(ENG) War Of The Bearers • Jacaegon A/B/O

Sincerity and Decency

"There shall be no scar, my prince," Maester Mellos said as he applied an herbal ointment to Aegon's face. The scent was unpleasant.

Though he knew it was not a deep cut, Aegon was used to having the maester tend to him for even the smallest of troubles. He was often hurt. Once, his grandfather, Otto Hightower, remarked that the omega could trip over the wind.

Aegon was clumsy, mostly due to being drunk most of the time. Even after some eight or nine years of drinking, the prince's body had yet to grow accustomed to the effects of alcohol.

"Why do we have headaches after crying?" he asked suddenly.

The maester looked surprised by the question. Aegon rarely asked him anything, as he had no thirst for knowledge. Mellos even had to pause and think for a moment before answering, as there was no exact answer to the question.

"My prince, you may not be drinking enough water and thus become dehydrated after crying. Your muscles might also contract from stress, which causes the pain. I would say the ache shall not last long, though I could have a tea prepared for you to take after supper," he suggested, but Aegon shook his head.

"I think I do not deserve for it to pass. Perhaps I should feel this forever," he said quietly.

Maester Mellos looked at Aegon with pity and sighed. All in the castle took pleasure in mocking the boy and his habits, but Mellos recognized that the life Aegon led was a means of escaping his inner and outer conflicts, even with his own family. The boy never seemed to pay attention to the taste of the wines he drank; all he sought was the effect they brought.

His lust, indecency, and rebellion were part of his youth and an affront to the Queen. Aegon sought solace in drink for his sorrows, only to create more. He also sought love from those he lay with, yet he never found it.

"You should not feel this way. If you were crying, perhaps you did not act out of malice. Whatever it was that troubled you-" the maester paused, striving to remain discreet. He knew the cut was caused by Alicent, but would not let the prince realize how visible bad his relationship with his mother was. Such knowledge would only torment him further. "-your regret and desire to punish yourself are clear signs that your nature is not evil. Those who deserve such punishment do not cry in remorse. If they cry, it is out of pity for themselves."

Aegon raised his eyes for the first time; until then, he had been staring into nothingness, paying no heed to what the maester was doing to his face. He smiled faintly, almost kindly, which was uncommon for him.

"I think you are right. Maybe I am not the one who should be punished."

The maester smiled in return and left the room.

Elio, who had been standing quietly in a corner, giving the prince and maester their privacy, now approached Aegon with a hairbrush, ready to redo the prince's hair and make him presentable once more.

"I must fix your hair, my prince, and straighten your dress as well," he requested, but Aegon did not respond.

The prince reached for the star-shaped necklace around his neck, which had once belonged to his grandmother, Alicent's mother. He never knew her, for she died two years before he was born.

Without much thought, Aegon tore the necklace from his neck with force, likely breaking the clasp. Yet the prince was not so cruel as to destroy a jewel of such emotional value to his mother, so he merely placed it on the nearest table. It could be easily repaired, but tearing it off in such a manner was a satisfying outlet for his anger.