"I knew you were strong, but I didn't know how strong," whispered the silver-haired princess.
"I don't like fighting," he said simply. He was lying in a tub filled with hot water.
Daenerys could see his chest protruding from the water. Further down, it was dark, and she couldn't see him clearly.
She thanked the Seven because she couldn't contain her blush if she were looking at that part of him.
"And you do it well."
"No, not really," he admitted. "Daemon is better than me. If he had my strength, he would have won." Daemon was not like Sir Barristan—he was better, perhaps even better than Sir Arthur.
"You're not very interested in being a warrior?" she asked him. She wondered if she should help the redhead maid clean her betrothed.
"I prefer books. What do they call me? The Prince of Scrolls." He didn't usually train.
Maybe it was fighting a bear in the Godswood of Winterfell that gave him so much confidence. If a bear couldn't kill him, what human could?
"They're rude," Daenerys said angrily.
"It doesn't matter. It's a good nickname," he said, not bothered in the least. "Do you know what will happen to Viserys?"
"He's going to Dragonstone. It's better if he's isolated for a while. Even if he's declared innocent," she said. "Don't your hands burn?" she asked the maid.
"I've been with the prince for years. I've gotten used to his warmth," the princess heard her, frowning as she found more than one meaning in that sentence.
"Enough, Ros. Leave," the prince said, not wanting to see them fight. The maid curtsied before leaving the room.
"Ros?" Daenerys asked.
"She's been with me since the North. She's been my companion for a long time. Before you arrived, she was giving me information about Cercei's children," he admitted.
"Is she your lover?" she asked first. "What information?".
"No, not my lover anymore. Since our engagement was announced, I haven't been with any other woman." He said, not sounding pitiful. "Serena will be your lady companion."
She hummed in agreement. Serena Martell was a pretty and kind girl. Although she always seemed sad.
Daenerys moved behind him. She admired the muscles on his back. She took a basin and a sponge and began to wash him.
"I don't know how I feel about you keeping her around," she said about Ros, rubbing his arms.
"Do you want me to dismiss her?" She couldn't see his expression and didn't know if he was angry or indifferent.
"No, but if rumors start spreading that you have a mistress under our roof, I'll send her away," she said fiercely. He just kept quiet.
"I never asked you before. What made you agree to the marriage?" He knew it was a conversation with Daemon, but he didn't know exactly what was said.
"Daemon wanted a princess. He wanted the façade I put on. He didn't want the girl who was interested in books. He wanted a pretty face and open legs. Nothing else," she said flatly.
"That's all?" he asked.
"Don't you think that's enough?"
"It is, but you seem to be holding something back," he clarified.
"The day before the tournament, he slept with a prostitute," she said sadly and angrily. "He's done it before. I let it go. But then you said you wouldn't dishonor me by having a mistress, and... he says he loves me, you know? But his lust always got the better of his love."
Jaehaerys remained silent. He knew his betrothed's feelings wouldn't disappear overnight. However, he would be lying if he said it didn't bother him to marry someone who had feelings for someone else.
"Do you still love him?" he asked.
"Love him? I'm not sure I ever loved him. There have been few people I've lived with in my life," she admitted, remembering her mother's words. "I won't say I never felt affection for him, but love? No, I don't love him." Her hands began to stroke his hair, cleaning it.
She heard him purr at her touch, and a small smile adorned her face.
"Do you see the glass container with the blue liquid?" Jaehaerys asked her. "Put some on my hair," he requested.
Daenerys obeyed.
"It foams a lot," she said, amazed by the liquid. She used both hands to spread it throughout his hair. "Did you create it?" she asked curiously.
"Yes, one of many things." Daenerys began to question him about his inventions and studies. She even dared to ask him why he never went to the Citadel.
"You would have learned a lot there," she said.
"The Stark library is vast, and I was allowed to use it as I pleased," he replied. "Besides, I didn't trust the maesters very much," he confessed, frowning.
"Why? Master Pycelle—"
"He fucks whores so often he could die inside one of them."
"He can barely move."
"A fraud. Believe me, I've seen him run like a young man," he replied.
The girl frowned, not quite believing him. She didn't know what the maester got out of it. Was there any reason to hide from everyone?
"Besides," the prince continued, "the way they accumulate knowledge without advancing technology worries me. Westeros has remained unchanged for nearly eight thousand years. We just went from bronze to steel."
"There have been many changes. Like the Andals and the conquest of our ancestors," said Daenerys, remembering her history classes—a subject she was able to study in depth.
