Warning: This chapter contains an attempted sexual assault

Chapter 8: Playing With Fire

Throughout the teenage years of my life, I rarely talk to other people unless necessary, and no one would speak to me. As someone who grew up isolated, I had long since given up all notion of romance.

No one would like a girl as clumsy, childish, and dumb as me. I would live my life as I always did, alone.

So, I didn't know what to do when Viserys liked me... Alicent as he did. He's caring and sweet, but I couldn't... I wasn't the real her. I couldn't just accept him into my heart when he didn't know the real me.

...There's one time when someone asked me to be his girlfriend.

But it was—

—

Not long after that day, Rhaenyra sent me an invite to her tea party. In handwritten notes highlighting "All girls".

However, when I arrived, I saw someone I didn't like.

"Hey, since when are you a girl?" I asked as Daemon tilted his head towards me and smirked.

"You see my hair? I'm a girl." Please. I even told Myles there's no need to follow me since this was a girl's party.

"Rhaenyra," I ignored him and turned towards her, "What's he doing here?"

"Oh, he's our special guest," She smiled brightly, "Last time we did this, didn't you tell me we can bring special entertainment to liven up the party?"

...I just threw a rock on my foot, didn't I? "I mean gifts and games," So we wouldn't only be eating cakes with nothing to do, "Not... humans."

"So, I'm a human in your eyes?"

"Umm," I narrowed my eyes, "What else you could be if you're not a human?"

"A dra—"

"Dragon is not an acceptable answer."

"But I'm a dragon." Stop puffing your cheek, you're a grown man, not a baby!

Rhaenyra giggled, "You're funnier than Mushroom."

"That isn't exactly a compliment." "Ohh, I would love to see you wear Mushroom's hat, being the clown suits you—" "That's a duel-worthy insult."

Yeah, we had a "great" time. I still didn't know why Daemon was here in the end, however.

If he wanted to approach Rhaenyra, surely he wouldn't want me to be here?

Otto's warning came back to my mind but I discarded it quickly. Befriending me... befriending Alicent gave Daemon nothing. He was supposed to hate Alicent and her children for pushing him further down the succession.

So what was his plan?

Maybe it's Rhaenyra's wish to include me in their meetings and he just did this to please her?

...Yeah, that must be it. That said, it might be safer to let Myles or Gwayne follow me in addition to the kingsguard.

We didn't know what he would do, after all.

—

Yet he kept showing up in my daily life.

Our good old tradition of the game night (I could beat him about half the times), random encounters in the hall, Rhaenyra's invitations... hell, he showed up in the nursery once or twice.

Could you imagine if he was nice to Aegon and Aemond?

I had all the gifts he gave them checked for poison (against Aegon's protest), but nope, they're perfectly fine.

He's playing the role of the cool and funny uncle so well that I started to doubt myself.

Did he have any hidden intention at all? Would he come back and be content in playing around every day?

Despite myself, I felt that I was getting more and more comfortable with his existence. I didn't know what to feel about that.

When in doubt, it's time to ask for a second opinion.

"Myles, Gwayne," I asked, "Do you think Daemon is pretending to be nice?"

"He wasn't a good man," Gwayne said, "My men love him because he's as bad as they're. But he's capable of charming people as well."

"You hate working in the City Watch, don't you?" Myles asked.

A bitter smile appeared on Gwayne's lips, "You don't know them as I do. They're a bunch of rouges representing the worst of the city."

"I know, sorry brother," I nodded to Gwayne— I knew he had a tough time in the City Watch, "But I can't get what he's doing with me— with us. He's civil towards you two too, isn't he?"

"He's acting very friendly the few times we talked." Myles nodded.

"He offered me hints to be more popular within my men," Gwayne spat, "I respectfully refused."

"Arghh," I scratched my head, "This is absurd. If he acts like how he's supposed to, I won't need to think so much about it!"

"You're the one to say..." Myles smiled wryly, "If you're so worried, why don't you—"

A knock on the door.

"Huh?" I asked, "Who?"

"It's Prince Daemon," My kingsguard said.

I looked at Myles and Gwayne, but they provided me with no answer.

"Okay, let him in," I said warily. It wouldn't do well to suddenly refuse his entry.

"I heard you screaming," Daemon walked towards us, "You sounded to be troubled. Why don't we talk about it?"

"You might notice that we're having a little Hightower gathering here and I'm telling my brothers about my troubles."

"Oh, but could they solve it?" He smirked, "No offense to either of you, but it doesn't look like you have her comforted. Maybe I can have a try?"

"They can't solve it for me because the trouble in question is you." I rolled my eyes, "Now, will you explain what exactly you want by coming here?"

"You view me as trouble. How hurtful. Have I ever done anything to you?"

"...I guess not." I reluctantly admit. "But I don't get your actions. Why do you keep approaching me?"

