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Almost six months had passed, and the weather was getting colder and colder. Rumours from the Citadel that winter was coming had spread all over King's Landing. Nyla was walking under one of the porches of the Red Keep. The air was misty, and an incessant rain was pouring on the soil, releasing the refreshing smell of damp grass.

The soft rumbling of thunder could be heard in the distance, but all Nyla could hear right then was the sound of clashing swords in the porch. Despite the weather, Aemond was practising with Ser Criston. Nyla attentively followed his every movement, in a daze: his long, wet, pearly hair swaying in the air, following the movement of his strong, sturdy arms; rain and sweat mixing on his pale skin; his tense breastplates showing through the dampness of his shirt, and his eye focused on the opponent. He was so skilled, as if the sword was an extension of his arm.

In a few minutes, Ser Criston had Aemond's sword pointed at his neck.

Nyla unconsciously smiled, she was proud of him; he had grown so much. When his gaze met her, she could see his expression soften. He handed his sword to Ser Criston and walked towards her.

"Good morning," he said while brushing his soaked face. He smelled of sweat and metal, but the crisp scent of cedar was still lingering on his hair, creating a strangely alluring aroma.

"Good morrow, your Highness," Nyla slightly bowed to him. "Shall I go and prepare you a warm bath?"

"Oh no, it's alright. Walk with me for a while."

Aemond gave a look to Ser Criston, and the knight immediately left the porch. Now it was just the two of them.

"As you want, Aemond." He could not help but smirk when he heard her say his name. She also smiled, offering him a handkerchief to wipe his forehead.

He looked at her extended hand and chuckled. "You know that it's usually men that offer their handkerchiefs to ladies, right?" He teased her.

She softly laughed in response, "Indeed; but I am no lady. I'm only your humble servant."

In the past months following that night, they had grown closer and closer. They would spend hours together every day, as she became his study companion, quickly and steadily learning alongside him. He had lent her many of his books, and each time, he would ask for her opinion and insights.

Nyla had lived among nobles all her life. She had never truly wished for their lifestyle, but the one thing she had always envied was their education. When she was little, she once sneaked into the castle's library with her sister. The memory of thousands of those thick, precious books was still vivid in her mind. She could still recall the woody smell of the paper and the sound it made when she brushed her small fingers on the rough pages. Even back then, when she couldn't even read and the letters were a confused rabble of lines, she was captivated by the fascination those books possessed. Aemond had awakened that childhood craving that years of hardships and work had supplanted.

"Mhmm, you're not so humble, but it's true that you serve me well," he said while taking the handkerchief and wiping it across his face. "So, what was my humble servant doing here? Were you spying on me?" His smirk deepened and he took a step closer to her, his penetrating eye staring down at her white collar bones.

"Oh, I would never dare. I was actually heading outside of the Keep, but I can keep you company for a while if that's what you want." Nyla stepped back. Even though they had gotten closer in the past few months, she still felt suffocated by his presence from time to time. She didn't want too much intimacy.

The softness on his face was instantly dissipated. "Outside of the Keep? I don't think I gave you permission to leave."

"I requested an absence of leave for two days. It was granted to me by the head maid," Nyla replied, lowering her gaze.

"You don't work for the head maid, you work for me. So you have to ask for my permission before leaving," he sounded angry for some reason, his tone cold and sharp.

"It's only for two days. Another maid will attend to you, you can rest assured that-"

"I don't want another maid," he abruptly interrupted her. "I want you to be where I want you to be, when I want you to be there."

Nyla was taken aback by such a reaction. She used to comply even with his strange requests in the past, but she had convinced herself that their relationship now was different from back then. She didn't expect him to be so assertive and imposing. Actually, he didn't have any right to be that way. She was his maid, not his slave, and she had worked ceaselessly for months without ever taking a day off.

"So, are you going to order me to stay?" she asked, her gaze still focused on the ground. Her tone had become rigid and distant.

Aemond seemed to realise that he had crossed a line.

"I never said that I would," he paused for a moment, "but if I wanted to, I could do that."