"Only the owners changed, but the land remains the same," he said. Dany used the basin to wash his hair and watched the foam fall into the tub.
"I don't understand," she said, frustrated by her fiancé's words.
"You will in time. You'll see the world I want to build." His words were distant.
Ever since he was born, he had hated how backward everything was: Defecating in buckets and the smell of shit in the streets. Traveling for days to get from one place to another. He wanted to change that. He wanted to modernize it. Technology limited him; in his life, he will not be able to see a plane or a car... but maybe his children, or his grandchildren.
He knew that wouldn't be the best way to keep his family in control.
After all, improving the quality of life would lead to education and, eventually, democracy. But that was something for later, for his descendants. He would plant the seeds.
In the modern world, only a few families held power, controlling from the shadows. He would give his descendants an enormous advantage over others.
If they couldn't hold on to power, they weren't worthy.
"What are you doing?!" The princess blushed when she saw her brother standing naked. She looked at his firm buttocks for a few seconds before turning away.
"Why are you scared? We're getting married soon," he said, amused by her reaction.
She blushed even more at that. Her wedding night was only a few weeks away. She would share a bed with a man for the first time. Soon, if the gods blessed them, she would carry his child and give birth.
"I want to talk to Ros," she said suddenly.
"If you want to blame someone, blame me. She was just a tavern keeper's daughter before she became my mistress." He didn't want any unnecessary animosity between them.
"That's not why. Just make her my maid," she said, walking away quickly and not caring about her wet dress.
Before leaving, she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "Damn it." Just outside, she found Ros. A knight was trying to talk to her. Daenerys could see how uncomfortable the redhead was.
"Princess," the gentleman said, bowing. His gaze drifted to her dress, more specifically to how it clung to her skin.
"The prince will tear your eyes out if you look at his betrothed like that, remember the Darkstar," Ros said, amused and relieved.
Dany frowned at Ros's words. The memory of Gerold's death was brutal and swift. However, she was glad that Jaehaerys had come out unscathed. There was something else there, too: pride. She felt proud that her husband was strong. She felt safe around him.
"I didn't mean to."
"Get out of here," the redhead ordered.
The princess looked at the girl in front of her. She was pretty. Taller and older than her, she had prominent breasts and wide hips. The princess could see why her brother had let her warm his bed. Now, she would use those same circumstances to secure her future.
"Come with me," she said, walking to her bedroom.
"Sure, your highness," the girl replied, walking with her head down and looking surprised.
The silver-haired girl undressed as soon as she entered her room. She put on a robe, a gift from Jae, to cover herself. The cotton garment covered her entire body, leaving only part of her legs bare. It was quite comfortable, although it couldn't be worn outside without looking vulgar.
"I want you to prepare a hot bath for me. Just like Jaehaerys's," she said. The girl hurried to carry out her orders—or rather, to give orders to the other maids waiting outside her room.
"It will be ready soon," Ros said. She had no idea what the princess wanted with her, the former lover of her future husband.
"Now, I need your guidance, Ros," she said slowly. A huge blush spread across her cheeks.
"I'll do my best, Your Majesty," the girl agreed, not that she could refuse.
"I want... I will have," she stammered. "I'm going to have my wedding night soon, and I want to know what I'm getting into," she said quickly.
"Oh! In that case, I have quite a bit of knowledge," the girl nodded, feeling relieved and concerned.
'Would she kill me if she found out everything Jae has done to me?' Ros wondered.
"Will it hurt?" asked the princess.
"With others, maybe. I've only shared a bed with one person. The prince is quite delicate. You wouldn't expect that from someone with that tool at his disposal. But don't worry; he'll be gentle. You'll end up enjoying it."
The girl looked sad, and Dany felt guilty. It was as if it were her fault that the two lovers had separated.
"Tool? Is it...big?" The girl was dying of embarrassment. But there was no one better to talk to about these things. Perhaps one of her good sisters or her mother could help, but she couldn't bring herself to ask.
"Oh, princess, you have no idea," the redhead said, smiling lasciviously. "It's a gift from the gods."
"Does it feel good?" She received a knowing giggle from the maid before others came in to prepare the bath.
"You'll feel like you're riding a dragon, princess. You'll touch the clouds at times," she said dreamily.
Daenerys was a curious girl, and Ros loved talking to her. Dany was sure that Ros's words would make the girls on the Street of Silk blush.