While Daemon was gone, you conversed with the other members of the royal family who were sat at the table with you during the feast.

While you made sure to engage with everyone at least once, your conversation with the young princess had turned into you telling her of your escapades at sea.

An expression of awe grew on her face as you finished recounting the story of your first naval battle.

Giving a dreamy sigh at such adventures, Rhaenyra said with admiration,

"Wow, no wonder you and Uncle are so well matched."

Smiling at the kindness of her words, you tried to be modest as you replied,

"We are simply warriors of the same mind."

But that seemed to be the wrong thing to say when she wound up snorting into her cup. Looking back to you as mirthful amusement twinkled in her eyes, she observingly declared,

"Warriors certainly do not kiss the way my Uncle kissed you."

That is when your smile decided to turn bashful.

Recalling the wedding ceremony with ease, you vividly remember the surprise you felt at Daemon's actions after being pronounced husband and wife.

Because he had cradled your face gently between his hands, you had been unprepared for the fiery kiss he had planted on your lips in front of the entire court with no hesitation.

Though unexpected, the innate passion that burned through you in that moment made you decide that his enthusiasm had not been unwelcomed.

You quickly dismissed the memory, lest you get lost in it, and were about to respond to Rhaenyra when the sound of your husband's voice interrupted you.

"Come again, what is it that warriors do not do?"

He asked as he took his place at the table and sat next to you once more.

He had directed the question toward you both, but it was his niece that answered.

"Well, they certainly do not leave their wives alone at their wedding feast."

Daemon huffed a smile at her reprimanding tone and placatingly said,

"Yes, I know."

And turned to you in order to say,

"Please forgive me, my Princess. I did not intend to be gone for so long."

Easily waving away his apology, you curiously asked,

"What kept you detained?"

The Prince hid his dark grin with a sip of wine before saying,

"Oh, just a surprise."

Once he finished his statement, he downed the rest of his wine and turned to face you.

Leaning in to speak with a quiet voice after visibly eyeing you up and down, Daemon temptingly said,

"Now, shall we retire for the evening?"

Looking into his desire-filled gaze, you found you could only nod with a growing smile on your face as you took your husband's offered hand and bid everyone a good night.

As you both made your way to your chambers, you remembered Daemon's earlier words and inquiringly said,

"What of the surprise?"

But because his mind was now focused on a singular thought, the Prince all but growled out,

"I will tell you about it tomorrow."

And grabbed your hand in order to pull you inside the room.

As you giggled at his enthusiasm, you contently decided that whatever this surprise was, could wait.

You did not have to wait long since, true to his word, Daemon told you what he had been up to during the feast the day after your wedding.

Well actually, it would be more appropriate to say that he had shown you what he had been up to while you had waited for him to return.

Saying that the surprise was a wedding present waiting for you, you became very confused to say the least when he ended up bringing you to the Red Keep's dungeons.

That confusion continued to grow the deeper into the prison you went.

When he finally stopped in front of a cell and stepped aside in order to allow you to peer in, your confusion turned into understanding when your eyes landed on an unconscious man chained to the wall with a gag in his mouth and a blindfold over his eyes.

Turning to Daemon, you said with a note of astonishment,

"Is that who I think it is?"

While carefully watching your reaction, he leaned against the wall of the prison's corridor as he replied by saying,

"Yes, that is the shooter."

Looking back at what you now knew was an assassin, you could not help the joyful relief that rushed through you as you processed that he had been captured. If not for your sake, then especially for your husband's since it was his life the attempt had been made on.

Upon taking in the contemptible man in front of you, you noticed bloodied bandages wrapped around each of his hands.

Gesturing toward them, you asked Daemon,

"And what happened there?"

Glancing toward the covered wounds as well, the Prince was nonchalant as he replied.

"Well, he made the mistake of shooting my wife. So losing his fingers seemed to be the least he could do."

Although you raised both brows in surprise at his answer, you had no other reaction while you digested this information.

But when a delighted smirk began to grow on your face, he knew in that moment that he had chosen your wedding present well.

Locking your gaze with the Prince as you turned toward him while still wearing that sly grin, you decided to raise your arms and clasp your hands behind his neck as you stood chest to chest. Tilting your head back the slightest bit in order to maintain eye contact, you proceeded to teasingly speak in High Valyrian.

"And they said you were uncaring."

Daemon broke out into a pleased smile as he heard the playful tone you were using. It grew wider when you continued by saying,

"Good thing it is a wife's duty to know better."

Wrapping his arms around your body in return, he caught you off guard when he quietly declared in a serious voice,

"And it is a husband's duty to protect those he loves."

You allowed the surprise to show on your face before searching his eyes for the sincerity of his words. As he looked back at you in earnest, you put no thought into your next action as you leaned in to press your lips to his.

When he returned your kiss with equal fervor, you felt the smoldering flame inside you ignite into a roaring blaze.

Slowly pulling away in order to savor such a feeling, you softly said after a moment passed,

"I like my gift, dear Husband."

Brushing a finger down the side of your cheek, the Prince simply replied,

"I am glad, darling Wife."

Having reminded yourself of the unconscious man chained to the wall, you turned in Daemon's arms in order to face the prisoner again while leaning back into your husband's embrace.

You then asked in a questioning voice,

"Did you get any information from him?"

Daemon answered you after pressing a kiss to your temple.

"I did. That is why I brought you down here."

Furrowing your brow in confusion, you murmured out,

"What do you mean?"

After softly pecking where your shoulder meets your neck, he said just as quietly,

"I did not want to risk us being overheard since the person who hired him could have people listening all over."

Turning slightly so your eyes could meet your husband's, you venturingly asked,

"Then who hired him?"

When Daemon leaned down to whisper in your ear the name of the person responsible for the assassination attempt, your eyes widened with outright surprise before they narrowed with outraged fury.