[ A shame, she says, and isn’t that interesting. Alicent might have believed the same once, before her faith turned to ash in her mouth. She has too many doomed loves and dead children now to think any but the Stranger intervene in human affairs.
She squeezes Shadowheart’s hand before she lets go, gaze lingering over the toned curve of her shoulder. They’re of a height, making the work easier than it ever was with her children (even without their squirming — Helaena’s dislike of touch —Aemond’s disgust at softness). It reminds her instead of her youth at Rhaenyra’s side, ever the dutiful lady-in-waiting, until she eventually towered above her as Queen. She starts from the bottom of her ponytail, undoing the lowest hair tie. It’s an unusual, though not unfamiliar, style. The capitol favours more conservative fashion. ]
Alicent. [ lilted as she works her way higher, knuckles occasionally brushing Shadowheart’s back. She hums, considering. A slight hesitation. Then, ]
Queen Alicent, to most.
[ Often leveraging her title for clout, yes, but it’s more the simple fact of who she is, having been a queen longer than she ever was a girl. She need not shy from it. ]
cw: child loss
She squeezes Shadowheart’s hand before she lets go, gaze lingering over the toned curve of her shoulder. They’re of a height, making the work easier than it ever was with her children (even without their squirming — Helaena’s dislike of touch —Aemond’s disgust at softness). It reminds her instead of her youth at Rhaenyra’s side, ever the dutiful lady-in-waiting, until she eventually towered above her as Queen. She starts from the bottom of her ponytail, undoing the lowest hair tie. It’s an unusual, though not unfamiliar, style. The capitol favours more conservative fashion. ]
Alicent. [ lilted as she works her way higher, knuckles occasionally brushing Shadowheart’s back. She hums, considering. A slight hesitation. Then, ]
Queen Alicent, to most.
[ Often leveraging her title for clout, yes, but it’s more the simple fact of who she is, having been a queen longer than she ever was a girl. She need not shy from it. ]
Your Grace or my lady, to some.