MAYHAPS THE GODS truly listened to those who willingly prayed and believed for an answer.
for The Seven had listened to Alicent Hightower—at least Visenya deducted so.

The news that Harwin Strong and his father, hand of the King Viserys, Lord Lyonel Strong would be returning from where they came from, The Castle of Harrenhal. The news came to Visenya only at night, the castle wall's whispers were unheard to her.
After her visit to The Sept with the Queen and her daily lessons, she was forbid to leave her room. Alicent had grown wary and paranoid that her dearest daughter would be meeting with the oldest bastard. Rhaenyra spinning her plans of a proposed betrothal between Jace and Visenya earlier that day in the Small Council had fed the Queen even more ire, and Visenya was the victim of it.

Visenya had heard it from her sympathetic maid, who'd often times speak out of term—the princess was ten, she was no subject of such words but then again, the maid loved the young princess who'd treat her with such respect and who'd keep her pockets heavy with the extra coins she'd provide. it was the least she could do, truly.

early in the morning, Jacaerys had truly found out his true nature. a bastard sired by the Lord Commander of the City Watch—Harwin Strong. he was no stranger to the whispers, but even so, the denial was what kept him from ignoring them.
his true father, would be leaving that morning—and there was nothing he could do.

Visenya watched as the ship sailed, the dark dot on a sea of dark blue. it made her sad to watch The Strongs leave. Lyonel Strong would always treat her with utmost respect and would even secretly pass her sweets when she'd meet with the king. Harwin Strong was a man of honor, though deep down she knew his desires for the heir were deeper whenever she saw her nephew's. but even then, he was a good man who offered her fencing lessons secretly when he saw her eyes lingering on the princes that trained in the courtyard.

For he knew the Queen would become angered at the princess when she'd learn her longing to wield a sword, it would soon then fall upon Alicent that her daughter's interest did not ally with her own.

That day surprises were heard left and right in the castle. whispers that Harwin Strong had beat Ser Criston Cole after accusing that Rhaenyra's sons were his were what made The Hand and The Commander leave and later that same morning that Rhaenyra would leave for Dragonstone.

"you're leaving?" Visenya questioned Jacaerys as he was getting ready for departure.
Jacaerys, angry with the knowledge that his father left clenched his jaws tightly. "I am." 

She furrowed her brows at his tone, "may I ask why?"
"you may not." he answered coldly, still not looking at her. when he finally turned, he lashed out, "why are you here for to mock me?" he shouted with furrowed brows.

"I was simply curious." she said indifferently, though part of her felt her bones tremble slightly.
"well I am sick of your curiousity! you treat me badly and then come ask me why I am leaving!"

she furrowed her brows, "Well...I hope you know I find your departure completely satisfactory." she said angrily, banging his door on her way out.

𓆰𓆪

"a fire you say?" Princess Visenya asked Elise, as the maid once more told her the whispers in the castle.
Elise nodded as she brushed the princess silver hair
"their bodies...or what remained of it were found, their flesh burned entirely, princess." Visenya gulped at the image in her mind.

"Gods, I cannot imagine the pain..." Elise continued.
"I can brush my own hair, Elise." Visenya said suddenly, stopping the maid from doing so.
"yes, princess." the maid said bowing her head and leaving the room slightly ashamed.

Visenya gripped the handle of the brush tightly, she could not believe it still and her mind wandered off to Jacaerys again.

and it was later that evening that the news of Laena Velaryon had died. Visenya did not meet her late aunt, but to her it seemed that death surrounded her left and right.

Otto Hightower, Visenya's grandsire had become The New Hand, and he had requested an audience with the princess.
"Grandsire?" Visenya announced her presence quietly. she had not known her grandsire well, and something about his looks had her grow wary.

"ah!" the old man breathed as he set down his cup of wine, "Princess Visenya! how you've grown into a beautiful lady." he praised as he beckoned her closer.
"I remember seeing you when you were just a babe, allow me to have a closer look!"

"ah yes, you have your mother's eyes." he smiled widely.
"thank you," Visenya smiled awkwardly.

the two had spent half an hour together before duty called Otto. and to Visenya, those minutes felt like hours. Otto was able to over-analyze just about everything he needed from his younger granddaughter. she was easy to mold into a cunning lady, she had an interest for learning and observing (not insencts like Helaena of course). and as far as he was concerned, she'd make an excellent Queen.

———————-
very short chapter because I want to set the Drifmark episode on the next one.