Part Two - The Princess Paramount's Wedding (6)
“What was that?!!” Otto gripped her arm so tightly, Alicent couldn’t stop the wince of pain. Fortunately no one saw the altercation, too busy paying attention to the brat prancing around the dance floor to the awful tunes the whores were playing. “You were supposed to ingratiate yourself with the brat, not antagonize her!”
“She rejected the King’s wedding gift and announced that they will not be marrying under the Light of the Seven. You cannot expect me to play nice with an unrepentant heathen, father!” She protested.
“Be quiet!” He hissed. “Are you stupid?! This is not about her religion or how she snubs the Royal Gift, this is about we need her cooperation so we can get dragon eggs and the riches this kingdom can offer! Flatter her, be the sweet mother she did not have, do everything you can so that by the time we leave this damned place, Aegon and the rest of my grandchildren will have dragons!”
She winced again as her father let go of her arm, hurriedly making sure the forming bruises under her sleeve as he left the alcove they were hiding in.
Taking a few a calming breath, she plastered a fake smile on her face, the Queen joined the crowd, not realizing that there was a third person who was in the alcove with the father-daughter duo, the maidservant immediately went to find Lady Layla to tell what she heard.
Viserys watched in awe as his daughter and her betrothed twirled around the dance floor, dancing to the beautiful tune the musicians were playing. “Who are they, the musicians?” He asked Daemon, who was having a conversation with their cousin, young Olyvar.
“Oh, them? They’re ladies from the tea house here in Moonstone.” Daemon said in boredom as Olyvar took the advantage of his inattention and ran off. “They would like to remind you that they are not whores nor courtesans but entertainers. Don’t.” Daemon saw the look of interest on his brother’s face. “They only offer friendship and conversation, not their bodies. Anyone who tried to force themselves on them is severely punished.” He smiled wryly. “How are you Viserys?” He suddenly asked abruptly. “Are you even happy, isolating yourself from your family and being surrounded by all those sycophants?”
He then turned away as his children came up to him, having escaped the fate of the royal children being sent back to the nursery, asking their father to dance with him. With a loud laugh, Daemon lifted all three of them into his arms and swayed to the dance floor, where Rhaenyra was dancing with Olyvar, both of them bright with laughter.
Watching from the high table as his entire family, including Vaegon and Rhaella were pulled into the merriment, Viserys never felt so alone in his entire life.
That feeling was further compounded the very next day when he found himself breaking fast alone.
He knew Alicent was having breakfast in her room with the children, but where was Rhaenyra? Surely she wasn’t going to miss out having breakfast with her father?
“Princess Rhaenyra usually breaks her fast in her solar while working, Your Majesty.” The pretty maid serving him his wine answered when asked. “Prince Vaegon usually at his tower in Felstrong and Princess Rhaella breakfast earlier before leaving for the healing house.”
“How about Daemon? And my cousin, Olyvar?”
“Prince Daemon returned to his home last night and Master Olyvar doesn’t live here. Though,” She perked up in delight, “He usually stopped by for tea with the princess at her solar.”
Absently waving her away, Viserys sipped at his wine morosely.
“Green is the color of war?” Rhaenyra was bewildered to hear this as her ladies and Harwin joined her for breakfast (Joffy and Rowena were with the Vale delegates, the former most likely being lectured and cajoled to come back to the Vale). “I didn’t know that!” She was taking a break from paperwork to enjoy some light repast (and gossip), planning to head to Guardian to visit the fruit orchards after the break.
“Oh, right. You never got around learning about Reaches minor Houses.” Morna said out loud while refiling tea for everyone. “So I guess you were just being curious last night?”
Rhaenyra shrugged and winced as Vaelaena absent-mindedly poked her in the shoulder for the bad habit. “I was just wondering why members of the Royal Court were wearing green instead of their house colors!” She said defensively.
“When we were at Red Keep, the castle was mostly taken over by the Seven’s idolatry and Targaryen symbols were delegated into storage areas or bare used corridors.” Layla pointed out as she passed a plate of sweetmeats to Vaelaena. “I’m not surprised if wearing green is part of showing allegiance to House Hightower, especially since the future King would be a half-Hightower.”
