King's Landing, The Red Keep - 128 AC

During the banquet, as I carried Orys around, Aemond was a shadow who never left my side. I could feel his intense stare boring into me and Orys since the moment Aegon had placed the baby in my arms. It was like he was trying to read every thought that crossed my mind, and it made me both nervous and flattered.

When we finally made it back to the high table to eat, I handed Orys back to Cassandra, who took him with a radiant smile. I turned towards Aemond, his unwavering gaze still fixed on me. "Why are you staring at me like that?" I asked in a whisper, trying to sound casual, though my heart was pounding.

Aemond's reply was simple but loaded with meaning. "You look enchanting with a babe in your arms, especially one that looks just like you."

His words made me blush, and the intensity in his eyes made my heart race. I could see it in his gaze—he wished the babe was ours. It was a thought that both thrilled and terrified me. In my previous life as a bastard, marriage had never been something I considered. I had always thought I would remain in Winterfell and be the caretaker of Robb's children. It saddened me that I would not be able to marry but it was better than a whorehouse, where most female bastards ended. Now, with a seat to inherit and a betrothed who seemed to genuinely care for me, everything felt different.

It was too much at times.

I glanced down, trying to gather my thoughts. The idea of marrying my uncle was still strange. I mean, it was not something rare in the North. However, the only uncle I had back then was Uncle Benjen who was so much older than me and more like a father than a romantic interest. But when I looked past that, I could see a future where I might be happy with Aemond. He was strong, determined, and his devotion to me was clear in every look, every gesture.

Summoning my courage, I reached out and took Aemond's hand. His eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, I thought I had made a mistake. But then his face softened, and a smile spread across his lips, brighter than I'd ever seen.

"Would you dance with me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Aemond's smile turned into a grin, and he gently squeezed my hand. "It would be my honor."

He led me to the dance floor, his hand warm and reassuring around mine. As we moved to the music, I could feel the eyes of the court on us, but for once, I didn't care. In that moment, it was just Aemond and me, and the world around us faded into the background.

We danced, and for the first time, I allowed myself to imagine a future where we could be happy together. Aemond's touch was gentle, his steps sure, and as we moved, I found myself smiling. Maybe, just maybe, this life had more to offer than I had ever dared to dream.

When the dance ended, Aemond held my hand a moment longer, his eyes searching mine. "Thank you," he whispered.

"For what?" I asked, feeling breathless.

"For giving me hope," he replied softly. "And for giving us a chance."

As we returned to our seats, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. Later that night, the banquet hall buzzed with conversation and laughter. I couldn't help but steal glances at Aemond, who seemed equally unable to look away from me. It was strange, this newfound connection, but it felt right. I saw Aegon and muña exchanging a fist bump across the room, a silent celebration of their small victories against the Greens. Lord Borros, nearby, was laughing heartily, clearly enjoying the night's events.

As the evening wore on, Aemond and I found ourselves sitting close, our shoulders touching. The warmth of his presence was comforting, and I leaned into it, letting myself relax for the first time in what felt like forever.

A boisterous Green sympathizer stumbled over, clearly a few cups too deep into his wine. He slurred something about the tragedy of a prince being subservient to a woman, and I felt Aemond stiffen beside me.

"Bitch, I am not required to attend meetings. I actually enjoy going to the training yards now mostly to stay in shape. I have no say in governing. I am borderline pampered like a Braavosi mistress. She can step on me, and I'd say thank you. Now leave me alone unless you want a blow-by-blow account of my son's conception."

Cassandra, hearing this, shot Aegon a stern look and ordered him to stop. He immediately complied, his expression one of feigned obedience. The Greens looked furious, their beliefs about male dominance being so blatantly mocked. Aegon, however, wore a satisfied grin, having made his point loud and clear.

Aemond chuckled softly beside me, and I couldn't help but laugh as well. As the banquet continued, I realized something important. This family, with all its complexities and challenges, was where I belonged.

When the banquet finally wound down and the guests began to disperse, Aemond escorted me back to my chambers. The night air was cool, and the corridors were quiet, the bustle of the feast now a distant echo. We talked about Aegon, both of us marveling at the transformation we had witnessed.

"Aegon is like a different person," Aemond said, shaking his head in disbelief. "He used to be so reckless, always drunk and causing trouble. Now, he's sober, devoted to his wife, and... responsible."

I nodded, feeling a deep sense of pride for my uncle. "It's amazing to see. He barely touched his Arbor Gold tonight, and there wasn't a single rumor of him being unfaithful to Cassandra."

"He came to me and Helaena, you know." Aemond's expression softened as he spoke of Aegon's apologies. "He apologized for all the cruel jests, for not being the elder brother we deserved. He even apologized to Daeron for never trying to form a bond with him."

