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When Daela Targaryen was born the Queen almost cried out of desperation. The little girl that saw the light of the sun for the first time was nothing like her siblings. Her head was filled with hair in the colour of chestnut, just like her mother's. Alicent had given birth to three children and all of them contained the characteristics of their father and king of seven kingdoms, Viserys Targaryen. Forever loyal to her husband no one had ever uttered a speculation about her being unfaithful. No one until that day.

Up to Daela's birth, Alicent was the only one who could spread rumours about Rhaenyra giving birth to bastards. Her second child, Lucerys, had been born a few days ago and just by a single glance she could tell that he could not be Laenor's. As well as her first born, he had black hair and white skin, unlike his supposed to be father. She felt good with herself talking about how Rhaenyra wasn't loyal. That way she could feel better for the fact that at least she was performing he duty with respect. But not anymore. With Daela out in the world, everything would change.

And she was correct. Whispers started going around about her forming relationships with members of the guard and others. They didn't need much of a reason to come at her. Many people despised her father when he was the Hand of the king, and were more than glad when he left King's Landing. Now those people despised her as well and favoured Rhaenyra despite being unfaithful. They always did that. They were always on her side.

In no time Alicent was hearing the maids talking with eachother, making speculations about who is the father of the child. They would always stop when she was around but she knew their assumptions.

"See Criston Cole never leaves her side."
"Larys Strong visits her daily."

They would whisper in the shadows of the castle while cleaning or cooking or taking care of her other three children.

Somehow Alicent could look past their gossiping. Viserys loved his daughter and knew better than everyone that she was his. What Alicent couldn't stand was the fear of what Rhaenyra would think of her, now that the tables had turned.

"She wouldn't have the right to say anything, my Queen. Not after she has done."

"Ser Criston, she has every right. She is the princess and the Heir. And you are not the rightful person to judge her."

This conversation had taken place some weeks after Daela had appeared for the first time in the kingdom. Viserys had organised neither a feast nor a hunt just like he had done for Aegon and Daemon since due to his illness, something like that would exhaust him. But despite that, the little princess had made her appearance.

In her mother's embrace she accompanied her siblings to the Red Keep where the people of Kingslanding had gathered along with the lords of other houses to see her. A baby with brown hair next to her Targaryen-looking relatives. The Lords were ready to join the accusations.

Rhaenyra hadn't say anything about the topic. Out of respect towards her father and out of hope that maybe this way she would stop as well the allegations about her own sons. She saw the little girl as a mean to achieve what she wanted. Peace with Alicent.

Indeed for some years the Queen stopped assuming things about the Princess' children. At least she stopped discussing them out loud with others. And this was happening for a long time. Up to the moment everyone in the council was saying how much Daela resembled her mother. The elder members of the council who remembered Alicent in her childhood could see that along with the King himself.

However the things got worse when Rhaenyra got pregnant for the third time. Alicent almost wished that the child was Laenor's, but that wasn't the case. Everyone knew that. Alicent at least knew that. She wasn't blind to see that Laenor showed no interest to his wife. At least romantically.