"Bran, as long as something happens in Westeros, you know everything, right?"
Just as they were about to leave the lounge and return to the hall to continue the grand trial, Jon, who had already stood up, suddenly paused. He hesitated and looked toward the Three-Eyed Raven.
Bran seemed to sense something. After a moment of silence, he asked, "What do you want to know?"
"I… who is my mother?" Jon was hesitant at first, but once the question left his lips, he could no longer control his emotions. "When I left Winterfell for the Wall, Father told me that the next time we met, he would tell me everything.
I hoped so much that one day I would see him visit me at Castle Black, but all that came instead was bad news."
Jon's eyes reddened.
"You are a Stark. You are our brother. That is beyond doubt," Bran said.
Sansa also smiled and comforted him. "You know, when we were little, I always thought you and Arya were Father's real children, because the rest of us didn't resemble him much."
Jon touched his long, bearded face and couldn't help but grin.
He had always known that one important reason Lady Catelyn disliked him was because he resembled their father too much, while Robb had inherited more traits from House Tully.
"I still want to know who my biological mother is, even if she is… a prostitute," Jon said with great difficulty. "I want to know where she is now, and whether she's doing well."
"She's dead." Bran sighed bitterly. "Your mother died giving birth to you. She loved you very much, and she was not some lowly prostitute. Her status was as noble as any woman in the Seven Kingdoms."
"Ah!" Jon and Sansa exclaimed at the same time.
"Could it really be Ashara Dayne?" Sansa blurted out, then quickly shook her head. "No, she's the High Septon in Meereen. She's not dead."
"Who is my mother?" Jon's voice trembled.
"I think you're living well now. Knowing these old matters might instead affect—"
Before Bran could finish, Jon waved his hand excitedly and interrupted him. "Bran, I'm not living well. This question has troubled me for nearly twenty years. There's a huge emptiness in my heart, just waiting to be filled."
The hesitation in the Three-Eyed Raven's eyes gradually faded. He sighed. "You are Daenerys's true nephew."
"What? I'm Aegon?" Jon was stunned.
"Bran, have you lost your mind? Jon is a Stark. How could he be—" Sansa stopped midway, her expression stiffening. She murmured, "I see now. I see. Jon is the child of Rhaegar and Aunt Lyanna. No wonder Father kept it a secret."
"M-my mother is Lyanna?" Jon felt dazed, his thoughts in complete chaos.
The Three-Eyed Raven glanced at his elder sister and said, "When things aren't explained, it's hard to imagine. But once the mystery is revealed, everything feels so natural, doesn't it?"
Sansa and Jon were both too shocked to respond.
"I am the son of Rhaegar and Lyanna. I am a Targaryen…" Jon slumped back into his chair, holding his head and murmuring blankly.
"You are a Stark. You are our brother," Bran said.
After a series of changing expressions, Sansa asked hoarsely, "Does Daenerys know Jon's identity?"
The Three-Eyed Raven looked at her deeply. "Maybe she knows. Maybe she doesn't."
"So does she or not? What do you think?" Sansa pressed.
"She probably doesn't. Like many people, she wouldn't subconsciously question Jon's identity. But with her intelligence, if she ever gets a certain feeling, she might begin to suspect," Bran said.
"A feeling? What feeling?" Sansa asked in confusion.
"Ask Jon whether he feels an inexplicable closeness toward Daenerys and Tyrion."
"My mind is in chaos. I don't know," Jon shook his head.
"Then that means no. Jon doesn't have any Targaryen traits at all. He's a pure Stark," Sansa said quickly.
"Can I still be a Stark?" Jon smiled bitterly. Looking at the Three-Eyed Raven, he said, "Then… Bran, why don't you become the Lord of the North? Father's title should pass to you. After Robb, you're the first heir, followed by Rickon."
Bran said sincerely, "Don't be foolish. With my current identity and abilities exposed, how could I become Lord of the North?
Besides, your identity has never been a secret to me, yet I never thought of taking Winterfell from you.
