Chapter 44: Your Queen is Very Angry
The Red Keep, Maegor's Holdfast Garden.
Queen Cersei sat, elegantly dressed in opulent attire, her brows relaxed in a gentle smile as she gazed tenderly at Princess Myrcella, who was playing with Prince Tommen.
Prince Joffrey sat beside Queen Cersei, a hint of impatience on his face.
Not far away, Jaime stood, sword in hand, clad in white and silver armor.
Lancel and Jaime stood together, nervously shrinking away from Joffrey's occasional glances.
Glyn and Tyrion appeared in the garden, approaching Jaime and Lancel.
Glyn stood next to Jaime, while Tyrion, grinning, pulled the awkward-faced Lancel to one side.
Jaime glanced at Cersei not far away, involuntarily lowering his voice, "Young Lord, what did the old duke say?"
Unbeknownst to them, Jaime's address for Glyn had subtly upgraded from "little savage" to "Young Lord."
Glyn replied, "He used the governorship of Crackclaw Point as a condition to try and make me..."
Glyn didn't intentionally conceal anything, recounting the events to Jaime, especially emphasizing the discovery of a hidden compartment in the Hand's study.
Jaime, with a sarcastic tone, said, "The Hand of the King's study is riddled with leaks, yet the old duke didn't notice a thing."
Glyn nodded in agreement.
After Jaime and Glyn finished their conversation, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward. Although they had grown quite familiar with each other, their personalities seemed incompatible; they rarely had anything in common to talk about beyond official matters.
To break the awkward silence, Glyn glanced at the children playing in the distance.
*I should praise his little darling.*
Glyn, trying to make conversation, started, "Princess Myrcella is very lovely."
Jaime didn't take the bait, merely giving Glyn a cold sidelong glance.
At this moment, the sharp-witted Glyn seemed to grasp something.
Tyrion, who had, at some point, come to stand on Jaime's other side, had watched the entire exchange.
Tyrion's eyes darted around, his face betraying no emotion, yet he secretly chuckled.
Before Glyn could ponder further, one of Queen Cersei's handmaidens walked over. "Good day, Lord Glyn. Her Grace the Queen requests your presence."
Glyn and Jaime exchanged a glance, then Glyn followed the handmaiden.
...
Queen Cersei nodded slightly at Glyn, who greeted her, and said, "Lord Glyn, this is my eldest son, Joffrey Baratheon, heir to the Iron Throne."
Joffrey, chin slightly raised and lips curled in a familiar sneer, was a spitting image of Queen Cersei.
*He's just like me. No wonder Cersei loves Joffrey the most!*
Glyn bowed with a hand to his chest, "Good day, my Prince."
Joffrey was very pleased with Glyn's address.
His crybaby younger brother was called Prince Tommen, and he himself was called Prince Joffrey. This similar address had always displeased Joffrey.
He was the sole heir to the Iron Throne; logically, only he should bear the title of Prince.
Glyn's address perfectly aligned with Joffrey's wishes.
Joffrey's mood suddenly improved greatly. "Good day, my lord. I've heard about you, and I greatly admire your bravery."
Queen Cersei was somewhat surprised; it was rare for the arrogant Joffrey to show kindness to someone he was meeting for the first time.
Cersei secretly nodded with satisfaction. *He truly is my son; he can discern a person's worth at a glance, just like me!*
Feeling pleased, Cersei then called for Myrcella and Tommen.
"Good day, Prince Tommen."
"Good day, Princess Myrcella."
Glyn busied himself greeting the young royals.
Glyn's address for Tommen made Joffrey's mood even better. "Mother," he said, "I want to reward Lord Glyn."
Glyn's ears perked up; his back suddenly didn't feel so sore.
*Only by continually rewarding capable individuals will they serve with greater loyalty. Joffrey already understands this principle,* Cersei thought with satisfaction. *Joffrey is truly like me!*
Cersei, her face gentle, indulged Joffrey. "Alright, I understand, my Prince. I will take care of it for you."
"Tommen, Myrcella, wipe your sweat and take a rest."
After speaking, Queen Cersei again instructed a handmaiden to attend to them, then raised a hand and said to Glyn, "Lord Glyn, walk with me."
Glyn's mind whirred. He approached Queen Cersei and gently took her raised, slender arm, helping her to her feet.
In the distance, watching Cersei and Glyn walk into the garden, Jaime and Tyrion exchanged a look.
Tyrion grinned. "Brother, your scheme didn't work on our dear sister."
Jaime felt awkward and helpless.
Tyrion patted Jaime's thigh reassuringly. "Jaime, don't worry. Things aren't as serious as we feared. It seems our sister isn't angry, which is a good sign. You haven't failed."
...
Glyn walked beside Cersei through the garden. The garden of Maegor's Holdfast was verdant with trees, and birds sang amongst the flowers.
Queen Cersei stopped, gazing at a sea of flowers, and her voice turned cold. "Lord Glyn, when do you plan to tell me what that old geezer wanted with you?"
*The Red Keep truly has no secrets. I can't rely on Jaime for such matters; he's only good for chopping people down!*
Glyn's brown eyes shifted slightly. "The old man enticed me to go across the Narrow Sea to deal with House Targaryen's two young dragons."
Queen Cersei scoffed, her voice filled with disdain, "What a cowardly fool."
Cersei's beautiful eyes briefly flicked toward Glyn. She asked, "Enticed you?"
Glyn's voice was tinged with mockery. "If I succeed, he promised to make me Governor of Crackclaw Point and grant me the title of Protector of Crackclaw Point."
"You don't seem pleased?"
Glyn nodded. "Your Grace, I've heard that for over a decade, the Red Keep has been dispatching assassins to hunt the young dragons. An endeavor that has failed for over ten years is now entrusted to me. The old man's intentions are not pure."
"What do you think the old geezer's purpose is?"
After a pause, Glyn spoke. "He wants to distance me from Your Grace's side. He might think this sword of mine is too sharp when held in your hand."
Cersei turned around, meeting Glyn's gaze. With a slight lift of her beautifully contoured chin, she spoke softly, "Just as I thought. Lord Glyn, you are of an age with Joffrey, and I have high hopes for your future."
Glyn's voice was tinged with excitement. "Your Grace, House Crabbe will never forget your kindness."
Cersei slowly walked closer to Glyn. Because they were so near, Glyn could already feel Queen Cersei's breath.
Queen Cersei's gaze on Glyn was exceedingly gentle. She raised her arm and gently stroked Glyn's cheek. "Such a good boy..."
Cersei then gently adjusted Glyn's collar.
As Queen Cersei moved, she noticed Glyn's Adam's apple bobbing and the faint, suppressed rise and fall of his chest.
Queen Cersei's lips curled into a smile.
Queen Cersei's slender hand once again caressed Glyn's cheek. "That old man dared to go over my head, ordering around my best officer. He never has any regard for me. Your Queen is very angry. We must do something, or your Queen won't be able to swallow this insult."
(end of chapter)