The flickering candlelight cast long shadows across the stone walls of the chamber as you entered, the weight of Alicent’s summons heavy in your chest. She stood near the window, her back to you, her figure illuminated by the moonlight streaming in. Her posture was rigid, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. The tension in the air was palpable, as though the very walls held their breath, waiting for what was to come.

“Close the door,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. There was a vulnerability in her tone you had not expected, a crack in the poised mask she always wore.

You obeyed, the sound of the heavy wooden door shutting echoing through the room. For a moment, neither of you spoke, the silence stretching out like a fragile thread that could snap at any moment. Finally, Alicent turned to face you, her expression guarded but her eyes betraying the storm raging within her.

“Why did you come?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly. “I know where your loyalties lie. You are no friend of mine.”

You met her gaze evenly, your own heart pounding in your chest. “You summoned me, your grace,” you replied, keeping your tone neutral. “I came because I respect you, even if we stand on opposite sides.”

A flicker of something—relief, perhaps—crossed her face before it vanished. She turned back to the window, her hands gripping the sill tightly. “Do you think me cruel?” she asked, her voice barely audible. “The things I’ve done, the choices I’ve made… do you think they make me a monster?”