Joffrey lost his soul. His body clearly sat in the Red Keep's luxurious dining hall. Silver knife cutting tender roasted quail on his plate. But his thoughts had long flown back to last night's warm suite on the Street of Silk.
The ambiguous air scent. The girl's fresh fragrance like grass after rain. The feeling of first tasting ecstasy... And those eyes gazing at him—brimming with pure worship and adoration...
"Joffrey." Cersei's voice pulled him from floating fantasies. Joffrey raised his head. Saw Mother watching him with scrutinizing gaze.
"Where did you go last night?"
"Learning from Lord Lynn how to become a true king." Joffrey answered without thinking. Pulled out the script Lynn taught him. His tone carried impatience. And a superiority he himself hadn't noticed.
He was no longer that little boy hiding behind Mother's skirts. He was a man. A man who'd experienced power's true taste!
Cersei's brows furrowed. She disliked Joffrey's attitude. Disliked him getting so close to Lynn. But before she could scold—Joffrey already turned his gaze to the table's other end.
Sansa Stark. She kept her head down. Sipped soup in small mouthfuls. Posture elegant. Flawless. But in Joffrey's eyes, she now seemed like an emotionless statue. Beautiful, yet lifeless.
And since he'd made the Hound kill that commoner, her gaze no longer held that initial worship. This angered him.
Joffrey thought of Lyana. Her soft body. Sweet voice. Narrow warmth. That passion that could melt anyone. Comparing the two—one heaven, one earth!
Just then, Lynn's casual parting words last night—like a thorn coated with Lys poison—stabbed sharply into Joffrey's heart.
"After all, she still has to receive other customers."
Other customers? OTHER CUSTOMERS!
Joffrey's mind instantly conjured a nauseating image. A pot-bellied, sweat-stinking fat merchant. Using his filthy fat hands. Caressing Lyana's jade-smooth skin.
NO! Absolutely not! She was so pitiful. That girl was his! The first—the ONLY—woman in this world who appreciated him. Worshipped him!
Those pure eyes should only look at him! That sweet voice should only praise him! Her everything should belong to him!
BANG! Joffrey slammed his knife and fork on the table. Harsh clatter. The entire dining hall instantly quieted. Cersei, Jaime, Robert, Ned, even Sansa—all stared at Joffrey in shock.
"I'm full." Joffrey didn't even look at them. Abruptly stood. Strode out of the dining hall. He couldn't wait another moment. He had to find Lynn. Had to go back. Tonight, he MUST see Lyana again!
Hand's Tower study. Lynn faced a massive King's Landing map. Circling points with a quill. Joffrey burst in like a gust of wind. Didn't even knock.
"Lynn!" His voice—shrill with urgency. "Tonight, we go out again!"
Lynn looked up. Face showing just-right surprise. Then knowing smile. "Your Grace, seems last night's experience left you wanting more."
Lynn's teasing tone made Joffrey's handsome face instantly flush red. "I... I just want to... to understand the people's conditions better!" Joffrey defended with false bravado.
"Is that so?" Lynn put down his pen. Walked around the desk. Came before him. "Understand the people, or see that girl called Lyana?"
He pierced through Joffrey's pitiful disguise with one sentence.
"I..." Joffrey was speechless. Before Lynn's all-seeing eyes, he felt like a child stripped naked.
"I can't stand it!" Joffrey finally abandoned pretense. Like an enraged young beast. Growled low: "I can't stand those filthy bastards touching her! Lyana shouldn't belong there!"
"But that's her life, Your Grace." Lynn's tone—calm to the point of cruelty. "She's a commodity. A plaything bought for a night with gold dragons—no, silver stags. Today it's you. Tomorrow might be some spice merchant from Pentos."
"Even if her heart holds you, for survival, she must submit to others. Even... writhing beneath those filthy merchants."
"NO!" Joffrey roared. Those green eyes ignited with mad flames. "She's not a commodity! She's MINE!"
Lynn watched Joffrey. Watched this mad dog whose possessiveness he'd completely ignited. Heart calm. The fish had bitten the hook to death. Effect surprisingly good. He was hooked.
"Alright." Lynn sighed with feigned difficulty. "Since Your Grace insists so, as your most loyal friend, I can't refuse. However..."
Lynn's tone shifted. "Tonight, we can't go like last night. You're now a controversial figure. If people discover the prince frequenting such places, it's bad for your reputation."
"Then what do we do?" Joffrey asked urgently. He was now completely led by Lynn's nose.
"We only watch, don't do." Lynn's lips curved mysteriously. "My place has some very interesting rooms. Can let you see everything you want without being discovered."
