"I can't believe she's with a child." Escaped her quietly, but angrily.

The dessert was hardly eaten before those present at the dinner immediately left the room and Edith and Aemond had disappeared straight to their chambers. She didn't know where the others had gone, but she wasn't interested in that right now.

"They are married. What shocks you about that?" Aemond shook his head at his wife. He didn't understand what her problem was.

The young man was already sitting in their shared marriage bed with a book in his hand, while his wife sat at the dressing table undoing her braids. Her dress from dinner was already hanging back in the closet and she was already wearing her nightgown.

"I wish I knew..." she sighed.

Aemond sat topless in bed, while the lower half of his body was hidden under the covers. His small injury above his hip looked much better after Edith applied another layer of cream.

"I think I know why, there are only two possibilities." He opined. The book in his hand suddenly became much less interesting and he also had Edith's attention now. "Tell me about it." She asked him, looking at him through the mirror as she started to comb her long brownish hair.

"I think you're jealous of them." As he spoke, he finally put his book aside and got up from the bed to stand behind her chair.

"Why would I be jealous of them? That sounds absolutely implausible, Aemond." Her voice was much higher than normal as she answered him and she had a hard time hiding the trembling of her hands. "If those two are happy, then so am I."

"Hmm." He took the hairbrush from her when he noticed the shaking, then ran it through her long hair before starting to comb it.

"I mean...you're happy for them too, right?" she asked nervously.

"To be honest, I don't care what they do or don't do. I just never knew their relationship was still so... intimate." His attention was all on her hair. She had really nice brownish hair and she had inherited the slight waves from her mother Aruna. In fact, Edith's hair was the perfect contrast to Amond's silver long hair.

At the word intimate, Edith's stomach tightened. She was very happy that her close friend was finally getting along with her husband and that they had found a connection. At the same time, it hurt to know that Aegon shared a bed with another woman... Even if that was his wife.

"What I was really trying to say..." began Aemond, and then paused for a moment to think about his next words. "Are you jealous because you don't have a child under your heart yet?" Unusually, his voice sounded cautious at the question.

Edith lifted her head and searched for his gaze in the mirror, startled. She hadn't thought about that at all. Was that perhaps why she was so upset?

The young woman wanted children very much, but she didn't feel ready for them now. Besides, the current situation was not the best.

"No." She answered immediately and lowered her gaze again.

Her quick response made him laugh, which left her a little confused.

"What?"

"Nothing." He replied, still smirking, as he combed the last strands of her hair.

Edith sighed. "Aemond." She warned him. "Say it."

"Do you remember what wicked things you said to me before we were married?" he asked her with interest. The man put down the hairbrush and now ran his fingers through her soft hair, which Edith enjoyed very much. "When we were in Dragonstone." He added.

"I've said so many bad things to you so far." She murmured cheekily, suppressing her smirk. "I guess you'll have to remind me."

"You said you would never have my children." He helped her to remember.

"Oh, that's right." Replied Edith with a raised eyebrow. "But do you also remember that you first said that you didn't want me to bear your children?"

It was shortly after the birth of Aruna and Daemon's new son. Edith had taken her baby brother in her arms and cuddled and cared for him with her while her mother recovered from the birth. Aemond had then come into the room and joined her by the fireplace. All had been well until the two had talked.

Edith had asked him the simple question of whether he would also like to have children someday, and he had only responded that it was his duty to produce heirs, but if she was going to be the mother of his children, then his answer would be no.

"I remember it well." He answered her. Now his voice was much more serious than before.

"What if I'm jealous of that?" she provoked him. It wasn't the truth, but she wanted to see where this conversation could lead. "about a child"

"Have you changed your mind about that? Do you want my children?"

"Only if you've changed your mind." Lied the young woman jokingly.

Aemond grabbed her by the hair and pulled her head rudely into her neck, then he bent over her and put his free hand to her cheek. Edith saw him through her position upside down, but that didn't bother her and apparently it didn't bother him either.

