A few hours ago,
After Rhaenyra left, Alicent was rooted to her place while tears rolled down her eyes.
Her green eyes were tinted red while her face was stained with the marks of her tears.
Her fists were clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her skin.
WAAAH
Aegon did his best to stop his little sister from crying. His face was contorted into a frown while he felt bitter in his heart.
He managed to make Helaena fall asleep while he turned to his mother.
The sun's distant setting rays fell on the trio while the Weirwood tree's leaves rustled against the calm breeze.
'It would have been a beautiful moment if not for that RHAENYS BITCH!! I WILL KILL YOU!! YOU WANTED TO BE QUEEN SO BAD!! I WILL FUCKING MAKE YOUR HEAD MY FOOTREST!!'
Rage boiled within him as he gritted his teeth. His violet eyes shone brightly with anger while he thought of his aunt, 'I will not forget this.'
After a while, Aegon took a deep breath, 'Venting can be done later,' he muttered inwardly as he slowly walked towards his mother.
Alicent was zoned out, her slender body trembling occasionally while tears rolled out in an endless flow.
Aegon, reaching his mother, hugged her from the front, wrapping his arms tightly around her neck.
His violet eyes moistened while he looked at her dishevelled face and asked, "Mama, sad?"
But Alicent didn't respond; her hollow green eyes stared front with no movement in them as if they were dead.
Aegon bit his inner cheeks in frustration, but didn't give up; taking a deep sigh, he called her again, while shaking her, "Mama!"
"Huh!?" Alicent mumbled as she looked at her son, who was looking at her with his big, teary eyes.
'What was I…. Doing?' Alicent questioned herself in confusion. She looked to her side to see Helaena sleeping peacefully on the grass.
'How long was I here?' she mumbled inwardly.
Aegon watched her intently for a moment and asked, "Mama, go to bed?"
'It's not good for Helaena to stay out for long,' Aegon thought to himself.
Alicent absent-mindedly nodded her head to her son's question. She gently picked up her daughter and stood up from her place.
Aegon walked in front while believing that Alicent was following behind.
But he furrowed his brows when he did not feel his mother behind him.
'What's wrong?' Aegon asked himself as he turned around only to see Alicent standing rooted to her place, the tears having resumed while she stared at the place Rhaenyra would usually sit.
'I hate you!' Rhaenyra's voice echoed in Alicent's mind as she gripped her daughter tightly.
Tears rolled like an endless waterfall, while her mind repeated the scene of Rhaenyra storming out.
She pressed her lips together, silently wailing under the weirwood tree.
SIGH
Aegon sighed defeatedly; he trudged back to his mother and pulled her dress, "Mama!"
Alicent snapped out of her daze and said, "Y-Yes," her voice was coarse and low as if she had drowned in the endless sea of guilt.
The trio walked back to their room with Aegon following behind Alicent, making sure that she wouldn't stop in the middle.
Aegon could hear the murmurs of the servants along the halls as they walked, but he paid them no mind; 'currently, they are not important…'
The two guards to the Queen's chambers opened the door with puzzled faces when they saw the streaks on Alicent's face.
They were curious, but kept their mouths shut; they knew their place.
Alicent put her daughter on the bed and arranged pillows so that Helaena would be comfortable.
A few maids had come after a while, but Alicent sent them away after they lit the candles and started the fire in the fireplace.
Alicent then sat in a chair by the fire, brooding over today's events. She wasn't crying like before; instead, she was staring at the fire with a determined look.
Aegon watched his mother intently; he was sitting beside Helaena, who was now awake and playing with his hand.
SIGH
Aegon sighed again for the umpteenth time. 'A lot has happened today…'
'My progress with Rhaenyra is ruined; she will never be as close to me as she was before. Mother is sad and depressed, most likely brooding about Rhaenyra and her words.'
He closed his eyes for a moment, thinking about his aunt, 'I don't blame her though,' Aegon mused inwardly.
'She is playing the game, which she has to, if she wishes to thrive. But Rhaenyra doesn't know that; she is too emotional and could be easily played with.'
He opened his eyes as he chuckled inwardly, 'The best example is me!'
'And of course, Rhaenys wants Rhaenyra to be queen but still…' As Aegon and Alicent were deep in thought, the door to their room opened.
Aegon immediately furrowed his brows as anger and rage flared inwardly; he gritted his teeth, 'Who the fuck dares to come to the Queen's chambers unannounced?!'
Of course, there is only one person in the seven kingdoms who would dare to do that; after all, he is the most powerful man in the realm.
But Aegon forgot that there is one other person who would intrude into the Queen's chambers unannounced, and it wasn't Daemon nor was it Rhaenyra.
"I heard that you cried."
A voice echoed through the silence; it didn't have a sliver of empathy or understanding, but only disappointment.
"If you must cry, you should have done it while alone; now the whole keep is chattering about how the Queen shed a river of tears while walking her children."
The man added in contempt.
Aegon narrowed his eyes at the man, the only one who, other than the king, would come to the Queen's chambers unannounced.
Aegon's grandfather—Otto Hightower!