The wind at the pier carried a smell mixed with sea water, fishy smell and tar, blowing from the direction of Blackwater Bay, blowing Mesalia's dark curly hair flying back.
She stood on the side of the ship, holding on to the rough oak railing with one hand, and pressing the hem of her skirt blown by the wind with the other hand. Her eyes passed through the gaps between the ships that were docking and departing, and fell on the figure wearing a black robe on the dock.
Her heartbeat was faster than he expected.
She had walked this sea route from Dragonstone to King's Landing more than once. Every time it was an ordinary journey, an ordinary arrival, an ordinary journey from the dock to Red Keep.
But this time was different. This time Redd was standing on the dock waiting for her, not sending an attendant or asking Douglas to arrange a small boat to take her from the big ship to the shore, but standing among the crowded dock workers and sailors carrying cargo, among a group of people who were incompatible with her, waiting for her.
The corners of Mesalia's mouth raised slightly, and the smile spread from the corners of her lips to the corners of her eyes, spreading slowly and uncontrollably like a drop of ink dripping into clear water.
She didn't wave hard or call his name, she just looked at him like that, separated by dozens of steps, separated by the sailors who were carrying goods and traders who were bargaining, separated by the sails that were blown by the sea breeze and the masts that were shining in the sun.
She saw him standing there with his hands in the pockets on both sides of his robe, his posture relaxed and casual, like a man who was waiting for someone but not in a hurry.
The ship docked. The wooden gangway was put up from the side of the ship to the pier, making a dull crashing sound. The end of the gangway rubbed against the stone slab of the pier, splashing a few fine stone chips.
Mesalia lifted the hem of her robe and stepped onto the gangway.
Her steps were neither fast nor slow, and each step was very steady, as if she was used to stepping on the waves on the deck and the stone steps of the castle.
When she walked through the gangway, the sea breeze blew from the side, lifting her hair from her shoulders and drawing a dark arc in the sunlight.
She walked up to Redd and stood still. She was nearly a head shorter than him, so she had to raise her face slightly to see his eyes.
When she raised her head, the sunlight hit her face from the side, casting a light shadow on her cheekbones.
Then she stood on tiptoes, put her hands around his neck, and pressed her whole body into his arms.
The movement was smooth and natural, without hesitation or testing, as if she had done this countless times, as if there was never any need for unnecessary politeness or foreshadowing between them.
Her lips pressed against his, and the kiss was serious and long. The tip of her tongue penetrated between his lips and teeth, with an eagerness and passion that seemed to condense all the separation time into this one kiss.
The noise on the pier seemed to be pulled away at that moment. The sound was still there, but it was no longer clear and no longer had a specific shape. It just turned into a vague hum that seemed to be transmitted through the water.
Someone whistled, someone let out a low laugh, someone coughed twice, and someone shouted "Hey, there's someone in front of me" in the distance. All the sounds were mixed together, like a pile of crumbled colored paper, floating around them, but no piece of it could fall.
Redd didn't refuse. He put his arm around her waist and took her into his arms. He put his palm against her waist and felt the warmth of her skin through the thin layer of clothing.
He felt her eyelashes lightly brushing against his cheek, felt her breathing on his lips become more rapid than before, and felt her fingers tighten slightly on the back of his neck, as if to confirm that he was really here and not an hallucination caused by her fatigue from the journey.
He didn't know how long the kiss lasted, maybe a few breaths, maybe a dozen breaths, until the sailors on the dock who were still watching the fun at first lost interest and went back to do their own things.
When she finally let go of his lips and took half a step back with a faint blush on her cheeks, his eyes fell on her face and stayed for a moment in her sparkling eyes that seemed to have been washed by water.
"It seems that you are in a good mood." He loosened his hand around her waist and spoke calmly, but the subtle curve at the corner of his mouth betrayed him.
Mesalia's lips were still slightly red and plump after being kissed. She didn't answer, she just slipped her hand into his arm and leaned sideways against his arm. Her posture was natural and intimate, as if they should walk together like this.
The two turned and walked in the direction of Red Keep, passing through the hustle and bustle of the dock area, passing through the stone roads filled with goods and empty wooden boxes, and passing through the shadows cast by the shop signs that were slightly swayed by the sea breeze.
The crowd around them consciously avoided them when they first saw them. No one needed to be pushed away or ordered. The vendors carrying burdens, porters carrying sacks, and sailors smoking pipes leaning against the wall had already stepped aside when they were still a few steps away, leaving a gap big enough for two people to pass side by side.
No one dared to stop them. Although they didn't know Redd and Mesalia, just by looking at their clothes and temperament, they knew that these were people from Red Keep, people they could never afford to offend in their lives.
The streets of King's Landing look particularly vivid in the afternoon sun.
The stone pavement was smooth and slightly sunken by countless pairs of feet. Thin grass grew in the gaps, and a few tufts poked out at the base of the wall.
The houses on both sides are of different heights. Some are built of white stone and carved with exquisite patterns; some are plastered with gray plaster, with the surface mottled and peeling, exposing the masonry underneath.
Occasionally, a window opened from above the head, and a woman wearing a headscarf stuck her head out to dry her clothes. When she saw Redd and Mesalia below, she quickly retracted, and the window slammed shut.
The side door of Red Keep is behind an arch not far from the end of the street. There are two guards in black armor standing in front of the door.
They saw Redd approaching, stood at attention and saluted, their movements were uniform, and the sound of metal collisions was heard from the joints of the armor.
Redd nodded slightly in response, without stopping, he led Mesalia through the arch and walked into the interior of Red Keep.
The moment the dark red stone wall enters the entrance of the passage, it narrows the bright light at noon into a long, narrow strip of light, which is projected on the stone floor in front, like a fallen flag.
The corridor was much quieter than outside. The sound of footsteps echoed between the stone walls. Occasionally, one or two attendants or maids appeared from the corner. After seeing Redd, they immediately lowered their heads and stood against the wall, waiting for them to pass by before taking steps again.
After Redd and Mesalia passed by, several of the maids couldn't help but glance at Mesalia, their eyes quickly swept over her face and body, and then moved away.
They recognized her, knew who she was, knew her status and relationship in Red Keep, and also knew why she followed Redd into that exclusive study.