The bells of the The Red Keep tolled.
The sound was dull and long, like the dying sigh of a king-beyond-the-wall giant, echoing through every street and over every rooftop in King's Landing.
The King was dead.
Inside the Tower of the Hand, Lynn stood by the window, looking down at the city below, which had fallen into an eerie silence.
Robert's death was quicker than he had anticipated.
He had thought the wild boar would at most severely injure Robert, and Robert would lie in bed for ten days to half a month, slowly succumbing to pain and high fever.
Unexpectedly, the beast, which Jaqen had secretly fed some "seasoning" beforehand, was so ferocious.
With one strike, Robert didn't even last two days.
That's good.
It saved him the trouble of having to return to clean up this mess after he finished dealing with the matters in the North.
Now, everything could be resolved before he left King's Landing.
Lynn turned and left the Tower of the Hand... The atmosphere in the Throne Room was extremely oppressive.
Beneath the colossal dome, there was a grotesque iron throne forged from a thousand swords.
All the high-ranking members of the Small Council were present.
They were all there for this prickly iron throne and the candidate who would soon sit upon it.
Ned Stark, dressed in a plain black outer garment, stood in the hand of the king's position.
Grand Maester Pycelle hunched his neck, the maester's chain, which signified his status, now looked more like a heavy shackle.
"The Spider" Varys stood in the shadows, a look of sorrowful compassion on his face, but his hands, hidden beneath his wide sleeves, were unconsciously rubbing together.
Sansa Stark, as master of coin, also rushed over immediately.
Queen Cersei Lannister, dressed in a luxurious black gown, stood at the foot of the iron throne's steps.
There was not a trace of sadness on her stunningly beautiful face.
Only a nearly pathological excitement and an undisguised tension.
Her gaze constantly swept towards the entrance of the hall.
She was waiting for someone.
When Lynn's tall figure appeared at the entrance of the Throne Room, everyone's eyes simultaneously turned to him.
Cersei's heart nearly leaped out of her throat at that moment.
Her hands gripped her skirt.
He came.
The man who held the secret of Joffrey's parentage, he came.
What would he do?
Would he expose the secret that could ruin House Lannister in front of everyone?
Would he honor their fragile "alliance," or would he choose to deliver a fatal blow at this most crucial moment?
Cersei felt her breathing stop.
Lynn ignored the gazes that were scrutinizing, wary, or curious.
He walked slowly to the center of the hall, first nodding slightly towards the solemn-faced Ned Stark, then his gaze fell on Cersei.
Their eyes met.
Cersei saw no emotion in those deep eyes.
No threat, no mockery, no reassurance.
Only a bottomless calm.
And this calm frightened her more than any explicit attitude.
Because she simply couldn't figure out what Lynn was going to do next.
"His Majesty the King's passing is a tragedy for the entire kingdom."
Lynn's voice rang out, echoing clearly in the silent hall.
"But sorrow solves no problems."
"At this moment, what the kingdom needs most is stability."
"An unquestionable and powerful ruler!"
Lynn's gaze swept over everyone present, finally settling on the grotesque iron throne.
"According to the laws and traditions of the Seven Kingdoms, His Majesty Robert's eldest son, Prince Joffrey Baratheon, is the sole legitimate heir to the throne!"
"I, Lynn, king-beyond-the-wall, hereby proclaim Prince Joffrey to inherit the throne!"
And Cersei, after the initial shock, was instantly overwhelmed by a huge surge of euphoria.
She had gambled correctly!
Lynn chose to honor their alliance!
She and her son were safe!
Her heart, which had been suspended in mid-air, finally settled back into place.
But then, a deeper chill rose from her heart.
She looked at Lynn, who stood in the center of the hall.
She suddenly realized that Lynn's "support" was never free.
Without Lynn revealing Joffrey's parentage and causing disruption, everything became logical.
Just as everyone in the hall was lost in their own thoughts, a slightly childish but ecstatic and arrogant voice rang out.
"Lord Lynn is right!"
Prince Joffrey entered from a side door.
He had already changed out of his mourning clothes and put on a magnificent robe embroidered with a crowned stag and a roaring lion.
His handsome but somewhat harsh face was flushed abnormally with excitement.
He didn't even look at his mother, walking directly in front of Lynn, his eyes shining with undisguised gratitude and deep trust.
Liana's words and Lynn's support made him feel as if he instantly owned the entire world.
He was no longer the cowardly prince living in his father's shadow.
He was about to become King!
"I am the true stag of House Baratheon!"
Joffrey's voice was a little sharp with excitement.
He looked around at everyone in the hall, his gaze lingering on the faces of the powerful ministers for a moment, with a hint of challenge.
Suddenly, he remembered Renly's "conspiracy."
This made him furious.
Then, Joffrey suddenly turned around and, with an almost roaring tone, uttered his first command as "King."
"My uncle, Renly Baratheon!"
"That coward! That schemer who rose to power by flattering women and men!"
