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“Don’t be a fool, father. We can’t refuse this marriage.” You sighed with resignation. “The last thing I wish is to drag our family into shame.”

“My dear. Prince Valarr is a much-desired bachelor. Every family was waiting for him to be on the marriage mart. When Prince Baelor informed me about his decision, my heart rejoiced for you.”

“Alright, father. Understood.” You nodded vigorously with the intent to interrupt the poor man from humiliating himself in front of you.

Your dress was part of the best collection your family could afford, only to impress the Prince, and it wasn’t all; your father bought a new carriage to let you arrive at King’s Landing at your best. You were grateful, of course, but still not necessary.

During the short journey from your home to the capital, your father couldn’t stay quiet even for a moment. He dispensed suggestions, he reminded you of your duties, and shared his enthusiasm at the idea of walking you to the aisle. You haven't seen him this happy in a while, definitely not after your mother's death.

You were calm, still thinking it would have been just a meeting. What didn’t you expect was the crowded welcoming committee. Half of the royal family was present, not to mention the numerous servants, maids, and guards. No one except the noble guests could approach the entrance square, and suddenly you realised where you were getting yourself into.

“Are you ready, my dear?” Your father asked.

“I… I’m not.” You admitted quietly, peeking from the curtain. Your heartbeat increased significantly, and your throat dried suddenly.

“You’ll be fine.” He kissed your hand as encouragement.

You quickly covered your face with the light veil of your headgear as your father left the carriage first and gave you his hand to help you out. All the eyes were on you while you moved to meet Prince Valarr.

The tension was so high that your head felt dizzy, and you started sweating. It was impossible for you to hear people’s comments, and yet it was as if you could hear a fly buzzing miles away. You took a deep breath when Valarr walked toward you, leaving the rest of the family behind. The prince stopped a couple of steps from you as you bowed and proceeded to lift the veil from your face.

Both of you stared at each other for long moments, but nothing happened. No matter how beautiful you both were, the spark did not ignite, no butterflies in the stomach, no warm sensation deep inside you. A glimpse of panic emerged, a thousand intrusive thoughts overwhelmed your brain, keeping you quiet.

“My Lady, it is a pleasure to meet you under such delightful circumstances.” Lucky you, Valarr spoke first, understanding the situation. “Your presence here is of great happiness. The Red Keep is at your service.”

He was good with words indeed. There was no mistake from his sweet smile to his perfect attitude. No doubt he prepared at best, and yet, you couldn't shake off the feeling that something was out of place.

“The pleasure is mine, your highness. My heart is full of joy for this moment.” A diplomatic smile emerged with your words.

“Please, let me accompany you inside.”

When you accepted his hand and walked together at the castle entrance, the crowd erupted in thunderous applause. Baelor was waiting for you, clapping his hands as well and smiling, all proud of his son. You formally greeted the heir to the throne, your future brother-in-law, Matarys and then moved on to meet Maekar Targaryen.

That was the moment you were certain everything was going to go wrong. The deep emotion you should have felt with Valarr suddenly pervaded you when you met Maekar’s intense gaze. He was rigid, standing straight with his hands behind his back, head up but his eyes down at you. There was no trace of a smile or gentleness in his expression, but maybe that was what made your blood boil into your veins. You were used to gentleness and softness, but you could see half of it was a lie. Maekar felt direct, true and raw, and something clicked in your brain.

You bowed without saying a word, too scared of saying something wrong, too scared of receiving a hypothetical sharp response, because Maekar looked exactly like a man of sharp responses.

What a surprise it was when he just welcomed you like everyone else.

“Welcome to the Red Keep, my lady.”

“Thank you, Your Highness. It’s an honour to be here.”

Other forms of courtesy were exchanged; words of circumstance, formal gestures and the eagerness of that moment vanished the same way it had begun. Baelor invited you and your father as guests for the days that followed, emphasising the importance of you and Valarr staying together as much as possible to get to know each other. Of course, your father was eager for it; his dream to see his daughter in a wedding gown was slowly coming true.

So the torture started. You and Valarr had to do those stupid supervised walks together, at least once a day. Not to mention the face-to-face breakfasts in a separate room, far from the rest of the family to avoid any kind of embarrassment.

You and Valarr had very little in common. He was gentle in asking you what your favourite book was, or if you could play some instrument, but it was clear he wasn’t interested in it. Your replies were always concise because you didn’t want to get him bored. Valarr talked about his interests without conviction, clearly forced into it, and you tried your best to appear interested.

