[ act i - lies kept ]

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐄𝐍

episode eight || the lord of the tides

— DELIA'S FOOTSTEPS NEVER faltered as she treaded through the corridors, her hands grasping the front of her gown to allow her to move more freely. The princess glanced behind to see multiple lords and ladies making their way around the castle.

Delia carefully climb up the stairs, her lips beginning to tremble as she rushed to make it to her chambers. The last she wanted was to have to greet everyone, play the perfect princess.

The girls steps began to slow when her room came into her line of sight. Delia reached the handle to her door, stepping into her chambers as she went to shut the doors before she was unable to do so. The princess pulled her brows together before looking over to see Jace's hand planted on the frame.

Delia's eyes widened ever so slightly, "What are you doing?" The red head looked down the halls to make sure no one was seeing the two.

Jacaerys' panted out softly, chest heaving as a sign that he'd run after the girl, "You dashed away before I could get the chance to speak with you."

Delia grit her teeth before harshly yanking the prince into her chambers, closing the door before looking at him like he'd grown two heads, "Are you mad? Had anyone seen you we'd be in absolute chaos."

Jace pursed his lips, "I'm well aware, but I had to see you privately." Delia allowed her arms to hang by her sides as she stressed, "And what for?"

Jacaerys took a step towards the princess, his gaze tender as he spoke, "You must know that I had no knowledge of my betrothal to Baela—"

Delia immediately began shaking her head, moving far away from the Velaryon boy as he desperately wished to reach for her, "No, please. We do not need to speak of this—"

"We do. The last I would ever want is for you to think I was merely toying with your feelings because I was not."

Delia clenched her fists at her sides, "It doesn't matter anymore, I know my place. You are to be wed and—"

Jace was quick to stride over to her, taking her hands in his as she struggled to find the mental strength to rip her hands away, but instead she relished in his warmth.

"It does matter, do not say it doesn't."

Delia finally attained ahold of herself as she pulled her hands from his grasp, "No, it does not. You are Rhaenyra's heir to the throne, her wedding you to Baela was a wise choice seeing as the Velaryons are a powerful ally. I do not hold ill will towards either of you but please Jacaerys, do not continue to torment me by staying at my side. It is the only thing I ask of you."

Jace felt his chest tighten, his teeth gritting as he stood utterly helpless, "It was supposed to be you."

Delia swallowed thickly, "It doesn't matter. We both knew this would come to be, and my mother is just waiting to seize the opportunity to wed me off for an alliance. This is how our lives work."

Jace pressed his lips firmly together, "You hate being used as a piece in your families game."

Delia scoffed softly, shaking her head as she spoke before thinking, "Quite honestly at this point anyone is a better option than Aegon."

Jacaerys pulled his brows together, anger coursing through him as he thought of his uncle, knowing just how he treated ladies, "Why would you be made to marry Aegon? He's wed to Helaena."

Delia licked her lips, her eyes falling to the floor, "Please leave." Concerned wracked through the Velaryon Prince, "Delia—"

"Don't make me speak of it." The princess' voice came out but a soft whisper. Delia lifted her eyes to meet Jace's tender ones, "You should go."

"I don't want to."

Delia hummed gently, "It does not matter what we want." Jacaerys reached for the red heads hand once more, slowly moving the pad of his thumb in circles over her soft skin, "It should. I do not want this wedding."

The princess breathed quietly, "It will happen either way, my prince." Jace watched her features shine from the sunlight igniting the room, his forehead slowly going in to rest upon hers as she sucked in a sharp breath.

"I thought I'd have more time."

Delia stayed silent, afraid of her voice betraying her. Jace enjoyed the girls warmth, feeling complete in her close presence. The prince leaned in softly, his lips inching closer towards the red heads.

Delia broke from her trance the second she felt Jacaerys' lips barely brush against hers. The princess staggered backwards, recomposing herself as she denied herself of the small happiness she could've felt in that short moment.

Jace immediately felt cold, regretting having done anything to make her rip herself away from him.

Delia sharply turned away from him, crossing her chambers as the boy followed behind, "We cannot— you cannot do that to Baela. She is to be your wife and she deserves your loyalty."

Jacaerys swallowed audibly, conflict running through him whilst understanding the truth in Lia's words. He shouldn't, but for as long as his memories lead to his heart had always desired Delia. That would never change.

"I know. I know but it is not Baela I wish for." Jacaerys had sworn to never to unfaithful to his wife, but he also had thought he'd be blessed with Lia as his other half. Baela deserved a man who'd give his heart and love to her completely— and regrettably Jacaerys was not that man.

Alicents youngest daughter clasped her hands together, "But she was the one chosen for you."

"And if I choose you?"

Delia admired Jacaerys' tousled chestnut hair, his sharp jaw clenched with his dark eyes intensely watching her own. "You know this is a battle we will not win. It would be best for things to simply dissolve between us."

The princess felt as though the two hadn't even been given the time to properly ignite anything, but that opportunity had been ripped away.

The Velaryon prince knew it would be the best to do, part ways and allow time to take what care they held for each other— but that was what Jace dreaded. He didn't want what they'd felt for each other to end, he would rather start the war earlier than to lose his Lia.

But if Delia wished for them to part, he'd give in. Doing whatever was her desire as he always would.

Jace's head fell slightly, his eyes dimming as he gave the girl a single nod, "I suppose so."

Hearing those words hurt Delia more than she wished, she knew it was the honorable thing to do, but that did not make it any less harder.

A knock suddenly appeared at the princess' chambers and Delia's eyes flew open.

Jace stilled in his spot as a voice from the other side spoke, "Delia."

The red head breathed heavily, it was her mother. Delia moved quickly, grabbing the Velaryon prince by the forearm before shoving him in her wardrobe. She had not given him a single second to retaliate— not that he would've.

The girl smoothed the front of her gown before heading to her doors to open them for her mother who inspected her closely.

Delia plastered on a soft smile, "Mother, everything alright?" Alicent blinked at her daughter, "I was about to ask you that."

The princess tipped her head slightly to the side in confusion, "And why might that be?"

"You left the throne room in such a rush, and you're never locked away in your chambers at this hour of the day."

Delia hummed gently, "I just needed to be alone for a bit, it felt rather crowded during the trial."

Alicent pulled her brows together curiously— almost unnoticeably, "Mhm, dinner will be held in the dining hall tonight."

The princess quirked up a brow in question, "Why so?"

"Your father wants a family dinner." Alicent almost grit out, her distaste for the idea quite evident.

Delia nodded in understanding, "Understood, mother."

Alicent gave her child a long look before turning to head down the corridor. The tension in the red heads shoulder immediately vanished as she shut the doors to her chambers, running a hand through her locks as Jace exited the wardrobe he'd been stuffed in.

Jacaerys fully admired the dress Lia was currently wearing, noting how well she suited the color black the thought making happiness course through him.

Delia set her arms back down before glancing back at the prince, "Careful on your way out, best if no one saw you leaving."

Jacaerys broke out of his small daze, realizing now that he had to leave. The boy reluctantly nodded, knowing the possibility of them happening had been burned to ashes.

Delia turned away from him once more, hearing her door click open before it shut. She closed her eyes, the silence purging the atmosphere as all her energy seemed to have left.

The princess exhaled heavily, already dreading the dinner to come.

AUTHORS NOTE,
let's see how long they last apart