Innocence// AEMOND TARGARYEN ✔️

Chapter Three

It had been a few days since the incident at the training field and the tension among the boys hadn't died down completely yet.

Even as their families had all gathered together to mourn the death of Daemon's wife, lady Leana, the young princes couldn't find it within themselves to set aside their dislike for each other, doing everything they could to avoid any conversation.

"If Eirlys turns out like our sister, I will lose all hope in this world" Aegon commented to Aemond who watched the two girls talking a few feet away from them.

Helaena was admiring a spider, occasionally stating a few informative things about the arachnida while Eirlys leaned away from the eight legged creature, slightly terrified and not wanting to be in close contact with it.

"What's the point of having a pretty face if you're constantly mumbling things that don't make sense" Aegon continued with a smirk "what good is a mouth that talks about nonsense instead of being put to other good use"

"What are you saying?" Aemond asked, clueless as to what his brother was trying to say.

"Gods you're so stupid" Aegon muttered under his breath before taking another sip of his wine "do you not have certain thoughts about her, Eirlys?"

"Well she is my betrothed" Aemond obliviously answered, not knowing the lewd context with which his older brother was questioning him "of course I think about her, she's my closest friend"

"With a slow brain like that it's no surprise she's your only friend" the older boy rolled his eyes at his brother's obtuse response "now excuse me, I need more wine"

Aemond looked back at his older sister and his friend, slightly unsure of what they found so fascinating about that spider.

Slowly, each one of the family members headed inside as the servants busied themselves to light the candles to illuminate the castle after dark.

"Princess Eirlys" he called out, using his formalities to address her while in company of other nobles "a word?"

"My prince" Eirlys followed his lead to the stone ledge of the little balcony that overlooked the waves meeting the sand on the beach.

"Do you want to accompany me on a stroll?" Aemond asked, his gaze fixated on the sandy dunes in the distance "just a along the shoreline and a little further away from the beach"

"Right now?"

"Yes, just the both of us"

"We aren't allowed to leave the castle during the day unchaperoned" The younger girl reminded, keeping her voice down "let alone going out by ourselves after dark"

"Fine" Aemond sighed, slightly disappointed "I'll see you inside after supper"

"Don't be away too long" the princess gave him a gentle smile.

"I won't"

Aemond never met Eirlys after supper, he'd not even returned as soon as he'd promised.

The princess had waited up for him in their old nursery, which was now used as Aemond's youngest brother's; Daeron.

She read a few books to pass the time and tried to work on her valerian until it was time for bed.

The princess had barely gotten a few hours of sleep before she was woken up by Halaena, informing her of the queen's wish for them to be present in the King's old study, which was now nothing more than a gathering hall.