Alicent didn't notice the change in Viserys' behavior at first. And even if she did, she didn't question it. So what if he almost stopped requesting to see her at night? That was for the better. Marital duty was not something she enjoyed (not like she was supposed to enjoy anyway, she knew that women simply did not enjoy such activities), and no marital duty meant no new children which was even better. She was quite overwhelmed with the two she already had.

But time passed and Alicent realized that not only Viserys didn't request to see her at night, but he also barely spent time in her presence. Yes, they did have breakfast or dinner together on occasion but that was that. Not like Alicent particularly missed him or his company, but shouldn't spouses spend more time together than that? They surely did before. What changed?

Well, the biggest change in the castle was, of course, Daemon's bastard. Alicent didn't like Diane for so many reasons but she especially judged how frivolous she was. This girl seemed to have no sense of rules or duty! She constantly saw her talking to the men in King's Guard or City Watch, laughing and even flirting with them. It was so very unbecoming for the young lady! That was why Alicent believed there was no place for Diane in court. She obviously wasn't raised right and was such a bad influence on Rhaenyra! And the fact that the princess ran off with her husband to Essos was the best proof of that. Rhaenyra wouldn't have done that if not for Diane and Daemon corrupting her!

But, Alicent's dislike for Diane aside, surely Daemon's bastard didn't have anything to do with the changes in her relationship with Viserys. There should be a logical explanation why her husband was pulling away lately but Alicent couldn't come up with one on her own so she decided to inquire about Larys' opinion on that. He might not be the best person to ask but she didn't really have any trusted people around her and talking about her marriage to her father was not something Alicent wanted to do unless she absolutely had to. So talking to Larys it was.

Larys didn't look particularly surprised by her carefully worded question which worried Alicent even more. Did he know something? At first, Larys tried to answer something generic, not eager to get into THAT conversation with the Queen, but Alicent pressed so he finally sighed and said, 'There might be some... rumors.'

'What rumors?'

'That the King has recently been... well, enjoying the company of another woman.'

'What?' Alicent asked in horror. 'Who?'

It was not uncommon for men, especially royal men, to have mistresses, she knew that. But Viserys always struck her as a man of duty. Surely he wasn't cheating on her!

'I do not know. She hasn't been seen yet but some guards and maids say they could hear a female voice and laughter coming from the King's rooms late in the evening,' Larys said. 'However, I couldn't be sure how true these rumors are-'

'Of course, they are not true!' Alicent exclaimed, and Larys nodded, realizing that it was best not to continue their conversation on this particular topic. If the Queen wanted to ignore the issue, she had all the right to.

Alicent swiftly changed the subject, sipping her tea and trying not to think about what Larys had said. Because it was nonsense. Just some gossip from bored maids and guards. It wasn't true.

Right?

***

'This part is new, isn't it?' Diane asked, looking over the model of Old Valyria. It was raining outside but inside the King's rooms it was warm and cozy. Maybe it was the reason Diane lingered there that evening. With such weather she wouldn't be able to fly to Dragonstone that night so there was no need for her to hurry.

'Which one? Oh yes, yes, it is. I've installed it only yesterday.'

'It looks different from the rest of the city,' she pointed out. She wasn't an expert but she had eyes so she could clearly see that it didn't quite match the main style of Valyria.

'It's Molfar Ālion.'

Diane let out a laugh and looked at Viserys, 'I have no idea what that means.'

She was studying High Valyrian in her free time (whatever little she had) but without Daemon or Rhaenyra around to practice it, she was kind of stuck. She knew the basics and she could read most of the books in High Valyrian (unless they were written specifically for topics she didn't know the right vocabulary for like architecture or medicine) but speaking was still rather challenging. Diane also didn't feel the precise urgency to learn it. Don't get her wrong, she wanted to but the only thing she might really need it for was to talk to dragons, and they seemed to understand her just fine in Common Tongue (which she couldn't quite explain but she was not a person to look a gift horse in the mouth).

