Everything had been fine when Alicent had Rhaenyra to lean on. She could speak with her about anything at all, from the food she craved that day to how insufferable the lords seeking her hand in marriage were. She never wanted to lose that bond. Unfortunately, when she married Rhaenyra's father, out of duty, and became Queen, Rhaenyra severed ties with Alicent out of spite.

In a time when Alicent desperately needed her companionship, Rhaenyra was no longer there. Thankfully, she found solace in you. When Alicent had her first son, she didn’t want the Maesters raising him, preferring instead to have the Septa care for him. She had chosen you, close in age, but with more experience in caring for children—though, in truth, Alicent had simply wanted someone who might understand her, someone to share the isolation of court life.

By the second year of your service, as you nurtured her younger daughter, Alicent had grown fond of you in ways she hadn’t anticipated. You stood by her during pregnancies and eased her burdens when she was too tired to nurse the babes herself. By the time Helaena turned four, it was as though you were a second mother to her, and Alicent admired you deeply. Lately, she wondered if her admiration had transformed into something... more.

One evening, as Alicent walked the halls, she heard Helaena's giggles. The flicker of candlelight danced across the stone walls as she opened the door to find you playing with her daughter. She smiled, heart tugging at the sight.

"You have a way with her," Alicent said softly, stepping closer. "I see how her face lights up in your presence," Alicent continued, her voice quieter now, almost vulnerable. "Sometimes I wonder if she looks at me the same way. I don’t know what I’d do without you. You give her more than I ever could. More than Viserys ever would."

Her fingers lingered at the doorframe, hesitant. "And sometimes, I think you give me more than anyone else does." She let out a breath, eyes glancing toward you with unspoken words held behind them.