𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒

───  ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅  ───

Nyla hurriedly descended the stairs, not wanting to be late for the arrival of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and her family. Her sister had once served the princess and spoke of her with great affection, which left Nyla with a sense of attachment towards Rhaenyra. She didn't want to miss the opportunity to welcome her in person.

Fortunately, when Nyla reached the entrance, no carriage had arrived yet. She took this time to tidy herself up, fixing her clothes and hair, before patiently waiting for their arrival. Unlike the queen Alicent and her children, Nyla was one of the few people present.
She wondered where Aemond was at that moment.

Over the past few days, he had been particularly on edge. He seemed both nervous and excited, but in a cruel and unusual way. Their first night together had been terrible, with Aemond forcing himself upon her and relieving himself without any regard for her pleasure. Her body still ached from it all. However, Nyla wasn't disappointed. She didn't expect Aemond to pleasure her; instead, she craved power, pain, and violence from him. Every time she was with him, it felt like she was in control, which was what she most longed for - perhaps even more than love. Evin was far more experienced and delicate when it came to sexual pleasure, but she could always turn to him if that's what she craved. With Aemond, it was something else entirely - something darker and more intense.

After a few minutes had passed, the gates creaked open, and a large carriage entered the bailey. Nyla's heart skipped a beat in anticipation. As the door of the carriage opened, an ethereal woman emerged.

She was the epitome of Targaryen beauty: her long silver hair shone brilliantly in the white light of the morning. Her blue irises had violet reflections beneath her white eyelashes. Her slightly crooked nose fit perfectly into her refined bone structure. Her tender milky flesh seemed to lack any blood beneath it, all accentuated by the contrast with the exquisite velvet purple dress she wore. Despite her pregnancy, Rhaenyra Targaryen stood proud and dignified, like a dragon. Nyla could tell from just looking at her that she was born to rule. Her beauty was otherworldly, and her presence commanded respect.

Following her, Daemon Targaryen and her two sons trailed behind with a confused expression. As they stepped out of the carriage, they realized no one from the regal family was awaiting them. The doors of the castle opened hastily, and Lord Caswell made his way to the princess, taking her hands into his in an affectionate manner.

"Welcome back, Princess."

-

Nyla had been assigned to escort the two older Targaryen princes to their rooms and provide them with the necessities. Lucerys and Jacaerys Targaryen were very different from what she had imagined. Nyla had heard rumors about their presumed illegitimacy and their strong and unsightly features, far from the delicacy of Targaryen traits. However, to Nyla, they looked just as much Targaryen as Aemond. Despite the dark hair, they possessed a mesmerizing beauty, a peculiar mingling of softness and firmness typical of Targaryen allure. The eldest, Jacaerys, had the proudness and dignity of his mother, while Lucerys possessed a certain affability and even gentleness in his large blue eyes.

Nyla bowed reverently. "Welcome back, Your Highnesses. If you will follow me..."

The princes nodded and complied, following Nyla obediently. She guided them through the intricate alleys of the Red Keep at a steady pace, maintaining the necessary distance required by their difference in status.

"This place has changed. When did they remove the Targaryen sigils from the walls?" Jacaerys seemed visibly bothered by the alterations, while Lucerys looked around with a mix of haze and curiosity, as if searching for a detail that would remind him of his childhood.

"It has indeed changed, My Prince. Queen Alicent ordered the sigils to be replaced two years after Princess Rhaenyra's departure," Nyla sympathetically shared Jacaerys's disappointment. It felt as if the magical place of her childhood had been violated and stripped away.

"I wonder if the training grounds are still the same as they were back then..." Lucerys mumbled, almost speaking to himself. Nyla liked his voice; it was gentle and delicate, the opposite of Aemond's. She knew that the seemingly innocent boy before her had blinded Aemond, but she couldn't help feeling a certain sympathy and solicitude towards him. After all, she had only heard Aemond's side of the story, and she was always careful not to draw hasty conclusions. Everyone had motives for their actions, and while those reasons may not excuse the actions themselves, they at least provided insight into how certain events had unfolded.

"They haven't changed much, your Highness. If it pleases you, I can accompany you there," Nyla replied bashfully.

A smile etched across the slightly chubby face of the youngest brother, who eagerly tugged at the hem of Jacaerys's vest. "Please, brother, let's go there!"

Jacaerys smirked and sighed in acceptance. "Alright, let's go to the training grounds."

