Tyrion finally let out a breath; Cersei wasn't insane… thank pray.
He turned his head to glance at Maegors Holdfast, bathed in moonlight, then resumed his steps.
As long as Cersei lived there, he couldn't come back, at least not until the war was over.
After exiting Maegors Holdfast garden, Bronn, who had been maintaining his vigilance, approached Tyrion and whispered, "Lord, while I was guarding the door, Ser Lancel quietly brought an important message."
Tyrion looked at him, and he continued, "The Queen Regent plans to secretly send Prince Tommen to Rosby for hiding; she entrusted this matter to Earl Gyles (the current Master of Coin)."
Tyrion pondered for a moment, then spoke, "Earl Gyles is too sickly to run and too cowardly to fight; my poor little nephew, his mother is so good at choosing her people."
However, Tyrion had to admit… getting little Tommen out of King's Landing was one of Cersei's few good ideas, because even if King's Landing was breached and Joffrey executed, the Lannister would still have a legitimate heir to the Iron Throne, which would put Stannis in a tricky situation.
"Let's lend a hand to my nephew's good mother."
After a pause, Tyrion continued, "According to the intelligence Lancel revealed… go tell Ser Jacelyn (Commander of the Gold Cloaks) to set an ambush on the Rosby road and bring Earl Gyles and Tommen together to Rosby."
"Yes, my wise Prime Minister."
"Tell him he must ensure my little nephew's safety.
Then, ask him for me, Earl Jacelyn… how does that title sound?"
"My noble Lord, Earl Bronn sounds better."
Bronn immediately showed a lewd smile and continued, "I can also do things like snatching children; as long as I can get a title to play with, I'd even sing him lullabies while holding him."
Tyrion reached out and patted Bronn, grinning, "Bronn, you are my captain of the guard; I need you more here."
If anything happened to Joffrey, the Lannister's hold on the Iron Throne would entirely depend on young Tommen.
Tyrion admitted that he trusted his captain of the guard greatly, but this matter was too important, and he was not at ease entrusting Tommen's protection to Bronn, a Sellsword, and his Sellsword subordinates.
For such a matter, he felt more confident with Ser Jacelyn Bywater, who possessed knightly honor.
His good friend, Earl Grem, had once told him… human nature should not be tested, and he agreed with this view.
… … … …
He instructed, "Tell Ser Jacelyn, if there's killing to be done, it must not happen in front of Tommen; my nephew is tender-hearted."
Bronn shrugged and said, "Lord, are you sure he's a Lannister?"
"I'm not sure of anything, only that war is coming, so go make the arrangements quickly."
After a pause, Tyrion chuckled, "Bronn, are you enjoying your time with Lollys (Chapter 208)?
When you return, I want to hear a sweet love story."
… … … …
A certain house in Hook Alley.
"My Lord…"
Seeing Tyrion push open the door, Shae smiled.
Tyrion had to admit he really liked Shae's smile; it was a natural, unthinking smile that appeared on her beautiful little face.
Shae was wearing a purple silk dress with a silver-threaded belt, which perfectly complemented her dark hair and smooth, fair skin, and she joyfully approached him.
Tyrion's lips couldn't help but curve upwards; at least here, he was welcome, he was needed.
Closing the door, Shae pulled Tyrion to a chair, and once he was seated, she knelt down to take off his shoes.
Tyrion pulled Shae over to sit beside him and said, "Shae, you're not safe here."
Shae's bright, expressive eyes showed a hint of confusion; she poured a glass of wine and handed it to Tyrion, saying, "Lord, I have the guards you gave me."
Tyrion took a large gulp of the strong Dornish wine; its color was deep red like blood, and he preferred its taste to the sweet and sour summer red lately.
He took another sip and said, "Shae, someone found out the Hand of the King has a mistress."
"You mean the Prime Minister's whore?"
Shae's innocent, charming eyes stared at Tyrion for a while, then she said, "My Lord, I truly wish to be your mistress.
I want to wear all the beautiful clothes you give me, wear your jewelry, hold your hand, and be by your side at dinner parties.
