Chapter Text
~*****~
Gerald Hightower
" There you are Ali."
The little girl being called turned around.With dark brown hair and a pair of haunting emerald eyes , she smiled to her older brother. She's sitting in a tall chair with books stacking beside her ,covering her almost entirely. Yet Gerald Hightower knows that her sister isn't only reading.
"Gerald."
He approached the table where his sister was.The boy smiled at his little sister.It is known that the eldest Hightower doted on his only sister.As the only daughter apart from several sons birthed by their mother,she is treated like a gemstone she is.
Not to mention, she resemble their mother well.
Gerald patted his sister's hair with fondness.
"What were you doing here Alicent?"
Alicent smiled sweetly and showed him a box. Inside were pair of daggers. Their blades dark yet glints under the sunlight.
"I won these daggers through an auction from the Myrish merchants. Quite a hefty sum I paid. Really challenged my earnings of three years. Brother,I plead that you don't tell father.He would surely scold me again for spending my dragons on such things."She made such a pitiful doe eyed face that Gerald can't help but chuckle.
"Don't worry little sister. I won't tell father about you sneaking out to the port."
Now that he inspected one of the daggers has an unusual appearance.Although the blade is plain, it is finely made of Valyrian steel and has a smooth dragonbone hilt,which piques Gerald's curiosity.
Alicent smiled. She pecked a kiss in the cheeks of her brother as thanks. Then she stood up and patted her green dress(a color of their house that truly suits her). A servant entered and informed them of a visitor meant for his sister. She thanked the servant and prepared to meet the visitor. Straightened her poise and the aura around her changed in an instant. Gone of the sweetness earlier and replaced with confidence and an austere posture that demand respect.
Just like their father.
Although his sister is sweet,gentle and caring, Gerald won't admit that she terrifies him a little sometimes. Those emerald green eyes when surrounded by nobles become calculating and a little deceitful. Insults sugarcoated, backed by an innocent looking face. The way her eyes glint like a predator eyeing it's prey while acquainting with her fellow noble ladies. Smiles that Gerald can't distinguish if genuine or not. Her genius intellect was known far and wide , even King Jaehaerys knows of it,despite his recurring absences from the court. Surrounded by other people his beloved sister becomes an another person entirely.
Not only that,but Gerald is sure his sister is keeping a lot of secrets from them.
For example, she may be young but she mastered her mathematics and he knows could rival the learnings of that of an Archmaester and could have published her own books and research in Citadel should she have been born a man.
Her youthful face may have deceived others , but Gerald knows his sister well. Her eyes are like two green pits that strip you bare of your deepest , darkest secrets and weaknesses.
Another one is her servants.
He observed that her maids demonstrate extraordinary agility or resourcefulness.
They were handpicked by herself. Picked up from the streets or whorehouses which father didn't like, only relented when persuaded by their mother. Yet she herself held no qualms on taking them in. In just a month ,like a caterpillar turned into a butterfly, the ragged , skinny strays she picked up became something else. Aplomb, disciplined and loyal enough that even the slavers would put a huge price over their heads.
They held loyalty to their master and rever her like she was their god and savior (which was partly true.)
Alicent also had the gift in managing and running small businesses. Gerald didn't know if their father or any member of their family except him knew that his sister owns whorehouses. He didn't know if his sister's business run even in King's Landing. Yet he know for sure his sister's hidden wealth is huge enough to feed herself for a year. Gerald accidentally saw in his sister's room were accounting books and ledgers under her bed. House of Kisses.He only read it for a brief moment and turned his eyes away. It's not his place to interfere with his sister's life. He hesitated to confront Alicent about it. Besides owning a few whorehouses could not be that bad.
But he doesn't need to because it is Alicent who confronted him first. It happened while they were breaking their fast. There only the two of them, with their father away and their other brothers either on their classes or in the training ground. They were eating peacefully then suddenly she asked.
"You saw my accounting book, didn't you?"
The oatmeal Gerald was chewing spluttered and left him coughing. His sister handed him a goblet of water and servants handed a napkin to wipe his mouth. He drank the water until he felt drowning and flooding on his throat. After the fit of cough he looked at Alicent , eyes wide. Her sister seemingly accepted it as an answer and smiled a little.
"Be careful of snooping around brother , curiosity kills a cat after all."
Gerald can't help a chill crawl up onto his back.
~*****~
Otto Hightower
"Father? You have called?"
Otto raised his head and saw his daughter enter the Lord's Solar. She is as perfect as the Septa says she is to be. His daughter , full of intellect and beauty , is being praised everyday by every person in this house.
And she will be praised with greater glory too in the future. Mayhaps as a great lady. Mayhaps as a queen.
Such disappointment that she is the only daughter. If only he had another one.
He shaked his head a little, there's no use on being disappointed. All he have to do is nurture his daughter well. She have so much potential after all.
"Take a seat."
She went to the seat near Otto and sat gracefully.
Otto cleared his throat. " I was appointed by the King as his Hand."
"Congratulations,father." Alicent immediately said.
"You are already nearing three and ten, Alicent. I have decided that you are already old enough to come with me to King's Landing."
Alicent perked up.
"And what shall my duty be?"
Otto smiled. Out of all his children , his daughter was the smartest and the sharpest of mind.
"You shall take care of King Jaehaerys. As you know his health is drifting away. No longer the strong king he was once be."
"Of course father."
Like an obedient and dutiful daughter she is, Otto can't ask for more.
"Well then tell your mother and brothers. We shall leave in three days."
~*****~
Lysa
The whole sail to King's Landing was quite tiring and boring.
She went to the cabin where her lady was. She saw her sewing, again.
"It's your fifth handkerchief already, m'lady. When we arrive you would've sewn hundreds of it." Humored Lysa.
Alicent smiled. " Its good then. After all, I'm only an expert in sewing wounds , not with arts and crafts."
Lysa remembered the day she was saved by her master. A starving street rat that no one cares for. Yet here was Alicent Hightower, the only noble who lend her hand and pulled them from their dark future. Together with the other servants she saved they owe Alicent their life.
They will serve her until death.
"Is there any news then?"
Ah.
Lysa straightened and delivered the news she received just earlier.
Aside from being Alicent's maid,she was an assassin.
Trained by Alicent herself which she didn't know possible. How could a mere young lady know about killing and survival?
Yet what Alicent demonstrated them brought them fear and awe. Their master was no young noble lady, she's an assassin. Born to kill. Born to reap.
With them under her command they changed. Gone was the strays and loyal killers emerged. With the whorehouses and businesses as fronts their master managed to build a network of spies rivals that of the court's Master of Whispers.
Leviathan, she calls them.
From homeless on the streets, to the whores ,to the vendors on the market ,the the guards of the city watch , to the coldest of North and will continue to grow to reach the east of Essos,she had an informant everywhere.
Her master is terrifying.
"Hm. You said that the city watch is akin to a group of abandoned hounds, am I right?"
Lysa stopped her daydreaming and focused.
"Yes m'lady. They are no threat to you." Lysa firmly answered. She could take down a couple of them, should her master orders their deaths. Those numskulls are no match for her skills.
Alicent scoffed.
"Anyone is not a threat to me, Lysa. With this world of men who were bound by their honor and foolishness I can say not even the King is a threat to me." Alicent grinned.
"Though I may say this confidently since the Old King's wits is failing if I heard. But if he were in his prime I'm not so sure. There's also the Faceless Men of Braavos. Quite an interesting bunch. Then again, it's not death I seek.I have another goal for the City watch."
Lysa gulped. Her master's plan is always immaculate.
"I want the loyalty of them."
Lysa nodded.
"Understood, m'lady."