Tywin Lannister said coldly, "You still haven't figured out what Lannister is."
He looked at Kevan and continued, "You write the letter for me, in my name, and tell Cersei that this was my idea."
Kevan Lannister nodded slightly: "Duke Tywin, I will arrange it immediately."
...
As Duke Tywin and Ser Kevan stood by the map discussing military affairs, the voice of the guard captain outside the tent rang out: "Lord Tywin, Ser Harris requests an audience!"
Ser Harris Swyft was Kevan Lannister's father-in-law. Rumor had it that the Westerlands vassals secretly called him a shameless sycophant, and said that his greatest achievement in life was marrying his daughter to Ser Kevan, thereby climbing into the Lannister.
"Let him in."
Not long after, the elderly Ser Harris entered the tent.
He first glanced at Ser Kevan, who was looking at him, then bowed to Duke Tywin: "Duke Tywin, Stannis's raven has come again."
Upon hearing this, Duke Tywin's sharp gaze fell on Ser Harris, who trembled slightly.
Ser Kevan spoke up: "Ser Harris, how did Stannis's raven find its way here?"
The Lannister army had just garrisoned Harrenhal, and Stannis was far away on Dragonstone, yet his raven flew here... What did this mean? Could it be that Stannis's eyes were hidden among them?
Ser Kevan's face grew serious, and he continued: "And why is it in your hands?"
Ser Harris quickly explained: "It was one of my men who shot a raven, which is how I got this letter."
He paused, then added: "Judging by the raven's direction, its destination was the Westerlands."
After explaining, Ser Harris secretly breathed a sigh of relief... Fortunately, on his way there, he had thought of a perfect excuse in advance, so he didn't reveal his secret hunting trip.
Ser Kevan walked over and took the tightly rolled letter from Ser Harris's hand, lowering his gaze to look at Stannis's new sigil on it.
"You tell me the contents," Duke Tywin returned to the table and sat down.
Ser Kevan unsealed the letter, read it carefully, and said: "He proclaims himself Stannis I of House Baratheon, demanding that all those who came to the king's aid swear allegiance to him."
Ser Harris stretched his Neck to peek at the letter in Kevan's hand, and said: "Both Baratheon brothers are claiming to be king? Two kings?"
Ser Kevan glanced at Ser Harris, who immediately recoiled.
Ignoring his father-in-law, he looked at the seated Duke Tywin: "How should we respond?"
After a moment of contemplation, Duke Tywin looked at Ser Harris and said: "What do you think Stannis will do next?"
Ser Harris's heart was very excited. Was Duke Tywin going to use his wisdom? Had he finally recognized his abilities? Thinking of this, he became even more excited.
His voice trembled slightly: "Duke Tywin, Stannis controls Blackwater Bay, so he will definitely attack King's Landing next."
After speaking, Ser Harris looked expectantly at the majestic Duke Tywin, but he did not receive the admiration and praise he had imagined.
Duke Tywin stared at Ser Harris for a moment, then waved his hand and said: "You may withdraw."
...
After Ser Harris left with a disappointed expression, Duke Tywin's voice sounded after a pause: "They will all think that."
Ser Kevan interjected: "But he is Stannis."
Duke Tywin nodded slightly and said: "Kevan, we still need some time, so we must let Stannis know that whoever wins between him and Renly will be the King of the Seven Kingdoms."
A pair of pale green eyes flecked with gold looked at Kevan and continued: "We will deal with the victor of the two, and that person will be our final enemy."
Kevan nodded solemnly, then paused and said: "Those we bought off can at most spread rumors within Dragonstone; they cannot directly advise Stannis."
Duke Tywin picked up a blank parchment letter and said: "That's enough. Rumors only work if someone is willing to listen, and he wants to hear these now. We are helping him."
"You mean..."
After a pause, Ser Kevan nodded and continued: "Yes, the troops on Dragonstone will find it very difficult to capture King's Landing. Even if they miraculously win, it will be a Pyrrhic victory, and by the time Renly's army marches on King's Landing, he won't even be able to put up a decent resistance."
He added: "Stannis will certainly consider these things, but... even if that's the case, Stannis's few thousand troops on Dragonstone are absolutely no match for Renly's hundred thousand, and the Stormlands lords will certainly not support him now."
"Does it matter what others think of him? He is Stannis."
Duke Tywin snorted coldly and continued: "Stannis follows the law of inheritance and bloodline; he must hate his ill-mannered younger brother."
Ser Kevan respectfully said to Duke Tywin: "So, he will be very happy to accept our help."
Duke Tywin picked up a quill, dipped it in ink, and said: "May the gods..."
He paused, then corrected himself: "May his new god bless him."
Duke Tywin's quill began to move: To the esteemed Balon Greyjoy...
His quill paused, then he added—the King.
...
...
Dragonstone, Map Room.
Stannis Baratheon stood by the tall, narrow window, gazing at the distant, rolling waves, his jaw silently working.
Davos Seaworth stood respectfully behind the King.
"This time, the ravens on Dragonstone are not enough."
King Stannis turned to the Onion Knight and said: "Though I am the rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms, the lords of the Seven Kingdoms will choose to play deaf and mute, for they love Joffrey, Renly, or Robb Stark."
He continued: "Even if we had enough ravens, those maesters would bring my letters into their studies and bedchambers, read them to their lords, and then... just like last time, either the letter would be burned, or the listener would remain silent."
Davos placed his hand on his chest and said: "King Stannis, Davos is always at your command."
King Stannis nodded slightly and said: "Davos, I want you to sail the Black Betha north, passing Seagull Town, the Fingers Peninsula, the Three Sisters, and even as far as White Harbor.
