Lynn looked at Myrcella.
Her green eyes burned with rage.
Lynn had been using Greensight to monitor Robert's movements.
He naturally knew about Cersei being beaten.
The slap mark Robert left on Cersei's face not only woke up the Queen herself but also completely shattered the last bit of illusory warmth associated with the word "father" in this princess's heart.
Robert's plan was vicious and stupid.
He underestimated the people's allegiance and overestimated his own control.
Lynn reached out and pulled Myrcella into his arms.
Myrcella's body was stiff.
Clearly, she was furious to the extreme.
Robert imposed the responsibility for Petyr's death on Lynn alone, shameless to the extreme.
"Alright, I know."
Lynn's voice carried a power to soothe hearts.
"You and your mother did very well."
"This intelligence is crucial to me."
The body in his arms finally relaxed a little.
Myrcella buried her face in Lynn's chest.
That scent of leather and pine slightly relaxed her tense nerves.
"He hit Mother."
Myrcella's voice was muffled, carrying a sob.
"He also wants to kill you."
"I know."
Lynn gently patted her back.
"Don't worry, he won't succeed."
"No one can separate us, not even the Stranger!"
Lynn's words were like the most solemn oath.
He looked up, his gaze crossing Myrcella's shoulder, looking at the deep night outside the window.
It was time to count the chips in his hand.
Lynn closed his eyes, consciousness sinking deep into his mind.
That virtual panel emitting a ghostly blue light floated before Lynn.
[Name: Lynn]
[Strength: 12 (2%)]
[Agility: 11 (61%)]
[Constitution: 10 (0%)]
[Spirit: 26 (1%)]
[Skills]
[One-Handed Sword (Master) 52/2000]
[Riding (Expert) 311/1000]
[Garlan's Lance Technique (Expert) 31/1000]
[Rapier (Expert) 3/1000]
[Ice Magic (Expert) 402/1000]
[Arthur's Dual-Wielding (Proficient) 41/500]
[Unarmed Combat (Proficient) 0/500]
[Warg (Proficient) 150/500]
[Greensight (Proficient) 0/500]
[Archery (Skilled) 0/100]
[Herbalism, including poisons (Skilled) 0/100]
[Disguise (Human Skin Masks, Voice Mimicry) (Beginner) 0/10]
[Assassination Techniques (including hidden weapons) (Beginner) 0/10]
[Remaining Experience: 3364.2]
[Details: 496 (Original) + 1368 (Astapor Slave Guard) + 1500 (The Mountain) + 0.2 (Viserys) = 3364.2]
Experience points were abundant.
But this 0.2 left Lynn a bit speechless.
This meant Viserys's last 'gift' would accompany Lynn for a long time.
Because upgrading used at least one point.
0.2 meant he might never spend it in his life.
This could be considered Viserys's alternative sense of existence.
Lynn shook his head, throwing the absurd thought out of his mind.
His intent first landed on [Disguise].
A skill obtained from the Faceless Men.
Didn't that mad woman Lysa Arryn want to avenge Petyr Baelish?
What if the Vale bannermen "heard with their own ears" the "still living" Petyr confess his crimes?
Nothing could disintegrate the fighting spirit of those Vale nobles more than this.
This would be the key to making those bannermen defect or subduing them later.
Also a key node in this campaign.
Useful meant worth investing!
Moreover, Petyr's head should be with Lysa; without human skin, he couldn't make a mask.
Might as well invest some experience first to try.
See if upgrading could bring him surprises.
Even if it was a loss, it wouldn't be much.
Thinking of this, Lynn decided to try immediately.
[Consumed 10 experience points, Disguise upgraded to (Skilled)!]
[Consumed 100 experience points, Disguise upgraded to (Proficient)!]
A strange flood of knowledge poured into his mind.
Lynn felt he instantly mastered countless techniques to change appearance and voice.
And, the most crucial part came!
He no longer needed human skin as a medium.
Just some special grease and dyes could perfectly replicate another person's face.
Combined with his already powerful spirit, mimicking a person's voice and demeanor became as easy as turning over his hand.
If he wanted, he could even play a game of real and fake Robert.
Or real and fake Renly.
Of course, forget Renly.
He didn't want to be targeted by Loras...
However, the Proficient level was still relatively superficial for now.
Lynn had an illusion.
After upgrading again, he could mimic all the target's subtle movements, even specific habitual micro-movements.
But his experience was tight now; many other skills needed upgrading.
Enough was enough; no need to invest too much for now.
[Remaining Experience: 3254.2]
Lynn's gaze then turned to [Greensight].
When he spied on the Eyrie before, he felt a weak but pure spiritual fluctuation in that frail heir of the Vale, Robert Arryn.
That child seemed to have the potential to become a Greenseer.
Because his mind was extremely immature.
For the Three-Eyed Raven, "possessing" such a target should be easier.
