"Are you afraid, then?" Viserys asked, a hint of concern in his voice. His gaze rested on Roslin's slightly lowered face, his deep violet eyes seeming to see straight through to the feelings stirring within her.
Roslin lifted her head and met Viserys's gaze. After thinking for a moment, she said softly, "I was a little afraid at first."
She paused, as though recalling the first time she had faced a dragon up close, then continued, "But I'm not afraid anymore. I know they're all very obedient. Princess Daenerys told me dragons can sense the fear in people's hearts. If you're afraid of one, it will look down on you and hurt you. So I told myself I mustn't be afraid."
Her voice grew steadily firmer, and a spark of courage flashed in her eyes.
A smile curled at the corners of Viserys's mouth. He reached out and gently ruffled Roslin's soft hair, his fingertips slipping through the strands. The gesture was intimate, slow, and full of tenderness.
Roslin stiffened, seemingly startled by the unexpected touch. But she soon relaxed, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. The corners of her mouth rose despite herself into a shy smile, and her heart beat faster in her small chest.
"I'll come see you tonight." Viserys withdrew his hand and lowered his head to speak gently into her ear. His warm breath brushed against it, making her heart race involuntarily.
Roslin's heart seemed to skip a beat. Only after a long moment did she nod firmly and say in a voice as faint as a whisper, "All right. I'll be ready tonight, waiting for you, Your Grace."
Her fingers twisted the hem of her clothes, betraying her nervousness and anticipation, while her mind had already begun imagining what might happen that evening.