Chapter 201: Jeyne’s Temptation

"Rhaenyra!" Viserys murmured, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he watched the scene unfold.

Amidst the lively music, many dancing partners began to flirt with each other.

"Ohhhh!" Jeyne whimpered as Rhaegar stepped on her foot again. He remained expressionless, not even bothering to apologize this time.

"Don't rush, dance with your heart," Jeyne said, forcing a smile despite the discomfort.

Rhaegar's movements were stiff. One hand held Jeyne's waist while the other awkwardly guided her back. His steps were disorganized, lacking the agility he displayed in battle.

His forehead was deeply furrowed, almost forming a permanent crease. All he wanted was for the music to stop so he could return to his unfinished plate of red grapes.

"Rhaegar!" Rhaenyra's cool voice cut through the air.

Rhaegar and Jeyne turned to her at the same time.

"Jeyne, perhaps you should find another partner," Rhaenyra said, stepping between them and pulling Rhaegar behind her, her gaze fixed on Jeyne.

Meeting her gaze, Jeyne felt the hostility and took a step back.

Rhaenyra placed Rhaegar's hands on her waist and said with a forced smile, "If you want to learn to dance, I'll teach you."

"Forget it," Rhaegar muttered, recognizing her anger and not wanting to provoke her further. Stepping on two ladies in one evening was bad enough.

After a moment's hesitation, Jeyne also suggested, "Rhaenyra, why don't we get some rest?"

"Shut up!" Rhaenyra snapped. She grabbed a waiter's tray, pointed to a glass of red wine, and threatened, "If you say another word, I'll spill that wine on your white dress."

Jeyne, startled, covered her mouth and backed away.

At that moment, Rhaenyra resembled a fierce lioness protecting her cub, radiating an intimidating aura. Jeyne wisely decided to leave the dance floor.

Rhaenyra turned her attention to Rhaegar and scolded him, "Useless!"

Rhaegar looked innocent, not daring to speak back. Despite his bravery on the battlefield, he feared Rhaenyra in this mood.

Rhaenyra wrapped her arms around his waist, forcing him to hold her as well. "Dance," she ordered, "if you step on me, I'll cut off your toes."

"Okay, okay, just calm down," Rhaegar whispered, trying to calm her down. He moved carefully, trying his best to follow her lead.

...

As Jeyne walked out of the dancing crowd, her heart pounded with a mix of nervousness and excitement. For a moment, she felt intimidated by Rhaenyra, realizing that her actions were akin to a thief caught in the act.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Jeyne smoothed her thoughts and looked towards the king on his throne. With no progress made with Rhaegar, she decided to start with a more pragmatic approach.

"Your Grace, may I request to join the Small Council to aid in governance?" she asked, approaching Viserys with an air of elegance.

She had subtly broached the topic of a potential marriage to Rhaegar, as Alicent had suggested. Though neither party had explicitly committed to it, the implicit exchange of meanings left the possibility open. Even if it didn't work out, no harm would come to either side.

Viserys, watching his eldest son dance awkwardly, smiled brightly. "No problem. You can learn a lot at the Small Council meetings," he agreed, allowing Jeyne to stay in King's Landing.

This was a small step towards the potential marriage, depending on Rhaegar's feelings for Jeyne.

Unlike Rhaenyra, Rhaegar didn't need a powerful background to marry. Viserys wanted to respect his son's personal wishes.

Jeyne took a seat, her eyes landing on Alicent beside Viserys. Rhaenyra's initial indifference to her dancing with Rhaegar had changed, suggesting someone's influence was behind it.

Alicent leaned close to her husband. "Viserys, the children are grown. They should be prepared for marriage."

Viserys looked pensive. "I promised Rhaenyra she could choose her own marriage."

"You know I'm talking about Rhaegar and Aegon," Alicent insisted. "Both boys are of age. It's time to find good matches."

"I recall your uncle's family has a daughter with plans to marry into the royal family?" Viserys assumed Alicent had family interests at heart.

"No, there are many girls in Westeros waiting to marry, not just from my family," Alicent said, leaning closer. "How about Aegon marrying Jeyne?"

Viserys froze in shock, then burst into laughter. "Hahaha, you're such a joker, Alicent!"

He glanced at the demure Jeyne, then at Aegon, who was sipping mulled wine in a corner. The idea of marrying the Warden of the East to his second son was ridiculous, even more so than naming Rhaenyra as his heir.

Alicent's face darkened at her husband's mockery. "What about Rhaegar's marriage to Jeyne?" she pressed.

"Is the joke over?" Viserys dodged the question, glancing at Jeyne.

Sensing the tension, Jeyne stood abruptly. "Since I cannot drink, I will take my leave."

"Take care, Lady Jeyne," Viserys replied politely.

