𝕾𝖙𝖆𝖗𝖗𝖞 𝕹𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙;ʰᵒᵗᵈ

3

The doors suddenly flung open and Rhaenyra nearly fell off of her bed. "Astraea!!" Rhaenyra exclaims joyfully upon seeing her friend. 

It had been long since Rhaenyra could spend some time alone with her younger friend who had been busy ever since her mother was expecting a babe.

"I brought something for you." Astraea said. "Is it cake? Is it cake?" Rhaenyra asks jumping excitedly and Astraea halted in her steps. "Rhaenyra ask for my jewels, ask for my pretty dresses, ask for my life I will give it to you. But don't expect my cake from me." Astraea says. "I asked for a cake, not your cake. Not every cake in your radar can be yours." Rhaenyra says. 

"Turn around." Astraea says and Rhaenyra furrows her eyebrows in confusion. "Turn around, woman!" Astraea forces her friend to turn around and tells her to pull her hair aside and Rhaenyra does as she was told.

Soon Rhaenyra is greeted with a cold sensation around her neck. After the necklace is tightly clasped around her neck she goes to the mirror and admires it.

"It's...... Valyrian Steel... isn't it? Just like Dark Sister, where did you get it from?" Rhaenyra asks. "Sharp eye, princess. Indeed it is Valyrian Steel. One of my lord-father's page boy had gone to Essos and brought this beautiful necklace to me, after recognizing it as Valyrian steel I couldn't help it but gift it to you. Valyrian Steel had been associated with House Targaryen since the ancient time, this is a part of your house, your ancestors, you. This necklace belongs to only the worthiest and who is more worthy than the beautiful Targaryen princess standing infront of me?" Astraea says, the lie of her father's page boy bringing the necklace to her rolling off of her tongue smoothly.

"Oh Astraea.... I shall cherish this forever." Rhaenyra says hugging her tightly. 

"By the way why did you call me to the throne room when you were in your room the whole time?" Astraea asks with hands crosses against her chest.

"Oh... about that...... I just wanted to.... mess with you!" the lie didn't come off of the princess's tongue as smoothly as she wished to which Astraea raised a brow but decided not to speak anything against of it for which Rhaenyra was thankful for.

.

..

...

Astraea exited Princess Rhaenyra's room at the Hour of the Ghost.

As she made her way to her room through the dark corridors of the Keep no maids or servants were in sight. These corridors of the Keep were already dark enough even during the day and now the deserted corridor with only the moonlight being her source of light made the hall even more creepier than it already was.

As Astraea was about to take a turn somebody grabbed her by the waist and pulled her while making sure cover her mouth to prevent her from making any noise that would alert the castle.

"Shh, shh, shhh."
Astraea was greeted by the most beautiful pair of eyes she had ever seen. Despite living with the Targaryen almost all her life she just couldn't get enough of those long silver locks and magnificent purple eyes.

"You will wake up the whole Keep-"
"You've got very beautiful eyes." Astraea blurts out which came out as a half whisper way dreamier than she intended to.

Daemon Targaryen was clearly caught off-guard by the sudden compliment but nonetheless he smirked at the beautiful lady Infront of him who was too busy taking in the sight of his amethyst eyes.

"First you reject my gift and now you flirt with me. You surely are an amusing woman, Astraea."

This seem to make the Hightower girl snap out of whatever dream she was having and separate herself from the Targaryen prince who in return pulled her even closer than before.

"It's you!" She exclaims. "Yes it's me." He replies calmly. "What are you doing here at this hour?" she asks. "I could ask the same for you." he counters back. "I was returning to my room after visiting Princess Rhaenyra." she answers truthfully making Daemon furrow his eyebrows. "This late? In the princess's chambers?" he asks.

"You didn't answer my question yet." Astraea point out. "My brother is the King I can walk wherever I want." Daemon says. "That still doesn't answer my question. Who the hell strolls here in the corridor during this hour wearing an armor and carrying a sword?" Astraea says.

"I have duties my lady. I am to attend them." he says. "Oh." Astraea suddenly remembers that the Prince standing infront of her was also the Lord Commander of the City Watch under the suggestion of her lord-father.

"A new cloak?" she says eyeing the gold cloak draped on the prince's shoulder rather carelessly unfitting for a prince and a commander. "Yes, all of my maniacs were gifted the gold cloak by me especially for today's patrol." he says as he watches his lady infront of him remove the cloak from him.

Astraea always had a good eye and taste when it came to clothes, dresses and jewels. She was quite a fashion icon in the capital always being the best dressed and best groomed lady in the room. She always wore dresses and jewels befitting for a lady of her status and often dressed the Queen and the Princess in important occasions.

"Who knew that the mighty Targaryen prince didn't know how to dress himself properly?" Astraea teases as she smoothens out the creases the cloak. "I prefer undressing over dressing up. I'm pretty good at it as well." Daemon cheekily replies. 

"Oh really?"

"I can demonstrate it if you like."

"I'm sure lady Mysaria would appreciate it more than me." Astraea says. Being the daughter of the Hand came with another advantage as well; knowing everything that goes on in the court and in the Seven Kingdoms.

Daemon's eyes went slightly wide at her words but quickly recomposed himself. "You always boast about being the brother of the King, a prince. You must have many servants, if you can't dress yourself properly then you should have asked them to dress you." Astraea says placing the cloak on his shoulder and clasping it tightly.

"I could, but I enjoy when my lady does it for me." Daemon says pulling her even more closer, tightening his grip around her waist. "Indeed, no doubt. But alas Lady Royce isn't here to do it." This time Daemon does not hesitate to show his distaste with a groan at the mention of his lady-wife whom he left back in the Vale. 

"Please don't mention that bronze bitch or the misery in such moments." Daemon groans which fell deaf on Astraea's ears. "Tell me something Prince Daemon. Why do you dislike your lady-wife so much?" she asks. "Dislike? I despise her. Even the sheep back in the Vale are prettier than her." the prince answers.

"Then why did you marry her?" she questions further. "Do you think I had a choice? If it weren't for my brother I would have long annulled my marriage with that bitch who has been granted the title of my wife." Daemon could list out all the flaws yet not one good quality of his wife whom he called 'bronze bitch'.

"The hour's growing late." Daemon looked at the beautiful lady in his arms who was nicknamed 'The Second-Coming of Maris The Maid' which already spoke alot about her great beauty. But he never agreed with that name, he thought that Maris The Maid was way duller than his lady whose face was as beautiful as the moon, who hair was as black as the black night and eyes which held the fire of his dragon.

"Indeed it is." Daemon says caressing her hips as his eyes was fixated on Astraea who was caressing the fabric of his cloak which was neatly placed on his shoulder. "I shall get going then." Astraea separates herself from the prince and starts moving to where her chamber was.

"Sleep well, my lady"