Everyone was stunned!
They looked at the young king, who wore a crown and sported a cruel smile, their eyes filled with incomprehensible bewilderment.
Was he mad?
Had he been gored by a boar too?
Or perhaps gored in the head?
Earl Lynn, the king-beyond-the-wall, and Myrcella's husband, was the first noble to step forward and support Joffrey's succession to the throne in the Throne Room, in front of all the important ministers.
This was tantamount to endorsing Joffrey's legitimacy under the dual identities of Ned, Warden of the North, and Lynn, king-beyond-the-wall.
This had almost wagered the entire reputation and strength of the North, only to secure what appeared to be a smooth transition of power.
But what about Joffrey?
The first thing he did after ascending the throne was not to appease his strongest ally, nor to commend his loyalty.
Instead, in front of everyone, and without warning, he dismissed Lynn's future father-in-law, Ned Stark, in the most humiliating way!
Was this burning the bridge after crossing the river?
No, he was starting to burn the bridge before he had even finished crossing the river!
This was no longer just foolishness, this was madness!
Cersei Lannister felt her blood freeze, and her vision swam.
She wanted to scream, to rush forward and cover the mouth of her idiot son.
But within this solemn and majestic Sept, under the gaze of the Seven, she could do nothing.
She could only watch helplessly.
Watching Joffrey completely botch a perfect hand.
It was over.
Everything was over!
What would Lynn think?
He would believe this was an insult and betrayal by House Lannister!
Given that young man's temperament and methods, he would absolutely make the entire House Lannister pay the most agonizing price!
Everyone's gaze involuntarily turned toward the other center of the incident.
Ned Stark.
To everyone's surprise.
The Warden of the North's face did not show the anticipated anger or humiliation.
He simply stood there quietly, his well-defined face as calm as a frozen lake outside Winterfell.
In fact... beneath that calm, there was a hint of relief, and even... a trace of unbelievable ecstasy.
Angry?
Why would he be angry?
He was ecstatic.
He was stepping down.
Finally, he could return to the North legitimately.
He had been wondering how to convince Joffrey to let him leave, since as hand of the king, dealing with state affairs was his priority.
As it turned out, Joffrey, the great genius, had conveniently handed him a pillow when he needed to sleep.
I finally don't have to be this damned hand of the king anymore!
He finally didn't have to fulfill that promise which had been so heavy it choked him.
Robert, my brother.
See.
It's not that I failed to keep my promise.
It's that your good son personally drove me from this position.
I truly had no choice.
I am free.
Ned slowly raised his head, meeting Joffrey's provocative eyes.
He did not argue, nor did he show anger, but merely bowed slightly with the most standard etiquette.
"As you command, Your Majesty."
He spoke those four words with extraordinary calm.
Yet, they landed like a loud slap, hitting Joffrey squarely in the face.
That composure and indifference made Joffrey's carefully prepared humiliation seem like a childish and ridiculous solo performance.
Just then, Lynn slowly stepped out from the crowd.
Everyone's hearts leaped into their throats.
What would he do?
Would he lose his temper on the spot and draw his sword?
Would he immediately withdraw his support for Joffrey, turning this coronation ceremony into a complete farce?
Cersei was so nervous she nearly fainted.
She was afraid Lynn would reveal the truth!
However, Lynn did nothing.
He simply walked up to Ned, and likewise bowed slightly toward Joffrey.
"The King's will is the law of the realm."
Lynn's voice echoed clearly throughout the entire Sept.
"Since His Majesty has made a decision, we shall naturally abide by it."
Having said that, he turned, looked at Ned Stark, and offered an easy smile.
"It seems you can finally lay down your burden."
"The air in King's Landing is wet and foul. I imagine you've been missing the dry, crisp cold winds of the North for quite some time."
Ned looked at Lynn and smiled too.
It was a genuine smile, one that came from shedding all pretense and heavy burdens.
"Yes, I miss my hearth and my wife."
The two of them conversed as if no one else were present.
As if this were not the heavily guarded The Great Sept of Baelor, but some tavern in Winterfell.
From beginning to end, Ned did not even spare Joffrey another glance.
That disregard, radiating from his very core, was more damaging than any heated words.
It was like a needle, precisely puncturing Joffrey's newly inflated royal dignity.
How dare he!
Joffrey's face instantly flushed crimson.
He wanted to roar, to order the Kingsguard to drag out and execute this fellow who dared to ignore him.
But the anger came and went quickly.
He could only watch helplessly as Lynn and Ned, surrounded by a host of Northern guards, turned and calmly walked out of the Sept.
All that remained for him were two resolute and dashing figures walking away.
As well as the calculating, meaningful glances of the assembled nobles... The Red Keep, King's private chambers.
"Smash!"
A crystal goblet was violently smashed onto the floor, shattering into pieces.
"Idiot! You hopeless idiot!"
Cersei finally erupted.
She was like an enraged lioness, her beautiful face contorted with fury.
"Do you have any idea what you just did?!"
"You personally pushed our sole, and strongest, ally onto the opposing side!"
Joffrey was startled by his mother's rage.
But immediately, his royal dignity made him puff out his chest.
"How dare you yell at me!"
"I am the King! I can dismiss anyone I want!"
Joffrey shouted, his neck stiff, his bravado masking his fear.
"Ned Stark is Lynn's father-in-law. By humiliating him, you are slapping Lynn in the face!"
"What will the other nobles think?"
"And worse, you let Ned walk away legitimately!"
"He will certainly return to the North to prepare for war against Lysa!"
