As Close as Siblings

"I was thinking... if my uncle were still alive, perhaps I might have become your wife."

"The Red Viper?"

Gryn pondered for a moment, his brows drawing together slightly before he continued, "It seems Dorne truly has not forgotten its hatred. However, from my perspective, your ideas are far too idealistic."

He looked directly at her. "Arianne, regret and reflection are two different things."

"Mm-hmm."

Princess Arianne shrugged, lazily leaning back in her chair as though what she had just said had merely been a whim-driven joke. "I was only making conversation."

Gryn leaned back as well. "Reality is often cruel, Princess Arianne."

Raising her cup, Arianne curled her lips and slowly took a sip. "Actually, I rather like cruelty."

"As you wish."

Gryn spread his hands. "Do not blame your father for being cautious. As the leader of the Dornish, he understands better than anyone the consequences of directly joining the game of power in the Seven Kingdoms. Only when the Seven Kingdoms are weakened will you have a chance to return to the center of power. That is reality."

Princess Arianne swirled her wineglass as though she did not care, the wine within rippling gently, yet her voice inadvertently turned hard. "Unbowed and unbent—are you underestimating the courage of the Dornish, respected Lord Regent?"

"I told you already, reality is not pleasing."

Gryn's tone remained calm. "Dorne's courage is indeed worthy of praise, but as Dorne's heir, have you considered what comes after you have unleashed all that boundless courage? Dorne cannot afford the price of losing even one battle."

Princess Arianne straightened up, her hands gripping the chair's armrests so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She gritted her teeth. "Can Crackclaw Point afford it any better? So you chose to gamble?"

"Before the war began, I