DIFFERENT FLOWERS, SAME GARDEN

ALYSSA III

It still felt so surreal.

Her mother was dead. Just like that. “The gods give and the gods take away,” The septon was fond of saying. But why?

Why would the gods take her? She had prayed to the Mother, yet her mother was still dead. Alyssa wondered if the Seven had heard prayers and chose to ignore them. Aemma was good, kind, and pure and she died an agonizing death. In pain, screaming and begging if the servants were to be believed.

She could have passed in her sleep, peacefully. No, her mother spent the last living moments of her mortal life, desperately clinging to her body as the Stranger pulled her away. At this point, Alyssa had shed so many tears, she had surprised herself with how much one could cry.

“Princess? You have to eat.”

Alyssa groaned and turned over at the sound of the woman’s voice. Danielle Darklyn, some distant niece of the current lord, was her…favorite lady. However, the princess didn’t wish to hear her voice or feel her presence. She didn’t wish to eat or move. She wished for her mother and if no one could give her that, then they should all leave her be.

Suddenly, her vision brightened and the warm layers of sheets were removed from her body. Alyssa shot up in bed as chills ran down her spine. The princess opened her eyes to see the brown hair and slender body of Danielle as well as a plethora of maids, fluttering about her room, doing various things.

Her purple eyes bore into her lady’s. “I do not want to be disturbed, Dani,” She voiced harshly.

“I know.” Lady Danielle replied as her eyes softened, but she had orders. “Princess Rhaenyra told us that we must wake you.”

“You take your orders from me. You’re my lady.” Alyssa spat out, a bit more possessively than their stations should have demanded.

The Darklyn’s pupils widened at the princess’ word. Danielle looked around, hoping the servants didn’t hear Alyssa’s words. Or, at least, that they didn’t understand. “Yes, but Princess Rhaenyra is the heir and the highest ranking woman in the realm now.”

Alyssa grumbled. “She ought to have woken me herself.” She rolled out of bed and placed her feet on the floor. Across the room, her mother’s maid Bara, was filling up a bath. Alyssa had never been more grateful for the woman.

Danielle nodded. “She could have, but…she is in a small council meeting.” The brown haired woman cocked her head. “As you should be.”

Bara and the others were done with the bath and Alyssa dismissed them with a wave of the hand, with the exception of her lady. “I wonder if people actually missed me or if they only act like they care because I am a princess.” She mused absentmindedly, ignoring Danielle’s previous comment. “Where are my other ladies?”

“I figured you wouldn’t want to see all of us on this fine morning. It’s just me.”

“Good.”

Alyssa gathered her personal items and made her way to the bath. Feeling her lady’s gaze on her, the silver haired girl slid her sheer nightgown down her body, slowly. She chose to ignore Danielle’s now quickening breathing. The princess climbed into the tub and laid back in the damn near boiling water. She closed her eyes at the feeling and let her body relax. Wait for it.

Danielle gulped. “Is that not too warm for you?” Of course, it wasn’t. She knew that. Alyssa smiled slightly. Dani could be so innocent at times.

“Come find out.” She cocked a brow.

On shaky legs, the Darklyn girl walked to the tub and lightly fell to her knees. The princess could feel the girl’s heavy breathing on her neck. Alyssa looked into those brown eyes that warmed her many times and said, “Touch me, Danielle. It would hardly be your first time.”