Something Must Break

Alicent breathes obedience like it's a tobacco forced down to her throat. Too entrenched for someone to find where the mist is coming from, and it would be too late if they'll try to descend to plunge it out. She had long swallowed bile that threatened to upsurge upon her throat too many times to keep count, her eyes adept enough to know not leave it blank or to blink too much or to avoid a gaze, and make sure that her voice will not betray her. It was easy. This is her lifeline. She follows everyone±—her father—around like breathing. She takes up his commands because it helped her to remember her father's kindness and sacrifice to her, and his words and expectations of her provides her the continued faith in his goodness. She had known this all her life.So she really couldn't be blamed with, when Rhaenyra Targaryen, materialized herself into her life as a peril to the very structure that had offered her the stability and everything she thought she needed—especially her father.