A perfect candidate.
Perhaps he should upgrade Greensight and investigate thoroughly.
Most importantly, by upgrading Greensight, as long as his realm was higher than the Three-Eyed Raven, he might be able to secretly watch what the Three-Eyed Raven was doing without being detected.
[Consumed 500 experience points, Greensight upgraded to (Expert)!]
The dark vision instantly became clearer.
Lynn felt he was connected more closely with the invisible web of consciousness between heaven and earth.
He could even vaguely "hear" the crying and murmurs of that little boy far away in the Eyrie in his dreams.
Knowing even everything happening in dreams?
This seemed a bit perverted.
Sure enough, after Lynn's investigation, Robert Arryn should be able to handle the Three-Eyed Raven's task.
However, would Robert Arryn's identity benefiting the Three-Eyed Raven bring disaster to himself in the future?
This was also a point Lynn needed to consider carefully later.
After all, he never treated the Three-Eyed Raven as his ally.
Even the Night King was more generous than the Three-Eyed Raven.
The Three-Eyed Raven seemed more like using him.
But there was no way; he was also eager for nature magic.
This would be a necessary means to survive the Long Night.
Very good, still a lot of experience left.
[Remaining Experience: 2754.2]
Finally, Lynn unhesitatingly poured all the remaining experience into [Ice Magic].
Magic was the foundation of his life and standing.
Also his greatest confidence when facing thousands of troops.
Upgrading to a profound realm, he could even apply Ice Armor to all soldiers in the front row during war.
Even against cavalry, Lynn dared to let infantry units try to withstand!
Lysa said she wanted to build dragon-slaying crossbows; if he applied Ice Armor to Winter's belly, rendering the bolts ineffective, wouldn't Lysa, who treated it as her trump card, explode completely?
Thinking of this, Lynn hesitated no more.
[Consumed 598 experience points, Ice Magic upgraded to (Master)!]
[Consumed 2000 experience points, Ice Magic upgraded to (Grandmaster)!]
An unprecedented majestic power exploded in his spiritual world!
If the previous Ice Magic was a stream, a lake.
Then now, it was a surging, roaring polar ice sea!
He felt that with just a thought, he could bring down a terrifying blizzard on King's Landing!
He could even resurrect some dead people in the North and create a batch of White Walkers to act as his army of the dead.
Lynn didn't create White Walkers in Essos mainly because creating White Walkers required children under ten.
White Walkers made from these children could receive combat skills left by their master, while adults lacked this strange "plasticity."
Lynn certainly could do it.
Just picking some from enemies would do.
Lynn was the last person to be bound by a bleeding heart, especially toward enemies.
But letting these White Walkers grow up required additional subsequent spiritual investment.
This was why it had been delayed.
Presumably, this was also why the Night King couldn't create White Walkers in large numbers.
Otherwise, the Night King would have swept across Westeros long ago.
However, with the upgrade of Ice Magic level, everything changed now.
Lynn could feel it.
Even without children, Lynn could consume spiritual power to directly transform living adults into powerful White Walkers!
"Now, I should be comparable to the Night King, right?"
Lynn muttered in a voice only he could hear.
[Ice Magic (Grandmaster) 0/5000]
[Remaining Experience: 156.2]
[Next level is 'Legendary', the pinnacle of skill, the highest level!]
Lynn opened his eyes slowly.
In those deep eyes, ice-blue light seemed to flash past.
Looking at the girl in his arms still worrying about her family, a warmth rose in his heart.
He lowered his head, kissing Myrcella's smooth forehead gently.
"Alright, don't worry."
"Your father... King Robert, he will soon pay the price for his stupidity."
Lynn's tone was calm, but it made Myrcella's heart tremble for no reason.
She looked up into Lynn's bottomless eyes; she knew Lynn should already have a plan.
"I..."
Myrcella opened her mouth.
She wanted to say something but didn't know where to start.
Because she wanted to help Lynn do something within her power.
"You don't need to do anything."
Lynn stroked her golden hair; he guessed what Myrcella wanted to say.
"I'll find a way to take you away from King's Landing when I leave; it's no longer safe here. Robert will probably keep you as leverage against me."
"We have to leave as soon as possible before he reacts."
...
Even though it was night, Lynn didn't stay here too long.
He had many things to do and eventually left.
He was going to see Ned now.
Ned should also be preparing to go north.
With war imminent, he should let go of this position of Hand.
In the wedding room, Myrcella was alone again.
She sat by the bed, looking at the place where Lynn sat just now; his scent seemed to still linger in the air.
Her unease and fear had vanished after Lynn's kiss and promise.
Replaced by an unprecedented peace of mind.
She believed Lynn.
Unconditionally.
Just then, a knock sounded on the door again.
This time, the knock was very light, very restrained.
"Myrcella?"
It was Jaime Lannister's voice.
Myrcella paused, then got up and opened the door.
