My Father's Wife (GXG)

Chapter 56

"Good Morrow, princess, your grace," The man took down his hat to his chest and bow his head with a shine of smile to greet the royalty in front who passed the entrance of the ship

Rhaenyra reciprocated with genuine widened lips, "Ser Baelor. Nice to see you again," she walked past him and followed the queen on the ship with Ector behind them.

"Oldtown, my lady?" he asked with a smile not leaving his face, packing a rope on his arm.

"Mhm," Rhaenyra hummed in agreement and stopped next to the Queen. She turned around and went to the old ship rail to take a look good on Caspain who's standing just right there next to the ladder that crosses the people to the ship. Between them is a three feet gap where down below is the deep sea water. The sun hits his gold locks as he looks up to Rhaenyra with a saddened expression, "Princess," he called, "I will see you soonest and will come to visit."

Rhaenyra felt her heart melt, a small appreicating and genuine smile formed on her lips, "Don't be so quick about it." she said in sarcasm with a grin, causing him to crack up a small smile as well. His eyes are pained, so is his heart to be distant away from his woman. He inhaled deeply and sighed with great weight, "I will see you soon again, my lady."  he said it with so much grief and longing already. Watching him stand there with hands fall to his side somehow makes Rhaenyra's heart ache. Guilty, to say the least.

Behind her was Alicent watching. Eyeing and listening to their typical lover conversation. The Queen of Red Keep couldn't help but envy the boy for the relationship he has with the princess,  despite knowing of the forced decision to marry him, at least he gets to live with her and bed her. Something Alicent could not imagine once again— to bring herself to think about it is a suicidal torture to herself. She sighs quietly and proceeds to get inside the cabin, followed by Ector this time, not Caspain, the princess' lover boy.

The ship began to finally sail, riding the waves softly at first. Caspain watches as Rhaenyra gave her a genuine smile as her wave of goodbye. On the other side of the land, Caspain's head dropped then he sighed, "Didn't even get a goodbye kiss.."

"Painful that one, I'm tellin' yer." An old man who's currently pulling the robe spoke beside him. He casually walks away, leaving Caspain in confusion and with a typical frown. He looked back towards the ship's direction that's already sailing far away. His heart ached at the sight of no Rhaenyra on the ship's rail, with this, he sighed and looked on different directions of the sea— his blonde hair swaying in agreement to the direction of the wind's blow. He then turned around and finally walked away with a heavy heart.

"It must be cold, go inside, accompany the Queen." Ector spoke behind the princess with a dead serious expression on his face.

"Uncle," she greeted

"Rhaenyra," he paused, he extended his arms on the ship's railing beside Rhaenyra, looking at the far away sea. The muscled man frowns as he watches the sea waves ride its tide. Feeling every sway of the ship that's not in sync with the water he sees. He kept his foot still on the wooden ground, hearing it creak along with the splash of water against the body of the ship. "Before picking your betrothed— you have managed to get your maidenhood stolen away-"

"It wasn't stolen away," she interfered quickly, turning her head slightly to his side, "My permission was given." she spoke low. Hearing Ector heave a heavy sigh beside her, her tongue roamed around on her down mouth. The Bohemond was having a hard time composing and constructing his words that he'd leave his mouth open whenever he wants to say something but then it'd stay like that for seconds until he closes it again to rethink. The winds have been playing, having all the light weighted's direction be swayed.

After a long silence, he spoke once again, "You know you shouldn't have."

"And you know you're bad at lecturing," she said almost immediately. She glanced at his direction with an expression of knowing that made Ector froze and look into those purple eyes of her. In a matter of seconds, he broke down and chuckled, shaking his head and looking down to his feet while hands are still extended on the ship's railing, his muscles are best shown.

"I only have one niece, one that I'm not used to scold... but Rhaenyra, what you just did, it's... unladylike." he said in a confused tone, this just made Rhaenyra shake her head

"You don't know your words— but thank you, uncle. Best be sured that I'll do better as a woman." she forced a small smile, swallowing a lump in her throat

Ector watched her with sympathy, giving in, he said, "Rhaenyra, I am serious, do you understand? Now you know I can't be mad at you for long,"

The young woman snorts, "You're mad?" referring to his lack of expression of showing it, she giggles

"—And only because you know you're my favorite niece." the huge man continued. But Rhaenyra sighed and rolled her eyes with a smirk, "I am your only niece, uncle."

Ector cracked into a grin that turned into a giggle, his one hand left the rim of the rail before patting the princess' head, "All the time," he heard her sigh as a complaint.

"Now get inside, it's cold out here." He said, taking his hand back to the railing. When he heard the princess release a sound of complaint, he frowned and directed his body towards her,

"I don't want to talk to her," she sighed

"The Queen? Well then don't, being there does not mean you'll have to converse a conversation with her grace." the man shrugged but the princess only rolled her eyes,

"I may not engage but she surely will. Did you forget that she is now my mother?"

"I have not. And if the Queen did so then just respond, answer. Given the fact that her grace is now your mother, she can't help but just be concerned, you understand that, don't you, little one?" He crossed his arms to his chest and changed positions with his back leaning on the railing. He glanced to the princess to his side, awaiting for her response. Seeing the look of defeat on her face, he grinned and detached his back from the ship's railing.

"Now, come on. I'm hungry. I'm sure that big fat man has got something to share," he cheered

"He isn't a big fat man, he's Ser Baelor," the silver head sighed

"Beseech her," Julius spoke in a low tone. There both father and son talks privately somewhere in the corner of the castle, alone where there are no knightguards surrounding.

Caspain shook his head in a doubting manner, "Father, you only said of the marriage as the big help, but now this just seems like the princess is a use." he complained

"She is a use, she is a leverage, Caspain. If you're to be her husband, best be sure to grasp the opportunities that lies in front." The hand of the king said with a scowl

The young Laurent looked away in a distressed manner, he wiped his mouth in distress too. He flashed his face towards his father again, rapidly. "And right now is not the time, father— can't you see she's away, away for long."

"I don't care if the princess is on the other side of the world. You write her letters, woo that naive woman-"

"She is not naive." the boy defended, his jaw clenching, "She is the realm's delight, isn't she? You best know that it's better to speak when her presence is with me."

Julius glared at him for a moment before looking away in defeat, but a sense of pride is still plastered on his face. He gave his son a one last glare before walking away, leaving him without a word. Caspain leaned his head back in exhaustion and irritation before letting it fall back down— hands on his side.

ANFTA

broo, after spending all my time and efforts in this story yet i still managed to get an honor n school lmao