-Chapter 20-

N.A: The two chapters were really short, so here's a third bonus chapter

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-Chapter 20-

"My mother likes you a lot, she often speaks well of you, dear cousin," said Laena, plunging her violet eyes into mine.

"It's the same for mine," I said.

Laena smiled and said, "It seems she would very much like to see us together."

"Is that something you would like?"

"I don't know, maybe. You are a Dragon Lord, a Prince, you have beautiful lands, and you are not an old, repulsive man, so I guess I could hardly do better."

I nodded, and then she returned the question: "And you? Would you like to be engaged to me?"

"May the Seven be my witness, I would like nothing more than to have you by my side, but unfortunately…" I said, leaving the rest of my sentence in suspense and letting out a deep, helpless sigh.

"You are already engaged to Lady Jeyne… who is just arriving," she said.

I turned my head to see Jeyne Arryn approaching us with her 'friend' and lady-in-waiting Jessamyn Redfort, both escorted by the knight Hubert Redfort, a minor cousin of the current Lord of House Redfort who was very talented with a sword and had risen to the position of Jessamyn Redfort's sworn shield.

"Aemon, my dear, I have been waiting for you for a long time and you haven't even come to speak with your fiancée."

Unlike usual, I took a cold tone this time and said:

"It is a great honor to see you again, Madam, and especially in the company of your good friend."

The smile on my liege lady's face did not falter, although I could see her friend's eyes narrow and Hubert's hand move to the hilt of his sword.

I truly hesitated to summon Urrax to burn these three pieces of filth in dragon fire, but I quickly recovered and said, "If you'll excuse me, I would like to continue my conversation with my cousin."

"Just before, I'd like to announce that the postponed engagement ceremony will take place at the end of the tournament, so that everyone can see that we are united and that the Vale has nothing to fear from House Targaryen," said the young woman.

'A fine way to corner me, surely if I refuse, she will spread rumors about me seeking her throne by force and with my uncle's support, which would put him in a position where he would have no choice but to disown me and side with this whore.'

I smiled without enthusiasm and then said, "Don't worry, I will honor the commitment my father made on my behalf."

She nodded, and I took the opportunity to slip away with Laena.

"Why do you let her speak to you like that? She thinks she's superior to you."

"She's afraid I might try to usurp her position. House Arryn has suppressed the rites, ancient traditions, and cults of the Houses under its dominion. She has turned the Vale into a domain where honor and chivalry prevail over practically everything. The fact of seeing a Targaryen leading House Royce, and moreover, a Targaryen with a good head on his shoulders, properly guiding his House while having an adult dragon capable of erasing the very memory of their House from history, this simple fact is enough to terrify her."

"But having a Targaryen in her bed scares her less because she's a woman, and marrying you would greatly strengthen her position," said Laena.

I nodded and then said, "The late mother of Princess Rhaenyra was an Arryn, and I do not want to deal with my uncle or my cousin."

"What are you afraid of?"

"Nothing, but I don't want to create unnecessary problems for the moment," I said.

"You're playing a long game, you wait and gather your strength to strike at the right moment, I find that clever," said Laena suddenly.

Taken by surprise, I inspected her more closely this time before saying:

"You are very intelligent, it's rare to see a girl so well-educated."

"I am a dragon rider and a Velaryon, I descend from a noble Valyrian lineage and the most powerful House in the kingdom besides House Targaryen," she said proudly, with a slight hint of arrogance.

"I see fewer and fewer reasons not to run to your father to ask for your hand."

She smiled and then said boldly:

"Who knows, maybe I will be the one to ask for yours."

"I'd like to see that," I said, not taking her seriously.

"Don't tempt me," she said before leading me further away, where we continued to talk and laugh, all under the watchful eyes of two hawks extremely pleased to see us so close.