Her "Uncle," Jaime Lannister, stood outside.
He had taken off that golden armor, wearing only a simple white shirt.
On that handsome face usually carrying a bit of frivolity, complexity was written all over it now.
"...Uncle?"
Myrcella was somewhat surprised.
"Can I... come in and sit?"
Jaime's voice carried a trace of caution even he hadn't noticed.
Myrcella nodded, stepping aside to let him in.
Jaime walked into this wedding room full of festive red.
His gaze swept over the exquisite furnishings, a flash of doubt in his eyes.
It was the first time he had seen a wedding room decorated like this.
But it looked like Lynn was very attentive.
Finally, Jaime's gaze landed on Myrcella's face, which was seventy percent similar to Cersei's.
He looked at her clear green eyes.
Inside, there was no rolling killing intent, only a girlish soft worry.
"Lynn... he told you everything?"
Jaime spoke first.
"Mmm."
Myrcella nodded.
"Then you..."
Jaime stopped mid-sentence.
He wanted to ask if she was afraid, if she wanted Lynn to stay.
But words came to his lips, and he felt these questions were so pale and powerless.
Things had come to this; it was almost set in stone, no one could change it, saying these things was meaningless.
"I believe Lynn."
Myrcella's answer was simple and firm.
Jaime fell silent.
He looked at the girl before him, this "niece" he watched grow up.
She was no longer the little girl following him, sweetly calling "Uncle."
She had grown up.
Had someone she loved deeply, had her own persistence.
An indescribable sourness welled up in Jaime's heart.
Besides the heartache of his cabbage being hogged by a pig.
Actually, he also thought of himself.
Thought of the forbidden love between him and Cersei intolerable to the world.
Thought of pushing an innocent child off a tower with his own hands for Cersei.
He forsook his knightly vows, bore the name of Kingslayer; he thought he could protect Cersei, protect their children.
But in the end, Cersei was beaten wantonly by that drunkard Robert, and his daughter was about to face the risk of separation by life and death from her husband.
He felt very incompetent.
He couldn't even protect his sister and children!
What kind of Kingsguard was he?
Jaime looked at Myrcella's face written with trust and love for Lynn.
A crazy thought surfaced in his mind.
He didn't want to hide anymore.
Didn't want to use the ridiculous identity of "Uncle" to face his daughter anymore.
"Myrcella."
"I..."
Jaime took a deep breath.
Those green eyes, identical to Cersei's, stared fixedly at Myrcella.
"I am not your uncle."
Myrcella's body shook violently.
She looked up at Jaime's face written with pain and struggle.
Although her mother had already told her the truth.
But at this moment, when this sentence was spoken by Jaime himself, she was still somewhat overwhelmed.
"I am your father."
Jaime Lannister, this man who had been proud all his life, finally shed all his disguises at this moment.
His voice carried endless guilt.
"Your mother and I brought you into this world."
"I'm sorry, Myrcella."
"I made you carry a filthy secret from the moment you were born."
"I'm sorry, Myrcella, really sorry."
Myrcella just stared blankly at Jaime.
Looking at this nominal uncle, biological father.
She didn't cry, didn't question.
She just looked at him, at the pain and regret in Jaime's eyes.
After a long time.
Myrcella slowly reached out, holding Jaime's hand trembling slightly from nervousness.
"I know."
Her voice was soft, but carried a calm beyond her age.
"Mother... she told me everything long ago."
Jaime's body trembled violently.
He looked at his daughter in disbelief.
He thought he would face her tears, her hatred, her questioning.
He thought of everything.
Only he didn't expect she would accept all this so calmly.
"Then you..."
"I hated."
Myrcella interrupted Jaime, looking at him with clear eyes.
"I hated why you brought me into this world."
"Also hated why you let me live in a lie."
"But now, I don't hate anymore."
She looked at Jaime; a sorrow that broke Jaime's heart appeared in those green eyes.
"Because I understand."
"Things have happened; regret is useless."
"In this world, some love is involuntary."
"I choose to forgive you."
"We are a real family, aren't we?"
Myrcella withdrew her hand, turned to the window, looking at the cold moon outside.
"You telling me this now is because you are going to the North with Lynn, right?"
"Yes."
Jaime answered without hesitation.
"Will you protect him?"
Myrcella turned around, looking at him with burning eyes.
"Will you protect him like you protect me?"
In that gaze, there was actually a trace of pleading.
Jaime looked at her, at the unreserved love for Lynn in his daughter's eyes.
He suddenly smiled.
In that smile, there was bitterness, relief.
But more than that, a father's doting.
Jaime walked to Myrcella, reached out like when she was small, and ruffled her golden hair dotingly.
"Of course."
"After all, he is my... son-in-law, isn't he?"
"I swear on my honor."
"As long as I, Jaime Lannister, have a breath left, no one can touch a hair on his head."