it's the way rhaenyra and alicent are each others yin and yang. alicent doesn't have freedom without rhaenyra. rhaenyra wants to be a good ruler but the moment alicent leaves the city, it all goes downhill for her
now that duty is swallowing rhaenyra whole. it's turning into a desperation for power and to be seen as legitimate and worthy. she's left putting on her armour literally and metaphorically while shutting the rest of the world out
they need each other to balance each other out. alicent wants freedom but she also wants purpose, she's been left without it. she'd be good to rule if it were under the right circumstances, we've seen how competent she is, rhaenyra knows it herself and put her advice to good use. she's one of the only people who have acknowledged alicents worth
rhaenyra wants to be seen as a competent but her god complex is getting in the way. but you know who isn't afraid to tell the truth to her to bring her back down again? alicent.
