Varys, his face wreathed in smiles, replied, "Duke Stark, you are the Hand of the King, and it is our duty to serve you."
After speaking, he and the other Small Council members took their customary seats.
Because King Robert had said that all Small Council members were cunning individuals, Hand Eddard, though physically exhausted, did not relax his vigilance.
His gaze swept over everyone, and he frowned, "Why are there only five people on the Small Council?"
Varys glanced at Renly and respectfully said, "Prime Minister, Duke Stannis has just returned to Dragonstone, and Ser Barristan is currently attending to the King."
Grand Maester Pycelle, who had been sitting quietly in his seat, raised his head and slowly said, "Hand Eddard, today's Small Council meeting is for the tourney. This is to celebrate the new Prime Minister's appointment, so there's no need to gather all Small Council members."
Petyr pursed his lips and said, "I don't even remember the last time there were seven people present."
Duke Eddard looked at Petyr, then turned to Pycelle and said, "Maester Pycelle, you still seem quite robust, and thank you for your advice."
Pycelle tremulously patted his chest and said, "Duke Eddard, I am old after all, and I tire easily. I almost fell asleep just now."
Duke Eddard's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He found listening to these people speak truly exhausting.
"My Lords, let's discuss this tourney first."
Duke Eddard listened to their discussion for a while, almost unable to stop himself from cursing aloud.
The Iron Throne's total debt exceeds six million gold dragons?!
Didn't the Targaryen leave behind mountains of gold and silver treasures... How could it have come to this?!
The tourney was even being held in his name. How far would Robert's recklessness go? Did Robert think he would feel honored by this?
More importantly, this was simply adding insult to injury for the kingdom's finances.
Duke Eddard took a breath and said, trying to keep his voice calm, "I will speak with King Robert. The kingdom cannot afford such an extravagant tourney."
Duke Renly laughed heartily and said, "Ned, you don't know when you'll see my brother. Many people attending the tourney have already gathered in King's Landing, and more are on their way. It's too late to cancel."
Varys further explained, "Our beloved King Robert has too many things to worry about. He won't make a special trip back for trivial matters."
Duke Renly shrugged, "Ned, anything involving finance, harvests, and laws gives my brother a headache. He put us here to lighten his burden."
"...Damn it!"
Duke Eddard cursed under his breath. He looked at the Master of Coin, "Earl Baelish, how do you plan to raise the funds needed for the tourney?"
Petyr hooked his lips and said, "Hand Stark, I've already prepared the gold dragons."
Seeing Duke Eddard's puzzled expression, he explained with a hint of mockery, "Everyone knows the royal treasury has been empty for years. Every time we need money, we just borrow it. Anyway, we already owe Lannister over three million gold dragons, so borrowing a bit more for this tourney is no big deal."
Duke Eddard's pupils constricted slightly. It had already exceeded three million gold dragons... Why would Lannister be so generous?
Petyr's eyes flickered, as if he had seen through Duke Eddard's thoughts. He added, "There's a Lannister Queen sitting in the Red Keep, so the Lannister family is very happy to help, Lord Eddard."
Duke Eddard said irritably, "Damn this tourney. The sooner this farce ends, the sooner I'll have peace of mind."
Pycelle suddenly spoke, "Duke Eddard, this afternoon, the Commander of the Gold Cloaks reported on the current situation in King's Landing. He expressed concern about the city's security."
Duke Eddard leaned back in his chair and said, "Tell me."
"Many knights participating in the tourney have been arriving in King's Landing, and with every knight, two free riders, three craftsmen, six soldiers, a dozen merchants, and two dozen prostitutes follow. As for thieves, there are so many I wouldn't even dare to guess."
"Last night, someone drowned, plus there was a tavern brawl, three knife fights, one rape case, two fires, and countless robberies... I even heard a drunken horse charged straight into Nun Street."
After Pycelle finished speaking, Varys shivered and said, "This morning, a woman's head was found floating in the Great Sept's rainbow pool. No one knows where that head came from, and no one knows whose head it is. It's terrifying."
Duke Renly said impatiently, "If Janos can't even maintain order in the city, perhaps the Gold Cloaks need a more capable person to be Commander."
Pycelle nodded and said, "That is also a solution, Duke Renly."
Duke Eddard asked, "Has he thought of a solution?"
