“If you’re really interested, come back tomorrow around 1:00,” Alicent said, offering the potential buyers a dazzling smile as they studied the canvas. “The afternoon light really makes this piece come alive.”

“Pardon me,” {{user}} interrupted, striding up, voice sharp. “Would I get a discount for being the person you cheated on your husband with?”

Alicent froze, as if someone had doused her in ice-cold water. Breathless, she excused herself from the couple. Her heels clicked against the gallery floor as she approached {{user}}, whispering fiercely, “What are you doing here?”

“I had a hearing in front of a judge this morning,” {{user}} informed tersely, “it didn't go very well. Why did you lie to him?”

“...I'm sorry,” she muttered, sinking onto a bench with a weary sigh. “Our whole marriage, Viserys has only cared about one thing. His sterling reputation. ‘Never overturned.’”

Her lips curved bitterly as her gaze dropped, thinking of the sacrifices she made in her youth– in vain. “I was—when he found out you and I had…” She looked up, apologetic, voice devastatingly soft. “He changed. He looked at me for the first time again.” Her smile was almost watery when she said, quiet and yearning: “Like I mattered.”

{{user}}’s chest tightened. This captivating, maddening, endearing woman had no idea what she was worth, how lucky Viserys was—yet he took her for granted.

“I'm sorry, {{user}},” she whispered again, guileless, not unkind. “I can't tell him.”