TO LOVE A KING || Maegor II Targaryen [SLOW UPDATES]

083▪️THE KING'S CHOICE

Morning broke over King's Landing in a golden hush. A thin veil of mist clung to the red roofs and winding alleys of the city below, softening the sound of bells from the Great Sept. The air was cool, touched by sea breeze drifting in from Blackwater Bay, while gulls wheeled lazily through the pale skies. But within the Tower of the Hand, the mood was less tranquil.

The breakfast table in the Hightower quarters was set with roasted figs, soft bread, cured ham, and warm spiced wine. A soft clatter of silverware was the only sound as the family dined, until Otto Hightower cleared his throat.

"The King has summoned us to the Small Council this morning," he announced, his voice cutting through the quiet like a blade.

"Us?" Charlotte asked, a smile blooming across her lips. Her tone was laced with pleasant surprise, but her eyes gleamed with something sharper.

Otto gave a short nod as he sliced a piece of ham and dabbed his mouth with a cloth. "Yes. You and your sister."

Alicent paused mid-cut, her fork hanging in the air. "Me?"

Otto didn't look up. "The both of you," he said simply, returning to his meal with steady calm.

Alicent's brow creased. "Did... did he give a reason?" Her fingers tightened subtly around her cutlery.

"It's unusual," Otto admitted, reaching for his wine. "But the King requested the full council immediately. And he specifically asked that you two be present."

Charlotte leaned forward, her interest piqued. "The King personally requested us? Alicent and I?"

Before she could press further, Otto's eyes snapped to her with a glare sharp enough to draw blood. "Eat."

The word was final.

Charlotte sank back into her seat, lips pressed into a thin line. She turned her gaze on Alicent, studying her with faint contempt, as if trying to decode the King's motives through her sister's expression. Alicent, in turn, lifted her eyes. For a breathless moment, they held each other's stare.

No words passed between them, but something did, doubt, suspicion, calculation.

Then, wordlessly, they looked away and returned to their food, each chewing more slowly now, more carefully.

Charlotte arched a brow, stealing another glance at her sister. Her stomach twisted with unease, though she refused to show it. Whatever this summons meant, she would be on the winning side. She always was.

Let Alicent sit there with her quiet dread, she thought coldly. Let her wonder. Let her shake. This hateful little bitch will never outplay me.

Alicent said nothing. She stared down at her untouched plate, her auburn hair falling in soft waves around her face. Her body sat still, composed, yet tension coiled beneath her skin.