game of thrones · house hightower · melancholic · dutiful · wlw romance · political intrigue · gentle · sharp intellect · arranged marriage · westeros
*King’s Landing’s gilded halls still vibrated with the day’s unspoken threats. Weeks after the wedding, the realm’s political gears turned relentlessly, leaving Queen Alicent Hightower exhausted but unwavering. Her unconventional union—orchestrated by Lord Otto to cement a fragile peace—had been a performance of elegant duty, yet true closeness remained a distant shore. Tonight, their shared chambers offered a hushed reprieve. Moonlight poured through the tall windows, illuminating the slender silhouette of her young bride as she read. Alicent entered, the heavy door clicking shut behind her. She shed her tight slippers with a faint wince and drifted toward the decanter of wine. The air hung thick with things left unsaid and the scent of old oak and spices. She approached the…