The unwanted princess - H.o.D.

A princess' favor

The realm was reunited to celebrate prince Aegon's sixth nameday. Aemond had been born a year and a few months ago and Alicent was already pregnant with her new babe was adamant he was growing jealous of the attention his new brother was getting around the castle, so she demanded Viserys throw a big celebration for the older boy's special day. Valora was pretty sure there was more to it than that though, and as she could bet it was more to do with Alicent's jealousy over the attention Viserys was showering over Rhaenyra and her two boys over their own, but she should know better by now. In Viserys' eyes, Rhaenyra was his shining star and, so, anything or anyone that came from her would be more important than the others. Valora was used to it already. She didn't understand why Alicent couldn't be.

Still, it was done. A huge tournament is thrown for Aegon as per the boy's request and, as expected as his betrothed, Valora is sat right beside him, watching as the riders duel against each other. Aegon marveled at the spectacle and as much as Velora understood the appeal, she flinched every time a knight was thrown over their horse. Beside her, Aegon cheered when Ser Criston pushed a knight from the Vale from his horse. He seemed pleased with the tournament thrown on his name, but one glance at Alicent told Valora her step-mother did not share the sentiment - and how could she when she was already so swollen with her fourth babe?

If she was to be honest, Valora also thought the whole thing was a little boring, but she wore a nice smile on her face nonetheless as she knew was expected of her. It wasn't, however, until one of the knights from the Stormlands came up to the royal box and bowed in front of the royal family that everything started to change.

"Princess Valora Targaryen." The helmeted man called out, causing the young girl to straighten her back a little. "I would humbly ask for the favor of the princess who survived."

The crowds erupted in cheers. In the royal box, all the members of her family turned to look at her and, for a moment, Valora hesitated. Beside her, she could see the way Aegon squinted his eyes, but, deciding she had already left the poor knight waiting for too long, Valora stood up from her chair, dusted off her dress and picked up one of the flower crowns her maids had made for her if she was ever called up on for a favor. At the time, Valora had thought it unnecessary. She was the unwanted princess anyway, so would want a favor from her?

Apparently, a young new knight from the Stormlands seemed to be foolish enough for it.

"Good fortune to you, brave Ser." Valora said, slipping her flower crown into his sword and smiled at him.

The knight bowed yet again, smiling up at the young princess before taking off on his horse and taking his position for the joust. His horse huffed and puffed, knocking its hooves against the dirty ground, clearly as anxious for the fight as its riders. Valora smiled as the Stormlands knight pushed down the visor of his helmet and then turned around to take her seat beside Aegon once again. She had barely made herself comfortable in her big golden chair made specially for her when Aegon scoffed beside her.

"It was silly to give him your favor." He said, to which Valora frowned.

"Excuse me?"

"He is going up against Ser Criston." Aegon said, smirking as he waved his hand around, acting as if what he said was the most obvious thing. Or, better yet, as if Valora was stupid. It almost made her want to laugh. Aegon was a child who still spared with wooden-swords. What would he actually know about, well... Anything, really? "Ser Criston's yet to lose a duel."

"That does not mean he will not." Valora argued. "He is good. But being good at something doesn't make you invincible."

"Your knight is young." Aegon scoffed. "He doesn't have what it takes."

Do you? She had wanted to ask. But it was Aegon's nameday so she decided not to antagonize him too much. Of course the gods decided to be funny, however, and when the knights clashed in the middle of the field only for Ser Criston to be pushed out of his horse by the younger knight, something changed in Aegon.

"You are ruining it." He said, frowning and petulant like the young, spoiled royal he was.

But Valora was nothing if not young, spoiled and royal herself as well, so she sent Aegon a glare while the arena around her erupted in cheers.

"What have I done?" She spat at him.

"I don't want you near me." He said.

"I did not wish to be here." Valora rolled her eyes. "Your mother was the one who insisted. Said it would be good for our guests to see you with your betrothed."

"Well, they have seen it."

"That they have." She scoffed, standing up from her chair again and walking toward the edge of the royal box.

Sparing Ser Criston a fleeting look, Valora smirked at the way he seemed very much angry over losing, but she paid him no mind. Instead, turning to the other side, she waved her knight over and watched as he rode his horse over to her again. The young man was quick to bow again as soon as he stopped and before he could start with the many compliments she knew he was about to shower her with, she spoke up.

"For your next duels, kind Ser." She said, pulling out a handkerchief from her dress and throwing it down the box and toward the knight with a smile. "I might not be present to see them, but you'll at least have a token of my appreciation with you."

"Thank you, my princess." The man bowed again, as Valora only smiled, turning back around and making her way back toward her chair.

Instead of sitting down, however, Valora stopped by little Aegon and basked the frown on his face. She enjoyed it even more than stealing the attention from him on his nameday.

"With my new favor, my knight will be declared winner of this tournament and as it is in your honour, you will be the name to crown him victor." She said, to which Aegon scrunched up his face even more.

"I will do no such thing."

"Consider this my present to you." Valora continued with her teasing, curtseying at Aegon as she hid a smirk behind her hair. "My prince."

And without another word, Valora left the royal box, meaning to leave Aegon alone to sulk on his own, while her guard was quick to follow her while Alicent watched her go with a scowl on her face.

Her father barely acknowledged her leave, but then again, it wasn't as if Valora expected anything different.