'The closest translation, I suppose, is The Place of Molfars,' Viserys answered, his gaze gentle. 'They were a caste in Old Valyria.'

'I've never heard of them,' Diane said, and that was the truth. 'From what I can see, they were rather important,' she traced one of the new buildings with her fingertips.

'They were. Sadly, there isn't a lot of information about them. At least, not that I could find,' Viserys said and sat on the chair near Diane while she remained standing. They weren't exactly close but if anyone walked in, they would have found their position scandalous.

'Were they slaves? If so, they must have been highly respected ones,' Diane mused. Molfar Ālion was obviously rather far from being finished but even with a handful of buildings that were already installed, she could see it was a rather rich part of the city, even though a little but secluded. A wall separated Molfar Ālion from other parts of the city which made it stand out.

Viserys let out a laugh, 'I am not an expert, but I believe they were free people. Magicians of sorts. Got along exceptionally well with nature and dragons, and were highly respected by the Valyrians as far as I understood,' the King said. 'Even though I've read there was a law in Old Valyria that prohibited marriage between Valyrians and Molfars.'

'Why?'

Viserys shrugged. 'The book didn't say. It's on my bedside table if you want to know more,' he gestured in the direction.

'Will you lend it to me?'

She didn't precisely want to learn more about Old Valyria in general and Molfars in particular but it was a good topic for conversations with Viserys and she wasn't gonna pass on such an opportunity. After all, she didn't have much in common with the King, and if she wasn't actively sleeping with him, she just had to entertain him some other way.

Viserys smiled, 'Of course, whatever you want.'

Diane smiled and went to retrieve it. When she was near the bed, there was a sudden noise in the corridor and then the doors opened. A second later the guard announced the Queen's presence, and Alicent walked in.

Viserys used all his mental capacity to not panic. Surely, he was the King and he could do whatever he pleased, but he still didn't want to be caught alone with an unmarried lady in his chambers late in the evening and by his current wife no less. Of course, they didn't really do anything to put Diane's virtue into question, they just talked, but others would not see it that way. Even Viserys didn't see it that way if he was honest with himself, and he was the one letting this situation occur in the first place.

'Oh, Alicent, I didn't expect you this evening,' Viserys said, glancing back just for a second but not noticing Diane. Did she hide? She probably did, she was a smart girl.

'Good evening, Your Majesty. I just- I felt like we haven't spent time with each other in a while,' Alicent smiled but she looked kind of shifty. She was fumbling her fingers. 'I figured you might want some company?'

'Oh, that is very thoughtful of you. But I was about to retire to bed so maybe tomorrow?' Viserys said, coming closer to Alicent in an attempt to usher her away.

'I might join you if you wish so,' she answered and wow, that was the first. Usually, Viserys would have taken her up on that offer but surely not with Diane in the room (he was almost sure she was still there somewhere because she wouldn't have had time to get to the hidden passage and close the door behind herself).

'That won't be necessary, my dear,' the King answered with a smile. 'Another time.'

Alicent nodded, wished him good night, and turned to leave. Just before she went out of the room, she noticed two cups of wine near the model of Old Valyria. Considering that there was no need for Viserys to have two cups just for himself, it meant that he had a visitor recently. With dread, Alicent realized that what Larys had said just might turn out to be true.

Viserys let out a relieved sigh when the doors behind Alicent closed and then went towards his bed, pretty much looking for Diane. 'She left,' he announced just in case Diane was waiting for an "all clear sign".

A second later two hands emerged from under the bed and Diane pulled herself from under it. 'Whatever maid is in charge of cleaning your rooms should get a raise. It's pristine clean in here,' she smiled at him, and Viserys hurried to give her a hand to help her get up.

Diane thanked him and adjusted her dress which slid rather further down than was acceptable and Viserys very obviously tracked this movement with his eyes. 'I believe I should be off, it's getting rather late,' Diane smiled. 'I'll take the book if the offer still stands,' she reached out to take it from the bedside table.

'Of course. And I do apologize for putting you in such a situation,' Viserys said.

