"Spare Lord Renly's life."
Edric fell to his knees with a thud, pleading sincerely.
"He is guilty! Yes, Lord Renly's rebellion is undeniable, and the Gods in heaven and the laws of the world will judge his guilt and bestow punishment."
Edric's voice trembled with sorrow.
"But he is your uncle after all, a blood relative, a true Baratheon."
Joffrey chuckled, "Oh, so I'm a true Baratheon again, Renly didn't say that before."
Edric had heard that rumor.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Lord Renly's crime cannot be forgiven."
"I only beg Your Majesty for a shred of pardon, just a shred. It would not violate the law and would spare you the infamy of Kinslaying."
Kinslaying, this was a great taboo in Westeros. People spoke of it widely, deeply believing that those who killed their blood relatives would be forever scorned by the world. Both the old and new Gods would forever curse Kinslayers.
Joffrey didn't care about this. Killing one was killing, killing two was also killing, was he afraid of curses stacking up and the harm deepening?
Renly indeed didn't have to die, but it was certainly not because he feared curses.
As for this bastard, he had originally thought of letting this insignificant boy go, but now it seemed he was also a restless fellow.
He stared coldly at Edric.
"Are you threatening me?"
"That's absolutely not what he meant, Your Majesty." Cortnay Penrose couldn't help but interject.
"Then what does it mean!" Joffrey's smile vanished completely. "Edric, who do you think you are? How dare you try to influence the affairs of state!?"
The atmosphere suddenly became heavy.
Cortnay Penrose's next words were immediately stuck in his throat.
Joffrey's tone was sharp, "Don't think that just because you bear the surname 'Storm' it means anything, it represents nothing! You're just a bastard! Delena Florent's shame! She has her own husband and children!"
Harsh words filled the entire room.
Edric knelt on the ground, trembling uncontrollably. Sadness, shame, fear, and anger surged in at once, leaving his mind blank.
Bastard! Shame!
Edric tried his best to ignore the unfair treatment and strange looks. However, ignoring it didn't mean it didn't exist, it didn't mean he truly didn't know.
Edric knew.
He was born on Duke Stannis's Dragonstone, but was seen by him as a stain on his honor, and was thrown to Duke Renly's Storm's End like a burden. He only learned all this later by eavesdropping on servants' gossip.
His memory had always been Storm's End.
Fortunately, life here was not bad. Although he had only lived this one kind of life, at least, he could still laugh.
Duke Renly had always been kind to people, and he was no exception. Although as Master of Laws he rarely returned to Storm's End, he would bring Edric a gift every time he came back.
Despite this, Edric still didn't dare call him "uncle". He couldn't imagine what kind of terrible reaction that might get.
He shouldn't expect any changes, this was already good.
Ser Cortnay took great care of him, like a loving father, and no one in the Castle dared to bully him, and later they gradually became close friends.
His Naming Day every year was also a rare happy day.
His father would send gifts on time, a pony, a sable cloak, a small Warhammer, never forgetting each year.
Taking this opportunity, Edric would also carefully write a letter to King's Landing, thanking his father for his concern and expressing his longing.
At such times, he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.
Perhaps his father would one day appear in Storm's End himself and take him back to King's Landing.
Of course, he didn't dare hope for more.
He didn't even hold much hope for the small wish of returning to King's Landing.
Everything in Edric's life was still Storm's End and the people in this Fortress. He worked hard to live each day well, winning back the affection of everyone in the Castle little by little with sincerity and smiles.
But now, in just half a day, all his efforts had turned to naught.
The Soldiers he trained or sparred with had become corpses and captives, the eyes of the familiar cooks and maidservants were filled with terror and fear, the Castle was broken, and the enemy occupied the various Halls.
And he had merely followed his heart and pleaded for Lord Renly, and was actually...
Edric bit his lip tightly, his eyes moist.
Cortnay Penrose saw clearly from the side but was helpless, only able to keep begging the King for forgiveness.
Joffrey completely ignored Cortnay Penrose and continued to pressure Edric.
"You're not still thinking you can live in the Red Keep openly, are you? No way, no way? Are you really that clueless, who gave you that illusion?"
Edric suddenly raised his head stubbornly, silent, his eyes both firm and fragile.
"I remember now." Joffrey shook his head. "It's because of those gifts, isn't it? The so-called gifts from your father."
Edric couldn't help but be stunned.
Joffrey smiled, still not letting him off the hook. "That was all done in Father's name by the 'Spider', Varys, pretending to be him. All the gifts you received were just part of Varys's scheme. Father never knew!"
Edric's eyes widened instantly, filled with despair and suspicion.
"No... that's not how it is..."
Edric finally couldn't help but speak up in defiance, but his voice was clearly weak and powerless, lacking any force.
"You wrote many letters, didn't you, so-called thank-you letters. Did you ever receive any replies? Even a single word?" Joffrey delivered the final blow.
The truth was this cruel.
Although King Robert acknowledged Edric's bloodline due to circumstances, he never truly cared about him.
Robert Baratheon, who was addicted to wine and women and couldn't extricate himself, barely paid attention to state affairs or even the Queen and the Prince. How could he remember a bastard son born from a drunken liaison?
Edric had to face reality.
Replies? He could have ignored this point of doubt before, but now, the suspicion was laid bare: there were never any replies!
He finally broke down.
"No! I am the King's son! My father is Robert Baratheon!"
Edric Storm screamed out this proud yet shameful fact with all his might, as if denouncing his past tragic experiences, and also as if declaring the rights and status he deserved to have.
Ser Cortnay Penrose immediately felt a sense of foreboding.
But just as he opened his mouth, the King's eyes swept over him, and Ser Cortnay Penrose instantly stiffened, unable to move.
Edric Storm was still immersed in intense emotion. "I am King Robert's son! Father acknowledged me! I have a surname! I should live in the Red Keep and call you brother, not Your Majesty! I also have younger siblings..."
Joffrey quietly listened to the other party's presumptuous words, his face expressionless, but with a smile in his eyes.
Speak, speak to your heart's content. The price is everything.
Under Ser Cortnay Penrose's despairing gaze, Edric Storm vented for a long time before finally regaining his senses.
Remembering what had just happened, he knelt down again, trembling all over.
Joffrey sighed faintly. "A bastard, wanting to live in the Red Keep. Tell me, what should I do with you?"
Edric couldn't respond.
Joffrey turned to Ser Cortnay Penrose. "Your relationship seems to be quite good. Perhaps you can make some compensation for his offense?"
The King's eyes were full of hidden meaning.
Finally.
Ser Cortnay Penrose lowered his head.
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