-

Aemond's heart skipped a beat as he caught sight of Nyla entering the training grounds from the periphery of his vision. No matter where or when she appeared, she always managed to steal his attention, like a magnetic force. His whole body trembled slightly with pleasure. This was the extent of her effect on him. However, this feeling was soon replaced by anger as he recognized the two figures she was leading - his bastard nephews. If their presence wasn't enough to anger him already, they were now lingering around Nyla, chatting with her. And she was there, smiling softly at Lucerys - that spoiled little cunt. The desire to cut their heads off right then and there was almost too much to bear, but he managed to keep his cool and continue fighting Cole with fierce intensity. He swung his sword with even more ferocity against his opponent, making him almost lose his stance due to the recoil.

Aemond pretended not to notice his nephews approaching the crowd that had formed around him, and kept fighting ferociously, swiftly avoiding Cole's attacks and responding with even more viciousness. He could feel the two brothers' gazes fixed on him, and most of all, he could feel Nyla's.

He had to win. And he did. Finally, he emerged victorious with his sword pointed at Cole's throat. "Well done," praised Cole with a smile on his face that Aemond couldn't care less about right now. "You'll be winning tourneys in no time," he praised.

Truthfully Aemond didn't give a shit about tourneys. He wanted to win wars, and most of all, he wanted to see his nephews plead at his knees. To humiliate them completely, just like they had humiliated him.

"Nephews..." His gaze turned from Cole to Jace and Luke, and stopped behind them, at Nyla. "Have you come to train?" he asked, his voice cold and menacing.

Nyla didn't avert her gaze, instead she looked at him in her usual unbothered, unintelligible way. Was this another way of stirring him up? Because it was definitely working.

-

Aemond sat in his chair, repeatedly tapping his finger on the hardwood table as his family chatted and ate beside him. The atmosphere was thick with tension, despite his "father's" attempts to reconcile the family. For Aemond, it was clear that such reconciliation could never happen.

A debt remained to be paid.

That afternoon, the events had unfolded in an unexpected and bothersome way. That cunt of Lucerys had been confirmed as heir of Driftmark, and Vaemond Velaryon had lost his head – but kept his tongue – thanks to his uncle.

Aemond lifted his gaze from his tapping fingers and fixed it on Daemon. He was sitting next to the bitch Rhaenyra, chatting and joking with her. What an undoubtedly violent and unpredictable man he was. He had piqued Aemond's interest. If he wasn't already on Rhaenyra's side, perhaps they could have trained, and fought together. But the events had unfolded in a different way, and Daemon had already picked his side. So of course, when the moment arrived, Aemond would have killed him and his dragon without hesitation.

While he pondered over such future events, his brother Aegon lingered around the Velaryon girls, whispering insults and depravities as usual. Perhaps he had said something that stirred his older nephew because the Strong boy suddenly got up, hitting the table with his fists.

Aemond almost laughed at his poor attempt to assert his dominance. To provoke him, he stood up too. Silence filled the room immediately. Unlike Jace, Aemond had a larger and taller frame. He fixed his penetrating, intimidating gaze on his nephew, who gulped and shrugged his shoulders.

Jace then took his cup and raised it, looking directly into Aemond's eye. "To Prince Aegon and Prince Aemond. We haven't seen each other in years, but I have fond memories of our shared youth."

What utter bullshit, Aemond thought.

"And as men, I hope we can be friends and allies," he continued, in his condescending voice. "To you and your family's good health, dear uncles," he concluded, toasting his cup.

Aemond sighed in annoyance and sat down again. After seeing them with Nyla that morning, his desire for them couldn't be further from health. Aemond fantasised about cutting his throat right there. He imagined his blood dripping onto the juicy meat on his plate and splashing on the face of that cunt Rhaenyra. But it wasn't the right moment or place. Be patient, he repeated to himself.

The dinner continued in the same boring, unpleasant manner. Aemond couldn't wait to go back to his chambers and spend the rest of the night with Nyla. He wanted to punish her for that morning, but he also craved to keep her in his arms, safe and warm, embracing her so tightly that she couldn't go away.

Right when his rage started to calm down, and his mind started to sink into relaxation, a servant brought a roasted pig to the table, placing it in front of him. At such a sight, that bastard of Luke suppressed a laugh, mocking him.

What a fucking bastard.

Aemond's patience had reached its limit. He slammed his fist into the table and stood tall, taking and raising his cup. Silence immediately filled the room. The minstrels stopped playing music, and Jace and Helaena stopped dancing.

"Final tribute. To the health of my nephews: Jace...Luke...and Joffrey. Each of them handsome, wise..."

All eyes were fixed on Aemond, filled with anxiety and anticipation.

"...Strong."

"Aemond-" his mother tried to stop him, but to no extent.

"Come...let us drain our cups to these three...Strong boys."

At the invitation of his brother, Aegon smirked and raised his cup.

"I dare you to say that again," Jace hissed, with his usual proud tone.

"Why? 'Twas only a compliment," Aemond mocked him, and stepped forward. " Do you not think yourself Strong?"