"I want you to have my children and only my children." His answer was more of a command and caused goosebumps all over her body. He murmured it in her ear with his seductive voice in a way that made her feel warm in her abdomen.

Not only did all the wine from dinner get into her head, but also into his. Otherwise he probably would not have said this, although drunk people are known to tell the truth.

"What are you waiting for?" she teased him, and with that question alone she wrapped him around her finger.

Amond's grip on her hair tightened and he pulled her up from her chair. Her hair was already disheveled again and would need another combing.

"Get on your knees." He demanded of her.

Edith looked him in the eye and leaned longingly against his chest. Her head was empty and she was blind again, all she wanted right now was him alone.

"You still haven't said what the second possibility is." she stated, tilting her head slightly as she waited for an answer. "You wouldn't live to see the end of the second possibility." he murmured dangerously to her.

Again, the question of what he knew came over her. Did he know about her and Aegon? Was Edith that bad at hiding her feelings?

Ignoring his words, she stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips firmly to his. Her hands rested on his chest as she did so, while his still tangled in her hair. The kiss was not only passionate, it was full of desire. They two were hungry for more, but before they could take another step, Aemond pulled her head back by her hair.

"I don't think you heard me. Get. on. your. fucking. knees." He murmured in her ear before putting his hands on her shoulders and actually forcing her onto her knees.

A hint of uncertainty came over her and she looked up at him nervously, but before she could say anything, he placed his thumb on her lips. Instinctively, she opened her lips in response and took his thumb in her mouth and after another uncertain moment, she tentatively sucked on it.

He gave her a moment, but looked at her challengingly, knowing how much this would stimulate her. And of course, that grin did something to her, and gave her confidence.

"Don't forget to show me how much you like it." She demanded to him with a cheeky grin.

