The Realms Rose | Aemond Targaryen / Daemon Targaryen

XLVI

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Rhaenyra sat in her chambers, her normally regal countenance now marked by anxiousness and doubt. Daemons absence gnawed at her, his lack of presence a heavy weight upon her heart. He had left abruptly, driven by an urgent purpose, a secrecy that he hadn't shared with her.

She rose from her chair and began to pace the room, her footsteps echoing softly in the empty space. Her thoughts churned in her mind, her imagination running wild with dark suspicions and worries.

Rhaenyra let out a frustrated sigh, her pacing growing more and more agitated. Her mind conjured up endless scenarios, each one more grim than the last. Why was Daemon being so secretive? What was he doing?

Just as she was about to drive herself into a panic, a sharp opening of the door interrupted her thoughts.

Daemon stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable. He had returned from his mysterious errand, but his face gave no hint as to what he had been doing or where he had been.

"Where in the seven hells have you been?" She seethed, hands cradling her swollen belly.

He stepped further into the chamber, the door closing softly behind him.

"I had to take care of something." He said gruffly, avoiding her gaze.

Rhaenyra's eyes narrowed as she picked up on his evasiveness. Her frustration with his secrets and his distance only heightened her temper.

"Take care of something?" She echoed, her voice dripping with disbelief. "And you couldn't bother to tell me about it? To let me know where you were going? Why all this secrecy, Daemon?"

Daemon let out a heavy sigh, his gaze finally meeting Rhaenyra's. He saw the frustration and hurt in her eyes, and guilt tugged at his heart. But he was still unwilling to reveal his secrets, his purpose.

"It's nothing for you to worry about." He said dismissively, trying to deflect her questions.

Rhaenyra's anger flared at his dismissal. How could he think that she wouldn't worry? That she wouldn't be concerned about his mysterious whereabouts?

"You disappear without a word, and you expect me not to worry? I'm carrying your child, Daemon. Your own flesh and blood. I have every right to know where you've been and what you've been doing!"

Daemon winced at Rhaenyra's words, the truth of her statement hitting him hard. She was right, of course. As the mother of his child, she had every right to know. But he was still torn, his mind wrestling with the weight of the secret he carried.

That he had planned to desert her, leave with her brothers wife and never return.

"You're overreacting." He said, his voice cold. "It was a simple errand. I didn't feel the need to consult you about it."

Rhaenyra's eyes flashed with a fiery mix of anger and hurt. She felt a pang of disbelief at his dismissive tone. "A simple errand, you say? So simple you couldn't even spare a word about it?"

She took a step closer to him, her voice lowered to a venomous whisper. "Is it really that I'm overreacting? Or is it that you don't trust me enough to share your comings and goings with me?"

Daemon's mind was swirling with thoughts, his conversation with Lorent ringing in his ears. He gritted his teeth, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. He'd wanted to see Aurora, to try and convince her to leave with him.

But the realization that she'd refused... it was a blow to his already bruised ego and injured pride.

He turned away from Rhaenyra, his jaw clenched tight. "I will not stand here and allow you to scold me like a child." He muttered gruffly, turning on his heels to exit the room.