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A tall warrior in full armor tackled another fully armored warrior, one who looked small by comparison, and knocked him to the ground.
The tall warrior lifted the smaller warrior's visor with one hand and drew a dagger from the waist with the other, pointing it at that beautiful face.
"I yield! I yield!"
The handsome Knight of Flowers, Loras Tyrell, felt that the tall warrior truly meant to kill him. His face went pale, and he shouted loudly.
Clap, clap, clap!
On the temporary wooden viewing stand nearby, King Renly Baratheon sat beside Queen Margaery Tyrell. Seeing that victory had been decided, Renly clapped loudly and praised, "A beautiful fight. The final victor is Brienne of Tarth."
Hearing him, the tall knight rose from Loras and came before Renly. She took off her helm and knelt on one knee.
She was a towering woman warrior, over six feet tall, with straw-colored hair and a strongly androgynous face.
This was Brienne the Beauty, famed throughout the Seven Kingdoms.
The crowd witnessing this melee together consisted of noble lords from the Reach and the Stormlands, as well as many knights.
After winning the melee, Brienne successfully joined Renly's Rainbow Guard.
Varys, standing among the onlookers, saw that the melee had ended and had a guard announce him. Once Renly gave permission, Varys stood before him.
Renly adjusted the crown on his head. It was made of soft gold, carved with roses, ringed by tiny antlers, and set at the front with a dark emerald stag's head.
In a tone as if he could not quite remember Varys's name, he said, "Oh? You are... yes, the fearsome Lord Spider.
"Forgive me. This melee was too wonderful and kept you waiting."
"Varys, Your Grace."
Varys was not angered. He smiled and answered in his gentle voice.
"Haha, Lord Varys, only a jest.
"After sitting in so many small council meetings together, how could I forget your name?
"So, you have come this time to make an offer for the Lannisters, yes?
"Tsk, tsk. You are truly loyal.
"Robert has not been dead long, and you have already gone straight over to the Lannisters to serve new masters."
Renly's handsome face likewise showed a smile, his words barbed as he spoke to Varys.
"Your Grace, a humble eunuch such as myself cannot even defeat an ordinary man.
"Other than obtaining some intelligence, I have no other reliance by which to survive.
"People, after all, wish to live. So..."
Varys gave a helpless smile and spoke sincerely of his difficulties.
"A jest. Only a jest. Do not mind it, Lord Varys. Tell me the Lannister price."
"Yes, Your Grace."
Seeing Renly return to proper business, Varys nodded and stated Cersei's terms.
"Hahahaha..."
After hearing Cersei's terms, Renly laughed heartily for a while, then asked Varys, "Do they not say the Lannisters are always generous? Why is this offer so stingy?"
"My king, my love, the Lannisters must have lost all their gold because Casterly Rock was taken by Robb Stark. They have no choice but to start saving."
As soon as Renly finished speaking, the beautiful queen beside him, Margaery, answered in a clear, melodious voice.
"Thank you for the reminder, my dear. I nearly forgot that recent news.
"Mm. Under Tywin Lannister's encirclement, Robb Stark not only avoided defeat, but took the Lannisters' ancestral seat.
"Although I have never met him, he should be a brave and skilled warrior like his father."
Renly turned to thank the beauty beside him, then praised Robb to Varys.
Hearing Renly's words of praise, Varys thought of that youth who had thrown King's Landing into turmoil and nodded in full agreement.
"Lord Varys, look around you. One hundred thousand soldiers are gathered here, preparing to attack King's Landing.
"The Lannister army is running everywhere to put out fires caused by the northern army, and King's Landing has only a few thousand Gold Cloaks. What can they possibly use to stop me?
"I have no interest in the Lannister offer.
"However, if Lord Varys is willing to join me, the position of master of whisperers will still belong to you.
"In these two days, you may take a good look at my army's might, then tell me your answer."
Renly extended an olive branch before Varys could say more.
"Yes, Your Grace. I will look carefully."
To be honest, in terms of numbers, Renly truly held an enormous advantage.
As someone who always stood on the side of the victor, Varys showed a thoughtful expression when Renly tried to recruit him.
"Good. Then let us leave it at that.
"Ser Robar Royce, for the next two days, you will escort Lord Varys and let him take a proper look. Do you understand?"
"I understand, Your Grace."
One of Renly's Rainbow Guard immediately understood the meaning behind his order and nodded in reply.
That afternoon, while Renly was inspecting the army, a guard informed him that an unexpected group of guests had arrived outside Bitterbridge.
Before long, Renly rode out of camp toward the hills with his Rainbow Guard, except Ser Robar, who was escorting Varys, and a troop of cavalry carrying crowned stag banners.
On the hill, a dozen or so riders had already been waiting for some time.
"Brother, what happened to your stag? Did someone roast it over a fire?"
As he approached the riders, Renly laughed and teased.
The waiting riders were led by Stannis, who had brought his fleet to besiege Storm's End but had been unable to take it.
After receiving news that Robb Stark had taken Casterly Rock, Stannis immediately decided to personally come to Bitterbridge and make one final attempt to persuade Renly to submit.
"The fiery stag banner was changed because His Grace believes in the Lord of Light. It is his new sigil."
The Red Woman, Melisandre, showed a faint smile and answered in a voice full of mature feminine beauty.
"Ha. You must be the fire priestess in the rumors, the one who enjoys burning people as sacrifices."
Renly's gaze swept across Melisandre's beautiful face and shapely body, and he smiled as he spoke.
"Heh. Lord Renly, not because I enjoy it, but because I help them cleanse their sins.