Because you are our brother. Unless you despise the Stark identity and think the Targaryen name is more noble, and want a better future."
"No, no, how could I despise it?" Jon waved his hands repeatedly.
Although Bran spoke the truth, that the Targaryen name was indeed more prestigious and promising, Jon truly did not disdain the title of Lord of the North.
Becoming Lord of the North had been his childhood dream, though it was quickly shattered by harsh reality.
He hesitated. "Rickon…"
In Westeros, there was no system to divide inheritance among sons. Being a second son was miserable. There was no inheritance at all, not even as good as a landed knight, who at least had a small fief and a castle.
"Grandfather Brynden plans to let Rickon inherit Riverrun," Sansa said hesitantly. "The Tully's title of Lord Paramount of the Riverlands was abolished by the Iron Throne. Daenerys won't restore it.
But Riverrun is the ancestral castle of House Tully, so she can guarantee their rightful claim to it.
So in the future, Rickon will at least be the Lord of Riverrun. If the King of the Seven Kingdoms grants favor, the title might even be restored to House Tully."
"And you?" Jon asked with concern. "You're a woman with a child, struggling alone out there. Wouldn't it be better to come back and inherit Winterfell?"
"She might not even care for Winterfell," Bran said flatly with a hint of sarcasm. Then, anger rising in his voice, he added, "Jon, whether you are Father's biological son or not doesn't change anything you have now. Winterfell and all of us are yours. Nothing will change."
Sansa's face flushed with anger and embarrassment. She glared at the Three-Eyed Raven and said, "Stop overthinking it, Jon. Whether you are Father's bastard or Aunt Lyanna's son makes no real difference to me."
Jon's eyes reddened with emotion. He nodded and said nothing more.
After the Three-Eyed Raven left and the two of them exited the guest room, Sansa paused and said softly, "Jon, do you want the Iron Throne?"
Seeing the longing in his sister's eyes, Jon smiled bitterly. "Sansa, I swear to our late father, I will never stand in your way to the throne."
Sansa's face turned red as she awkwardly explained, "That night at Winterfell, when we first reunited with Bran, I already told you my attitude toward the Iron Throne.
I desire it, but I'm not obsessed.
It's like walking by a river, and several bleating sheep float down from upstream. There's the 'Iron Throne' sheep, the 'Lord Paramount of the Seven Kingdoms' sheep, the 'ordinary lord' sheep, the 'minor noble' sheep, and the 'be a wealthy commoner' sheep.
With family, I don't want to hide my desires. I simply want something better.
If I can reach it, of course I'll grab the 'Iron Throne' sheep. If it's beyond me, I'll switch to another sheep before I get my shoes wet.
In the end, I just want to catch a sheep. I don't want to fall into the river myself and become a 'Sansa' sheep for others downstream to catch."
She paused, then continued somewhat reluctantly, "If you also stand by the river now, trying to reach the 'Iron Throne' sheep, then I'll change my target. If you're not interested, I'll keep going for it."
Whether Sansa was telling the truth was uncertain, but her meaning was very clear, and Jon fully understood.
"Sansa, go ahead and catch that 'Iron Throne' sheep. I won't compete with you," Jon said awkwardly.
"Don't force yourself. If you were the one to sit on the Iron Throne, I'd be just as happy," Sansa said with some reluctance.
"I'm not forcing myself. I truly mean it," Jon replied sincerely.
"Then…" A trace of excitement flashed in Sansa's eyes as she pleaded, "Can you not reveal your identity to others?"
Jon's body stiffened. For a moment, he seemed to hear another beautiful woman pleading with him not to—
Shaking his head, Jon dispelled the chaotic thoughts in his mind and solemnly swore, "Sansa, don't worry. I won't tell anyone.
Knowing my true identity only makes me cherish my life now even more, and cherish all of you, my family.
I am your brother. I will protect you, help you achieve your wishes, and I won't bring you any trouble."
"Thank you, Jon." Sansa was deeply moved and gave her brother a happy smile.
(End of Chapter)
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