Aemond didn't break eye contact for a second as Edith then opened his pants and she slowly pulled them off.

~~~

"You have to stand still princess, I really don't want to hurt you." Asked a blonde girl the youngest princess.

"Forgive me."

By now, a little over a week had passed since the announcement of Aegon and Helaena's child blessing, and neither had sought out conversation with Edith. She hadn't seen them since dinner either, and she got the feeling that the couple was avoiding her.

She had expected something like this from Aegon. He often ran away from things when something bothered him or he had done something wrong. But from Helaena she had not expected something like this. The girl was her only friend here and now she avoided her too.

Edith would like to talk about it with someone. About the situation, about her worries and about her feelings, but at the moment there was no one to talk to. At least not here.

Ironically, she had only Aemond in her life right now, but he wasn't much help to her either. Aemond had been her sworn nemesis and yet he was her husband now and seemed to understand her, at least to some extent.

Next to him she now had Daeron, with whom she had also spent a lot of time in his atelier in the last few days.

Even now the two spent time together, but for once not in his atelier, but in a kind of dressing room. Edith stood on a small platform, wearing only an undergarment, while two seamstresses staked out several pieces of fabric and took her measurements.

Only yesterday she had dared to complain to Aemond about her dresses. The few dresses that were the wedding gift from the queen were just not enough. Besides, the dresses were all green and Edith liked this color less and less about herself.

If she had known that Aemond would bring two dressmakers to the Red Keep the very next day, she would have complained much earlier.

Daeron had pushed two chairs together and while he sat on one, his legs were on the other chair. On his lap were various scraps of fabric, which he kept holding up and looking to.

"I really like this fabric a lot. Blue flatters your beautiful eyes." Daeron commented, holding up a light blue fabric with gold embellishments.

Edith would have loved to reach out for it, but she was too far away, so she had to judge from a few feet away. In the end, any color was better than green. "I like the gold in there. It makes it look special." Replied the young woman.

For several hours now she had to stand in uncomfortable positions so the two women could take Edith's measurements. From her arms to her legs, they noted everything, even the size of her breasts. Finally, they dressed the princess in the corsage of her wedding night. They would use this as a model for a top for a pink dress.

Edith had her hands on her hips and was standing as straight as she could, everything already hurting in her body. She was barely clothed, but she was not ashamed to show herself like this in front of her brother-in-law. Daeron was not interested in her or in any woman at all.

In that case, he was just like Ser Laenor, who preferred to spend time with men. She had always enjoyed spending time with him and sometimes it was as if only Laenor understood her. He had had a special world view. Edith very much hoped that he was better now, wherever he was now.

One seamstress stood in front of Edith and held her to give her more support, while the other seamstress knelt behind Edith and tied the corsage. Roughly she pulled at the ribbons and laced it tighter and tighter, but still it could not be closed completely and the ribbons seemed too short.

It was obvious that the corsage had become much too small for her.

"You're hurting me!" the princess complained, and she would have loved to shake off the women's hands, because she felt like she couldn't breathe. "I can't breathe like this."

"Forgive me, Princess." Apologized the smaller of the two immediately, while the larger continued to hold the tapes. "Princess... I'm afraid we can't use the corsage as a pattern." Sighed the blonde haired one.

"What do you mean? It's a pretty corsage and I'd like a dress of it." Replied Edith horrified, sounding like a true princess.

"We know that, princess. The corsage is beautiful, but..."

"I don't want to hear a but." She interrupted the smaller dressmaker, who immediately lowered her eyes. "Try again, please." She instructed the seamstress behind her.

She tried her luck again to get the corsage on, but she couldn't do it without cutting off Edith's air completely. Slowly the princess became aware of the situation.

She had already noticed in the last few days that her clothes had become tighter, but she had convinced herself that it was due to the good food here in King's Landing. However, this was probably not the case.

"Princess..."

"Forget the corsage. It's not that pretty." She interrupted the seamstress with a sigh, running a hand over her pretty face. "A simple top will do, maybe you can put in some wires at the waist to make it look more elegant."

"That's a really good idea, princess."

"Yes, it's a really good idea, princess."

Only with difficulty could she stifle an eye roll. Edith had gotten used to the title and the respect that came with it by now, but sometimes it was just annoying. Especially the constant repeats of the title.

"I think we're done for today." Decided the young woman with the brownish hair.

The women took off the corsage from her again and Edith remained standing on the platform in her undergarment, taking a deep breath first.

"When was the last time you bled, Edith?" asked Daeron in Valyrian, grinning knowingly at her. With his hands, he continued to play with the fabric.

It had been a long time since she had spoken to someone in Valyrian, and it felt good to hear the language again. At the same time, she knew Daeron was only speaking to her in Valyrian so the seamstresses wouldn't understand them.

Uncertainly, Edith folded her arms in front of her body, perhaps also to hide from his gaze. Daeron looked at her with such knowledge that her efforts seemed ridiculous.

