Cersei Lannister looked at Green, her pupils constricting: "No need to guess, two of the Stark daughters are among the retinue."
After speaking, the annoyed Cersei snapped several Rose branches, but she still wasn't appeased.
She said angrily, "I want to slaughter a wolf, preferably a grey one!"
Green stood silently to the side.
Queen Cersei snapped Roses, and now she wants to kill a wolf… just wait.
Green reached out and grabbed Cersei's hand, directly wiping away the sap left by the broken branches with his cloak.
Cersei lowered her eyes to look at the hand Green was holding, and a smile touched her lips: "Count Green, your courage seems to have grown."
"My Queen, I am your steward."
Green gently released Cersei's hand, then continued: "Your Highness, no one in the Seven Kingdoms can stop King Robert from doing what he wants to do right now."
He added, "Except for you, but the cost is too high; it's not worth it."
Cersei's chin lifted slightly, her green eyes shifted, and she said coldly, "It's just a life-and-death struggle; your Queen will never compromise!"
Gripping the hilt of his sword, Green said, "Queen Cersei, you should not put yourself in danger. Please leave dangerous matters to me… and Ser Jaime."
After hearing Green's persuasion, Cersei's lips curved: "Green, your words always please me. Sometimes I don't know how to reward you…"
As she spoke, Cersei extended her fair hand and patted Green. Her slender fingers touched the cold armor, and her brow furrowed imperceptibly.
Cersei glanced with slight displeasure at the perfectly fitted Kleber armor.
Green replied solemnly, "To be of service to you is the greatest reward for me."
Cersei scoffed, "What a sweet boy."
Green: "…", he blinked in confusion.
It was the first time Green had seen Cersei with such a natural smile. Her hair, bright as gold leaf in the sun, made her as beautiful as a summer girl.
Jaime's taste seems to be pretty good?
...…
The sweet smile on Cersei's face quickly faded. She gazed at the flower bed, and soon a look of mocking disdain appeared on her face.
...…
...…
King's Road, west of the Trident River.
Eddard Stark looked at Robert Baratheon, whose waistline had become as astonishing as his height, and an expression of disbelief appeared on his serious face.
Is this really Robert?
"Ned! Ah, it's good to see you, especially your sour face."
Eddard heard the familiar booming voice, and then he was embraced, nearly having all his bones dislocated.
Eddard finally confirmed the fat man's identity; this person was indeed Robert.
Fifteen years ago, when they fought side by side, Robert was clean-shaven, with clear eyes, six feet five inches tall, like a towering giant, standing out among the crowd, a strong man that dreaming maidens yearned for.
Nine years ago, during Balon Greyjoy's rebellion, the banners of the Stag and the Direwolf flew together, and the armies of the Seven Kingdoms jointly campaigned against the lord who had declared himself King of the Iron Islands. On the night of victory, the two stood side by side in the fallen fortress hall of Greyjoy Family. Robert accepted the surrender of the rebel leader, and he took Balon's young son, Theon, as his ward.
Now, though a thick, black, wire-like beard covered his double chin, nothing could conceal Robert's large belly.
Robert scrutinized him from head to toe, his voice hearty: "You really haven't changed at all."
A faint smile appeared on Duke Eddard's usually serious face. He knelt on one knee and solemnly said, "Your Majesty, Winterfell awaits your command."
He remembered his wife's advice; Robert was not only his good friend but also the King of the Seven Kingdoms.
"Damn it, Ned!"
Robert grumbled, "Don't give me that!"
King Robert's strong hand pulled up Duke Eddard, who was respectfully kneeling on the ground.
Robert then said angrily, "And, we are brothers. If you dare call me 'Your Majesty' again, I will hang you outside a brothel, but before that, I'll pull down your trousers, haha!"
Eddard smiled. He felt that although Robert's appearance had changed somewhat, his nature hadn't changed at all. He remembered their days in Eyrie, still so cordial.
Eddard had grown up in Eyrie with Robert since the age of eight, both wards of Jon Arryn, and he regarded Robert as a brother.
Though his emotions were rich, Stark was very stubborn: "I dare not forget."
"Seven Hells!"
After Robert saw Eddard's two daughters, he said, "The children are much cuter than you!"
The guards dispersed around them, and the two men came to the riverbank.
Robert pointed into the distance and said, "Right over there, I smashed Rhaegar to death with one blow!"
Eddard recalled his sister's last smile, and how she clutched his hand tightly before passing away, Rose petals spilling from her palm, dark and lifeless.
This was a pain deeply etched in Eddard's heart.
Eddard slowly said, "You have already killed him; you have avenged Lyanna."
Robert said angrily, "But I only killed him once! Now I can only keep killing him in my dreams, every night!"
Robert's voice grew hoarse with the pain of memory: "Gods, Lyanna was only sixteen…"
Lyanna Stark was supposed to be Robert's bride but passed away at sixteen. At that time, she was still a childlike girl.
Some old wounds never heal, and just a few words can make them bleed anew.
The two men stood silently on the riverbank, gazing at the flowing water, the atmosphere heavy.
The cold Iron Throne could not compensate for the pain of losing Lyanna.
After a long while, Eddard looked at Robert: "Tell me about Jon."
Robert shook his head: "I've never seen anyone's condition worsen so rapidly in my life, as if a raging fire consumed Jon's life in a short time."
Eddard was not in a hurry to voice his suspicions about Lannister; some things needed to be investigated personally.
After a pause, Robert put his massive arm around Eddard's shoulder: "I had planned to talk to you about this in a few days, but since you brought it up, let's talk now."
Eddard looked at Robert, who had suddenly become serious, and nodded slightly.
"Jon's death was too sudden!"
Robert sighed again, then continued: "The Red Keep is a mess right now. I need trustworthy help, someone like Jon Arryn. He was the Duke of Eyrie, Warden of the East, and Hand of the King. Finding a suitable replacement won't be easy."
Robert then said angrily, "One after another, damn it, they're all eyeing the position of Hand of the King, without even considering if they have the capability. If I dared to entrust the kingdom to their governance, the Gods would never forgive me!"
Eddard, however, asked, "Jon's child…"
Robert interrupted Eddard: "His son will inherit the title of Duke of Eyrie and all the taxes of the Vale."
Eddard was stunned for a moment and said, "The Arryn Family of the Vale has served as Warden of the East for generations; it's a hereditary position!"
Robert was a bit impatient: "Ned, a six-year-old boy cannot command an army. My first consideration is this year and the years to come. When that child grows up, I'll reconsider whether to return it to him!"
Eddard did not want to back down: "The Warden of the East is merely an honorary title in peacetime. Let the child inherit this title. Even for Old Jon, who labored his whole life for the kingdom, it is only right."
Robert pulled his hand back from Eddard's shoulder, his tone displeased: "Jon was Hand of the King; that was his duty. He was supposed to be loyal to his King!"
His tone softened, and he continued: "Ned, I am not an ungrateful person; you should know that best. I loved him as much as you did. But that child is not his father; a young child absolutely cannot govern the East, God help me!"
King Robert gripped Duke Eddard's elbow and said, "Ned, no more of this! I need your help with something, and I won't allow you to refuse."
Ahhh, wait until I'm done, ha!