Abandoned and ignored by her father, Princess Vaella remained at her mother's side. Forced to watch as life went on for those around her, while her mind tortured her. A cacophony of voices whispering of the end of House Targaryen.
Female!OC x Otto...
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The Red Keep's gardens were expansive, sloping hills covered in lush green grass and pathways lined with flowerbeds. Large trees loomed overhead, their branches offering shade from the summer sun. The lilting songs of birds filled the air as they soared on warm winds blowing from the Blackwater bay.
Vaella sighed softly, smiling to herself. Her legs stretched out in front of her, spreading over the blanket she sat upon until her bare feet peeked out from under the hem of her skirts. She watched as a mother duck entered the pond, followed by her little ducklings, diving into the clear pool of water.
"What are you thinking?" Otto's deep voice rumbled in his chest, vibrating against Vaella's back.
"Nothing of matter."
His hand grasped one of her own, thumb stroking over the emerald ring he had gifted her, that had been stolen and then retrieved when the criminals had been caught. "Every thought that graces your mind is of concern to me, my darling. I wish to hear them all."
"I was thinking of my mother."
"She would be proud of you," Otto interrupted her, slipping into the role he often played in soothing Vaella's worrisome mind. "And understand the difficult choices to be made."
"It is not that," Vaella lightly shook her head, moving so she sat on her knees facing him. "It is just that... On occasion I wonder what might have been if she had lived. That is not to say I do not love our family, but..."
"You are merely curious." Otto finished for her.
"Precisely." She grinned, nodding in agreement.
"What are you most curious about?"
"It was my grief and rise in status, I think, that truly brought us together," Her eyes widened, realizing the implication of what she had said, not noticing the soft smile that pulled at Otto's lips. "I do not think that you love me solely due to my position. I only meant that I was unsettled whenever focus was on me, I much preferred to go unnoticed-"
"I had noticed you long before you were named heir, Vaella," He interjected, brushing calloused fingertips along her jaw. A heavy sigh left his lips as his hand fell away. "But I was an old widower, and you a beautiful, young princess."
"You would not have pursued me?"
"I would have restrained myself," He clarified. "Until we crossed paths in the gardens, or library perhaps. You might have reached for too high of a book, in distress until I retrieved it for you."
"My hero." Vaella lightly teased, her eyes twinkling with mirth.
"Though I do think your father might have been more amenable to our betrothal."
"Mother would have forbade him from opposing it once she witnessed how content I am with you," Vaella leaned forward on her knees, moving closer to Otto until their lips were a hair's breadth apart. "How gentle you are with me."