'It's alright. I think it's a good thing your wife is so keen on spending time with you,' Diane pointed out, heading to the door that led to the hidden passage.

'Yeah,' Viserys answered but he didn't sound all that happy about it. 'Good night.'

'Good night to you too,' Diane gave the King one of her most charming smiles before closing the door behind herself.

Viserys sighed, displeased. Why did Alicent need to barge in today of all days? He wasn't spending a lot of time with Diane as it was and now it was obvious that she left because Alicent made the whole situation uncomfortable. Viserys couldn't blame Diane for it but he would surely blame Alicent for it, even if just a tad.

***

It was early evening, and Otto Hightower was finishing up his work for the day when there was a sudden knock on the door. He didn't expect anyone, and even more so he didn't expect Diane to walk in.

'I hope you're not very busy, Lord Hand,' she smiled at him as if her visiting him in his office was a regular occurrence.

'Depends on what you are here for, Lady Diane,' he answered, leaning back in his chair slightly.

'Lord Beesbury drew up the documents for the brothel tax. I volunteered to run them by you so he wouldn't have to go all this way. After all, he is a man of rather... respectable age.'

'And he agreed?' Otto raised an eyebrow.

'I assured him I have better chances to make you sign them without a fuss than he does,' Diane smiled, and something in her gaze told Otto that he did not want to make a fuss about this particular matter.

He put away the documents he had been working on before Diane walked in, 'Very sure of yourself, aren't you?'

'I am,' she smiled, handing Otto the papers. He took them with a sigh.

'I suppose your arrogance is inherited.'

'Is it arrogance though if I always end up getting what I want?' Diane smiled, inclining her head just slightly to the side.

Otto looked at the papers, 'You just might make me want to prove you wrong.'

'Would it be worth it? The tax has already been approved by the King. If you try to put a spoke in this particular wheel, I'll just have to go to the King and tell him just how much you are upsetting me,' Diane fake pouted.

It might not have sounded like a threat but Otto had a clear understanding that it was one. So he huffed and looked down on the documents that Lord Beesbury prepared. 'You seem to be very close with the King,' he said as nonchalantly as he could master while pretending to look through the papers.

Diane let out a laugh and leaned on his desk, 'Do not do that.'

'Do what?' Otto looked up at her.

'Do not insult me thinking that you can get something out of me with your carefully worded remarks,' she said, holding eye contact, and Otto got an uncomfortable feeling that she saw right through him. 'I mean, come on, you know me better than that.'

'Do I?'

'Oh well, I should hope so. Otherwise, I overestimated you.'

They looked at each other in silence for a few seconds before Otto cleared his throat and pretended he was looking back at the documents, even though they were the last thing on his mind. Diane kept watching him and Otto felt like he was put on the spot - and he didn't like that one bit - so he said, 'It will take me some time to review them so-'

'By all means, take your time,' Diane interrupted before he had a chance to ask her to leave. 'I'm in no hurry,' she then added with the most charming smile Otto had ever seen and wandered off to his bookshelf.

Otto sighed and tried to concentrate on the papers. It was obvious he was not getting rid of her without signing them so it was better to get it over with as soon as possible.

Well, it was easier said than done because, despite his best efforts, Otto kept sneaking glances at her every few sentences. And who could blame him? Diane was standing in his office - as if she belonged there - and reading one of his books - as if she had all the rights to do so - with such an ease that seemed almost surreal. His late wife never seemed quite as comfortable in his presence as this infuriating woman was.

Of course, Otto understood that it was all a ruse... or such sort of thing. That Diane's guard was up and firmly in place, he just couldn't see or feel it. And that was the most unsettling thing. He knew she was good at what she was doing, sure, but how good exactly? Otto wasn't sure he wanted to find out.

Realizing that he wouldn't be able to get anything done as long as Diane was there, Otto gave up and with a sigh signed the documents. After all, not like there was a real reason for him to fight either this tax or the fort on Stepstones except for being petty. So he got ready to give Diane the papers back and politely ask her to get the fuck out of his office when the loud steps sounded on the other side of his doors and they suddenly opened. Before Otto was even able to process what was happening, Diane disappeared from his office and he only knew where she went by the door to his private rooms clicking shut. But he wasn't able to fully freak out over the fact that Diane was in his private rooms alone because Alicent strode into his office.

