Chapter 51.3

Chapter 51.3: First anniversary celebration 

…

Richard POV 

The grand ballroom of Castamere was alive with the hum of laughter, conversation, and the clinking of goblets. Soft music played from a group of minstrels near the far corner, their melodies weaving through the air like a gentle breeze. 

The high table where I sat, positioned at the head of the room, offered a clear view of the scene below—a vast sea of people, my people, gathered to celebrate the first anniversary of me as the lord of Castamere.

The rectangular table before me gleamed under the warm glow of golden candelabras. The plates were polished to a mirror-like shine, it bore the finest dishes.

My gaze drifted across the hall, taking in the sight of the circular and rectangular tables filling the room. 

Each table held Lionheart made members—soldiers, capos, and my underbosses—seated with their families and loved ones.

A hundred and eleven made members had earned their place at this celebration: eighty-nine soldiers, seventeen capos, four underbosses, and my consigliere. 

Together, they represented the backbone of the Lionheart empire. Yet the room still had space for more, a testament to the sheer scale of the ballroom.

The red carpet that stretched from the entrance to the foot of the high table drew my eyes like a thread, connecting me to the great double doors at the far end of the room. 

They were flung open periodically as late arrivals entered, but still, I waited. My gaze remained fixed on the doors, watching for two particular figures.

Alicent and her mother, Maria, had yet to arrive.

The bustle of the hall faded into the background as my thoughts turned to them. Maria, as the consiglere, would surely command attention the moment she stepped through.

But it was Alicent I most wanted to see. The dress I had arranged for her—a stunning creation of gold and black—was meant to enhance her natural beauty, to make her shine among the gathered crowd.

I could picture it already—the way the fabric would catch the light, swaying and glittering with every step she took.

A slight smile played at the corner of my lips, unbidden. This night was for celebration, yes, but seeing Alicent radiant and happy was my personal triumph.

To maximize her happiness, I had planned a special surprise just for her. My fingers brushed the small box tucked securely into the pocket of my suit, its weight a constant reminder of what lay ahead.

With this, things would finally be official.

Thinking this, with my heightened hearing, I caught the familiar sound of high heels clicking against the stone floors beyond the ballroom doors. 

My anticipation sharpened as the footsteps approached, slow and deliberate.

Then, the doors to the ballroom began to creak open, and my eyes narrowed, focusing on the entrance.

Moments later, the herald stepped forward, his voice clear and commanding as he made the announcement that silenced the room.

"Lady Alicent and Lady Maria have arrived."

The room fell silent, heads turning toward the entrance as the grand doors were pulled open.

They entered together, Maria's grace matched by the youthful poise of her daughter. 

Alicent, in high heels that made her appear 5'7, moved with effortless elegance. Her gown, a masterpiece of gold and black, shimmered in the warm glow of the chandeliers, the fabric clinging to her figure and flowing with every step. 

Even though the gown was otherworldly, the wearer looked the part. 

Alicent, with her sapphire eyes and fair skin, gleamed like polished alabaster under the ballroom's golden light. Her hair, styled into an intricate updo, had elegant strands twisted and adorned with delicate pearls and shimmering ornaments, framing her face with flawless grace.

There was an audible intake of breath across the room, the silence charged with admiration and awe. 

Alicent's smile lit her face as her eyes locked on mine, her joy infectious and radiant. 

Her posture was impeccable, her steps deliberate yet natural, as if she had been born to walk under the weight of a thousand eyes.

Maria, poised and regal in her own right, followed beside her, her dark hair swept back to reveal sapphire eyes that sparkled in the light. 

Behind them, Alicent's closest friends, and ladies in waiting, trailed—a subtle reminder of the bonds she had built within the Lionheart family.

As they approached the high table, I rose to my feet, the scrape of my chair breaking the quiet. 

Moving to Alicent's seat, I reached out and pulled it back for her. She paused, glancing up at me with that same brilliant smile, her voice soft but warm.

"Thank you, my love," she said, lowering herself gracefully into the chair I had prepared for her.

I turned to Alicent's mother, Maria, guiding her to the seat at my left. "Lady Maria," I said, with a nod of my head as I helped her settle in.

She gave a slight nod, her expression respectful and pleased, her smile hinting at quiet pride.

