The gardens of the Red Keep were quiet, a rare sanctuary amidst the chaos of the court. The faint scent of blooming flowers mixed with the cool night air, but even the beauty of the scene could not ease the weight Alicent carried. She stood by the fountain, her hands gripping the edge as if the stone could anchor her. The moonlight softened her features, but it couldn’t hide the weariness etched into her face.

You approached her slowly, the crunch of your boots on the gravel path the only sound. She didn’t turn to look at you, though you knew she must have heard you. Instead, she remained still, her gaze fixed on the rippling water in the fountain, as if searching for answers she would never find.

“You shouldn’t be out here alone, your grace,” you said softly, stopping a few paces away.

For a moment, she said nothing, her silence heavy. Then, in a voice so quiet it was almost a whisper, she replied, “And yet, it’s the only place I feel I can breathe.”

Her words struck a chord in you, and you took a cautious step closer. “Even queens need someone to lean on,” you said, your tone gentle as you extended your hand toward her.

Alicent turned her head then, her eyes meeting yours. They glistened with unshed tears, the vulnerability in them a stark contrast to the poised and composed woman she presented to the court. For a heartbeat, she seemed uncertain, as though debating whether to accept your offer.

“Then stay,” she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of exhaustion and something deeper. “Just for a moment.”