"Janos hopes the Small Council will approve him to increase his manpower."
After Pycelle answered, Petyr scoffed.
Increase manpower? Duke Eddard immediately thought of Kleber's soldiers, but then secretly shook his head.
After a moment of silence, Duke Eddard said, "I will assign twenty men from my guards to Janos, and then have him hire fifty more. As for the money..."
He turned his head to Petyr and continued, "Earl Baelish will handle it."
Petyr paused, then said, "I'll handle it?"
"You heard me correctly. Since you can quickly raise the gold dragons for the tourney, getting a few more copper stars to maintain order in King's Landing should be no problem."
Petyr's expression was both helpless and bitter. He shrugged and said, "Glad to be of service, Duke Eddard."
"The remaining matters, let's discuss another day..."
Duke Eddard realized his tone was not good and reminded himself that this was not Winterfell.
He softened his voice and continued, "My Lords, I am truly tired. Let's end here for today, and we'll continue when I feel better."
Duke Eddard did not wait for others to respond. He stood up after speaking, nodded to those present, and then strode directly out of the Throne Room.
The dining hall in the Prime Minister's Tower was a long, narrow room with a high vaulted ceiling, and its benches could seat over two hundred people.
The Stark party was having dinner. There were only a little over fifty of them in total, so the benches looked empty.
After the first course of dinner was cleared, Arya saw her father enter. She could tell that his mood did not seem very good.
Duke Eddard waved his hand, signaling for everyone who had stood up to sit down.
After Jory, the captain of the guard, sat down, he said, "My Lord, everyone outside is talking about the tourney. It's said that knights from all Seven Kingdoms will come to fight for your honor and celebrate the new Prime Minister."
Sansa's eyes lit up, "That will surely be an unprecedented tourney! Father, can we go?"
Arya noticed her father's expression worsen. She turned to her excited sister and said, "Sansa, don't you dislike swords and spears the most? Don't cry when you get scared. Why don't you stay in your room and tinker with your favorite embroidery instead?"
Sansa lifted her head and said, "Arya, you're the one who should stay in your room. Father told us to stay put, but you secretly snuck out."
"You're tattling again, you're a traitor!"
"I'm not a traitor, you're the one who did something wrong!"
"I hate you the most!"
"Hmph, I never said I liked you either!"
"Enough!"
Duke Eddard's face was filled with anger, "I'm sick of your endless bickering. No matter what, you two are sisters. I hope you love each other like sisters, understand?"
Sansa bit her lip and nodded. Arya lowered her head, unhappily staring at the plate in front of her. The only sounds left were the clinking of knives and forks against the plates.
Duke Eddard sighed inwardly as he looked at his two daughters and said, "I will arrange seats for both of you at the tourney grounds."
After speaking, he stood up with a weary expression and said, "I'm sorry, I don't have much appetite tonight. You two eat more."
This foolishness was clearly Robert's own idea, and he not only had to help organize it but also had to pretend to be flattered. Duke Eddard strongly disliked this feeling.
After her father left, Arya noticed that Sansa immediately began whispering excitedly with those around her, and everyone was chatting and laughing. The atmosphere in the dining hall quickly became lively.
In Winterfell, they often dined in the castle's Great Hall. Father always said that as a lord, one needed to often dine with one's retainers to win their hearts; he also said that a lord not only needed to understand his subordinates but also had to let them understand their lord, because subordinates would not fight for a stranger.
In Winterfell, Father would always reserve a special seat at his table, inviting different people each night to listen to their stories or suggestions. At that time, Arya loved sitting at the table and listening to them talk the most.
Arya glared at her "hypocritical" sister, then quietly slipped out of the lively dining hall when no one was looking.
Maegor's Holdfast.
Kleber was having dinner with Cersei and Jaime. Tonight's main dishes were pumpkin sweet soup and roasted ribs.
The busy Kleber had dined with Baratheon and Stark at noon, and now he was dining with Lannister in the evening.
Kleber picked up his wine glass and took a sip, saying, "Ser Jaime, are you satisfied with my gift?"
Kleber couldn't think of a good gift, so he followed his original idea and gave Jaime a cloak embroidered with the words "Warden of the East" as a congratulatory gift.
Jaime coughed, glanced at Cersei beside him, and directly changed the subject, "Have you prepared your armor?"
