𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋 / / 𝐀𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐀𝐑𝐘𝐄𝐍

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

"Aegon knows."

Having been practically dragged away from the Prince's extravagant name day celebrations, their escape culminated in a passionate interlude amidst the labyrinthine corridors of the Red Keep. Aemond, still burning with desire and anger, took the lead, guiding her with a determined stride to the seclusion of his private chambers. Fortunately, on this particular evening, the Kingsguard found themselves preoccupied with the meticulous orchestration of the feast, sparing them the potential scandal of two thoroughly disheveled Targaryens urgently navigating the shadowy corridors of Maegor's Holdfast.

Aemond's personal sanctum was a reflection of his enigmatic nature. The room exuded an aura of somber elegance. Heavy tapestries and thick curtains shrouded the stone walls, muffling any stray echoes and wrapping the chamber in an air of profound intensity. Candles were meticulously arranged throughout, casting a soft, warm glow that danced playfully with the room's fleeting shadows. Dominating one wall was a monumental fireplace, significantly larger than the one gracing her own quarters. It loomed like a silent sentinel, devouring logs, adding both warmth and a macabre aesthetic to the space. It became evident that the Prince held an unwavering aversion to the intrusion of natural light, as if the very concept of daylight were a personal affront to his sensibilities.

Seated against his opulent wooden headboard, Aemond's presence loomed large in the dimly lit chamber. The flickering candles cast eerie, shifting shadows that danced along the walls. There, in the heart of his realm, Visenya reclined, her back snugly fitted against his powerful chest. His possessive arm encircled her waist, securing her in an embrace that spoke of both desire and control.

Amidst the ambiance of their private enclave, Aemond broached a topic heavy with significance. His voice, a velvety whisper in the otherwise hushed room, stirred the tendrils of tension that enveloped them. "He knows."

A soft, almost inaudible mewl escaped Visenya as she languidly stretched her lithe form. Her voice, dripping with curiosity, beckoned him for clarification. "What do you mean he knows?"

In the muted glow of the hearth's distant flames, Aemond's expression remained inscrutable, his gaze fixed upon the shifting embers. "Apparently my brother is not as much of a fool as I took him for. He knows what we've been doing."

Visenya's voice resonated like a soft murmur of silk. "Does that bother you?"

Aemond's response was swift, unyielding, a proclamation of his resolve. "No. He knows better than to go against me."

Her laughter, soft as a whisper, danced in the intimate chamber, a melodic secret shared between them. Her slender fingers, adorned with delicate silver rings, played with one, twisting it thoughtfully. "What shame it would bring to the family. The Prince indulging in passion with his bastard cousin."

Aemond's retort was laced with dry indifference, a touch of bitterness tainting his tone. "I couldn't give a fuck about their judgments."

She leaned back, her eyes locking onto his, her voice a sultry purr laced with teasing innuendo. "You say this, but the world knows you as the dutiful prince."

He acknowledged the truth in her words with a silent nod. "I have obligations, but my private affairs are my own."

Visenya's smirk broadened as she continued to test the boundaries of his restraint. "Well, you haven't exactly been discreet about it, have you? No doubt your mother will wonder why you dragged me out of the celebrations tonight. Do you plan to tell her I was drunk as well?"

The dimly lit room seemed to cocoon them in an atmosphere of secrecy, where the boundaries of their roles as prince and bastard cousin blurred into something more primal and intimate. Aemond's grip around her waist remained firm, his eye locked onto hers, it's violet depths reflecting a myriad of emotions. There was desire, yes, but also a raw, unspoken connection that transcended their positions. "No, I will tell her I fucked you in an alcove."