THE LADY - Jacaerys Velaryon

xxi. Soulmate

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
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S O U L M A T E

           THIS MUST BE her punishment for exhibiting such sin, for killing her father, for showing she had more than innocent intentions with Jacaerys as a maiden. This must be the gods punishing her.

           Because if they weren't, she wouldn't have to endure in dreadful conversation with the queen who kept asking her questions the moment Rhaenyra—or anyone from that side of the family—tried to utter a word to her. Feeling the burning stare of Prince Aemond from beside her made her feel like itching away at her skin.

           But she did not surrender, instead, every time someone made any remote form of conversation with her she would accidentally bump into the prince and mumble quietly so only himself could hear. 'My apologies my prince it seems as if my two eyes aren't working.'

           She quite enjoyed messing with the two Targaryen boys.
 
           But, she did not enjoy the queen's nagging. It had become like a drumming in her ears, the queen would speak to a member of one of the great houses briefly and then slowly turn her attention to Daella once again.

           She had to hold back from wiping the smirk of Jeyna and Cregan's lips.

           Daella smiled widely as she spoke to Rhaenyra, who was a few seats further down, the elder woman teasingly asking how her aunt was whilst Daemon was squirming in his seat at the mention of her name.

           "I have not seen your aunt in a few years, is she fairing well?" Rhaenyra asked leaning her head on her clasped hands.

           Daella leaned back, taking a sip of wine before responding. "My aunt is very well, princess. She claims she is enjoying her retirement as the 'witty widow' saying I have taken her place." The Tyrell girl smiled fondly at the memory of her aunt. She had not seen her since a few weeks prior, asking the woman to come to Kingslanding with her but she said she would 'rather let the common people tear her apart than step a foot into that foul city.'

           She couldn't have agreed more with her aunt. A part of her wishes she had never stepped foot onto the Kingslanding soil, but the other was forever grateful that she made such a decision, as seeing Jacaerys' face being lit up by the laughter coming from his mouth made her ten folds more happy than anything—or anyone in Highgarden ever could.

           She felt her smile grow wider when she heard the brunette boy beside her laugh, practically glowing at the fact he found her humorous.

           Jacaerys felt his hand twitched, stopping himself from throwing his arm around the back of her chair. On the other end of the table, Alicent Hightower perked up at the sound of Daella's aunt being brought up.

           Rumours had been travelling that the 'Witty Widow' had gone insane, locking herself away and only allowing her niece to see her.

           Which was not true, Cyrelle just didn't want to see anybody who wasn't her niece and didn't make her blood boil from her veins.

           "Your aunt, Lady Cyrelle." The queen split into the conversation, gulping down a mouthful of wine as she caught the attention of those gathered around the table as her eyes narrowed onto the Lady of Highgarden. "It seems she has vanished off the face of the earth, how is she?" Alicent begged to know, perhaps karma had finally caught up with the Lannister woman.

           Daella sighed audibly, glancing in annoyance at an amused looking Rhaenyra as she directed her attention towards the queen, a feign smile warped on her plump lips.