'We need to talk, father,' she said with obvious determination.

'This is not the best time,' Otto immediately said, very aware of the fact that Diane was in the next room and could hear anything they talked about if she wanted to (oh, who was he kidding? Of course, she was listening in). 'Can it wait-'

'No. It's very urgent,' Alicent insisted.

Otto sighed, somewhat resigning to his fate because he couldn't risk Alicent finding out about the fact that Daemon's bastard was in his bedroom right fucking now. Because she would surely come to the most obvious explanation - that was ironically not at all true - and would definitely react badly. And Otto couldn't risk Alicent making a scene and ruining all his plans over nothing so he just had to hope she wouldn't actually say anything revealing or - Gods forbid - incriminating.

'What is it?'

'I have suspicions that my husband has... a mistress.'

Otto raised an eyebrow. First of all, he had such suspicions as well and these suspicions were currently in his bedroom which was stressing him out. Second of all, he couldn't really say anything with Diane listening in, could he? And even if she wasn't the mistress in question, what could he possibly do about it? Kings and Lords always had mistresses, it was nothing out of the ordinary. Some women chose such paths for themselves and he couldn't even blame them because, well, it worked. Mistresses were sometimes taken care of better than wives.

Of course, if Diane was Viserys' mistress - which he was yet to prove to be true - she wasn't in it for money or stability, or anything like that. Something told Otto that Diane's motives were more of a political nature, and that could turn out to be a problem. However, it was a matter that he should handle delicately and Alicent barging in with accusations wasn't helping.

'...and?' Otto asked because Alicent wasn't saying anything else and was clearly waiting for his response but he wasn't sure what exactly his daughter wanted him to say.

'That's- that's awful! He is being led astray and I think I know who that is.'

'Enlighten me,' Otto said, silently praying to all his Gods that she would name anyone - literally anyone - else.

'It's this whore, Daemon's bastard. She had always been no good! And the way she behaves herself so- so frivolous! It's disgusting!' Alicent exclaimed, the disdain written all over her face.

Otto just looked at Alicent, for a second regretting letting his late wife talk him into having a second child. Because how the fuck did his daughter manage to make an already bad situation worse?

'I think you are overreacting,' Otto decided to try and talk Alicent out of it. Did his daughter have a point? Absolutely. But he wouldn't be able to manage the situation properly with her acting like that. He also needed to get her out of the room before she said anything else that he would probably have to apologize to Diane for to keep at least a resemblance of control.

'I certainly do not! And I know the King wouldn't have done anything like that if she hadn't tricked him into it!' Alicent exclaimed and, Gods help him, she looked like she actually believed in what she was saying. Otto was... disappointed. Surely she had to understand how precisely she ended up being Queen. And if Viserys was naive enough to want to marry Alicent - considering that everyone, including Otto, knew that this match was in no way beneficial to the King and he should have married Laena Velaryon or at least someone from the big house like Stark or Lannister - than it was no surprise he would fall for whatever ruse Diane had going on. If she was his mistress, she probably didn't have to do all that much except smile and look pretty.

'And what if he has a mistress? Kings have mistresses all the time. This is to be expected,' Otto said, getting up and trying to subtly encourage his daughter to leave.

'Why are you not taking this seriously?!' Alicent exclaimed.

'What do you want me to do? I'm not privy to the King's... bedchamber activities. If anything, that's supposed to be your area of expertise.'

A look of disgust crossed Alicent's face just for a second, and Otto started to see the problem. Alicent might have succeeded in making Viserys want to marry her but she was most likely not interesting enough to keep him entertained. It hadn't been a problem Otto needed to worry about before but now Diane was here and she seemed to be very keen on entertaining the King.

'She should be ruined. She is whore! And a bastard! We should kick her out of court!'

