Red Keep under the cover of night.
The torches in the Throne Room crackled, illuminating Robert Baratheon's moody face.
His massive bulk sank into the cold Iron Throne, clutching a wine cup, his eyes unfocused.
He had been thinking here all day.
But still, he had no clue what to do.
After all, political maneuvering was indeed a bit difficult for a rough man like him.
"War..."
Robert murmured.
The word seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, crushing his chest.
He hated the Lannisters, hated Cersei.
But he feared even more that the hard-won peace would vanish like a bubble because of his momentary rage.
He had launched the Usurper's War; no one knew the cruelty of war better than him.
"Damn it!"
Robert smashed the wine cup onto the floor. The golden goblet rolled far away on the hard stone.
"Ned, tell me, what should I do?"
He looked at his only trusted friend with a tone almost pleading.
Ned Stark frowned deeply, equally troubled by this question.
Execute Cersei, civil war erupts, Westeros plunges into flames.
Spare Cersei, where is the King's dignity?
Where are the rules of trial by combat?
"Your Grace."
Lynn, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.
"Since the Queen demands a trial by combat, then we give her a trial by combat."
Robert looked up sharply, glaring at Lynn.
"She doesn't even have a champion! How can we have a trial?"
"Do I have to go down there myself and help that poison woman win?"
"Of course not."
Lynn's face was calm as a still well.
"You are the King. How can you be a champion? That's against the rules."
"Then what do you suggest!"
Robert roared irritably.
Lynn's gaze met the King's anger calmly.
"Your Grace, you need a proxy."
"One who will absolutely win, and is absolutely loyal to you."
Robert's brain was a bit slow from the alcohol.
He paused for a long moment before following Lynn's train of thought.
One who can win...
One loyal to me...
In all of King's Landing.
No, in all the Seven Kingdoms, who is more suitable than the man before me?
He toyed with the Hound, defeated Jaime, and crushed Loras Tyrell head-on.
His martial prowess was unquestionable.
And he was brought by Ned, completely trustworthy.
Moreover, Lynn was a knight knighted by his own hand.
His loyalty was equally unquestionable!
Dare he betray him, he would bear the curses of the people of the Seven Kingdoms.
Robert's eyes lit up instantly!
"Right!"
He slapped his thigh and stood up abruptly from the Iron Throne.
His body swayed slightly from excitement.
"Lynn! You!"
"You will be Cersei's champion!"
This decision stunned Ned beside him.
Let Lynn fight for Cersei?
This... this is simply indescribable...
"Your Grace, this is irregular..."
Ned instinctively objected.
"After all, Lynn is a knight of the Seven Kingdoms knighted by you personally. Fighting for Cersei..."
"Rules? I am the rules!"
Robert grabbed Lynn's shoulder, turning to look at Ned, his cloudy eyes bursting with astonishing light.
"Think about it, Ned!"
"Let Lynn fight! He will surely win!"
"If he wins, Cersei's name is cleared. The gods have proven her innocence! That old turtle Tywin has no reason to rebel!"
"Moreover, everyone knows Lynn is my man!"
"If he fights for Cersei and wins, people will only think I, the King, am magnanimous, giving my foolish Queen a chance!"
"This way, my face is saved, the Lannisters' face is saved, and war is averted!"
"This is a fucking genius idea!"
Robert grew more excited as he spoke, as if already seeing the perfect ending.
Ned opened his mouth but found he couldn't refute it.
This was indeed the only, and best, solution at the moment.
Go through the motions, preserve everyone's dignity, and dissolve an imminent storm into nothingness.
"Lynn, this is an order."
Robert's expression turned serious.
"You must win, and win beautifully."
"As you command, Your Grace."
Lynn knew.
From this moment on, Cersei's fate was completely in his hands.
He had to reward Lord Baelish generously.
Sending money, sending people.
He was truly a great philanthropist.
---
Maegor's Holdfast.
Cersei walked aimlessly barefoot on the cold floor.
Fear washed over her already fragile nerves in waves.
One day.
Robert only gave her one day.
Now only one night remained.
Tomorrow was the trial by combat...
Jaime was useless, the Mountain was in the West.
None of the other Lannister knights in King's Landing dared to step forward.
Who dared fight for her?
Who dared guarantee a win?
Trial by combat was no child's play.
If the loser was killed on the spot, no one would say a word...
If she lost, she would be beheaded!
She was going to die.
This thought lingered in her mind.
She didn't want to die.
She still had Joffrey, Myrcella, Tommen...
Suddenly, a black figure appeared in her mind without warning.
Lynn.
The man who had stripped away all her disguises and held all her secrets.
Him!
Only him!
He had the ability to turn this around!
He defeated Jaime, proving he had the capability.
As long as he was willing to act...
A crazy thought sprouted in Cersei's heart.
Beg him!
Lay down all pride, all dignity, and beg for his mercy like a dog!
This thought made her feel waves of nausea and humiliation.
But the desire to live overwhelmed everything.
She rushed to her handmaiden's wardrobe, rummaging frantically.
Finally, she found the plainest servant's dress.
She wrapped her dazzling golden hair tightly in a grey headscarf.
Looking at the stranger in the mirror, her azure eyes now held only utter humiliation.
---
Deep in the night.
Lynn's manse, the candle in the study still burned.
He was replying to Robb. Besides telling him he would return to the North soon, he detailed the feeding and training methods for Winter.
Just then, the steward Robb reported softly outside the door.
"My Lord, a person claiming to be the Queen's handmaiden asks to see you."
An intriguing smile appeared on Lynn's lips.
He hadn't actively sought out Cersei.
