The Pearl of Driftmark

I Criston's P.O.V

King's Landing, The Red Keep – 118 AC

Jacaerys was no prince, no Velaryon, he was not even a Strong, he was a Waters and did not deserve to train besides my prince. Unlike Prince Aemond, whose natural talent for the sword shined true from the moment I placed a training sword in his hand. Waters is nothing of importance to mention.

I had planned to have Harwin sent away in shame, to goad him into a fight in the middle of the training yard after putting that bastard of his into his place. However, Princess Lucerys chose that moment to appear in the training yard. The training yard is no place for a lady, much less a sweet princess like Lucerys.

I had tried to take her away, but she had been insistent. Princess Lucerys had found a hyacinth that she swore was the same shade as my prince's eyes, and she could not wait to bring it to him. So, my plan had to be rescheduled for another day, as I had to escort both Prince Aemond and Princess Lucerys away from the training yard and back into the Red Keep. However, the fond smile on my prince's lips were more than enough to make up for it.

My serious and devout prince never had it easy making friends. He was a second son, whose older brother was a bully. As treasonous as it was to even think that a trueborn prince of the crown was a bully, even her grace the Queen agreed with me. As much as we tried nothing, we did could bring a smile to Prince Aemond's lips. Not a true one, at least.

Then came Princess Lucerys—a ray of light amidst the darkness that had enveloped my prince's world. With her infectious laughter and boundless energy, she breathed new life into the dreary halls of the Red Keep. She was a whirlwind of color and joy, sweeping my prince and his sister, Princess Helaena, along on adventures they had never dared to dream of. But perhaps most importantly, Princess Lucerys offered them something they had long yearned for: a sense of safety and belonging. In her presence, they were free to be themselves, unbothered by the weight of expectations and protocol that burdened them at court.

Unlike the other ladies of the court who often treated them with disdain or spoke ill of their family, Princess Lucerys accepted them without judgment. Not once did she mock their quirks or oddities, instead embracing them for who they truly were—a gift that my prince and his sister cherished above all else.

If Princess Helaena wanted to play with bugs, Princess Lucerys did not mind, she even helped her look out for some insects she did not have in her collection. If Prince Aemond wanted to share his knowledge about Old Valyria, instead of mocking him and calling him a bore as did Prince Aegon. Princess Lucerys sat there listening to my prince and even asked him questions and to continue telling her more.

I'll never forget the moment Princess Lucerys approached Prince Aemond and expressed genuine interest in his passion for Old Valyria. The look of disbelief on my prince's face was palpable, as if he couldn't quite fathom that someone as bright and radiant as the princess would want to share in his interests.

Every pause in his storytelling seemed to carry the weight of uncertainty, as if he half-expected the princess to mock him or belittle his enthusiasm. But with each question she asked, her curiosity and sincerity shone through, dispelling any doubts that lingered in my prince's mind.

And then, it happened—a smile, so small and delicate, yet so profound in its authenticity, graced my prince's lips. It was as if a ray of sunlight had broken through the clouds, illuminating the darkness that had clouded his heart for so long. In that moment, I found myself at a loss for words, overcome by the sheer beauty of that fleeting smile. It was a smile untainted by pretense or obligation, a testament to the genuine connection that had blossomed between my prince and the princess.

As I watched them interact, it became clear to me that I had never truly seen my prince smile until that moment—truly, openly, and without reservation. And in witnessing the transformation that occurred in his demeanor, I couldn't help but feel a swell of gratitude towards Princess Lucerys for bringing such joy into his life.