Alicent's eyes flicked across the small council as the men spoke in turn, their words regarding Aegon as their chosen heir falling on deaf ears. She sat with her hands clamped in front of her, elbows pressed into the wood of the small council table with fingers laced together and jaw tight as her attention bounced from one small council member to the next, the ringing in her ears only growing in intensity with each word that fell from their lips. Then we may proceed now with the full assurance of his blessing on our long-laid plans. Yes. There is much to be done, as we've previously discussed. Now, there are two among the captains of the City Watch that remain loyal to Daemon. Let us replace them. Lord Lannister. The Treasury is well in hand. The gold will be divided for safekeeping. Let ravens be sent to our allies, Riverrun and Highgarden...

"Am I to understand that members of the small council have been planning secretly to install my son without me?" Alicent's hands unraveled, the tips of her fingers tapping against the table. Her eyes widened with silent panic as she spoke, her brows furrowed in deep thought at the implications of the plans laid bare before her. My Queen, there was no need to sully you with darkling schemes. I will not have this. To hear that you are plotting to replace the King's chosen heir with an imposter! His firstborn son is hardly an imposter.

Alicent swallowed hard, her hands falling from the table and into her lap as she picked at the beds of her nails, her focus drifting to her hands and the movement between them. Hundreds of lords and landed knights swore fealty to the Princess. That was some 20 years ago. Most of them now dead. You heard the Lord Hand. Plot or no, the King changed his mind. I am six-and-seventy years old. I have known Viserys longer than any who sit at this table. And I will not believe that he said this on his deathbed, alone, with only the, the boy's mother as a witness. This is seizure! It is theft! It is treason! At the least, it is...