That would only make her feel cheap.
He wanted this proud swan to know that his help came at a price.
The fish had taken the bait.
"Let her in," Lynn said.
The door was pushed open.
A figure in a grey dress with a headscarf covering her head walked in.
Her head was lowered, body trembling slightly from tension and fear.
"Leave us," Lynn waved his hand.
When the study door closed again.
Only the two of them remained in the room.
Only then did the figure slowly raise her head.
The headscarf slipped off, golden hair cascading down like a waterfall.
It was Cersei, the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms he was nominally loyal to.
Gone from her face were the pride and madness of the day, leaving only pallor and despair.
She looked at Lynn, lips moving for a long time, but unable to utter a word.
She stood motionless, and Lynn had no intention of speaking either.
Finally.
Thud—
The Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, Tywin Lannister's proudest daughter.
Knelt straight down in front of Lynn.
"Please..."
Her voice carried a plea, like a nightingale with its throat choked.
"Please, save me..."
Cersei crawled over.
She tried to hug Lynn's legs, but he easily sidestepped.
"His Grace the King has already ordered me to be your champion."
Lynn looked down at the woman kneeling at his feet, no pity in his eyes.
Cersei hadn't experienced the peak of power yet; right now, she was as lost and helpless as a little girl. But on second thought, she truly had no other way. It would be the same for anyone else.
As long as Robert lived, she would be suppressed, unable to stir up any waves.
Cersei dared not kill Robert, so Lynn could safely secure the three dragon eggs in Essos, raise an army, and develop in peace.
If she dared to act, he would have a just cause to gain benefits from the fires of war in the Westerlands.
Either way was beneficial to him, but he had to ensure Robert wasn't killed by him.
He dared not touch the title of Kingslayer. But if the killer was Cersei or someone else, the situation would be completely different.
Having been tormented like this, Cersei would inevitably have thoughts. All he needed to do was fan the flames, ensure the Starks were safe, and watch the changes.
Cersei was stunned.
Robert... ordered him to be her champion?
Immense joy instantly overwhelmed her reason!
"Really? He really..."
"But."
Lynn interrupted her.
"Why should I do my best to win this trial for you?"
Cersei's smile froze.
"What do you mean?"
"The meaning is simple."
Lynn crouched down slowly, meeting her eyes.
"I help you win; for you, it clears your name and saves your life."
"But for me, what's the benefit?"
"Aren't you the King's knight? This is the King's order!"
"Order?"
Lynn smiled.
"If I accidentally lose, His Grace will at most reprimand me a few sentences."
"But you, Your Grace, your beautiful head will be moving house."
Cersei felt like she had fallen into an ice cave.
Her status and Lynn's were unequal from the start.
Her life was in his hands right now.
If he wanted her to live, she lived.
If he wanted her to die, she wouldn't even have the chance to struggle.
"You... what do you want?"
Cersei's voice was filled with helplessness.
"I want a guarantee."
Lynn stood up and sat back in his chair.
"A guarantee that will make you, your father, and the entire House Lannister obedient forever."
He looked at Cersei's desperate face and said, word by word.
"I want Myrcella."
"I want you to send her to me."
"No!"
Cersei screamed like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"In your dreams! Anything but her!"
"Don't you like my body?"
"As long as you want, right now, right here, I can satisfy all your desires!"
Clearly, Cersei wasn't yet a woman who would stop at nothing; she still had things she cared about.
"Sorry, Your Grace, not to spoil your mood, but I'm not that interested in you right now."
Lynn's tone turned cold.
"Besides, I am not negotiating with you."
"You have no qualification to bargain with me."
Lynn walked up to Cersei, gripping her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes.
"I am crossing the Narrow Sea soon, return date uncertain."
"I need a hostage to ensure that House Lannister behaves while I am away."
"Myrcella will stay with me under the guise of traveling."
"I will find the best teachers for her, guarantee her safety and dignity."
"She remains a noble Princess of House Baratheon."
"Just under my wing."
"You..." Cersei's tears burst forth again.
To her, this was a punishment crueler than killing her.
Trading Myrcella's freedom for her life.
Her Myrcella was so innocent.
But now...
Lynn didn't give her much time to think.
"This is your only choice, Cersei."
Lynn released her, letting her slump to the floor.
"Either accept my conditions, and you and your three children live."
"Or refuse me."
"Tomorrow, I will watch your head being mounted on a spike on the walls of Maegor's Holdfast."
"Then Joffrey, next Tommen, and finally Myrcella."
"None of them will escape."
"I give you only one night to consider."
With that, Lynn didn't look at her again, turning back to his desk to continue writing his letter to Robb.
In the room, only Cersei's suppressed sobbing remained.
After a long time, the crying gradually ceased.
"I accept."
Cersei's voice was hollow and numb.
She staggered to her feet, not even looking at Lynn again, and walked toward the door lost in despair.
When she reached the door, Lynn's voice came from behind.
"Tomorrow, Arya and Sansa will take her away under the pretext of accompanying the Princess. As for how she leaves with Sansa, that is your problem."
"Don't play tricks, Cersei."
"Her life is in my hands. Before you do anything, consider if you can bear the consequences."
"My patience is limited."
Cersei's body stiffened.
She ultimately didn't look back, opening the door and walking out.
The night wind lifted the hem of her grey dress.
Her retreating figure was as lonely as a ghost wandering the earth.
Lynn put down his pen, walked to the window, and watched the figure disappear into the darkness.
The strongest lioness of Westeros had been thoroughly collared by him.
As long as he helped her win the trial, he could head to Essos with peace of mind.
---
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