Harwin, fixing Rhaenyra her plate of food just the way she likes it, turned to his sisters. “I think the Queen will try to intervene on the wedding procedures after Rhaenyra told her about our wedding plans. I’m off to Felstrong to talk to the priests later so just help Rhaenyra away from being harassed by her.”
“So, how tall is the weirwood tree now? Has it grown to the targeted height you wanted?” Layla asked eagerly.
“I’m not helping you with your betting pool, you menace.” Harwin said severely as he flicked his finger against her chin.
Rhaenyra smiled fondly as she bit into the warm rice bun, listening to the Strong siblings bickering loudly as Harwin absently wrapped his hand around her thigh, his fingers massaging it gently.
This is nice, she thought absently.
“Princess Rhaenyra,” Ser Aemon, who was standing outside her door, suddenly called out. “His Majesty the King would like an audience with you.”
Rhaenyra yelped as Harwin yeeted himself out of the reclining chair they were sharing, almost displacing Vaelaena who was sitting on Morna’s lap as he squished himself between his sisters. The Velaryon beauty glared at him as she slid off to the floor before climbing into an unoccupied chair as the door opened.
“Rhaenyra!” King Viserys entered the room as everyone stood up. “I hope you are not busy? I was hoping you would spend time with me today.” He said hopefully, ignoring the awkward atmosphere as the others began to vacate the room, carrying the breakfast with them.
“Oh, I was planning to head to one of the Islands for a routine inspection.” Rhaenyra gave him a nervous look. “But you are welcome to join me, if you like, Your Majesty!”
“A routine inspection? My dear, surely you have your own officers to do that!” Viserys complained. “And have I not told you to just call me father? There is no need for formality.”
“As Princess Paramount of Stepstones, it is my prerogative to pay close attention to all aspects of ruling. And I happen to have a close interest in this particular project.” She ignored the second part of his comment.
“Very well then, I will join you then.” He huffed, smiling as if it was such a boon for her. “Is it nearby then?”
Rhaenyra bit back her smile as Viserys couldn’t help another scream as Syrax weaved through the clouds again. She was surprised he was still willing to join her (as it was a half-hearted invitation in the first place) after Syrax appeared by her balcony but he had gamely climbed on.
Then again, this is the man who was the great Balerion final rider before his demise.
Syrax gently glided across the bountiful island of Guardian, one of Stepstones’ agricultural centres, Viserys couldn’t help his gasp of awe as the dragon weaved through the blooming fruit trees, farmers calling out in delight at the dragon and its beautiful riders.
The dragon finally landed beside a grove of trees, laden with red fruits Viserys had never seen before, and a group of men with Yi-Ti look waiting for them.
“Dianxia.” The man in front bowed at Rhaenyra. “You have arrived just in time. The Lizhi fruits are ripe and prepared for harvest.”
“Thank you Master Lan.” Rhaenyra grinned at them as some of the younger men broke off from the group, trying to entice Syrax with the wild rabbits they caught. She accepted the red fruit with the rough-textured soft shell, and using a knife, peeled it open to reveal small, fleshy meat.
Before Viserys could warn her, the princess bites into the fruit, grinning as she munches happily, spitting out the seed into a handkerchief. “As sweet as the ones I tried in Yi Ti, congratulations Master Lan for being able to plant the trees here quite successfully.”
The farmers behind the man chattered brightly as Master Lan smiled in delight at the compliment. Viserys couldn’t deny his daughter when she turned to him with a piece of the fruit and ate it, to find himself to be surprised with the sweet taste.
“We have made some Lizhi wine for the upcoming wedding, as a gift to your future husband.” Master Lan whispered conspiratorially at the Princess as she giggled. “And of course, we have made sure our confectioner will be part of the wedding banquet to craft the finest of desserts for our beloved princess.”
Viserys was left forgotten as Rhaenyra walked away, talking to the Master and later the farmers, even at one point helping them harvest the fruits.
It was a weird feeling to have, indeed, invisible in the crowd when he had spent most of his life being the most important person in the room.