“She was beautiful. Utterly, completely, soul stirringly beautiful. He didn't know how he hadn't noticed it all these years.” — Romancing mister Bridgerton

Alicent is sensitive and emotionally exhausted and fragile because of the years of marriage. How many times did she hide her tears and exhaustion from her children? And how many times did Aegon see her eyes full of tears? As the eldest, he probably remembers Daeron’s birth and how exhausting and hard it must have been for Alicent. He probably remembers how neither he nor his siblings got a cradle egg despite Rhaenyra’s kids having them.

Aegon faced and endured his father’s the king’s wrath just a few minutes ago to protect his mother despite Alicent slapping him. He basically spat in Viserys’ face and ruined his attempt to punish Alicent even further. And he’s definitely scared of Viserys. But he did it because he’ll always look out for his mother, the way she did for him ever since she was fifteen, losing her childhood for him.

Alicent & Aegon II in HOUSE OF THE DRAGON 1.07 “Driftmark” / 1.08 “Lord of the Tides”

now i’ve made myself feel WORSE :(

Here I am, trawling the city, ever the good soldier in search of a wastrel who’s never taken half an interest in his birthright. ‘Tis I the younger brother who studies history and philosophy, it is I who trains with the sword, who rides the largest dragon in the world. It is I who should be–