Jaime Lannister's appearance instantly disrupted the already turbulent atmosphere in the study.
His gilded armor reflected cold light in the candlelight, contrasting interestingly with the complex expression on his handsome face.
His gaze crossed Ned Stark and Varys, nailing straight onto Lynn.
In that look, there was scrutiny, annoyance.
And a trace of... concern even he hadn't noticed?
"Lysa Arryn has gone mad."
Jaime's voice broke the silence, carrying an arrogance and disdain unique to House Lannister.
"A widow who just cries when her husband dies and only knows how to hide in the Eyrie breastfeeding, what does she have to march on the North?"
"Her son's diapers?"
The corner of Varys's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly upon hearing this, his face usually wearing an oily smile.
"Ser Lannister, though that may be true, the loyalty of the Vale knights to House Arryn is as hard as the stones of the Eyrie."
Varys reminded softly.
"Lady Lysa may be mad."
"But a mad woman is often more terrible than ten sane men."
"Enough!"
A roar came from outside the door, and Robert Baratheon's figure, burly as a bear, staggered in.
His face was flushed red, reeking of alcohol.
In those eyes, somewhat cloudy due to indulgence, poison, and alcohol, burned a sickly excitement.
"Scared like this by a mad woman's clamor?"
Robert looked around, his gaze finally resting on Lynn, filled with undisguised amusement.
"Just right! I was worrying my good son-in-law had no chance to show his fangs!"
The King's decree spread quickly throughout the Red Keep.
An emergency Small Council meeting was hastily convened in this late night filled with the smell of alcohol and conspiracy.
In the Throne Room, the atmosphere was oppressively suffocating.
Robert sat crookedly on the Iron Throne.
Still holding that huge golden cup in his hand, as if it contained not wine, but his authority to rule the Seven Kingdoms.
Cersei sat below him, her beautiful face covered with a layer of frost.
When she heard Robert's decision, anger ignited instantly in her beautiful green eyes.
"Are you crazy, Robert?"
Cersei could no longer maintain the Queen's composure.
"You want Lynn to face the entire force of the Vale alone?"
"Myrcella just married him today!"
"Do you want her to become a widow on her wedding night?!"
"This was originally Petyr's fault; this concerns the whole kingdom, Lynn cannot be left to bear it alone!"
"Shut up, you stupid woman!"
Robert interrupted Cersei rudely.
"This is between men! What do you know!"
Robert's gaze swept over everyone present.
Lord Renly wore a faint smile, seemingly full of interest in the upcoming show.
The representative of House Tyrell looked at his nose and heart, putting on an attitude of indifference.
And other bannermen and nobles looked like sharks smelling blood, eyes flashing with excitement and greed.
They wished this upstart Lynn would die under the iron hooves of the Vale knights.
So they could pounce and devour his Gift, which wasn't rich to begin with.
The entire King's Landing was such a huge colosseum.
Everyone was waiting to watch the show.
Robert enjoyed this feeling of controlling everything; he drained the wine in the cup and smashed the golden cup heavily on the floor.
"Lynn!"
He roared, voice echoing in the empty hall.
"Since the Queen has spoken, I'll give you three thousand men!"
"Within a month, I want you to bring me the head of that mad woman Lysa Arryn!"
"Don't you have a dragon?"
"Aren't you very good at fighting?"
"Go!"
"Prove to all of Westeros, prove to your King!"
"My son-in-law, Robert Baratheon's son-in-law, is not a weakling who only knows how to hide under a woman's skirt!"
He wasn't testing Lynn at all; he was driving Lynn to a dead end!
He wanted to use Lynn's life to quell Lysa Arryn's anger, to stabilize his shaky throne!
Then, Lynn's dragon would be his; Lynn's Daenerys, that woman who could control dragons, would also be his!
Of course, and Lynn's properties, businesses.
Everything would be his.
This seemed like a good choice too.
Mainly because Lynn was too powerful, so powerful he suspected Lynn all the time.
Ned Stark stood in the Hand's position, his body trembling violently.
Looking at the friend on the Iron Throne whose soul had been completely corroded by power and alcohol.
That heart loyal for twenty years was completely crushed at this moment!
He remembered the days he and Robert fought on the battlefield.
But what he got in return was Robert's humiliation of his daughter, and the murder of the son-in-law he regarded as his own son!
Ned closed his eyes slowly.
An emotion of regret surfaced on his determined face.
And Lynn stood calmly from beginning to end.
Looking at the mad King on the Iron Throne.
Looking at the gloating nobles around.
Looking at the undisguisable despair on Ned's face.
The treachery of King's Landing far exceeded his imagination.
He originally thought as long as he held enough power, he could navigate this game of thrones with ease.