I can bear you sons, I know I can, I know I will never embarrass you."
Tyrion reached out and stroked Shae's dark hair; he sighed inwardly, his love for her was already enough to embarrass the Lannister's Hand of the King.
He said, "Shae, my Queen Regent sister is after you; she will stop at nothing to catch you."
She shook her head slightly: "The Queen Regent? Noble ladies might fear her, but I don't."
He also shook his head slightly: "I am afraid; I'm afraid she'll harm you."
She gripped his hand tightly: "Then kill her… I know you despise her; that would solve everything."
As her words fell, Tyrion's eyes trembled.
After a moment of silence, he sighed and said, "Shae, she is my own sister after all; harming kin will incur the wrath of gods and men alike, and bring an eternal curse.
Besides, no matter what I think of Cersei, she is deeply favored by my father and brother.
Thank the gods, my mind is enough to deal with anyone in the Seven Kingdoms, but facing Jaime with a drawn sword, I am utterly helpless."
His Shae comforted him, "Stannis still has a flaming sword, but he doesn't scare you."
Tyrion sighed again and said, "Fighting Stannis, I have the entire Lannister family as my backing, but… against Jaime or father, I only have a pair of short legs."
"You still have me." Shae wrapped her arms around Tyrion's Neck.
Even if all of King's Landing stank like a pigsty, Shae's body exuded an intoxicating fragrance.
But… now was not the time for pleasure; Cersei wouldn't give him much time, he needed to arrange Shae's safety quickly.
Tyrion gently broke free from Shae and said, "I'm thinking, perhaps I can get you into the Prime Ministers Tower kitchen."
"The kitchen?" Shae's expression stiffened for a moment.
Tyrion nodded and said, "I want you to pretend to be a kitchen helper…"
His words were interrupted as Shae's hand subtly moved downwards, and after a moment, Tyrion couldn't help but let out a gasp.
Shae's deep eyes had become moist, and she sadly murmured, "Are you tired of me, Lord?"
"Or…" Her speed gradually increased.
Shae's voice was filled with a certain allure as she whispered, "Do you want to have sex with the cook, Lord?
You can sprinkle flour on me and then suck broth from my breasts, or…"
"Stop, don't say another word."
Tyrion grabbed her busy little hand, took a moment to compose himself, and said, "Shae, your safety is at stake.
I want you to hide in the kitchen; there, with a little caution, it's easy to avoid Cersei's eyes and ears, and you'll be very safe."
Shae pouted slightly and said, "Lord, if my hands are washing pots and scrubbing dishes all day, they'll never be this soft again.
When they're red and rough and cracked from hot water and lye soap, will you still want their touch?"
Tyrion secretly reminded himself that Shae was still young and naive, which was normal.
He patiently said, "Jewels can be bought new, clothes can be made again, twice as beautiful as the old ones, I promise.
My arrangements are to keep you from harm, not just from my sister, but also from my father… given the current situation, my father will find out about you sooner or later, and you absolutely must not fall into my family's hands.
I am not exaggerating; trust me, Shae."
Shae tossed her dark hair and said angrily, "You're a grown man; it's your business how many whores you keep.
Does he still think you're a beardless boy?
What can he do to you, spank your bottom?"
Slap!
Tyrion slapped her; it wasn't very hard, but not light either.
He roared, "You bastard! Don't mock me! You can't!"
For a long time, Shae said nothing, and only Tyrion's heavy breathing could be heard.
Finally, she rose and knelt before Tyrion, sniffled, and said, "I didn't mean to be insolent…"
Her voice was low and flat: "Please forgive me, Lord."
Such a scene, such a Shae, made Tyrion's heart ache; he looked at his palm, why did I hit her?
Gods be merciful, am I becoming Cersei?!
"I'm so sorry, but…"
After a pause, the words Tyrion didn't want to bring up… poured out of his mouth, like a horse muttering softly.
"One year when I was a boy, I married a farmer's daughter, or so I thought she was a farmer's daughter.