Jeyne smiled as she watched Rhaegar leave the dance floor and the banquet hall. She hadn't heard Alicent's last words, but according to their agreement, Alicent was supposed to help with the proposal. She should have avoided such a scene.

...

The dance ended, and Rhaegar returned to his seat, finally able to catch his breath. He silently vowed never to be coaxed into dancing again, especially with the lingering threat of Rhaenyra chopping off his toes.

As if sensing his thoughts, Rhaenyra glanced at him with a scowl.

"Uh... I'm tired. I'll go back to rest now," Rhaegar said, unable to bear her look any longer as he stood up reluctantly. He still had to deal with the peace envoy from Dorne and needed to gather his strength.

"Get some rest," Rhaenyra reminded him gently, watching his retreating figure disappear around the corner.

...

The dimly lit hallway was faintly illuminated by the oil lamps mounted on the walls. Rhaegar walked slowly, reflecting on the events of the banquet and arriving at a conclusion: Jeyne had come for him.

"Rhaegar," a voice called from behind him. Jeyne stood in front of a door, looking at him with a mixture of anguish and hope.

Rhaegar's eyes held a questioning look as he met her gaze.

"There's a rat in the room, a big one," she said weakly, pointing at the door. A trace of fear flickered across her face. "The guards are all in the hall. Can you check for me?"

Rhaegar's eyes flickered with skepticism as he analyzed her request. After spending a month with Laenor, he had learned a few things.

For example, Laenor had once mentioned that men would sometimes lure beautiful women into their rooms by claiming that there was a fire-breathing dragon inside. Laenor had successfully bedded several men that way.

After a moment of silence, watching the disappointment in Jeyne's eyes, Rhaegar sighed. "You win, I go in."

After all, Jeyne was a guest and of his grandfather's bloodline. To ignore her would be rude.

The Red Keep did indeed have a rat problem. The pest were so rampant that they sometimes slept in people's arms. Rhaegar himself had been scratched by a rat as a boy.

"Thank you," Jeyne said, quickly stepping aside to let him enter.

Rhaegar glanced around the dimly lit room with only the fireplace flickering. He stepped inside and lit the tallow candles that hung on the walls.

"Where's the rat?" he asked, scanning the room.

Jeyne didn't answer. Instead, the door slammed behind him.

Rhaegar's ears twitched, and he immediately turned around. A soft body pressed against him, arms wrapping tightly around his waist.

Just as he was about to speak, warm lips met his, and a tongue pried open his mouth. Rhaegar's mind buzzed, and his eyes widened in shock.

In his line of sight were Jeyne's flushed cheeks. She radiated not only her usual noble elegance but also a newfound charm and allure.

Hot blood surged through him, and he didn't break away immediately. The passionate kiss lasted for a while before they slowly separated, their chests pressed together as they felt each other's heavy breathing.

Jeyne blushed, her hands trembling as she unbuttoned Rhaegar's coat. "Stay here tonight, okay?" she whispered.

Rhaegar grasped her hands, wrestling with his inner turmoil. He forced himself to remain rational. "You shouldn't waste your time on me," he said, trying to distance himself.

"Rhaegar, you're a thief," Jeyne pressed forward, her hands moving behind her back. "You saved me, and you stole my heart."

As she spoke, her white dress slipped, catching at her waist, revealing her snowy peaks.

The sight made Rhaegar's breath hitch, desire igniting in his eyes. It was blindingly white, rich, and generous.

Jeyne wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered passionately, "Rhaegar, stay tonight. The Vale and I are yours."

Relying on the hesitant King and the scheming Alicent had been a mistake. After seeing Rhaenyra's reaction, Jeyne decided to take matters into her own hands. She abandoned subtlety and struck first.

Rhaegar stared into Jeyne's eyes, seeing his reflection in her pupils. He admitted to himself that he was shamefully tempted. The offer of beauty and power was irresistible to many.

Jeyne's eyes held more desire than his. She was three years older than Rhaenyra and eleven years older than Rhaegar. In the past, she hadn't secured her position as Lady and had avoided speaking of marriage.

Jessamyn could soothe her lonely soul but not her body. She had been waiting for a suitable husband.

When Rhaegar was six years old, she saw the boy at an exchange meeting. Time passed, and Rhaegar grew up. She wanted him as her husband.

Seeing Rhaegar's silence, Jeyne stood on tiptoe, her red lips slightly parted, slowly moving closer.

"No!" At the critical moment, Rhaegar suddenly awoke. He pushed Jeyne away, leaving her shocked.

Rhaegar quickly took off his coat and draped it over her. "Thank you for your kindness, but I must remain true to myself."

With that, he swiftly pushed the door open and left. The door slammed shut behind him.

In the hallway, Rhaegar turned and bumped into a soft body.

(Word count: 1,678)