Your eldest son, Dale Seaworth, will sail the Sea Spirit south, past Cape Wrath and the Broken Arm, along the Dornish coast, all the way to the Arbor.
Each of you will carry a chest of my signed letters, delivering one to every port, every manor, and every fishing village, nailing the letters to the doors of septs and inns so that all who can read may see them.
Besides proclaiming me the rightful king, you must also add Cersei's crimes; let them all know the ugliness of the harlot and the incest."
King Stannis's teeth gnashed: "I want to see how those lords who received letters before... will continue to play dumb this time."
Davos hesitated, then respectfully said: "King Stannis, in many places... I'm afraid few people are literate."
He paused, then added: "Perhaps... reading the letters aloud to them would be more effective."
King Stannis pondered: "It's good, but also more dangerous. Those hypocrites are most afraid of having their darkness exposed by others."
After a pause, Davos advised: "King Stannis, perhaps... you could let me bring some knights, and have them read the letters; things would be much easier."
Stannis nodded slightly; he seemed very pleased with Davos's suggestion: "Good, Dragonstone has plenty of cowardly knights who would rather read letters than fight. I will send you men."
He continued: "Act openly in safe places, and conceal yourselves in dangerous ones. Use all the smuggling methods you once knew to spread my proclamation. If the letters are not enough, I permit you to seize a few septons along the way and have them copy more for you."
After a moment of silence, King Stannis continued: "Davos, your second son, Allard Seaworth... I also have a use for him. I want him to sail the Lady Myria across the Narrow Sea to Braavos and the other Free Trade Cities, carrying these letters to their rulers... I want the whole world to know that I, Stannis, am the rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms."
Davos looked up at King Stannis and nodded in acceptance of the order.
King Stannis glanced at Davos, who looked thoughtful, and said: "Loyal Davos, do you have something to say?"
Davos immediately came to his senses and respectfully said: "Forgive me, I was thinking about the letters..."
King Stannis furrowed his brow and said: "Speak your mind, I want to hear your thoughts."
Davos paused, then said: "I was wondering if there was a way to get evidence of Cersei's incest; then it would... carry more weight."
"There is evidence, but the witness is at Storms End."
King Stannis began to walk towards the Map Room, saying as he went: "He is Robert's bastard, the one conceived on my wedding night, in my marriage bed. His mother is Delena Florent of the Florent, so Robert had no choice but to publicly acknowledge that bastard.
They call him Edric Storm, and he is said to look exactly like Robert. I think, if the people of the Seven Kingdoms just see him, and then see Joffrey and Tommen, the truth will be self-evident."
When King Stannis stopped in front of the Map Room, Davos spoke up: "King Stannis, if he is at Storms End, I don't think Renly will hand him over to us willingly, let alone put him and Joffrey together for others to compare."
King Stannis's gaze fixed on King's Landing on the map table, and he said coldly: "When I catch the incest, the people of the Seven Kingdoms will no longer be deceived by those hypocritical lords. I will publicly try their crimes according to the laws of the kingdom."
He pointed his finger at the location of Storms End, paused, then looked up at Davos and said: "Davos, if you still have suggestions, speak plainly. I knighted you not to have you learn the flowery words of my lords."
Davos bowed slightly and said: "King Stannis, that last sentence in the letter... 'By the bright light of the Lord of Light'... You are the rightful first heir to the Iron Throne, the legitimate King; this is already a fact, and no one can deny it."
He hesitated, then continued: "And... your people of the Seven Kingdoms probably won't like that sentence."
He paused, then added: "Perhaps you could change it to... 'In the name of the gods,' or... 'In the name of the new and old gods.'"
King Stannis's gaze was icy: "My Davos, when did you, a smuggler, become pious? It sounds like you don't like the god I now worship."
Davos said honestly: "King Stannis, I don't know much about this Lord of Light, but most people are very familiar with the gods we burned."
King Stannis said coldly: "We only burned some wood."
Davos looked at his King: "Your Grace, I must advise you, your people will not see it as you burning wood. What they see is you overthrowing all the gods they have long worshipped, and then forcing upon them a god whose name they can't even pronounce properly. This could cause you to lose their affection."
"Is Rhllor that hard to pronounce? I will lose the affection of the people?"
King Stannis snorted coldly and continued: "Davos, tell me, when have they ever loved me? If that's the case, what difference does it make to me whether they love me or not?! When I was in King's Landing, the Archbishop would constantly lecture me that all justice in the world came from the Seven Gods, but all the justice I saw was the work of men!"
His teeth gnashed: "From the day I witnessed my parents drown, I stopped believing in gods. I swore to the heavens that I would never worship any god!"
Davos said somewhat confusedly: "Since you don't believe in gods..."
King Stannis interrupted: "Then why find a new god? I asked myself that too. I don't know much about gods, and I don't want to bother with them, but I know that this Red Priestess possesses power that mortals do not."
He coldly gazed at the Stormlands on the Map Room: "I humbly begged the lords of the Stormlands for their support, and what did I get? I got their mockery... In short, I will never be so pathetic again. No one will ever mock me again."
His gaze swept over Bitterbridge, King's Landing, and the Neck: "By law, the Iron Throne rightfully belongs to me, but how am I to take it? Now there are three false kings, and all three are richer than me and have more troops than me. I only have ships... and her, the Red Priestess."
He looked at Davos: "Do you know? More than half of our knights don't even dare to speak Melisandre's name, so... even if she has no other talent, merely as a priestess who spreads fear, she is already very valuable. Before a battle, if soldiers lose heart, they've already lost half the fight. This is my only advantage against the three false kings!"
Finally, he slowly said: "From what I understand, she may have other terrifying abilities. If she wants me to continue supporting her Lord of Light, she needs to prove her other value to me. I think... she will soon have such a good opportunity."
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