𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐇 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐒 ★ the house of the dragon.

chapter eighteen, be proud, or be ashamed.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐇 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐒
- BE PROUD, OR BE ASHAMED -

Josiah Martell was eating a few grapes and cherries - and mindlessly sipped some cold water from a clean goblet, while looking over at Visenya who sat next to him. Perhaps they could've been having a conversation, if not for Visenya's silence. Not that it bothered him, as he had grown use to it.

The Prince looked in her direction a few more times before he would eventually speak up.

"You're rather quiet this evening." He raised a curious brow, and hummed softly. "More quieter than usual."

If Visenya was surprised by his remark, she didn't show it in any shape or form. She only raised her head off her plate and tilted it towards him, as she continued to silently eat. "Is there an issue with my silence? Does it disappoint you?" She'd ask softly, while taking another bite from a nicely cold strawberry. "If so, then i apologize, my Prince."

Once she spoke those words, Josiah would smile a little. It was nice to hear, but it still didn't change what he thought of it. There was no doubt in his mind, her silence was an issue. There was something troubling her, he knew it.

"Your beauty is the only thing that captivates me every day, Princess." The Prince commented. His voice was laced with a certain calmness, and a touch of flirtation. "But your voice is just as soothing to me. I only wish to hear it some more at times."

She continued to chew on some fruit. Though her cheeks burned a faint blush, as she looked away from his eyes. His flirtation made her feel somewhat flustered, but she couldn't deny his words were nice to hear in that brief moment. Even if she didn't believe them entirely. After all, what did he really see in her?

"I find that my voice can be quite annoying, my Prince." She responded, before taking a sip of her own water. "And.. i do not wish to ruin your evening with such annoying sounds."

"You shouldn't worry. Your voice is not annoying, not to me. You speak much like the angels in the stars - your words are like a soothing song. I could listen to them for hours." He smiled a bit more, before taking another strawberry. "But please, eat as much fruit as you like now. I will stop bothering you with talk of your voice." Josiah said while nodding to himself, before looking over at her plate.

Was she really just.. eating fruit for dinner?

Visenya's lips pinched in a slight frown. She could feel herself grow slightly more awkward, and she hated that feeling.

She looked at Josiah, before turning back to her plate with a long sigh. "I have been thinking about the war that is currently being fought in the Stepstones." Her jaw clenched and unclenched itself before she continued. "I worry for my cousins. For their lives and healths. I worry for.. for Daemon."

Josiah would remain quiet for a few moments after that.

He took a few more long gulps of water, before he looked at her again, and he could hear the worry in her tone of voice and he believed it was genuine, for he knew it was.

"You have every reason to worry, princess." He replied. "It's one thing, being involved in a war. It's a whole other thing when it is someone you care about. Who means so much to you, that their well-being becomes a top priority."

"It is not Daemon i care about." Visenya immediately interjected. She would try to hide her grimace at how quick she was to deny some part of his comment. She shook her head and sighed once more. "Not only him, i suppose."

Her interjection didn't go unnoticed by Josiah. He stayed silent for a beat before he asked a simple, and yet curious question.

"Why is it that you don't want to admit that he holds a special place in your heart?" He'd ask gently, while licking his lips and taking another small sip of water.