♔ ♔ ♔

"Morning, Nyra." I speak softly, approaching the princess as she gazes out to the maze of shrubbery, her face immediately giving way that she's upset. "Wha-" I begin to ask her what she's looking at when my eyes land on her father, King Viserys, walking with Lady Laena. Ah.

"Morning." She replies, bitterness in tone, but I know I am not the aim of. She turns to face me, forcing a small smile and I reach out taking her arm.

"Don't." I speak softly.

"Don't what?" She asks, her lip trembling ever so slightly.

"You don't have to do that with me."

"Hmm?"

"Smile when you do not wish to." I tell her.

She breathes in through her nose, appreciative replacing the sadness in her eyes.

"Shall we?" I offer, extending my free arm out to the hall. She nods and I lead her away from the opening..

As we move around the corner, Princess Rhaenys comes into view as she sits on one of the benches.

I bow my head in her direction which she smiles in return. She looks stunning her deep blue dress, embroidered in gold.

Rhaenyra continues on, ignoring her presence, but Rhaenys speaks up. "It bothers you, does it not?" She inquires.

Rhaenyra stops immediately, bringing me to a halt as well as she snaps her head around. She glances out before answering.

"My father is a king. It is his duty to take a new wife and strengthen his line." She puts simply. But that is not how she truly feels nor I believe what the elder Princess was looking for.

"I did not ask for a lesson in politics. I asked whether this bothers you." Rhaenys snips. Oh my.

"Laena is your daughter, Princess. Does it bother you?" Nyra fires back.

I sniff, smoothing my palm down my dress, thinking maybe I do not belong in this conversation... but Rhaenyra's grip on my arm only tightens.

Rhaenys stares at her for a moment before looking off. "Of course, it does." I wish I could save the young Lady Laena, but I believe my father will intervene, though for different intentions. "But I understand the order of things." She looks back at us, at Rhaenyra, and I thank the gods to not be caught in her gaze. "I'm not sure you do."

Not understanding the order of things has consequences, or rather not obeying the order of things.

Rhaenyra looks up, annoyed. "If you mean to elicit some anger from me, you should know that you're failing, Princess." She ends with a pointed look at Rhaenys.

I feel myself caught in these conversations often. Conversations I want no part of and don't include myself in, but somehow I'm here anyway...

"Quite the opposite." Rhaenys tells her softly. Rhaenyra blinks at her as my energy spikes to hear more. "Whether it's to my daughter or to someone else's, your rather will remarry sooner than late." She effortlessly spouts off, her words causing my skin to crawl. "His new wife will produce new heirs." I feel sick. "And chances are better than not that one of those will be male. And when that boy comes of age and your father has passed, the men of the realm will expect him to be heir, not you." She pauses and I want to melt into the floor as my ears begin to ring.

If not me, then a 12 year old, and if not that 12 year old child then Alicent... all horrific options.

"Because that is the order of things." Rhaenys states once again, exhaustedly.

"When I'm Queen, I will create a new order." Rhaenyra claims.

Princess Rhaenys chuckles. "How I wish that could be, Rhaenyra."

That new order will not come without a cost, I fear. One never does.

Rhaenys continues. "But the men of the realm already had their opportunity to appoint a ruling queen at the Great Council and they denied it." Unfortunately so.

"They denied you, Princess Rhaenys." Rhaenyra tilts her gaze down. "The Queen Who Never Was." But should have been.

"Rhaenyra." I whisper under my breath at her.

"But they bent the knee to me and called me heir to the throne." She continues, firmly, at Rhaenys.

I wonder how different this kingdom would be if Rhaenys was Queen. How better.

Queen Aemma wouldn't have suffered so many pregnancies, and child birth. Rhaenyra would still have her mother. King Viserys would still have his wife...

Daemon and Viserys would have a better relationship... one can only assume to be true.

And I not as miserable... but my wishes are last on the list, and far unimportant, compared to how many other lives and relationships would bettered.

"Do you remind your father's men of that as you carry their cups?" Rhaenys fires back and my brows raise. She's right there. She pushes herself of the bench to her feet. "Here is the hard truth, which no one else has the heart to tell you." Her eyes carry over to me for moment as she moves to look out as Rhaenyra was moments ago. "Men would sooner put the realm to the torch than see a woman ascend the Iron Throne."

Men who never have a chance to ascend it themselves, I think angrily to myself.

Rhaenys glances over her shoulder to Rhaenyra. "And your father is no fool."

Rhaenyra eyes tear up as Princess Rhaenys begins walking away.

She quickly wipes her eyes with the back of her hand. "I have to go."

"Rhaenyra..." I start as she releases my arm.

"I have breakfast with my father." She says quietly. "I'll see you later?"

"Of course." I nod, wishing there was more I could do, though I do not agree with her harshness towards Rhaenys, she is upset.

She nods back before walking in the opposite direction. I sigh, turning to find Rhaenys not much further down the hall. I keep my head down as I begin to pass her when she speaks again.

"It was going to be you, wasn't it?" She questions and my steps falter.

"Pardon?" I ask, the air growing thicker.

She turns, leaning against the ledge. "I've heard the vile whispers throughout the castle, dear girl." Her face and eyes soften as she looks down upon me.

My teeth sink into my bottom lip as my eyes advert the floor.

Oh.

"Pay them no mind." She says and my eyes reach hers once again. "They speak of those who they know are unattainable and above them." She advices. But it doesn't hurt any less. "Where do you see yourself in all of this?" She asks, tilting her head down.

"As Rhaenyra's hand, right by her side." I nod strongly, the answer falling out right away.

"Is that all?" Rhaenys asks.

My eyebrows pull together as I look her. "What else would there be?" I chuckle, the question seeming preposterous.

"You don't believe you were destined for more?" She poses. "Made for greater things."

Why is she asking me this, I can't help but wonder.

"I do not." I answer honestly. How could I? What more would I even be destined for? "And it does not matter what I believe." I tell her.

"And why not?" She tilts her head.

"Rhaenyra needs me." I speak as if it were obvious.

"What do you need?" She hums, awaiting an answer. That doesn't matter. I stare at the ground again in thought. With no answer, she pats her hand against the rock before pushing herself away.

"I would not sell yourself short, Henley Hightower. There are things even we do not, or wish to see, buried within us." She places her hand on my shoulder causing me to glance back at her over my shoulder. "I thank you for eagerness to come to my defense moments ago with Rhaenyra."

I shake my head. "No need. She shouldn't have lashed her anger out on your truths."

Rhaenys chuckles. "And that right there is the greater. You are wise beyond your years." She says, letting her hand fall. "It will do you well in your future. You have a bright one ahead of you. Brighter than filling cups and reigning in Princess's."

And with that she parts, leaving me dumbfounded in the middle of this hall... pondering her words well after she's gone.

♔ ♔ ♔

0𝒷𝓊𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇𝒷𝒾𝓈𝒸𝓊𝒾𝓉7 𝓈𝓅𝑒𝒶𝓀𝓈!

Helloooo <3

Happy 1 week since the finale! Could have y'all going on about your Sunday after hotd s2 without a Scarletted Persuasion update, could I??

I've been VERY very excited for Rhaenys & Henley's conversation in this scene!! So I'm so glad y'all finally get to read it!! And please don't be afraid or forget to comment your thoughts, questions, & reactions!!

I love Henley's silent inputs on conversations, what Rhaenys said to her, AND that Henley got on to Rhaenyra haha, the best girls of HOTD, Henley & Rhaenys, are sticking together !!

Anywaysss, hope y'all enjoyed this chapter!! And until next time, mwauh!!

AND THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR 4K+ READS!!