Alicent's friends took steps back, standing behind us, now joining my knights. They observed the formalities with a blend of awe and respect.

Once seated, Alicent turned to me, her smile unwavering. "The ballroom is magnificent, everything looks beautiful," she said, her voice bright and conversational.

I inclined my head, my tone light as I replied, "Of course it is, after all, you decorated it." I stated the facts—one of the responsibilities I had given to Alicent was the decoration and organization of Castamere.

"With others' help, of course," she replied humbly with a smile.

I chuckled, "Still, you did great. Don't sell yourself short." 

With my words, her mood seemed even brighter, her eyes full of love toward me.

"Let's enjoy the dish, shall we?" I said, taking a spoon and lifting a piece of strawberry cake.

"Now say 'ahh,'" I said, guiding the spoon with the cake to her mouth.

She did just that, eating the cake, her gaze intense, locked onto mine.

After a moment of chewing and swallowing, she grabbed her own spoon and did the same.

Just like that, we enjoyed eating from each other's spoons.

Our conversation flowed easily, about trivial subjects, her laughter a melody that seemed to blend with the faint music in the background.

Alicent spoke of her excitement for the evening, her delight in seeing so many faces united under one banner.

Maria, seated at my left, watched us with quiet amusement, her smile a steady presence as she sipped from her goblet.

Around us, the hum of the hall began to pick up again, the initial awe giving way to warm conversation and the clinking of goblets.

Yet, in that moment, my focus remained on Alicent, her joy making the celebration worth it.

…

Third POV

Laughter and smiles lit up the high table as Alicent animatedly recounted a story to her mother, Maria. Her sapphire eyes sparkled with mirth, her gestures expressive as she relived the moment.

Richard, seated beside her, looked uncharacteristically embarrassed, his usual confidence giving way to a sheepish grin as the tale unfolded.

Alicent explained to her mother how she had recently taken an interest in learning combat moves from Richard and how she try to use it. 

"I try to ambush him with the moves he taught me," she admitted, her voice filled with mock indignation. "But somehow, he always knows and manages to dodge or block me."

Maria chuckled softly, her eyes moving to Richard, who gave a small shrug, his expression a mix of pride and humility.

"But the real fun," Alicent continued with a mischievous grin, "Is how good of a hider he is. Sometimes he'll send a letter to me carried by a servant and say, 'Oh sweet, I'm just in our room now.'" She paused for effect, her voice lowering conspiratorially.

"This was a signal for the start of our hide-and-seek game," she said, revealing the game they played.

"When I get to our bedroom, and he's not there, I try to find him. But when I can't, I shout, 'Where are you?' And his response?" She paused again, her grin widening. "He scares me by tapping me on the back and running out of the room to a new hiding place!"

The table erupted into laughter, and Alicent leaned closer to her mother, her voice dropping into an exaggerated whisper. 

"And then I spend the next twenty minutes terrified of the jump scare he's about to give me. I practically crash through every door in Castamere, only to discover he's back in our bedroom—laughing his ass off!"

Even Richard couldn't hold back a laugh at her description, his earlier embarrassment giving way to amusement.

"But other times," Alicent added with a playful roll of her eyes, "he randomly hides, and I always scream bloody murder when he jumps out at me from random corners. Honestly, it's a wild life living with him." She then looked at Richard with a warm smirk.

Maria's laughter was warm and genuine, her gaze flicking between her daughter and Richard. "You two sound like quite the lively pair," she said, her voice laced with fondness.

Richard rubbed the back of his neck, his lips twitching into a reluctant smile as he muttered, "I'm not that bad, am I."

Alicent shot him a pointed look, her grin teasing. "Oh, you absolutely are."

The conversation continued, the three sharing stories and laughter, savoring the rare, peaceful moment amidst the grandeur of the evening.

A while later, Richard rose from his chair, lifting a goblet in hand. The metallic cling of his spoon against the rim silenced the room instantly, the whispers among the made members spreading like ripples through water.

The air grew still as all eyes turned to him, their boss, whose presence commanded both respect and reverence.

"I invited all of you today," Richard began, his voice calm but carrying an edge of authority, "not only to celebrate my lordship but also to commend each of you for your hard work. Your dedication to the Lionheart family has been nothing short of exemplary."

