Innocence// AEMOND TARGARYEN ✔️

Chapter Twenty-three

It had almost been a week since Eirlys had borrowed that book from the library and since she'd read it now, she didn't have any reason to hold on to it much longer.

She went back to the library, as she did on most days after supper, and walked toward the same shelf she'd retrieved the book from.

The large leather bound book slid back into its place amidst the other old books on the shelf.

And now even though she was somewhat aware of the book's contents, Eirlys knew she was still a stranger to the things mentioned within the pages.

The distant sound of footsteps had her turn around toward the direction of the sound to find herself making the acquaintance of Daeron.

"Princess" he gave her a curt nod.

"Daeron" she greeted him back.

"I uh" the boy nervously cleared this throat as he nervously glanced around "I wish to formally apologise to you about the way I... the things I asked you about... that day I-"

"I know" she gave him a small smile as she recalled him referring to his questions about her inexperience with sex and intimacy.

"Aegon speaks of it so often and with such normality that I never thought of it as an improper topic" he went on with a nervous chuckle "Halaena gave me a good smack to the back of my head alongside a few words counselling me on how to talk to a lady"

Eirlys smiled to herself upon thinking about the mental image of Halaena giving him a whack.

"It was wrong of me to pry on such personal matters. Again, apologies" he pressed his lips into a line before proceeding to talk again after a long pause "d-does my brother know of our conversation?"

"He does" Eirlys simply replied.

"It's a wonder I'm still in one piece" Daeron sighed playfully as he rolled his eyes "I'd expect him to take my head off in my sleep"

"That's an act of cowardice, where's the honour in that?"

Daeron looked puzzled at first before Aemond stepped ahead from behind one of the bookshelves, holding a small book in his hand.

"If I had to kill you" Aemond continued nonchalantly "I'd do it in broad daylight where everyone can see"

"You'd kill your brother, your blood, because he exchanged words with your woman?" Daeron raised a brow.

"Oh you did far more than just exchange mere words. No, you somehow managed to make her question her disinterest in the subject at hand" Aemond shut the book he was reading "what did you expect? That she'd all of a sudden crave it so bad that she'd run to you?"

Eirlys' eyes widened at the sudden turn this conversation had taken.

"No I did not" Daeron snapped "I knew you were depraving her of it. I merely wanted to point out what she was missing out on. And if she did come to me, I wouldn't have minded, someone has to be the one who keeps her happy"

It barely took a second for something to snap inside Aemond.

He abruptly threw his book to the ground, rather carelessly before he caught Daeron by his collar and shoved him against one of the shelves.

"Aemond..." Eirlys took a few steps toward him, in hopes to talk him out of acting out of anger.

"You dare speak of defiling my betrothed" Aemond's jaw clenched with anger as he spoke through gritted teeth "do not take advantage of my patience you..."

"Go on" Daeron smirked shamelessly at the long pause "what were you going to say?"

"Something I will not utter in the presence of the princess" Aemond swiftly replied "I do not wish to use vile profanities in the presence of my lady"

"All you've ever done is hurt her" Daeron scoffed as he tried to push Aemond off but the younger prince did not measure up to the strength of his older brother "I've spent days listening to her talk about how unbearable each day got, I've held her each time she cried-"

"Daeron-" Eirlys tried again but was interrupted.

"Mere acts of kindness like that does not give you the right to talk of bedding her" Aemond's grasp on Daeron's neck tightened "do you realise how perverse and desperate you sound?"

"I never said I wanted to bed-"

"Boys enough!" The princess raised her voice. She did not wish for either of them to turn on each other on account of her.

The princes did cease their argument but Aemond did not let got of Daeron yet.

"Eirlys" his tone quickly shifted from cold and hostile to calm and tender as he looked over his shoulder to talk to her "leave the room"

"I do not wish to be the reason any animosity brews between you both" she looked sternly at the two of them "stop this right now"

"This isn't your doing" Aemond looked menacingly at Daeron "some people don't understand that they shouldn't meddle amidst things that do not concern them"

Daeron simply rolled his eyes in response.

"Leave us" Aemond asked Eirlys once more as he finally let go of Daeron "I wish to have a word with my brother"

Eirlys did not move. She just glanced between them both, half expecting them to suddenly break out into a brawl.

"A civil conversation I can assure you" The older boy told her when he sensed the hesitation in her to leave.

Eirlys heaved a sigh before walking out without saying anything.

The moment her footsteps faded Aemond held Daeron by the collar once again when he saw the boy sigh with relief, thinking as if Aemond was done with him.

"Have you no shame thinking about her in that way? She might not know you seek to get in between us but do you think she would even want you to begin with?" Aemond hissed "she is loving and gentle and has treated you with kindness all along. Unfortunately, I am none of those things"

"Which is exactly why you are not deserving of her" Daeron muttered.

"I meant toward you, you twat" Aemond was tempted to punch him.

"I simply want what's best for her"

"No, you simply want everything for yourself" the older boy chuckled out of mockery "everything I have gained so far, I've had to struggle and fight for. Vhagar, my title as the best swordsman... do you wish to have me fight for my right to happiness as well?"

"I have never acted with intention to make your life miserable or to plot against your happiness-"

"Eirlys is my happiness and I will not allow your momentary desire for her to form a rift in between us" he snapped "I would say I appreciate you providing comfort for her when I was absent to do so, but your intentions were not of honour"

"My princes" Cole called out from a distance, hesitant to approach whatever argument was going on between the two "you both are late for your training with the sword at the yard"

Aemond aggressively shoved Daeron away.

"I shall see you at the yard brother" he glared at the younger boy "for your sake I do hope your sword is as sharp as your tongue"