His words infuriated her. He was such a hypocrite - first, he told her to address him informally and encouraged her to speak freely, as if they were equals. But now, he was treating her like this and flaunting the weight of his title. He was extremely arrogant.

Noticing her silence, he let out a sigh.

"At least tell me the reason for your sudden absence," he said, his tone dripping with condescension.

This time she raised her head, meeting his inquisitive gaze. "That's personal," she replied.

"Personal?", he scoffed. "Maybe you really are a spy after all," he grabbed her wrist, she tried to retract herself but to no extent, he was too strong.

"Please let me go," Nyla felt her chest tighten in tension.

"And why should I? Do you think you can give me any order? Who do you think you are?" His grip tightened.

Nyla understood it was a discussion she could never win; he seemed to be more on edge than usual.

"I am no one. I wasn't trying to give orders, it's just that you're hurting my wrist."

Aemond looked down at his hand and immediately released his clutch. It seemed as if he didn't even notice he was hurting her.

"I am sorry," he looked at her reddened wrist. "I didn't mean to." He seemed sincere.

Nyla took another step back. "It's alright, it doesn't hurt that much."

An embarrassing silence fell between them. Why did it always feel like they were making progress only to take two steps back? The old her would have insulted her for such behaviour. What are you even expecting? You can never understand him. Just shut up like you always do, that's the best way to stay safe.

But she was tired of living that way.

"One of my brother's friends has come back from the war in the Step-stones. I haven't seen him in years. Actually, I thought he was dead," she explained. "I was heading out to meet him."

"I see," he seemed conflicted. "Well then enjoy yourself." She could sense a slight irony and resentment in his voice. He turned his back on her and headed inside, leaving her feeling perplexed about his behaviour.

-

Aemond went to Vaghar seeking solace; riding his dragon was the best remedy for his irritations. He felt a deep feeling of frustration, anger, and also a lingering sense of guilt. He had come to realise that he had been placing unrealistic expectations on Nyla, fully aware that she could not fulfil his desires. He acknowledged the impossibility of attaining what he longed for, and understood that it would have been morally reprehensible to ask such a thing of her. Nevertheless, his yearning for her affection remained relentless, heightening his longing for her attention. Paradoxically, the more kindness she offered him, the more he desired. However, as he fervently sought to grow closer to Nyla, she continued to distance herself in order to uphold the facade of their relationship. He comprehended her actions, recognizing that she had far more to lose. While he could play with his desire, she risked losing her dignity, reputation, and maybe even her job.

Perhaps fear didn't explain her coldness; maybe she genuinely didn't enjoy his attention. But Aemond refused to even entertain such a thought. He had convinced himself that her distance was a result of her upholding her own dignity. However, that morning, he was confronted with the painful truth. To Nyla, he was just a part of her job. She eagerly anticipated a vacation, a chance to escape from him and meet someone from her real life, someone she truly desired to see.

He understood that she didn't actively dislike him, but that realisation was even more disheartening. Her actions stemmed from indifference, the unmistakable indifference one feels toward something that holds no importance in their life. Aemond held no importance, which meant he had no control over her. And without control, there was no way to ensure her affection for him.

Aemond battled with conflicting emotions. He didn't want to cause any harm to Nyla; however, there was a part of him that couldn't deny a twisted desire to inflict some sort of pain upon her. It was an unfortunate aspect of his nature, a reflection of how his mind operated. The voice within him echoed incessantly, reminding him that without power, one couldn't command respect, and without control, one would ultimately be controlled by others.

Even after a long ride on Vaghar, Aemond couldn't shake off the thought of Nyla wandering alone in the bustling streets of King's Landing. Or worse, hand in hand with an unknown boy, laughing and telling stories about a past Aemond had no access to.

Unable to bear the uncertainty any longer, he made up his mind to search for her.

─── ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅ ───

Author's note:

Hi guys <333

thank u for reading this, I hope you liked this chapter! I wanted to put both of their povs.

/ᐠ - ˕ -マ Ⳋ Aemond's red flags are starting to show 

Q:  How do you think Nyla would react if she knew Aemond's feelings?

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/    づ♡ I love you