Dinner time was your favourite moment. You could eat at the royal table with the rest of the family, and you were happy to sit in a place where you had a clear view of Maekar. The Prince hunted your thoughts since the first time you met, and you could barely control your emotions at his presence. There were many moments when you got lost in your thoughts, imagining what a conversation would have been like with him, how he would have acted if he were the man who had to court you instead of Valarr, and getting lost in many more inappropriate fantasies.

One particular evening, something tragic happened. You were ready to observe Maekar from your seat, lost in your fantasy while the rest of the men talked, as always happened. Your eyes immediately landed on him when he started to speak up with Baelor and your father, but you kept staring at him even when they concluded the talk and focused on their meals. You didn’t realise it, and when you retrieved your senses, you noticed Valarr had caught you in the act. The embarrassment was so great you couldn’t move your attention from your plate for the rest of the dinner.

The next morning, you were sitting in the gardens, waiting for the usual walk with Valarr. You barely slept the night before, thinking of a way to apologise to the Prince. You smelled the flower in your hand before throwing it to the ground with frustration and standing up to take a walk. At this point, you weren’t surprised if Valarr would have refused the marriage.

“My lady.”

Maekar’s voice reached your heart with such emotional strength that you struggled to turn around and face him. You hated how good you felt in being alone with him, considering there was the possibility he was there because Valarr said something to him about what happened the evening before.

“Your Grace.” You bowed instantly.

“I think you lost something.”

He had picked the flower you threw away and used it as an excuse to approach you significantly. Your hand was trembling when you took the flower from his, slightly brushing his fingers.

His purple gems lingered on your hand and slowly moved on your throat, on your lips. Feral ideas woke his limbs. How your sweet voice would sound as he wrapped his hand around your throat, and how your body felt if he pulled your hair as he buried himself in your untouched body. He had to move his attention elsewhere to suffocate the sensation you caused him.

“Is something wrong?” He asked, clearing his throat.

You pulled out a smile, shaking your head. “No, Your Grace. I am just excited to meet Prince Valarr.”

“Prince Valarr is not coming this morning.” He announced, carefully observing your reaction. It was a bait to be sure that what he noticed the days before wasn’t just his imagination, and he had the confirmation of it when you pursed your lips and slightly nodded. It was clear you didn’t care about Valarr, or at least, you weren’t sorry if he wasn’t there.

“May I ask why? Is the Prince not feeling well?” You asked with gentleness.

He could have continued speaking through his nephew, but his abrupt nature led him to go straight to the point. “Do you care for real?” He asked without preamble but especially without formalities.

You were speechless and very much scared, sure that Valarr got offended and sent his uncle to break the engagement.

“Why would I not?” Again, you tried your best to be gentle and respectful. “Prince Valarr is…”

“Stop this farce. It doesn’t suit you.”

Your smile dropped, and you had to swallow the knot in your throat. “I’m so sorry, Your Grace. Whatever I did that offended Prince Valarr wasn’t my intent.”

“I know.” Maekar said as he slowly moved around you, like a predator with his prey. Like a holder who was going to interrogate his prisoner. “I have seen how committed you and Valarr were to making things work.”

“Did the Prince say something?”

Maekar stopped, considering whether maintaining that conduct would be ideal for his intention. He could have spoken his mind, because he was too old to make a proper courtship, but you were a fresh flower who deserved to be courted properly.

“He was scared to break your heart until you turned your attention to me. He sent me here this morning to dissipate his doubts.” It was a bait to taste the water.

Your hand reached your mouth in a moment of hesitation and bitter-sweet sense of guilt. You felt bad for Valarr and for your father but having the occasion to get rid of that burden was liberating.

“It doesn't matter for whom my heart beats, I will never refuse this marriage.”

It was an indirect admission of your guilts and a subtly love confession for him. Maekar turned around, overwhelmed by his own feelings and the sweet idea he could fall in love once again after so many years.

“I owe you an apology, my lady.” He said then. “I lied to you because I wanted you to reveal your real thoughts.”

The warmth he felt in confessing it increased only when he felt your hand brushing against his. He turned to look down at your hands intertwined together and up to meet your begging eyes.

“I speak my heart if you do the same, Your Highness.” You dared to say. His jaw tightened, and he swallowed as he briefly nodded. “My attention sharpened at the moment Valarr moved the veil from your face, and your beauty filled my dreams the nights that followed.”

Your sincere smile brightened your face and it widened when he kissed your hand.

“It’s the first time since your arrival that I see a real smile on you.”

You covered your mouth again unable to stop smiling. “It’s your fault… my lord.”

“Allow me to bring the smile to your face again, my lady. I am sure Prince Valarr will not object to my courtship.”

“My father won’t survive this.” You smirked and shook your head.

“I will speak to your father, if it makes you happy.”