Tales Of The Heart [Aemond Targaryen]

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

 The heart is deceived,
And the deceiver is in the heart.
〰

As I lay in bed, bathed in the moon's gentle light filtering through the window, my mind swirled with a loud mix of emotions. The evening's events replayed vividly in my thoughts, each moment with Aemond etched deeply in my memory.

Aiday's composure barely held together as I reluctantly shared snippets of my conversation with Aemond in the garden, carefully avoiding any mention of our kiss. However, her patience wore thin, and I found myself confessing everything in a moment of frustration.

The façade of calmness she wore in front of Baela and our grandmother shattered the instant we entered my chamber. With a firm grip on my hand, she unleashed a torrent of emotions, mirroring my father's fiery temperament.

"It was just a kiss, Aiday." I tried to reason with her.

"Just a kiss! What the fuck is wrong with you?!" She even sounds like Daemon Targaryen.

Her anger intensified as I recounted my secretive meetings with the prince and the nature of our discussions. Regret for keeping her in the dark for so long welled up within me, and I yearned to unburden myself.

Despite her initial fury, Aiday eventually softened, taking my hands in hers as she searched my eyes. "Do you like him?" Her question hung in the air, devoid of accusation, and I remained silent, pondering the complexities of my feelings.

Do I like him? 

He kissed me because I let him, does that mean that I feel something for him?

The quiet of the night was interrupted by a soft knock on the door, jolting me from my introspection. I straightened up, the silk sheets pooling around me, and invited the visitor in with a calm yet curious tone, "Come in."

The heavy wooden door groaned open, revealing a servant holding a letter in trembling hands. "This is for you, Princess," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as she approached the bed.

Taking the sealed envelope, I observed the elegant script adorning it, feeling the weight of its significance in my palm. The anticipation of its contents sparked a tingling sense of curiosity in the air.

Carefully breaking the seal, I unfolded the letter, the scent of fresh ink mingling with the faint fragrance of roses nearby. It was an invitation to explore the streets of King's Landing one last time before my departure, signed by Aemond.

Excitement and nervousness intertwined as I absorbed his request to meet in the solar, where we had discussed the troubling rumor. Adjusting my gown and cloak repeatedly, I wanted to appear presentable, not for any compliments but for a sense of self-assurance.

Guided by the moonlit castle corridors, I made my way to the solar, my footsteps echoing in the night's quietness, heightening the anticipation building within me.

As I approached the door, I paused, gathering my courage with a deep breath. Just as I reached for the door lock, it swung open slightly, revealing Aemond bathed in candlelight. However, my heart sank as I realized he wasn't alone—the girl from the garden stood before him.

Engaged in a private conversation, they seemed unaware of my presence. Confusion and hurt clouded my thoughts. Why had Aemond summoned me here when he already had company?