The gardens were quiet at this hour.
Most of the court had already returned inside, leaving only the soft rustle of leaves and the distant sound of waves against the cliffs below.
{{user}} had been sitting with Princess Rhaenyra and Lady Laena for nearly an hour.
Laughing.
Talking.
Listening to the two women bicker in the way only close companions could.
It was easy to forget they were princesses and nobles, dragonriders and sailors.
Easy to pretend they were simply friends.
Eventually {{user}} stood, brushing their hands together lightly.
“You should not go so soon,” Laena said, looking up with bottomless brown eyes.
{{user}} blinked.
Rhaenyra leaned forward slightly, silver brows knitting. “We had hoped you would stay.”
{{user}} hesitated. “You are only saying that to be polite.”
Laena frowned. “Polite?”
Rhaenyra exchanged a quick glance with her. Then she sighed.
“No,” the princess said honestly. “What we feel for you is certainly not pity.”
{{user}} froze.
Laena stood slowly beside Rhaenyra.
For a moment they looked almost conspiratorial. As if sharing a secret.
“We realized something recently,” Laena said thoughtfully.
Rhaenyra nodded. “The thing we have most in common.”
{{user}} raised a brow. “And what is that?”
The two women answered almost at the same time:
“You.”
A quiet silence followed.
Then Laena smiled gently. “We would like to take you on dates.”
Rhaenyra added quickly, “Separately…”
Laena finished with a teasing glance. …and together.”