I was swept away by love, blindly loving her, and thought she felt the same way about me… it was my father who forced me to see the truth; it turned out my bride was a whore hired by Jaime; he found her to let me experience the ways of men and women."
"To make the lesson more thorough, my father handed my wife over to an entire company of soldiers, letting them have their way with her, and ordered me to watch the entire time… after everyone was done, he wanted me to have sex with her one more time… one last time… he said only then would I remember her true self… I should have defied him, but my penis betrayed me… after that, father annulled my marriage to the whore… the septons also said the marriage was as if it had never happened."
Tyrion climbed off the chair, he took Shae's hand, squeezed it, and said, "I'm sorry, I only want you to stay in the kitchen for a short while.
Once Stannis is defeated, I will give you a new house, and many silk clothes as soft as your hands…"
Shae, following Tyrion's pull, slowly stood up, her eyes downcast, and replied, "I will obey your command, Lord."
Tyrion wanted to reach out and rub Shae's slapped cheek, but he wasn't sure if a Dwarf's hand could ease her pain.
Was he in love with a whore again?
Cersei was right, he thought with his penis, he was a fool, he was an absolute, utter fool!
"I will send someone to pick you up." He left in a hurry.
… … … …
Clatter, clatter, clatter… hoofbeats echoed crisply on the cobblestones as Tyrion sat on his horse, silently moving towards the Red Keep.
Tyrion was constantly regretting; why did he tell Shae about Tessa (his ex-wife)?
Some secrets should never be spoken, some shames… a man should take them to his grave.
Tyrion questioned himself, what did he want from Shae?
Forgiveness?
After hearing his words, how could she still love him?
Or, she would still love him, because from the beginning, she loved his gold and jewels, not a foolish Dwarf.
In the Prime Ministers Tower study, Tyrion summoned his captain of the guard, who had completed his task.
"Bronn, I want you to bring Shae into the Prime Ministers Tower without Cersei knowing." Tyrion briefly and concisely explained his kitchen plan to his captain of the guard.
After hearing Tyrion's words, Bronn said with some surprise, "Are you serious?
Are you sure you want to put your little beauty in the kitchen, noble Lord?"
Tyrion, with his hands behind his back, sized up the lewd-faced Bronn and said, "Is there a problem?"
Bronn grinned and said, "If you put such a delicate little beauty in the kitchen… she'll be touched, pinched, slapped, fondled.
The pot-scrubbing lads will sneak into her blankets in the dark, and the master baker will pinch her breasts with flour-covered hands."
He added, "Most importantly… my Lord, your kitchen is not a safe place; there are quite a few eyes and ears there."
Tyrion scratched his hair, looking slightly embarrassed, and said, "Mister Sellsword, help me come up with an idea; you know what I want."
"It would be my pleasure to serve you…"
Bronn bowed gracefully, but then he brought up another matter: "Lord, I hear your knightly cousin plans to join the vanguard in the upcoming war."
Tyrion paused his wine-pouring, surprised, and said, "Lancel?
If he wants to die young, that's a heroic way to do it."
Bronn smiled and interjected, "These young knights always think they're invincible."
Tyrion's eyes moved slightly; he stared at Bronn for a moment, then chuckled, "Hmm, I do need a steady and reliable knight."
Bronn smiled so widely his eyes disappeared, and he bowed deeply, saying, "I am always your man, Lord Tyrion."
Tyrion laughed heartily and said, "Ser Bronn, although you have a face that inspires distrust, I must admit, I like you very much."
Bronn chuckled, "Two days ago, Lollys told me some of her jewels were missing, I think she might need a smarter handmaiden."
This was the wisdom of a Sellsword… Tyrion grinned: "I will suggest to Tanda Stokeworth that shy Lollys stay in the Prime Ministers Tower for a while."
Hmm, he also needed to find a reason that was both polite and convincing.
Tyrion's mood immediately improved; a noble lady's handmaiden's attire was thousands of times better than a cook's, and she could even wear one or two pieces of jewelry; he thought Shae would be very happy to hear this news.
"Bronn, when the time comes, I will ask the Archbishop himself to anoint you with holy oil."
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