired eyes.
"Syrax…?"
Daemon's smirk returned, more genuine this time.
Smirk~
"Seems the missing princess has decided to make an entrance."
As Syrax landed,
Her talons cracking the stone beneath her weight,
The great dragon bowed its head slightly—
And from her back, two figures dismounted.
"...."
"...."
"...."
The crowd fell into shocked silence.
Every noble, every guard, every whisper of mourning went still when the man beside the princess stepped forward.
Leo Morningstar —
The mysterious knight from the tourney, the one who had humiliated Ser Criston Cole and Daemon alike —
Walked with unshaken calm beside the king's only living heir.
The faint black and crimson markings along his armor gleamed like burning veins under the gray sky.
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the gathered nobles.
"That's him…"
"The foreign king…"
"Eldoria, he called it—where in the Seven Kingdoms is that?"
Even the dragons chained beyond the pit stirred uneasily at his presence.
King Viserys I, pale and weary,
"...."
Stepped forward from the funeral pyres.
His expression flickered between relief and confusion.
"Rhaenyra,"
He said, his voice cracking slightly,
"Where have you been? Do you have any idea what—"
He stopped himself, glancing at Leo before gesturing toward the pyres.
"Show some respect for your mother and your brother. Bow your head, child."
But Rhaenyra didn't move.
"...."
Her face was unreadable,
Her eyes calm but distant as she stared at the two figures laid before the crowd.
She walked forward slowly,
The crowd parting in silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Even Daemon, his smirk fading, watched her intently.
When she reached the bier where the infant lay,
She knelt beside it.
The sight of that small, still form tore through the hardened mask she wore.
Her hand trembled as she touched the boy's forehead.
A single tear fell from her eyes onto his cold skin.
"I never even got to hold him,"
She whispered, voice barely audible.
The crowd watched silently.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Viserys's hand hovered uncertainly in the air, guilt flickering in his eyes.
Then Rhaenyra rose, her expression changing —
Calm, no longer grieving.
Her gaze shifted to the other body lying beside the child.
Her mother's shrouded form.
No.
Her eyes narrowed —
And through Leo's illusion-breaking magic, she saw the truth.
Not her mother.
The Grand Maester, bound by enchantment,
He trapped beneath the appearance of the dead queen.
His body trembled faintly,
"...."
His eyes wide with silent terror as Rhaenyra's cold gaze locked onto him.
She said nothing.
She didn't need to.
The silent exchange between them —
"...."
Her quiet understanding, his desperate, pleading stare —
Was enough to chill the air itself.
Then, slowly, she turned away.
Still without a word to her father,
She reached back and took Leo's hand.
The gasps that followed echoed across the pit —
The sight of the princess of House Targaryen,
Openly clasping the hand of a foreign king in front of the royal court.
Leo, calm as ever, met Viserys's gaze across the distance.
The faintest hint of crimson flickered in his eyes as he spoke —
"...."
His voice steady, resonant, and cutting through the silence like thunder.
"Your Grace,"
He said, bowing his head slightly,
"I am Leo Morningstar, King of Eldoria."
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(Author's POV)
(A/N)I hope you guys are enjoying the story.
Thanks for reading the chapter!
Please give areview
And power stone!!!
It will Motivate Me.