Amaryllis Joseph died in a hospital shooting while tending to a patient, the youngest surgeon to ever had died on her 21st birthday after refusing medical attention and saving the lives of twelve patients before succumbing to her injuries. Instead o...
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~A few months later~
In the dimly lit chambers of Sunspear, Prince Mekar Martell paced anxiously as his mistress, Lady Cercella Lannister, lay in bed, her brow furrowed with pain and exhaustion. Beads of sweat glistened on her forehead, a stark contrast to the cool calmness that usually enveloped the Dornish palace.
As Mekar hovered by Cercella's side, a sense of unease gnawed at his gut, his mind tormented by the consequences of his actions. He had betrayed his marriage vows to Visenyra for the forbidden embrace of his Lannister lover, and now he faced the repercussions of his infidelity.
Before he could dwell further on his guilt, the door to the chamber swung open, and Princess Ashanti, Mekar's sharp-tongued sister, sauntered into the room with a smirk playing on her lips.
"Well, well, well," she chortled, her eyes dancing with amusement as she surveyed the scene before her. "It seems our dear Prince Mekar is finally getting a taste of his own medicine."
Mekar's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he shot his sister a reproachful glare. "This is no time for jests, Ashanti," he muttered, his voice laced with frustration and regret.
Ashanti's laughter echoed through the chamber, the sound grating on Mekar's nerves like sandpaper. "Oh, but brother dear, I do believe this is the perfect time for jests," she teased, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "After all, you did cheat on your queen for this woman, did you not? Consider this your punishment as an oath-breaker."
Mekar winced at the reminder of his betrayal, his heart heavy with remorse. He had thought himself above the consequences of his actions, but now, as he watched Cercella suffer, he realized the folly of his arrogance.
As Ashanti turned to leave, her laughter still echoing in the air, she paused at the doorway, her expression sobering for a moment. "Oh, and Mekar," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of warning, "just a friendly reminder: the poison I administered will wear off in two weeks. Make the most of your time together."
With that ominous parting shot, Ashanti swept out of the room, leaving Mekar alone with his thoughts and the consequences of his betrayal looming over him like a dark cloud.
As Ashanti made her way through the corridors of Sunspear, a sense of satisfaction settled over her like a comforting cloak. She couldn't help but feel pleased with herself, knowing that the poison she had administered to Lady Cercella Lannister would not kill her, but serve as a reminder of the consequences of Prince Mekar's betrayal. It was a fitting punishment, she thought, a taste of the anguish and betrayal that her dear friend Visenyra had endured.
Yet, amidst her satisfaction, Ashanti's thoughts drifted back to Visenyra's coronation, a moment of unparalleled beauty and majesty. She remembered the way her friend had looked upon the Iron Throne, her eyes alight with determination and grace. Ashanti had longed to stand by her side, to support her in her newfound role as queen, but the past months had been consumed with ensuring that Mekar did not meet his end at the hands of their father's wrath.
As she navigated the labyrinthine halls of Sunspear, Ashanti couldn't help but feel a pang of longing for the companionship and camaraderie she had shared with Visenyra. She missed their late-night conversations and the easy laughter they had once shared. But duty called, and Ashanti knew that she had a role to play in protecting her family, even if it meant sacrificing her own desires.
With a heavy heart, Ashanti pushed aside her thoughts of the past and focused on the task at hand. She would continue to navigate the treacherous waters of court politics, ensuring that her family remained safe and secure. And in the quiet moments of solitude, she would cherish the memories of Visenyra's coronation, a beacon of hope and promise in a world fraught with uncertainty.
Ashanti approached her father, Prince Qoren, and her eldest brother, her smile playing at the corners of her lips as she joined their conversation. They stood together in the opulent halls of Sunspear, their expressions grave as they discussed matters of state and family.
"Father, brother," Ashanti greeted them, her voice tinged with an air of satisfaction. "There is something I must inform you both of."
Prince Qoren raised an eyebrow in curiosity, his gaze shifting to his daughter. "What is it, Ashanti? You seem rather pleased with yourself."
With a mischievous glint in her eye, Ashanti leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I have taken care of the matter concerning Prince Mekar and Lady Cercella," she revealed, her words laced with satisfaction.
Her brother's eyes widened in surprise, a smirk curling at the corners of his lips. "Is that so?" he mused, amusement dancing in his gaze.
Ashanti nodded, her smile widening. "Indeed. Lady Cercella will suffer no lasting harm, but she will be indisposed for a time. And as for Prince Mekar, well, let us just say he will have ample opportunity to reflect on his choices."
Prince Qoren's lips twitched with amusement, a rare smile gracing his features. "Well done, Ashanti," he praised a hint of pride in his voice. "Neither of us is particularly fond of our new family member."
Her brother chuckled in agreement. "Indeed, she was quite the annoyance. Not a warrior like Visenyra, that's for certain."
Ashanti's smile widened at their shared sentiment. At that moment, she felt a sense of camaraderie with her father and brother, united in their disdain for the woman who had disrupted their family's peace.
As they continued their conversation, Ashanti couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction wash over her. She had taken matters into her own hands, ensuring that her family's honour remained intact and their enemies kept at bay. As she stood beside her father and brother, she knew that she had proven herself to be a force to be reckoned with in the halls of Sunspear.
As Lady Cercella Lannister lay in bed, her body wracked with pain and weakness from the effects of the poison, she couldn't help but overhear the conversation between Prince Mekar, her husband, and Princess Ashanti, her sister-in-law. Though her senses were dulled by the haze of illness, their words cut through the fog like a knife.
As Ashanti spoke of her actions and the repercussions for both Mekar and herself, a surge of jealousy and resentment welled up within Cercella. She listened with a mixture of frustration and indignation, feeling the sting of betrayal as Ashanti revelled in her triumph.
But beneath the jealousy lurked a deeper sense of hurt and longing. Cercella couldn't shake the feeling of being an outsider, of never truly belonging in the Martell fold. She had married into the family with dreams of power and influence, only to find herself sidelined and scorned by those who held true loyalty to the Targaryen queen.
As she listened to Ashanti's words, Cercella couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy towards the princess's unwavering loyalty to Visenyra. She longed for that kind of bond, that kind of devotion from her own family. But it seemed that no matter how hard she tried, she would always be an outsider, a lion among Snakes.
With a heavy heart, Cercella closed her eyes, trying to push aside the feelings of jealousy and inadequacy that threatened to consume her. She knew that she had made her bed, quite literally, and now she must lie in it. But as she lay there, alone with her thoughts, she couldn't shake the sense of longing for a place where she truly belonged.