'We can't do that and-'

'We must! She is awful, she-'

'I believe we should discuss it another time-' Otto tried to stop Alicent's rant but she was too far gone to hear him.

'She will poison my husband with her lies like she did with Rhaenyra-'

'Alicent, please-'

'She will mislead him. I know she will! And she will ruin all of our plans! He will never agree to name Aegon his heir if-'

'That's enough!' Otto exclaimed, making Alicent shut up in shock. He didn't usually raise his voice at her, not ever since she became Queen, but he needed her to fucking stop. 'I understand your concerns and I will see what I can do but now I have urgent matters to attend to so if you may...' he gestured at the door. He was fuming inside but he tried to act calm so Alicent would fucking leave and stop digging his grave for him.

Alicent looked like she wanted to say something else but then probably took into account just how displeased Otto looked so she nodded and said, 'Thank you, father,' before leaving.

As soon as the door behind her shut, Otto closed his eyes for a second and took a deep breath. There was no chance that Diane didn't hear the bit about "naming Aegon heir" because Alicent all but shouted it for everyone to hear. His daughter was not made for shadow politics, and not because she was the woman but because she let her emotions get the best of her on a good day and overall she wasn't all that bright or aware of her surroundings. But unfortunately, Otto had only one daughter to marry off to the King so he would just have to make do. And now he had more pressing matters to attend to.

Otto half-expected Diane to come out and confront him all on her own (this woman was definitely not afraid of confrontation) but when after a minute the door to his bedroom didn't open, Otto sighed and went to her.

'And you said you don't have a hobby,' Diane said as soon as he walked in. She was standing near his drawer, holding one of a dozen miniature figurines of turtles. In her other hand was a cup of wine she obviously helped herself to without even thinking to ask permission.

Otto took a second to take in the scene before him. 'It's not a hobby,' he finally said.

'You are collecting miniature turtles. It is. It definitely is,' Diane smiled as if she found it very amusing, picking up another turtle that was decorated with green gems.

'I'm not collecting them, I just... have them,' Otto said a little bit defensively. He walked into his bedroom, ready to have an argument, shouting and mutual threatening, and now they were talking about turtles.

Diane looked at him with an amused smile. 'I don't just happen to have... six... twelve... fourteen miniature turtles in my rooms,' she pointed out.

Otto hated to admit she had a point. But, in his defense, collecting miniature turtles wasn't his conscious decision. An old acquaintance of his gifted him a miniature turtle he acquired during his travels almost a decade ago, then his late wife bought it a "friend", then his son decided he was collecting miniature turtles and gifted him one as well, and after that, everything went downhill. He might have bought one... or two... or five himself but others were not his fault.

'I like this one. It looks a little bit like you,' Diane continued, showing Otto a miniature green turtle. The man wasn't sure if it was supposed to be an insult, or a compliment, or both, but he felt a pang of hope that maybe Diane had been so busy snooping around his bedroom and admiring his turtles that she hadn't heard what Alicent had said. 'Green is the color House Hightower uses to call to war, isn't it?' she then said, and Otto got a distinctive feeling that he was screwed. But she didn't call him out directly so he answered, 'It is.'

Diane shot him a glance, then put the turtle back down and took a sip of her wine. 'That's a shame,' she said, looking at him again. 'I used to like the color green but I suppose I will just have to stick to the red. Others say it suits me.'

Was it a threat? It didn't sound like it but Otto got a clear impression that it was, in fact, a threat. Because red, despite being a Targaryen color, was also a color of blood. And Diane definitely looked like someone ready to draw it.

'How much did you hear?' Otto asked because beating around the bush only left him more confused. How could he come up with a strategy on how to deal with this crisis if he had not even the slightest idea of what was on Diane's mind?

Diane smiled, 'Why are you even asking? All of it, of course. The Queen was rather loud with her... worries.'

'Then why are you not-' Otto started before he could stop himself but then bit his tongue, not letting the end of the question come out. Why wasn't she mad? Why wasn't she running to tell Viserys, or her father, or Gods know who else about what she had heard?