Once I said the words, I felt Gwayne and Myles behind me tensing up, and I noticed what I just asked. This was the time of the showdown.

Daemon tilted his head and gave us a lopsided grin. "You want to know?"

He extended a hand, "Then come with me."

I stared at him, trying to grasp his intention, but nothing came up. "You can't tell me here?"

"There's something I want you to do for me. Once it's done, I'll tell you everything."

"Everything..." I should refuse such a dangerous invitation, I knew, but I was lured by his words.

"Alicent!" "Alicent, wait!" My brothers called behind me. I looked back at them and nodded, a chill running down my spine.

"I won't take too long," I said, begging them silently to do the smart thing.

It's just a split second, but Myles nodded shortly, "Well then."

I trust that he got my message.

—

"I thought you're bringing me somewhere interesting. Here?" I rolled my eyes, "This is just an empty room!"

After all this walking, even. This did nothing to lessen my suspicion of him.

"This is indeed nothing special. I just need to fend off any listening ears."

"That doesn't sound reassuring." I crossed my arms.

"No need to get so defensive," He smiled, a warmer, more genuine smile than what he had outside, "I want you to show me your hand."

I blinked, "Huh?"

"Your invisible arm. Since I came back, you've been wearing your gloves... I'm awfully curious about it."

I blinked again. Then again. "Umm, you know you can ask for that the first day we met... I mean reunite, right?"

"You seem quite hostile to me, so I thought to warm you up." He said, entirely serious. "What?"

"Hahaha," I laughed, "hahaha... I can't believe it..."

I couldn't believe I had been worrying about it for so long. Just for that dumb reason.

Daemon raised a brow and cracked a grin, and I slowly got over my laughter and removed my gloves. "Here," I said, still giggling, "Look as much as you want."

His gaze was attracted to the empty space that contained my right arm. "Can I touch it?"

"...Sure." Now it's all clear, I didn't have a reason to chase him away.

He sat beside me and took my right hand in his. His fingers traced the shape of my palm, all of my fingers, and he stroked my front arm with his whole palm, again and again.

"Hey... are you done?" It wasn't like the maester's examinations. Daemon seemed to crave the touch of my arm more than anything, as his hand kept touching mine, refusing to leave its surface.

"You're adorable, do you know?" Suddenly, he asked.

"Huh? What... huh?" Oh shit. I must be blushing.

What the heck was he saying?

Me? Adorable? Me?

"Are... are you..." Flirting with me?

"Viserys doesn't get you," He said, his hands climbing up to my shoulders. "You want someone to tell you that, someone to praise you and proclaim his love for you."

"Ah..." I couldn't move, suddenly being aware of his closeness, the warmth of his palms, his smell of bloodshed, and wine.

"I can give you what you want, and nobody else will know," He pulled me into his arms and whispered seductively, "Do you want it?"

I—

I remembered—

—

I went abroad to study after many painful years of being unable to fit in.

He was another foreign student in the same school, and we spoke no common language apart from English. I was surprised when he approached me, seeking my help. We had never talked before.

He told me he had nowhere to stay, and he needed to wait for his roommate to return before he could. He asked for a place to stay— only a few hours, not the whole night.

Like the idiot I was, I invited him to my own home.

We chatted over broken English, and he told me, "You're cute."

I don't recall what I said, but I do remember him hugging me from behind, telling me, "Be my girlfriend."

"No." I refused immediately, sirens blasting in my head.

"Yes." He said, his hands placed on my abdomen.

"No." I attempted to stay calm, but I was truly afraid. He's asking nicely now, but if he decided to use force...

"Yes." He continued to say. I had only started talking to you today, I didn't want this!

"No, no, no." Please don't, please—

"Really no?"

"Really no." My voice almost broke.

"Okay." He let me go. "We're still friends, yes?"

"...Yes." I hoped I wouldn't ever see him again.

And I never did. I had seen him in the school a few times, but I avoided him, and he never sought me out again.

—

"No," I said, "Definitely not."

"No? You mean yes," His mouth was dangerously close to my face and I could feel his hot breath. But I wouldn't be afraid. I had done this before.

"No means no. I'm not playing hard-to-get. I don't want you, Daemon." I needed to stand firm. Stand firm, and he would leave me alone.

He stared at me intensively, "You know I'm right. You love it when I praise you. You went all red when I said you're adorable."

"...That's true," No doubt, my heart raced when Daemon flirted with me, as it did when he did the same thing. But my brain won out and overran any feeling I could have. "If it isn't you, it might be different."

I wouldn't fall for your trap and ruin everything I had built up.

This was the wrong thing to say, as his eyes were filled with rage upon hearing my words.

"Wait, I only mean that you aren't—"

He covered my mouth with his hands and climbed over me.