"Really?" I felt a swell of emotion at Aemond's words. "I'm so happy to hear that. I tried so many times to bridge the gap between Aegon and the rest of us, but he was never receptive. It's good to see that he's finally making amends."

Aemond nodded, his gaze thoughtful. "We've agreed to write to each other. I'm going to take Helaena and Daeron to visit him at Storm's End. I think it's a fresh start for all of us."

I smiled, feeling a warmth in my chest. "Aegon found the happiness he never had in King's Landing. Cassandra and their son have given him a new purpose. It's like he's finally free."

Aemond squeezed my hand gently. "I'm glad for him. And I'm glad we're here together, making our own fresh start."

We walked in silence for a moment, I felt closer to him than ever. He had shown me a side of himself that was vulnerable, caring, and deeply loyal. As we reached my chambers, I turned to him, feeling a mix of emotions. "Thank you for tonight, Aems. For everything."

He smiled, his eyes filled with warmth. "Anytime, Lucy. Goodnight."

Aemond raised my hand to place a tender kiss on it, and I felt a warm blush creep up my cheeks as he left me at the door of my chambers. I could barely ignore my giggling servants as they readied me for bed, their whispers and knowing smiles making me more self-conscious. Despite the flurry of activity, I slept with a smile on my lips that night.

The following day, my handmaids had a lot to tell me as they dressed me in a beautiful deep blue dress and styled my hair in intricate Targaryen braids decorated with sapphires and pearls. The dress was stunning, made of luxurious silk that shimmered as I moved, the deep blue color reminding me of the stormy seas around Dragonstone. The bodice fitted perfectly, embroidered with silver threads in the shape of dragons that wound around my waist and trailed down the skirt. The sleeves were long and flowing, adding an elegant touch to the overall look.

My hair was a masterpiece in itself. The handmaids had woven my onyx-black locks into intricate braids, each one interlaced with delicate silver chains and adorned with sparkling sapphires and lustrous pearls. The braids framed my face and cascaded down my back, shimmering in the light. They had even added a small, silver dragon hairpin.

As they worked, they couldn't stop chattering about the events of the banquet. "Did you hear what Lady Redwyne was saying?" Maery, one of my handmaids, asked as she adjusted a braid. "She was convinced that Prince Aegon and Lady Cassandra's love story is the stuff of legends. She's even planning to write a song about them!"

Elyse, another handmaid, giggled as she fastened a sapphire pin into my hair. "And Lord Tyrell! He was so confused about why Prince Aegon would give up his name and claim. But after seeing how Prince Aegon looked at Lady Cassandra and their son, he was absolutely convinced that Aegon is madly in love."

I couldn't help but laugh at the image of these lords and ladies, completely caught up in the romantic fantasy. "What else have you heard?" I asked, enjoying their gossip.

"Well," Maery continued, her eyes sparkling with mischief, "apparently, Queen Hightower was furious! She couldn't believe how the court was fawning over Aegon and Cassandra. She even tried to bring up old rumors about Prince Aegon's behavior, but no one was listening."

"And Lord Lannister," Elyse added, "he was trying to win favor with Aegon by praising his choice in marrying Lady Cassandra. He went on and on about how wise it was to ally with House Baratheon. You should have seen his face when Prince Aegon just shrugged and said, 'I married her because I wanted to live like a kept woman without any care in the world.' The poor man didn't know what to say!"

As I listened to their stories, I felt a sense of pride for Aegon. He had turned everything around, proving everyone wrong in the most spectacular fashion. "It seems Uncle Aegon is quite the talk of the court," I said, smiling.

"Oh, and there's more," Maery said, her voice lowering conspiratorially. "Apparently, some of the older ladies are trying to arrange matches for their sons with Lord Borros' last remaining daughter. They think that with Prince Aegon's influence, the Baratheons will rise even higher in power."

Elyse nodded. "And did you hear about the Riverland envoy? He was quite taken with Lady Cassandra. He thinks she embodies the perfect mix of beauty and strength."

I shook my head, marveling at how quickly things had changed. "Aegon really has everyone wrapped around his finger, hasn't he?"

Maery laughed. "Yes, my lady. And it's all thanks to Lady Cassandra and little Orys. They've given him a new purpose."

When my handmaids finally finished, I looked at myself in the mirror and felt a surge of confidence. The sapphires and pearls in my hair sparkled in the light, and the deep blue dress complemented my complexion. Today was a new day, full of possibilities and laughter. As I made my way through the corridors, I encountered several courtiers who greeted me with smiles and respectful nods. The atmosphere was light, almost buoyant, as if Aegon's newfound happiness had cast a spell over the entire Red Keep. I could see the curious glances and hear the hushed whispers, all wondering about the tale of Aegon and Cassandra.

