"You would be right if the world were under normal circumstances. I've been told by the King to bring you to court. The young Queen Rhaenyra wishes to have you as her lady-in-waiting and I offered you as a potential match for ." He hadn't come on dragon back, this time going by horse so he might take his daughter back in a more normal way and get to know her more by using the travel time to his advantage. He was Hand of the Queen and his position was in a precarious and yet stable balance. Uncle to the Queen, and he was in line for the throne should the queen and all of her sons die.

"You can also meet your half brothers and sisters" He added though Daemon figured the daughter of House Royce would care much to meet them. "you've quite a few of siblings and cousins close to your age there, plus the Queen is your age." He failed to mention how his previous and current wife were also the same age as his daughter, that he tried not to think about.

there was no doubt that people were still angry with the tullys. there was so way that melara could blame them honestly. after all her father had put them through. it was no wonder that people were pissed off at them. but she hoped whatever this was going to be would help resolve some of the tension. but even as they walked she noticed a few other nobles whispering as they saw the redheaded tully walk past.

the targayen king had already pardoned her enough to allow her to leave her chambers, but that didn't seem enough for these people. they wanted proof that she had nothing to do with this. and being so far from home how could she offer them something she didn't have. she only had her word and a mother's promise she would never do anything that might put lucian at risk.

the guards stopped at the door of the king's study, mumbling something to her about heading inside. mel offered them a quick thank you before knocking and walking in like she had been told. in the corner she spotted the white haired king sitting, looking over some sort of papers. she didn't want to pry and try and see what they were. mostly since that was rude and she didn't need any other evidence in her corner that made her look suspicious.

"your highness." she announced as she drew closer. "i was informed you wish to speak with me. i would say i hope this is with good new but given everything that has happened i have a feeling this is a more serious affair."

“There are things more important in this world than the life of a single girl, or how much pain she is put through,” Caren replied simply and without any show of doubt or even fear. “If my Servant needs to take on another Master, or even to use innocent lives as a mana source... Well, he is as prepared for that as I am for your unsightly hobby.”

No, maybe it wasn’t a hobby per say, as there was no trace of any previous victim in the room... But it definitely did not seem to be his first time torturing someone like this.

Still...