"To be honest, I don't know." She answered him in Valyrian as well. When the two other women weren't looking, Edith stroked her belly and pulled the undergarment tight against her body. Barely visible was a bulge, but the reason for the bulge could also be from the recent lunch.

"Someone should examine you, Edda."

Edda was her nickname, which her mother gave her when Edith was very small. Only her family had ever called her that, and sometimes Helaena had. By now she only heard that nickname from Daeron, which she had allowed him to use.

"I don't want to be examined!" she immediately snapped. The very thought made her nauseous. She had been glad that Maester Ludwig had left her alone in the meantime. Nevertheless, there was still the possibility that he was planning something.

Edith really didn't feel safe here.

"Does Aemond know?" Daeron carefully folded the fabric samples and placed them on the dressmakers' small dolly, then helped Edith back into her normal dress.

"After all, I didn't know myself, and I'm not necessarily sure! I've eaten a lot of dessert in the last few days..." The young woman stroked her dress just as Daeron was lacing it up for her with difficulty.

"Maybe because you're eating for two?" the youngest prince joked. "Just a little banter, forgive me." He held out his hand to her and helped her down from the platform. The two then sat down on the couch nearby.

The two dressmakers packed up their things and then left the room.

"May I ask if Aegon knows about this?"

"I still told you that I also don't- Daeron! Where did you get that idea?" Edith still quickly noticed the mistake, at the latest when Daeron started laughing loudly.

She leaned back on the couch and put her legs over Daeron's, who had also stretched out on the couch.

"Explain yourself, Daeron."

"You know I saw you with my oldest brother." He then explained himself. His head was resting on the armrest and so he stared at the ceiling, but his knowing grin could be seen by Edith as well. "What's going on between you two? I'm your cousin! Who can you tell if not me?"

Edith knew that lying wouldn't help her out of the situation here, besides she wouldn't feel comfortable lying to her newfound friend.

"Aegon helped me a lot during my first time here and accordingly we spent time together." She told him with a beating heart.

"Your first time here was almost two moons ago, Edda." He reminded her with a laugh, nudging her. "Is he still helping you?" he asked her ambiguously.

Two moons seemed like an eternity, and yet it felt to her like her arrival was only last week. It was scary how quickly she had more or less settled in here.

"No, not anymore." She sighed, hiding her face behind one of her hands. She was comfortable on the couch, but still the underwires of her dress pressed deep into her skin. She would love to take it off again.

"Have you two ever been with each other..." Daeron didn't finish his sentence, but he didn't have to. His question was obvious.

"Please don't ever tell anyone, and especially not Aemond. He would kill me." She asked her brother-in-law nervously.

It was a hard request, but sooner or later she would have to talk to someone about it. This burden had been on her for a long time and the situation was not getting any better now that the affair was over. At least it was for Edith, since Aegon didn't talk to her anymore, thereby she hadn't done anything wrong.

"Another secret between two cousins. Could hardly imagine anything more beautiful." Smirked he.

"Nothing nicer than a secret affair between your brother and sister-in-law?" Now Edith had to laugh, too, and nudged him playfully. "You're crazy."

"You know about me and Lucerys, so this new information is only fair."

"You never told me what went on between you two, Daeron." Curious, she propped her head on her hand and looked at him, waiting and eager.

The two were still conversing in Valyrian, but no one minded. Edith loved her mother tongue very much and she felt good to finally be able to speak it again.

"Maybe the same as you and my brother... my older brother... Aegon... but also my other older brother.. Aemond! Well, at least none of us are married." Daeron had to keep improving as all of his comments fit both of his brothers, that he laughed out loud while doing so only made the situation funnier.

"But we only did it once. Right there." He pointed to the painting Edith had finished a few days ago. It showed the cliff in Dragonstone - the favorite place of Edith and her sisters.

Apparently it was Luke and Daeron's favorite place, too.

"No way. Are you kidding me? That's why you turned red every time we painted! And I thought I was such a bad painter!" laughed Edith. She was already holding her stomach laughing, as was he. "Was it good?" she asked unabashedly with red cheeks.

Daeron's cheeks also turned as red as fire and his heartbeat quickened. Of course the moment had been beautiful - the most beautiful he had ever experienced. But he wouldn't admit that now, and Daeron wouldn't be Daeron if he didn't come up with an impertinent counter-question.

"Which of my brothers was better?" he wanted to know, grinning mischievously. To be honest, he didn't even want to know the answer, but her face was worth it.

"Of course me." Replied another voice in Valyrian, which did not belong to the beautiful princess.

Startled, the two friends sat up and looked toward the door. Neither of them had heard anyone come in and just as little did they know what all he had witnessed.

With fear in her eyes, she looked to Daeron beside her and then back to the door. She felt so warm with nervousness that she began to sweat.

The man with the silver hair had his hands in his pockets and was looking at the two of them curiously. "I think we should talk urgently, Edith."

***

Surprise Helaena is pregnant!
And not just recently...

How do you think Edith
will deal with it?

Be curious about the next heartbreaking chapter....
it was hard to write it :(

I wish you the best, see you in the next chapter♡