Pride flickered on the faces of the made members, each one straightening in their seat. Richard allowed the moment to linger, his gaze sweeping the room before he continued.

"You may have noticed," he said, his tone sharpening, "a decrease in the number of made members this past year." The hall grew tense as Richard let the insinuation hang in the air, unspoken but understood by all.

At the start of the year, there had been 139 made members. Now, there were 111. 

The missing were not absent by accident—they had failed the Ten Commandments of the family, and their fate had been sealed. 

Heads dipped in solemn understanding as Richard's eyes bore into them, a silent reminder of the cost of disloyalty.

After a pause, he smiled lightly, easing the tension. "But tonight is not just a night of reflection; it is a night of celebration and opportunity."

The crowd stirred as Richard stepped forward. "On a lighter note," he announced, "I am proud to share the next stage of our expansion. No longer will we confine ourselves to the westerlands. The Lionheart family will spread its influence across the Seven Kingdoms."

A murmur of approval swept through the room. At a particular round table, Richard's four underbosses—Laenor, Jon, Conrad, and Addam—straightened as he addressed them directly.

"Laenor, you will oversee our operations in Oldtown. Jon, you will take Weeping Town. Addam, Maidenpool. Conrad, Planky Town." Richard's voice rang with finality, each city a key piece of the Lionheart family's burgeoning empire.

Applause filled the room as each underboss was named, their responsibilities clear. The new operation was bold and ambitious, but Richard's confidence left no room for doubt.

After finishing his announcements, Richard signaled the musicians, who changed their tune. The upbeat melodies gave way to a softer, more familiar song. Richard turned to Alicent, his hand outstretched. 

"May I have a dance, my lady?" Richard asked with a warm smile.

"Of course, my lord," Alicent replied, her cheeks tinged with a soft blush as she placed her hand in his. Allowing herself to be led from the high table to the dance floor, she felt the weight of the room's attention but focused solely on him.

Around them, other Lionheart members and their loved ones followed suit, filling the floor with couples swaying to the music.

Richard and Alicent, their attire perfectly matched, began to move in unison. 

Richard's steps were confident and precise, his hand steady as he guided her. Alicent matched his grace effortlessly, her golden dress flowing like liquid sunlight as they turned together. Her laughter rang out when Richard spun her, the sound bright and unrestrained.

As the music swelled, Richard's voice rose above it—a rich, melodic sound that filled the hall. It was a song that carried a deep familiarity for Alicent, one he had written just for them. 

Her face lit up as she recognized it, her own voice joining his. Clear and sweet, her notes wove through his like a harmonious thread.

The room seemed to vanish, leaving only the two of them dancing and singing, their world reduced to the rhythm of their steps and the melody of their voices. 

Their hands brushed, fingers lingering against each other's as their eyes locked. Smiles graced their faces, their expressions full of unspoken emotions and shared understanding.

As the final note faded, Richard twirled her one last time, sending her into a graceful spin. When she came to a stop, slightly dizzy, she blinked to steady herself.

And there he was—kneeling before her, one hand holding an open ring box. Inside, the ring glinted like starlight, the lioness engraved on it an emblem of strength and beauty.

The hall fell utterly silent, all eyes on them.

Richard's gaze held hers, unwavering and tender. "Will you marry me?" he asked, his voice low but firm, carrying the weight of his devotion.

Alicent stood frozen, her hands flying to her mouth as her cheeks burned crimson. The silence stretched for a heartbeat longer.

Then, with a joyful squeal, she flung herself into his arms, nearly toppling him over. Her laughter and tears mingled as she cried out, "Yes! Yes, yes, I'll marry you!"

The hall erupted into thunderous applause. Maria was the first to cheer, her face radiant with pride and joy as she clapped enthusiastically. 

Around them, the Lionheart members cheered and shouted their congratulations, their voices a chorus of celebration.

Richard rose, lifting Alicent into his arms as if she weighed nothing, spinning her once more. The room, their family, their future—all of it seemed to glow with the promise of the moment.

…

Note: Here is the final part of Chapter 51, hope y'all enjoy. Sorry about the late update, things have been busy.

I'm starting to face writer's block, I had to scrap so many words because I didn't like how things went. Tell me tips to fix this problem. Anyways, I got 10 chapters drafts set up in advance, I just gotta put it into working chapters.

With this volume two prologue is finished.