THE LADY - Jacaerys Velaryon

xvi. Upside Down

SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE BUT UTS OKAY BECAUDE ITS HERE NOW

PLEADE DONT HE A SILENT READER OR ILL MAKE DAELLA MARRY AEMOND XX

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
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U P S I D E  D O W N

LUCERYS ALWAYS KNEW something was
destined to happen between his brother and Daella, whether it good or bad, not even the fates could ignore the tension the two brought into a room with one another.

They were a perfect contrast to one another, they fitted together perfectly. He knew that once his brother became king their love would rival Jahaerys and Alysanne, he knew fear ballads would be written of the two. And if they weren't he would do it himself.

He knew it had gotten out of hand when his mother came up to him—Daemon in tow—and asked him whether his brother was having a secret relationship with the Lady of Highgarden.

If Daemon was realising they must be obvious.

But, in truth, Lucerys thought they hid they're feeling for each other very well, incredibly well, so phenomenally well tha—

"I want you to betroth me to Daella." Jacaerys said after being in silence for nearly an hour, Lucerys watched painfully as he slowly chewed his carrot, waiting to ask his mother the question—or...statement?

Rhaenyra slowly looked up at her son, her eyebrows furrowed in disturbance at the sudden outburst of her eldest son. It was surprising, Jacaerys was always the calm one, he would sit peacefully and laugh softly, he wasn't like Luke or Joff who were unreasonably loud at most points.

"I-uh-I...pardon?" Their mother stuttered, nearly chocking on the food she held in her mouth.

"Betroth me to Daella." His brother basically commander, sitting up in his seat. The whole lunch table had gone silent now, either staring at Jacaerys or Rhaenyra, the former wearing a stern and serious face whilst the other was written in shock.

"Jacaerys," Rhaenyra said softly, her shock wearing off after a while. "I cannot. You know I cannot." Said the silver-haired woman, her eyes squinted in sorrow.

"Why?" He said, his voice cracking. He looked like he was about to shatter, his eyes had glossed over. Lucerys hated it, he hated seeing his brother like this, his brother was the person he looked up to the most, not Ser Laenor, not Daemon, Jacaerys was the man Lucerys had always wanted to be.

He had grown up strong and courageous, unbreakable. It made Luke want to cry and his brother looking so vulnerable.

"Everyone out." Rhaenyra announced with a second, her lilac eyes baring into her son's. Lucerys didn't hesitate, quickly getting up from his chair and grabbing Joffrey softly by the hand, leading him from the room whilst Rhaena, Baela, Aegon, Viserys and Daemon followed after him.

The doors closed, and Lucerys was left with the rest of his family in the hallway, the shadow of the window pane battered down on his face, the musty spell filled his nose and he felt physically blinded by the sight of a green Hightower emblem.

The brunette boy glanced down at the small hand clamped in his, Joffrey, the third born son of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Ser Laenor Velaryon, Lucerys wasn't a fool, he knew. But his brother was his blood, they shared exactly the same blood. Lucerys loved his brothers.

Slowly, he passed Joffrey's small hand into the gentle grasp of Rhaena, who looked at him confused.

"I will be back in a moment, I must do something." He whispered to her, smiling bashfully at her and feeling a bit of pride bloom in his chest when he watched her dark cheeks twinge pink.