But he was wrong.
As long as that fool Robert Baratheon sat on the Iron Throne, he would never get true peace.
After this man took the poison.
Suspicion, brutality, stupidity, arrogance.
Far more uncontrollable than Lynn thought.
He was like a child holding a torch, likely to ignite the whole house at any moment due to his ignorance.
And Lynn was the most conspicuous piece of furniture in that house.
Robert must die.
Even though he could influence Robert's will silently, this thought took root and sprouted wildly in Lynn's heart.
Tywin's poison was too slow.
He might not be able to wait that long.
Lynn looked up, meeting Robert's provocative gaze, but revealed a gentle smile on his face.
"As you command, Your Grace."
"For the Seven Kingdoms, I am willing to do anything."
...
The Small Council meeting ended on a sour note.
Lynn didn't return to his wedding room but walked alone onto the walls of the Red Keep.
The night wind blew his clothes flapping loudly.
He overlooked this sleeping city beneath his feet; in those deep eyes shone a cold light piercing brighter than the stars in the night sky.
He just wanted to develop peacefully without war, but Robert no longer gave him this chance.
Want war? Then war!
Anyway, he had the system; don't blame him for proving his path through killing.
Light footsteps came from behind.
Lynn didn't turn around, because from the footsteps, he already knew who was coming.
"Ser Lannister."
Lynn's voice seemed somewhat飘忽 (piāohū - drifting/indistinct) in the wind.
Jaime Lannister walked to his side, standing shoulder to shoulder with Lynn.
He had taken off that heavy gilded armor, wearing only a white silk shirt, golden short hair brushing slightly in the night wind.
"You don't look worried at all."
Jaime looked at Lynn's profile, a trace of inquiry in his tone.
"Is worrying useful?" Lynn asked back.
"Indeed useless."
Jaime let out a sneer.
"That fool Robert is determined to have you die."
He paused, lowering his voice a few degrees.
"Cersei is very angry."
"I know."
"She doesn't want Myrcella to be a widow."
"I know that too."
Jaime fell silent.
He looked at the dark night curtain in the distance.
On that handsome face usually carrying a bit of frivolity, a rare gravity appeared.
He thought of Myrcella.
Thought of her following behind him like a little tail when she was small, calling "Uncle" in a cloyingly sweet voice.
Thought of her at the wedding, looking at Lynn, that light he had never seen shining in those green eyes.
That was love.
A pure love.
That was something he and Cersei also once had.
He couldn't let that light go out.
Absolutely not.
"I will go to the North with you."
Jaime's voice was calm.
Lynn turned his head, looking at him somewhat unexpectedly.
"You are a Kingsguard."
Lynn reminded.
"Your duty is to protect the King, not follow me to war."
"What Kingsguard!"
A self-mocking smile appeared on Jaime's face.
"I haven't been some glorious knight for a long time, have I?"
"I am the Kingslayer."
"A traitor who killed his own King with his own hands."
"A bastard who can forsake any oath."
Jaime turned his head; those green eyes, identical to Cersei's and Myrcella's, stared fixedly at Lynn in the darkness.
"I am not doing it for you, Lynn."
"I am doing it so Cersei won't be sad."
"Her daughter cannot lose her husband on her wedding night."
"This is a shame for her as a Lannister, and also my shame."
His motive was direct, rough, yet incredibly reasonable.
But he dared not state the purpose clearly.
Actually, he was protecting his own daughter...
Lynn looked at him.
This "Kingslayer" spurned by all of Westeros.
He suddenly felt this man might not be as unbearable as rumors said.
At least, he was a qualified father.
A father who dared to become an enemy of the whole world for his child.
"Robert only gave me three thousand men."
Lynn said calmly.
"The Vale has at least twenty thousand troops."
"Pouring out in full force, countless."
"And the equipment of my wildling army is really too poor."
"The Lannister army can march north anytime."
Jaime's answer was simple and full of confidence.
"My father may not like you, but he wishes even less to see his granddaughter become a living widow."
"Tywin Lannister... he would agree?"
"He will."
Jaime revealed a confident smile.
Lynn was stunned.
Looking at the matter-of-fact expression on Jaime's face, he didn't know what to say for a moment.
"How about it?"
Jaime raised an eyebrow.
"One more ally is always better than one more enemy, isn't it?"
Lynn looked at the hand he extended.
Silenced for a moment.
Then, he also extended his hand, shaking it heavily with him.
"Welcome aboard."
"Hope your sword is more reliable than your mouth."
"Are you worried about my reputation?"
Jaime grinned, revealing a self-mocking smile.
"I understand your worry; after all, my sword has killed a King, hasn't it."