Night fell again. King's Landing became desire's ocean. Lynn brought Joffrey. Again came to that stone building hung with red lanterns.
This time, they didn't use the front door. Instead entered through a hidden back alley into an adjacent room. The room's wall hung a massive Volantene tapestry. But lifting the tapestry's corner revealed a one-way glass behind.
Lynn specially made this. To satisfy some customers' strange fetishes. From here, everything in the neighboring suite could be seen clearly. While those next door wouldn't notice at all.
Joffrey's breathing instantly quickened. He was like a voyeur! Heart pounding wildly. Eyes glued to the room behind the glass. Exactly the suite he'd stayed in last night.
Lyana sat on the bed's edge. Still wearing that pale purple sheer gown. She seemed absent-minded. Holding a small wooden knight carving. Staring blankly. That pitiful appearance stirred compassion.
Joffrey's heart instantly softened. Seeing that knight statue with features somewhat resembling his own. This made Joffrey know—Lyana must be thinking of him. This thought greatly satisfied his vanity.
But just then—the door was brutally kicked open. A burly, vicious-faced man burst in. The man wore mercenary leather armor. A clearly blood-stained longsword at his waist. Whole body radiating fierce, violent aura.
Lyana screamed in fright. The wooden carving dropped from her hands.
"Where's the money?" The man viciously walked before Lyana. Grabbed her slender wrist. "Rose that bitch said you hooked a big shot yesterday. Made good money, right? Time to pay debts!"
"I... I don't have..." Lyana trembled all over. Tears welling in her eyes. "That lord... he didn't give me money..."
"No money?" The man sneered. His other hand roughly grabbed Lyana's chin. Forced her to look up. "You fucking think I'm an idiot? No money? Then pay with your body!"
He began tearing Lyana's gown.
"No! Please! Let me go!" Lyana cried out desperately. Struggled frantically. But her meager strength before the man—like a lamb for slaughter. So pale, so powerless.
"ROAR——!!!" In the adjacent room, Joffrey unleashed an inhuman beast's roar. His eyes instantly turned blood-red. That handsome face twisted with extreme rage. Veins bulging.
He violently drew his sword. About to rush over and kill that man. "I'll slaughter him! I'll pull his guts out and feed them to dogs!"
"Your Grace! Calm down!" Lynn grabbed his arm. That grip strong as iron tongs.
"Let me go!" Joffrey struggled madly. Now he only wanted to dismember that bastard who dared touch his woman.
"A prince drawing swords over a whore in a brothel? This is your so-called becoming a true king?" Lynn's voice like ice water. Doused Joffrey's burning reason.
"She's NOT a whore!" Joffrey turned back. Roared hysterically at Lynn.
"Then prove it to me!" Lynn's gaze directly met his. Carried strange oppressive force. "Don't solve problems with fists like a street fool. Too low-class. Use a king's method!"
"A king's method?" Joffrey froze. Panting heavily. Chest heaving violently.
"Exactly." Lynn released his arm. Voice carrying lethal temptation. "That man—what does he want? Money. That boss called Rose—what does she want? Also money. In this world, nothing can't be bought with gold dragons. If there is, use more gold dragons."
Lynn walked before Joffrey. Patted his shoulder. Voice extremely low. Like a devil's whisper. "A true king never fights for what he wants. He directly buys it."
"Go, Your Grace. Use your gold dragons. Buy her freedom. Buy her entirety. Take her from this hell. Make her your exclusive property. Announce to everyone—she's your possession. Anyone daring to touch her again is enemy of the entire kingdom."
"This is what kings should do. This is a king's righteous responsibility!"
Joffrey froze. Lynn's words opened a completely new door for him. Rage's flames still burned in his chest. But transformed into something more terrifying. Power.
Yes, why should he fight that scum like a brute? He was a prince! Future king! What he wanted—just buy with money, take with power! That girl. Her body, soul, everything—should be his!
"Right... you're right..." Joffrey murmured. Those blood-red eyes reignited with light. A mad light mixed with greed, possession, cruelty.
He whipped around. Grabbed Lynn's collar tightly. That twisted face carrying unquestionable command. "Now! Immediately! At once! Get Rose here! I'm buying Lyana! No matter the cost! Tonight, I'm taking her back to the Red Keep! She'll be my woman. Forever belonging only to me!"
Looking at this young lion—completely fallen into madness, thinking he controlled everything—Lynn showed a satisfied smile. Very good. This most crucial, most unstable piece—finally firmly pressed into his designated position.
Next, the real show just begins. Lyana—this woman he'd carefully cultivated—would teach Joffrey a good lesson.
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