Otto was very aware that if caught in the middle of his scheming, his actions would be named treason. And he knew that Diane was aware of it as well. Trying to disinherit Rhaenyra meant going directly against the King's wishes, and he was doing precisely that. Why wasn't she demanding his head on a spike?

'Oh, you think I didn't know all about your plans to make Aegon king one day,' Diane chuckled, observing his confused expression. 'You are cute.'

Otto sputtered, 'I am- you knew?!'

'Pff, of course, I did. You are not exactly subtle, are you?' Diane said, coming closer to the man. 'You've made your daughter Queen.'

'The King made the decision to marry her without consulting me,' Otto answered, which he knew was a weak defense. After all, if he didn't want Alicent to marry Viserys, he could have just said "no". He even suspected the King could have even been understanding about it.

Diane snorted, 'Yeah, right. Lord Hand, I will not insult your intelligence if you don't insult mine. You dangled your daughter in front of the King like a piece of meat - which is morally ew but well, it worked - and he jumped on it because you and I both know he is not... the brightest when it comes to politics.'

Otto just stared back at her. Because despite all the scheming in court, no one ever was that direct with their thoughts and observations. You could think all you want but there were some things you could never even dream to say out loud. And Diane just voiced it like it was nothing to her.

'So yes, when it comes to you, it's very obvious where your allegiances lie,' Diane concluded, tapping on his Hand of the King pin with her fingernail and making Otto realize just how close to each other they were standing. He knew he should take a step back from her - Gods, for so many reasons - but his body refused to cooperate. 'Just as it is clear where mine lie. I suppose you can't really keep such a thing secret when you are in so deep, don't you think?'

'What do you want from me?' Otto said because he had no idea and it was kind of scary. He felt like Stranger was breathing down his neck and if he made one wrong move, he would die. But surely, this fear was irrational. Right?

'From you specifically? Not a lot. But in general... I want to win this little game you have been playing,' Diane said, and the way she was constantly holding eye contact with him was even more unsettling.

Otto swallowed, 'Game?'

'Yes. Aren't politics just games for adults? I like games. And even more so I like to win,' Diane smiled. 'I can tell that you do too. So let's play, Lord Hand, because I'm sure it's much more interesting to play with someone who can actually match you,' she said and then she walked around him, not waiting for his reply.

A few seconds later Otto heard the doors clicking shut and released a shaky breath he didn't know he was holding. His mind was racing with all the different thoughts that were all focusing on the fact that Diane just fucking challenged him. That Diane somehow figured out just what a person he was and what he was planning and instead of trying to get him out of court as soon as possible (which he would have most likely prevented from happening), she wanted to play his game. No, not play. She wanted to win.

And Otto hated the fact that he found her extremely attractive at that precise moment. He had never met a woman quite like her. And, to add insult to injury, she was also younger than his daughter. Diane didn't behave like that though, she acted like a fully grown woman who knew what she was worth and what exactly she was capable of, but that was just an excuse, was it? She was still seven and ten, and he still was drawn to her.

Don't get him wrong, other nobles sometimes married literal children and it was totally fine by Otto. He even used it if he got the chance, but he always prided himself as a man who didn't share such... preferences. His late wife was seven and ten when he married her but he himself was only nine and ten at that time so it was acceptable. He never looked at the women who were much younger than him but then he met Diane and she seemed to decide that confusing the hell out of him was her personal life mission.

She had insinuated that she could match him. For some reason, Otto didn't doubt that. Now all his failures and setbacks since Diane appeared in the Red Keep seemed much more than bad luck. How involved she was? What had she already done? What was going to be her next move? He would love to figure that out.

A few days later, Otto found a miniature turtle sitting on top of his papers in his office. It was decorated with black and red gemstones and he was very sure he hadn't had such a figurine before. There was no note or anything attached to it but he knew exactly who it was from. He chuckled and put his new turtle on top of a wooden box that he had on his table so it wouldn't get lost in the piles of paper.

Let the games begin.