Cersei had seen the gift Kleber sent, and she seemed quite pleased with it. Jaime was afraid Cersei would ask him to wear that flashy cloak, so he didn't want to discuss it at all.
Kleber smiled and said, "It's already arranged. I think there won't be any problem with the timing."
A moment later, Queen Cersei put down her knife and fork and motioned for the servants to leave the dining hall.
Cersei gently swirled her wine glass and said, "Earl Kleber, what's your impression of that girl?"
Kleber was not one to easily leave behind leverage. He had gone to meet the Stark party with Cersei's permission.
After guessing that Sansa Stark might become Joffrey's fiancée, Queen Cersei had been very concerned about this matter.
Kleber put down his wine glass and said seriously, "Miss Sansa Stark has the red hair and blue eyes of the Tully, and she is a little beauty. Her family has protected her very well; she is innocent and pure-hearted."
Cersei curved her lips and said leisurely, "Very interesting, isn't it?"
Jaime said with a smile, "Queen Cersei, you seem somewhat pleased?"
Cersei smiled, glanced at Jaime, and took a sip of summer red, saying, "Joffrey is suited for a docile and obedient girl."
Kleber slowly blinked. Why did he suddenly have a sense of déjà vu, like a meeting of villains? It must be an illusion!
"Your Grace."
Kleber briefly and directly recounted his encounter with Margaery, saying, "The Golden Rose's little tricks are constant. I always feel they are plotting something in secret."
Jaime frowned and said, "Is Highgarden going to marry into Winterfell? I remember Robb Stark, the heir to Winterfell, is about the same age as Margaery Tyrell."
Cersei looked askance at Jaime and said coldly, "Jaime, how could the self-important Riverlands people possibly look down on a bumpkin from the North?"
The Golden Rose must have set their sights on Robert, that drunkard, right? Cersei was always very sensitive to such tactics.
Cersei remembered the witch's prophecy. She snorted coldly and added, "No matter how they plot, the Golden Rose is destined to fail!"
Kleber's eyes trembled slightly. He said, "Your Grace, we cannot know what the Golden Rose will do. I hear they have many people in King's Landing, and I am very concerned about your safety. To be safe..."
Kleber lowered his voice and continued, "Do you need me to transfer more soldiers from Whispering Fort?"
After a pause, he added, "Ser Jaime is now the Warden of the East, so we can legitimately move troops to King's Landing."
Cersei was pondering, and she seemed very tempted by Kleber's suggestion.
Jaime's voice interrupted Cersei's thoughts, "Cersei... Your Grace, everyone is rushing to King's Landing, and everyone's eyes are on this place. Now is not a good time to move troops; it could easily cause an incident..."
Kleber nodded in agreement, "Ser Jaime's concern is valid. Those with ulterior motives might even accuse us of trying to occupy King's Landing."
After speaking, he shrugged, a helpless expression on his face.
Cersei's emerald eyes flickered. She slowly caressed the cup, and without much hesitation, she said, "Earl Kleber, how many soldiers can Whispering Fort mobilize?"
Kleber immediately replied, "Your Grace, if time is urgent, about two or three thousand soldiers. If we have two or three months, we can mobilize at least ten thousand soldiers for you."
The new Warden of the East, Jaime, looked at Kleber, his gaze somewhat complex.
Jaime believed Kleber had not misrepresented his military strength, nor was there any need for him to. Kleber's army had, unknowingly, become a force to be reckoned with in the The Crownlands.
He recalled his past interactions with Kleber and, upon careful thought, realized Kleber had hinted many times, or rather, boasted about Kleber's military strength.
The things they were plotting in secret were full of danger. Casterly Rock was too far... Now that Cersei's safety was further assured, Jaime felt quite relieved inside, and he also felt that the most important thing to be wary of was not letting Cersei and Kleber act recklessly.
Cersei nodded slightly and said, "Earl Kleber, your loyalty pleases me. Await my command."
Cersei's beautiful eyes gazed at Kleber, and Kleber nodded slightly.
Jaime secretly breathed a sigh of relief. At least Cersei also understood that their affairs could not cause a huge commotion.
Jaime offered a slight smile, "Kleber, this must be your first tourney, right? You should prepare well. Who knows, you might even win the heart of a certain lady."