I turned slightly to Maery and asked her, "About those betrothal proposals, did you hear anything more specific?"

Maery nodded, "Yes, it seems that they are all heirs, which made Lord Borros very happy. But his servants shared that he was only truly considering one. Ser Joffrey Arryn, Lady Jocelyn Arryn's heir."

"The only reason why he has not sent back a letter accepting the proposal was because of Lady Elenda, she does not know how to feel about the ten years age gap." Elyse added in a whisper, getting closer to her princess so she could be heard. "It is not uncommon for high born ladies to marry men much older than them, but Lady Elenda's daughters had been lucky to have found matches close to their ages. She wishes the same for Lady Floris."

I hummed considering their words. If Floris marries Joffrey that means that there will be no Jon Arryn and I did not know how to feel about that. In one hand, Uncle Eddard named me after that man. In another hand, Jon Arryn had been the one who united the realm to outs the Targaryens. He rallied the banners behind Robert Baratheon and decimated my family.

As for the age difference, if I recall correctly in the previous timeline Floris had married a man forty years her senior. This was a better option by far, especially since it would make Floris a Lady Paramount. I will make sure to talk with Lady Elenda before she leaves for Storm's End, in case history repeats itself and Floris ends up with a worse match. Ten years is nothing compared to forty.

Before I could reply to my handmaids, I spotted Aegon and Cassandra in the courtyard, surrounded by a small crowd. Aegon was holding Orys, his face lit up with a proud smile as he showed off his son to anyone who would listen. Cassandra stood beside him, her hand resting on his arm, her own smile just as bright. They looked every bit at the picture of a perfect family, and the court seemed to be eating it up.

I approached them, and Aegon's face lit up even more when he saw me. "Lucerys! Come, join us!" he called, waving me over.

I walked over, feeling the warmth of their welcome. "Good morning, Uncle Aegon. Cassandra. Orys looks as adorable as ever."

Cassandra laughed, reaching out to squeeze my hand. "Thank you, Princess Lucerys. We were just telling everyone about how much he loves his aunt."

Aegon nodded, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Yes, he's quite fond of you, Lucerys. And why wouldn't he be? You're his favorite."

I couldn't help but laugh at their antics. "Well, I am honored to be his favorite."

After our little play before the court, Cassandra, Aegon, and I walked back into the keep, as I carried little Orys in my arms. He was cooing softly, his tiny hands grasping at the air. I couldn't help but smile at him. He was such a sweet baby, so full of life and love. As we walked, I turned to Cassandra and Aegon.

"I'm really happy you two found happiness with each other," I said, my voice soft. "I've been feeling guilty about Aegon's betrothal to you, and Helaena's to Jace."

Cassandra turned to me, her expression confused. "Why would you feel guilty, Princess?" she asked. "Aegon is the best friend I could have asked for."

I realized then that they were unaware of the true reason behind their betrothals. I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of my words. "The queen convinced the king to betroth me to Aems without my parents' permission," I explained. "In response, my kepa went behind her back to get the king to betroth Aegon to you, Cassandra, and Helaena to Jace. This way, he broke Queen Alicent's dream of getting Aegon and Helaena married."

Aegon looked at me, shocked. Before he could say anything, kepa rounded the corner and greeted us warmly. "Hello, everyone," he said, his smile broad.

But Aegon didn't reply. Instead, he wrapped his arms around kepa and whispered, "Thank you, thank you," over and over again into his neck. Kepa was clearly taken aback, his eyes widening in surprise as he hesitantly hugged Aegon back.

He looked at me, confusion evident in his eyes. "What's going on, Lucerys?" he asked, his voice soft.

I smiled at my father, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. "Aegon is grateful for your part in betrothing him to Cassandra," I explained.

Tears gathered in kepa's eyes. I knew how much he had struggled with the guilt of forcing a marriage on Aegon and Helaena, who were innocent of their mother's ambitions. At the moment when his plan had worked, kepa had been very proud of himself for getting one over on the queen. However, afterward, he had felt bad about the consequences of his actions. Helaena had assured us all that she was happy with Jace, but none of us knew how Aegon felt about his marriage. Seeing him so happy now came as a relief to all of us.

Aegon finally pulled away, a smile on his face and tears in his eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "You've given me a chance at a real family, at real happiness. Thank you."

Kepa patted Aegon's back, his own eyes shimmering with tears. "I'm just glad it worked out for the best," he said, his voice equally emotional.

Cassandra, standing beside us, wiped her eyes, clearly moved by the scene. She reached out and took Aegon's hand, squeezing it tightly. "We're a family now," she said softly. "And nothing will ever change that."