His voice was hoarse: "You are Arthur? The Black Lion?"
Arthur nodded slightly, as if in response: "Sir Brin."
Beside the Black Lion, a tall, bald middle-aged knight let out a cold snort, his hostility unconcealed. Arthur also recognized him: Robin Legge, captain of Riverrun's guard. After the Black Lion surrendered, he refused to surrender and demanded to take the Black.
The Black Lion spoke first, breaking the stagnant air: "Lord Arthur, I am here on behalf of the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands."
"You have broken the King's peace and the tranquility under the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands's rule."
"The peace and order of the Riverlands require the self-discipline of every noble, and your war against the Legge Family has shaken the entire Riverlands."
He paused, his gaze sharp.
"How do you explain this?"
Arthur smiled. He walked to the center of the hall, met the Black Lion's gaze, and slowly said: "Sir, I admit that the peace of the Riverlands has been disturbed."
"If Riverrun believes I am guilty, I can go to Riverrun for trial, but I hope Roger Lygg can go with me for trial." He extended a finger, pointing out the window.
"Regarding the current situation, I need to state."
"It was Roger Lygg in the inner keep who refused peace. He even refused all communication."
"It was his unwillingness to have any contact with me that led to things developing to this point. All responsibility for the situation rests with him."
"After my army captured Willow Wood City, I personally tried to persuade him. Everyone on the city wall can testify that he chose war."
"My goal and yours are the same, Sir: to end this war, to fight no more."
"However—"
Arthur gestured to Olivier, indicating it was his turn. A play couldn't be a monologue. Olivier quickly understood the instruction.
Olivier stepped forward and respectfully bowed to Brin: "Sir, everyone in the city can testify."
"Lord Arthur personally tried to persuade him, even announcing that he merely wished for a dignified negotiation between nobles, but Roger Lygg's response was truly... truly unbearable."
"He even insulted his own wife."
"Saying he wouldn't care if she were... with soldiers... in front of him."
"How can such a person conduct a dignified negotiation?"
Brin frowned, Robin's face turned ashen, and the House Tully knights exchanged glances. Arthur, inwardly, highly praised this statement.
Robin Legge finally couldn't hold back and spoke loudly: "Then you raised an army in a single day! Sailed downstream! Broke the city in three days! What is this if not a long-planned sneak attack?!"
His voice echoed through the hall, filled with grief and indignation. Indeed, no matter how one looked at it, this seemed like a meticulously planned sneak attack.
Nothing like this had ever happened in Westeros before; only Theon Greyjoy's future capture of Winterfell could compare.
Olivier frowned, wanting to say something, but Arthur stopped him with a look.
Arthur's gaze turned to Robin, his expression calm, his voice unchanged: "Sneak attack?"
"Sir Robin, have you forgotten something?"
"Before I marched, my proclamation was sent to the tables of all the great lords, clearly stating the crimes of the Legge Family and giving them five days to prepare."
"You are also my witnesses, aren't you?"
"I gave him time; he himself did not prepare."
"I publicly declared my intentions to everyone; he himself chose to ignore them."
"How can that be considered a sneak attack?!"
Arthur took a step forward, directly facing Robin Legge, his aura suddenly becoming sharp: "If we speak of sneak attacks, his secret collusion with bandits, attempting to attack my lands, does that not count as a sneak attack?"
"His messenger, I sent someone to deliver him to Riverrun!"
"Furthermore, he first occupied my family castle, demolished my family's ancestral castle, and desecrated my ancestors' graves."
"What does that count as?"
"Sir Robin, what do you think of this?"
Robin Legge, who had been flushed with excitement, suddenly turned pale. He wanted to retort but couldn't find any reason. The military proclamation indeed existed, and the lords of the Riverlands had indeed received it.
Arthur took another step forward, almost face to face with Robin Legge, gritting his teeth.
"Look at me! Answer me!"
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