Casterly Rock. The castle of Lord Kevan Lannister.
evening.
Outside Casterly Rock, the sun was setting, the sea was calm as a mirror, and the golden sunlight on the coast was beautiful and enchanting. But inside Casterly Rock, in the city center, it was already dark.
Casterly Rock is a city built by carving out a stone mountain that is 20 miles long and 15 miles wide. Due to the lack of natural light, night falls earlier in the city center than outside.
Outside the city, the sunset was a beautiful sight, but inside the city, torches were lit everywhere, illuminating the area as if it were daytime.
Tywin Lannister rode his tall horse slowly through the city streets. Grand Maester Harry rode beside him. The two rode side by side.
Two horse lengths behind, ten sword-wielding guards, led by Benlont Bron, the instructor of Casterly Rock, followed behind the Duke to protect him.
The Duke's saddle was woven with gold thread, gleaming brightly. The horse's head and entire body were adorned with gold silk patterns, transforming even a warhorse into a magnificent garment.
The warhorse arrived at the gates of Lord Kevan Lannister's castle, where Lord Kevan greeted his elder brother, Lord Tywin Lannister. Tywin, however, did not dismount but rode inside. Beyond the gates lay a vast courtyard filled with flowers and plants. The Duke's warhorse crossed the courtyard and stopped at the entrance to the main hall. The Duke dismounted, and a servant who had followed him all the way took the reins and led the horse into the stables to tend to it.
Instructor Benlont Bron, accompanied by ten guards, dismounted at the entrance to the main castle's hall and stood guard with their swords drawn.
Kevan was cautious and taciturn, and had few personal relationships with other noble lords of the Westerlands. Although Casterly Rock was bustling with people due to the upcoming wedding of Jenny and Gregor, and nobles from all over the Westerlands were arriving one after another, no one came to visit or stay overnight at the taciturn and aloof Kevan's place.
Earl Kevon led the way, the two brothers walked through the hall, with Maester Harry following along. The three of them turned into the corridor and entered the tall Maester Tower.
Kevan appeared mysterious throughout. Tywin Lannister, usually calm and collected, couldn't help but frown slightly.
Tywin had no idea why Kevon had secretly summoned him here.
Duke Tywin Lannister disliked mystery and beating around the bush, and Kevan seemed to have a reason for his actions. Finally, the three of them arrived at the Maester's Tower.
The Scholar's Tower has four floors.
In the study of the second-floor Maester Tower, Kevan gently pushed open the door and stood respectfully by the door, waiting for Duke Tywin and Grand Maester Harry to enter.
This study is decorated in a cozy style. All four walls are lined with bookshelves, which are filled with books. Books are placed from the lowest shelf on the floor to the highest shelf on the ceiling.
There were already three people in the study: two scholars and a count.
The Earl was also a Lannister—Earl Odd Lannister, the High Lord of Lannisport. Beside him was Grand Maester Bancroft, Earl Odd's maester. Another maester was named Arlin, a maester of Kevan Lannister and the owner of this Maester's Tower.
Two scholars and an earl immediately stood up to greet Duke Tywin, bowing and scraping with beaming smiles.
Lord Tywin Lannister remained expressionless, ignoring the greetings from the maester and earl. He took his seat at the head of the table, picked up the fragrant tea that had been prepared beforehand, and took a small sip. Grand Maester Harry stood behind the Duke.
No one could discern Tywin Lannister's emotions from his face and expressions.
If the Duke doesn't show his emotions, he has no expression; his face is like an iron plate, and his eyes look unfocused. You might think Duke Tywin is paying attention to you, but upon closer inspection, you realize he isn't. You might think Duke Tywin isn't paying attention to you, but upon careful observation, you discover he's staring at you.
"Your Grace, Earl Auder has something very important to tell you, and he chose to come here to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings. Jenny and Gregor's wedding will take place in three days. The city is full of nobles and knights from all over the West, but my place is practically deserted, whether it's a normal day or a holiday…" Kevan said cautiously, while observing his brother's expression.
Tywin suddenly waved his hand, interrupting Kevan's rambling.
Kevan awkwardly shut up, then gave Count Auder a wink.
Count Aude smiled and said, "Your Grace, I feel that there are some unusual things that Your Grace needs to know and be wary of. That's why I dared to come to Count Kevon. I discussed it with Count Kevon first, and Count Kevon also felt it was necessary to report to you. This is also because I have sworn an oath of loyalty to you and I must tell you my true thoughts."
Duke Tywin's unfocused gaze finally settled on Earl Odd's face. But he neither signaled the Earl to continue nor to shut up.
Count Ode's nose broke out in a cold sweat. He was nervous; the Duke's expression made him doubt his decision. But the die was cast.
"Scholar Bancroft, please show His Excellency the structural diagram of the submerged bend."
"Yes, Your Excellency! — Your Excellency, look, this is called a sinkhole. This is a diagram of the sinkhole and its working principle." Maester Bancroft stood up and opened a piece of parchment. The sinkhole drawn on this piece of parchment and the text annotations were exactly the same one that Jenny had drawn in Lannister Harbor.
Original image!
Grand Scribe Potter, standing beside Duke Tywin, stepped forward. He glanced at the structural diagram and then quickly read Jenny's annotations. He said, "Miss Jenny already told His Excellency the Duke and me about this yesterday. It's a structural component of a sewage pipe, which Miss Jenny has named'Submerged Bend.' A very fitting and pleasant name."
"Yes, Your Excellency. I know Miss Jenny will tell His Excellency about the invention of the sinkhole, but I want to ask, did Miss Jenny really invent this thing?" Earl Ode's questioning tone intensified. "Your Excellency, if the sinkhole was not invented by Miss Jenny, but by Sir Gregor, then both Miss Jenny and Sir Gregor are deceiving Your Excellency."
These words were incredibly powerful, directly destroying the trust between Gregor and Lord Tywin.
Gregor was lawless, wicked, and vicious, but for sixteen years since he was sixteen, he has not become increasingly wicked. On the contrary, the more bad things he did, the better he lived. No one in the Seven Kingdoms could do anything to him. Why? It was because of the towering figure of Lord Tywin Lannister.
Why did Lord Tywin Lannister employ such a villain, risking the condemnation of the Seven Kingdoms? Because this villain was useful, but what truly moved Tywin even more than usefulness was Gregor Clegane's absolute loyalty.
Earl Odd directly points to Gregor's loyalty to Duke Tywin.
Speaking ill of someone behind their back is a double-edged sword; it will either hurt others or yourself.
Duke Tywin stared at Earl Odd without saying a word, his face remaining expressionless.
This caused Count Ode to break out in a cold sweat.
But the arrow is already on the bowstring!