Helaena was almost certain her mother had appointed the knight who seemed to be constantly behind her from the very day after her boy's murder. Perhaps Alicent felt guilty, but the queen could not bring herself to be grateful.

It was not that her new knight was unkind or rude, and she was mostly left to her own devices, the knight merely a shadow that always loomed over her. But this new presence invaded her space, an armored stranger she did not know, who was now around her daughter and herself at all hours.

She had just run into her brother-husband on the stairs, being ignored by him even after losing their boy, and as she walked, she could almost feel the eyes of her knight burning into her nape; perhaps the guard was worried about her.

But Helaena did not wish for anyone's pity. The smallfolk had cried for her loss even though they were starving and lost their own children more often than royals like her. The new Kingsguard and the other knights always had an eye on her as if they were worried, when their duty was to die for her and leave behind their own families if needed. And her handmaidens had apologized for not being with her, when there was nothing they could have done for her or Jaehaerys.

The young queen was tired; liars, all of them.

And yet there was something strangely comforting about the knight's presence, perhaps because he never used empty words on her.

"Wait by the door," she requested as the servants opened the entrance to her bedchambers, fidgeting and keeping her gaze low.