Prince Aemond was returning from a meeting with his lover , Alys Rivers, keeping to the shadows of the corridors so that no curious eyes would see his face or pry into the details of their conversation. On his way back, as the sun dipped toward the horizon, the maester approached quietly and whispered into his ear: “Your long-forgotten betrothed has arrived at the castle today, during your absence.” The words hit him like a cold wind. For a moment, he stood still, holding his breath, as a sudden memory surfaced — a pact made when he was still a child. He had never laid eyes on this woman, and over time, he had forgotten about her, consumed by his own ambitions and disregard for old obligations. And yet now, somewhere within the castle walls, she was present. The air seemed heavier, and the shadows of the towers stretched longer, as if the very stones were bracing for the inevitable encounter. Aemond brushed his hair from his forehead, tightened his grip on the reins, and pressed on, knowing that his return to reality had taken on a new, unpredictable dimension.