"Does he think he can escape my judgment by fleeing back to Storms End?"
"I, Joffrey, heir of House Baratheon and House Lannister, command him in the name of the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms!"
"Return to King's Landing immediately!"
"Kneel before me and beg for my forgiveness!"
"Otherwise, I will personally lead an army to raze Storms End!"
Cersei's face instantly turned ashen.
"Joffrey!"
She shrieked, trying to stop her son's insane remarks.
This was simply madness!
Provoking Renly when his foundation was unstable?
This wasn't consolidating the throne; this was courting death!
"Shut up, Cersei!"
Joffrey spun around and roared at Cersei.
"Now, I am King!"
"Here, I make the decisions!"
Without Tywin and Tyrion by his side, Joffrey had completely let himself go, and Cersei couldn't control him at all!
Joffrey's face, distorted by anger, was strikingly similar to "Mad King" Aerys's.
After roaring, Joffrey seemed to feel it wasn't enough.
"Tomorrow, I will also hold the grandest coronation ceremony!"
...King's Landing, The Great Sept of Baelor.
This magnificent white edifice is the center of the Faith of the Seven in Westeros.
Seven crystal spires glittered in the sunlight, as if seven gods were looking down upon the mortal world from the heavens.
Inside the Sept, it was solemn and dignified.
All the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms in King's Landing were gathered there.
They wore their most splendid attire, their expressions solemn, witnessing the birth of the new King.
The High Septon stood on the altar, his aged voice echoing through the vast hall.
Joffrey knelt on the cold marble floor, his head bowed.
The High Septon took a crystal vial filled with holy oil and anointed Joffrey's forehead, palms, and insteps with seven different holy oils.
"In the name of the Father, may you be just and righteous."
"In the name of the Mother, may you be merciful."
"In the name of the Warrior, may you be brave and bold."
"In the name of the Maiden, may you protect innocence."
"In the name of the Smith, may you labor diligently."
"In the name of the Crone, may you be wise."
"In the name of the Stranger, may you fear death."
The lengthy prayer concluded.
The High Septon took a crown made of gold and obsidian from an attendant.
It was Robert Baratheon's crown.
He raised the crown high, and under everyone's gaze, slowly placed it on Joffrey's head.
"I hereby crown Joffrey, heir of House Baratheon and House Lannister."
"King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm!"
"Long live King Joffrey!"
The High Septon proclaimed.
"Long live King Joffrey!"
Inside the Sept, all the nobles followed with a thunderous roar.
Joffrey slowly stood up.
He turned and faced the subjects who knelt before him.
Sunlight filtered through the stained-glass windows at the top of the Sept, casting colorful shadows on him.
He felt like a god.
An omnipotent god.
His gaze swept over the crowd.
He saw his mother, Cersei.
On her beautiful face were complex and unreadable emotions.
He saw the hand of the king, Ned Stark.
That fool from the North was bowing his head, lost in thought.
Finally, his gaze fell on Lynn.
Lynn stood at the very front of the crowd, not cheering fanatically like the others.
He simply stood there quietly, with a faint smile on his face.
That smile made Joffrey feel incredibly at ease.
It also made him even more convinced that everything he had done was right.
The coronation ceremony ended.
Joffrey descended from the altar, surrounded by a retinue of Kingsguard, preparing to return to the The Red Keep.
Just as he was about to exit the main doors of the Sept, he suddenly stopped.
He turned and looked at Ned Stark.
"Lord Stark."
The surroundings instantly fell silent.
Ned looked up, meeting those malicious eyes.
"My father is dead, shouldn't you, the hand of the king, be replaced as well?"
Joffrey displayed a cruel smile on his face.
Evidently, he was still resentful about the previous incident where his most admired father had to apologize to Ned because of Sansa.
"I heard you've never been very fond of King's Landing."
"Since that's the case, I'll grant your wish."
"From today onwards, you are no longer the hand of the king."
"You can go back to your frozen North."
At these words, the entire hall was stunned.
Ned's face instantly turned ashen.
And Cersei, even more so, felt her vision blur, almost fainting.
You idiot!
What on earth are you doing?!
Do you really have no political acumen at all?
Although it was never explicitly stated, anyone, even a dog in King's Landing, knew that Ned and Lynn were as close as brothers.
In the future, Lynn would even marry Ned's younger daughter, Arya.
Even Sansa's relationship with Lynn was ambiguous.
It was quite possible that this young man would take both sisters.
But what happened?
You, on the other hand!
You thoroughly offended his father-in-law.
Lynn had just publicly announced his support for you; how would other powerful nobles view you now?
You're betraying Ned today; what about tomorrow?
What would these powerful nobles think?
Everyone would feel insecure!
Foolish child, you will lose the support of the people!
Indeed, the ministers' gazes towards Joffrey already carried a hint of detachment and distrust.
Cersei felt as if her world was about to collapse!!!
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