"You could have tied him down with state affairs, and only then granted him mercy and the King's generous pardon, allowing a desperate Ned to return to the North."
"Ned is a man who values honor; you would have earned an enormous favor from Ned then!"
"But you, not only did you miss this opportunity, you let him leave filled with resentment!"
Cersei was shaking with fury, she hadn't trembled this violently even when Lynn was dealing with her.
She pointed at Joffrey's nose, every word squeezed out between her teeth.
"Why do you think he supported you?"
"Because he loves you?"
"Because he thinks you are a born king?"
"No! He did it for profit!!"
"And you, you imbecile, you used the stupidest method possible to tell him you are not the right candidate!"
"He will kill us! Joffrey!"
"He will crush us like insects!"
"Then he will support Stannis, or Renly, or perhaps even sit on that chair himself!"
Cersei's voice was filled with terror.
She knew Lynn's terrifying nature better than anyone.
That man's cunning and methods should not belong to this world.
Every time she crossed paths with Lynn, she suffered, always ending in defeat, with the ordeal lasting from midnight until dawn.
Cersei couldn't even imagine what new torment Lynn would devise for her if he was truly angry this time!
Joffrey's face turned pale, frightened by the terrifying scenario Cersei described.
He was indeed an idiot, but he wasn't completely senseless.
He recalled the scene in the Sept just now.
Lynn... He hadn't been angry.
He had even smiled.
Why?
If he truly was angry because of the humiliation, as his mother claimed, why didn't he react on the spot?
A thought flashed through Joffrey's mind like lightning.
He suddenly understood!
"No, Mother, you are wrong."
Joffrey's voice suddenly became extraordinarily calm, and his eyes even shone with the 'wisdom' of one who understood everything.
"You simply don't understand Lord Lynn."
"You think he is a petty man who only cares about profit, but he is not!"
"He is a truly loyal subject!"
Cersei was stunned.
She looked at her son as if he were a monster.
"What... what are you saying?"
A look of fervent conviction appeared on Joffrey's face.
"Lord Lynn believes that I am the true stag of House Baratheon!"
"A strong king who will not be manipulated by anyone!"
"My dismissal of Ned Stark was precisely to prove this point to him!"
"And he proved it."
"He didn't get angry because I dismissed his friend!"
"Instead, he smiled! He was admiring me! He was happy about my decisiveness and strength!"
"And I can confirm that Lord Lynn is completely loyal to the Crown!"
Joffrey grew more excited as he spoke, feeling that he had completely figured things out.
His walnut-sized brain perfectly misinterpreted Lynn's disregard and contempt as admiration and approval.
"Mother, you only see the surface, but I saw Lord Lynn's heart!"
Cersei stared blankly at Joffrey, opening her mouth, unable to utter a single word.
By the Seven, what kind of creature did I give birth to?
She suddenly felt that perhaps she was the real fool.
She would never understand how her son's mind worked; it was truly bizarre.
"Well, since the deed is done, let Ned Stark be gone."
"As for the position of Hand, let Lynn take it after he deals with Lysa; consider it my royal benevolence toward my subjects."
Joffrey waved his hand impatiently.
He completely dismissed the matter from his mind.
"Anyway, those poor savages in the North won't cause any trouble."
"If they dare to rebel, I'll let Ned witness the King's authority!"
The cruelty befitting a king reappeared on Joffrey's face.
"My real enemy is Renly!"
"That traitor who poisoned my father and tried to steal my throne!"
"Mother, issue my command: Have Tywin immediately assemble the Western army!"
"I will make that damned homosexual Renly learn the consequences of betraying me and betraying House Baratheon!"
Watching her son's face, which was etched with madness and paranoia, Cersei's heart sank into the abyss.
She knew that a runaway carriage was already carrying the entire House Lannister toward a cliff.
She had always resented Tyrion lecturing her son.
But now, she desperately wished Tyrion would appear here.
So that Tyrion could slap Joffrey hard a few times for her.
But she had no idea where her damned dwarf brother had run off to!
... Outside King's Landing, on the Kingsroad.
Lynn and Ned rode side-by-side, followed by Myrcella, Jaime, Jaqen, and hundreds of elite Northern guards.
They did not linger for a moment.
As soon as the coronation ceremony ended, they immediately departed.
"Is it really alright to just leave like this?"
Ned looked at King's Landing, which was growing distant behind them, still feeling uneasy.
"What is the problem?"
Lynn smiled slightly.
"Hasn't His Majesty the King already graciously permitted you to retire to your home?"
Ned sighed, a trace of bitterness appearing on his face.
"I just feel... I've let Robert down somehow."
"You haven't let him down, Ned."
Lynn's tone was very calm.
"You promised him to protect his bloodline and protect this kingdom."
"But Joffrey is not his bloodline."
"Supporting him would be the greatest betrayal of this kingdom."
"Leaving now is the best way to keep your promise."
Ned fell silent.
Lynn's words released the last shackles in his heart.
That's right.
He hadn't betrayed anyone.
Protecting the bloodline: he could protect Robert's bastards. Protecting the realm: he could support Lynn's ascension, which was the best service to a kingdom reeling from turmoil.
He had merely chosen a path that was harder, but more correct; the two were not in conflict.
"How shall we travel North?" Ned asked.
Lynn pulled his reins, glancing back at the city shrouded in the evening glow.
"A few of us will first head to the Dragonpit and ride Winter back to Winterfell ahead of the others. We should let these guards sail North directly to avoid running into Lysa's army."
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