Jace punched him with all his strength - which wasn't much. The force was only able to slightly turn Aemond's face. Aemond was still holding his cup filled with wine, and it didn't even spill. He chuckled and pushed Jace to the ground with only one hand.
At the same time Aegon slammed Luke to the table.

Fucking hilarious, killing you would be so easy.

Right when Jace was ready to counterattack, Daemon stepped in. He sighed and looked directly at Aemond in a defiant way.

Aemond wasn't afraid of Daemon; he was sure that no matter the circumstances, be it by sword or by dragon, Daemon had no hope against him.
But there was nothing to gain by challenging him now. He had already humiliated his nephews, so the dinner had been satisfactory enough.

He sighed and turned his back on Daemon, slowly retreating to his chambers, where a sweeter prize was waiting for him, or so he thought.

-

Aemond had summoned Nyla to his chambers that night, but upon entering, she was nowhere to be found. Displeasure washed over him as he realized that she had become less compliant with his requests since their first night together.

Aemond called the guard stationed outside his room and instructed him to locate Nyla and bring her to him. The knight appeared perplexed by such a request, but he knew better than to question the one-eyed prince. With a bow, the knight left his post.

While he waited for Nyla's arrival, Aemond removed his vest and shirt, settling near the window. The city below was shrouded in darkness, and a thin mist hung in the crisp air. In the stillness of that cold night, Aemond found himself reflecting on Nyla, on who she truly was.

Having known her for four years and sharing his life with her, she seemed to know him better than anyone, even better than his own mother. Yet, Nyla remained an enigma to him.

He knew she had suffered the loss of both a brother and a sister, though details of her sister's death eluded him. He also knew she had a lover, or was it a friend? Even that relationship wasn't clear to him.

He knew her fondness for reading, the colour of her hair, and the contour of her thighs. But underneath this surface-level understanding, she remained unreadable, capable of both kindness and cruelty, impulsivity and intelligence.

He felt as though he only grasped a fraction of who she truly was, as if she wore a mask concealing her true self. Even the emotions visible in her pitch-black eyes were carefully chosen, allowing her to maintain control over what he saw. This powerlessness frustrated Aemond.

However, there was one thing he was certain of: Nyla was a multi-faceted individual. A complex riddle made of mirrors. In such a labyrinth, it was impossible to know if what he was seeing was a reflection of himself or a true aspect of her being.

Sometimes, Aemond almost felt as if she was imitating his gestures and behaviours. Perhaps unconsciously. Perhaps to manipulate him. Aemond couldn't tell.

The sound of light steps on the pavement caught his attention. Nyla had arrived, escorted by the knight. The man, perceiving the tense atmosphere, left after a few moments, closing the door behind him.

Aemond approached her and began to untie the laces of her dark plain dress. The delicate strands slipped through his fingers, revealing the milky skin beneath.

"I thought I told you to be here when I came back," he said with a hint of frustration.

"I didn't know when you would return. I thought the dinner would last longer. You haven't seen your family for a long time."

Aemond scoffed, wondering if she was mocking him.

"Then you should have stayed here the whole time, waiting patiently for me to come back," he retorted. As he reached the final laces of the dress, he tore them open, his touch gentle as he caressed her naked white back.

"That's a waste of your funds. I'm paid hourly."

Aemond paused. Was she implying that their sex was also the mere part of a transaction?

"You're not my whore," he said firmly.

"I'm glad you don't consider me a whore."

Aemond would have laughed if her ironic statement wasn't directed at him. Instead, annoyance gnawed at him.

"Well, I'm not sure what you consider yourself to be," he muttered.

"I consider myself your maid. And your friend, occasionally," Nyla replied, turning around to face him.

"There is no such thing as occasional friendship."

"There is between us." Her fingers started dancing over his chest, eliciting pleasurable shivers that travelled up his spine.

Aemond sighed, surrendering momentarily to the sensations.

"Fine, have it your way. But the next time I see you smiling at my bastard nephew, I will remove the term friendship from our relationship," he warned, a flicker of possessiveness crossing his face.

Nyla giggled in response, her hand coming to a pause.

"That's fine by me. Not sure if it would be alright with you too, though," she teased.

"Just shut your mouth," Aemond sniggered, unable to resist her charm any longer. He leaned in and kissed her, their lips meeting in haste.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

Author's note:
Hi guys ;)
Thank you for reading this, I hope you liked this chapter!

This is probably the longest chapter I've written, from now on I'll try to keep this length, or even more, because more characters will appear and many things will require explanation.
Also I'll try to maintain a regular schedule, posting every Monday.

Q/: How do you think Nyla will react to Aegon's coronation?

₍ᐢ. ̫.ᐢ₎  luv u