After the whole celebration with the public, they now decided to have dinner just for the family along with Julius and his son and Alaric and three more knight guards surrounding each corner. Caspain and Rhaenyra sat next to each other with Julius and Ector on each side.
"Another repeating toast, gods I hope not." Caspain leaned in to whisper at the princess who responded with a stifled laugh. Both giggled quietly, preventing to attract the attention on them but little does the princess know is that her loyal knight was already eyeing the both of them from the corner, standing firmly to keep his guard. His nose seems to flare at the sight of the two, to his displeasure, he saw the princess lean into Caspain to tell him something, "You do know you're talking to a princess, right? About her father and her step-mother's boring toasts." She playfully intended to put the threat in her tone, but the blonde locks man understood Rhaenyra's intention so he took it lightly by looking down to prevent himself from grinning.
"So you finally accepted the truth then? You finally acknowledged the queen as your step mother." He smiled. Rhaenyra's cheeky grin faltered slowly, she maintained a small smile on her lips. The boy noticed this reaction and he too slowly removed his grin. "I'm.. sorry, princess. Forgive me."
"No, no. It's- It's alright, Caspain." She paused, "Maybe I am starting to acknowledge and accept it." She forced a smile that Caspain gave back. They all turned their heads when the king stood up with his cup on his hand.
"Oh, here we go." He whispered once again to the princess who chuckled at his remark. They focused on the king who's about to say something. "My dear people, today I have remarried. Alicent is to be called the queen now and with that she deserves the same respect you give to me. I trust my hand and each and every person here dining tonight with us." He glanced at his daughter hesitantly. "Rhaenyra, I trust you with Alicent and as do I to her. I pray to the seven gods of you two coming to agree with each other and to develop the bond only appropriate for a mother and...daughter." Alicent glanced at her step daughter.
"Not squabbling, not pointing fingers at each other, but to act with tenderness and care just like how you were with your mother, Esther." Rhaenyra shook her head that made her look down with her eyebrows raised in disbelief. "You should get along well. Help each other out. We are now as one here, Rhaenyra,we represent our house. We are the Targaryens, and it would be terrible to not get on the same page.." He paused and stared at his daughter for a moment before speaking once again, "Because the only thing that can tear down the house of the dragon... was itself." A moment of silence was endured by each and every one dining at the table with the king.
Rhaenyra kept her gaze on her hands placed on top of her lap while Alicent gave the silver haired girl another look. She watches the princess not give a reaction nor any attention to the king's speech to her. Not wanting to embarrass Viserys, she spoke "That's wonderful, husband. Your expectations will not be dismayed." She caressed the king's arm from her seat, looking up at him. "Rhaenyra and I will get along well." She glanced back to the princess who lifted up her head to meet Alicent's glaze on her. Alicent must have noticed the princess' unexpected reaction because Rhaenyra swore she saw a glimpse of Alicent's side lip tug upwards.
When Rhaenyra realized that they were expecting an answer from her by the way her father looked at her as if awaiting something, she forced a small smile and nod, "Yes.. your grace." King Viserys hesitantly nod and sat back down before inviting them all to feast. During dinner, Alicent and the King had spoken about the Hightower's family visit for tomorrow, Rhaenyra could care any less so she just decided to sit there and eat beside Caspain and her uncle, putting her on the middle. The king responded that Alicent's relatives will be able to stay a few nights in the castle if it pleases her and boy, for Rhaenyra, she knew it does pleases the Hightower and her father.
Yesterday has passed and Rhaenyra is currently reading her book at the godswood, below the red colored leaves of the tree along with a musician playing just beside the tree, playing a harp majestically to perform for the princess as she reads. Just when Rhaenyra was about to turn a page, a voice called out to her, "Rhaenyra?"
With Rhaenyra knowing whose voice it is, she sighed and didn't bother to tear her eyes away from what she's reading, "Yes, my queen?"
Alicent heard this and she knows that the title she received lacked the sincerity. She took a step, "You may leave us now, Mar." She said to the musician. The boy stumbled on his seat and immediately gathered his things, "Stay, Marcellus. I have not yet given you the order to go, haven't I?" She eyed him. Feeling terrified for his life, he stopped midway of standing up. He was lost for words while his eyes widened towards the princess.
"The queen orders you to, Marcellus. You are free to go." Alicent spoke in a stern voice, making the boy scurried on his feet, not bothering to wait for the princess' response. Rhaenyra eyed the boy in disappointment as he hurriedly leave the godswood, leaving her and the queen. She sighed, "Must you really send him away?" The princess asked.
"His purpose will be a matter of trifle once I tell you why I'm here." Alicent held her arms together.
Rhaenyra raised her eyebrows lifting her chin up to take a better look at the queen, "And pray do tell."
"The king, your father wants you to meet the other hightower relatives. They are currently at the Throne hall." The queen replied. Rhaenyra looked back to her book and answered, "No thank you, your grace. I find myself perfectly fine here." She flipped a page.
"Rhaenyra, it won't take too much of your time."
"It's not about the time I worry. But, if her grace insist, I must really go, do I?" She closed the book with a thud and forced a sarcastic smile on the queen. She stood up and grabbed her book while Alicent stood there watching her. She dusted her dress before stepping forward. "You're going to meet my nieces and nephews, come now." Alicent spoke, waiting for the princess to match her destination. The princess rolled her eyes and sighed at how she felt like a toddler being called by her mother, she stormed off with her anyway.
"Ah, there she is." The king spoke from his iron throne once Rhaenyra stepped foot inside the throne hall with Alicent just right beside her. All heads turned behind to see the purple eyed princess slowly approach them with displeasure and a small forced smile on her lips. "My daughter, Rhaenyra Targaryen." All heads bowed down at the presence of the princess. The Hightowers included. Otto along with a teenage boy and girl that's just about her age and an aged man and two women stood and bowed their heads in curtsy.
"A pleasure to meet you, princess Rhaenyra. I am Lord Amber from Hightower." The grown man who's just about 6 foot approached the princess and asked for her hand to which she lend out for him to kiss. "This is my wife, Aleah, and my sister Agnhez." He stepped aside to show a woman with blonde hair wearing a green floral dress, she smiled at the princess. Then next is the woman beside the two teenagers, she looked more similar to Alicent. Has the same features, the eyes, the hair, except she seems to be an inch taller than the queen. The princess' purple eyes switched to the red haired teen girl and boy. They gave the princess a nod and a greeting.
"This is Gwenyth and Jafar, my daughter and son. Just about your age, princess." Amber introduced. Both of his children approached Rhaenyra, Gwenyth bent her knee in an act of curtsy while Jafar also asked the princess for a kiss on her hand. Alicent smiled but a feeling of discomfort and unlikeness towards her nephew's action was felt. She realized this and she quickly slapped herself mentally. It's probably only because of her protectiveness towards her own step-daughter. Yes, maybe that was it. So to her, she didn't pay much attention to it and let it pass.
The princess smiled and nodded towards the two who are just about her age. She glanced at her father right after, waiting for him to say something else further because she didn't appreciate coming all the way here by interrupting her good read just to introduce each and everyone's name.
"Rhaenyra, would you and Alicent please accompany them to where they will be staying?" The king asked which the queen and Rhaenyra knew wasn't a request but a demand covered with a sweet tone and manner. The princess clenched her jaw while her step-mother glanced at her from behind. The young purple eyed forced a smile and nodded anyway, "Yes, your grace." She glanced at the Hightowers before her with a fake smile. She nodded towards them as a sign for them to follow her and Alicent.
ANFTA
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