"Now they have been washed clean and are embracing my lord, the Lord of Light."
Hearing Renly's words, Melisandre shook her head and answered like a devout believer.
"Well, then perhaps they should thank you."
Renly tilted his head and mocked her, then turned to Stannis.
"Brother, now I finally know why you changed faith at such an age. Your taste is not bad."
"I warn you to watch your tongue, Renly."
Stannis's already stern expression darkened at Renly's mockery, as if he might turn hostile at once.
"Oh, oh. Be easy. It was only a joke.
"In my memory, you were dull, rigid, and tiresome. Devout was never one of your traits."
Renly smiled and stated his view of Stannis. Then, seeming to find it somewhat boring, he shook his head and brought the topic back.
"So, brother, have you come to declare your submission to me?"
"Yes. Submission. I have come to give you one last chance, Renly. Submit to me."
Stannis nodded and stated his purpose.
"Hahaha. Why should I submit to you?"
Hearing his brother, Renly could not help laughing.
"Robert is dead. Joffrey is a Lannister bastard. According to law, I am the first heir. The Iron Throne should belong to me."
Stannis solemnly explained why Renly should submit.
"Law? Before he died, the Hand of the King, Eddard Stark, swore in his own name and King Robert's that whoever destroyed the Lannisters and killed the false king Joffrey would be the heir.
"With his honor, I believe no one in the Seven Kingdoms can question him.
"That succession oath is more lawful and better grounded than this law of yours."
Renly looked at his brother and pointed toward King's Landing as he said loudly, "Do you know why I did not send reinforcements when I heard you were besieging Storm's End? If Robb Stark truly gets there first, then he will lawfully and reasonably inherit the Iron Throne.
"So I intend to take King's Landing in one stroke, cut down the false king Joffrey, and then destroy Tywin Lannister."
"You intend to take King's Landing and destroy Tywin Lannister? With what? These noble boys of yours who only know how to play at melees?"
Stannis could not refute Eddard Stark's succession oath, so he questioned his ignorant younger brother instead.
"Heh. Even if we are only one hundred thousand noble boys, one kick from each of us would trample your army to death.
"Brother, have you not fought a hundred battles? I sent no reinforcements, and you have besieged Storm's End so long. Have you taken it?
"How many men do you have with only the royal fleet and House Florent? Five thousand? Seven thousand?
"Surely less than a tenth of mine."
Renly sneered at Stannis and pointed out the unavoidable problem of numbers.
"Brother, your temperament is stubborn, rigid, and dull. You are simply not suited to sit the Iron Throne.
"Submit to me, and until I have children, I will name you my first heir."
"For our dead mother's sake, I will give you one more chance. Lower your rebel banners before midnight today and submit to me tomorrow morning.
"I will spare your life and keep your seat on the small council. I can also name you as heir, as you just said."
Stannis no longer wanted to speak with Renly and delivered his final ultimatum.
"Heh. Brother, it seems believing in this foreign god has done you some good.
"At least... you are more optimistic than before."
Renly did not take his words seriously at all. He still smiled and jested.
"Lord Renly, those words are disrespectful to the Lord of Light.
"You had best remember your sins. For the night is dark and full of terrors."
As soon as Renly finished, Melisandre replied and warned him in secret.
After those words, Stannis led everyone away, leaving Renly with a disappointed expression.
In truth, Stannis had once been his beloved older brother, and Renly still hoped, deep down, that he would submit and join him.
Shaking his head, Renly reined his horse toward the camp of his army.
Time passed slowly. Renly, who had one hundred thousand men, naturally could not lower his banners and submit to Stannis.
After midnight, the Onion Knight, Davos Seaworth, ferried Melisandre in her red robes and returned to his old smuggler's trade.
He brought Melisandre to a cave near Renly's camp.
Just as Davos was complaining that Renly's army had blocked the cave passage, Melisandre removed her red robes behind him.
Beneath the red robes was her naked, shapely body and... a huge belly, as if she were nearly ten months pregnant.
Crack!
"Gods preserve us."
Davos had just set the oil lamp on the ground. When he turned and saw that this woman, whose figure had been normal that afternoon, now had a massive pregnant belly, the uncanny sight left him stunned. He instinctively prayed.
"There is only one true god in this world, Ser Davos."
Melisandre slowly sat on the ground and spoke with a devout expression.
As she spoke, the small oil lamp on the ground suddenly became brighter than a campfire.
Seeing these strange sights, Ser Davos immediately backed against the cave wall, wanting to feel his way out of the cave.
Sitting on the ground, Melisandre assumed the posture of a woman about to give birth and cried out in pain.
Her huge pregnant belly began to struggle in an eerie way, as if whatever was inside was about to be born.
"Hss-aaah!"
With a roar that was absolutely not human, a twisted black shadow was born from between Melisandre's legs.
After the shadow, like a cloud of black smoke, was born, Melisandre's body immediately returned to normal.
Davos feared this inhuman shadow with all his heart. Yet in its features, he faintly saw the appearance of the king he served, Stannis.
A breeze came from nowhere. The shadow scattered like smoke and drifted toward Renly's camp.
Renly's camp, the royal tent.
Varys had come alone to the royal tent to discuss private intelligence with Renly. Brienne of the Rainbow Guard stood beside Renly, helping him remove his armor.
"Your Grace, if matters proceed as I say, you can take King's Landing without losing a single brave soldier.
"And Robb Stark still owes me a favor. I can act as envoy and help you draw him to your side."
Varys stood behind them with his hands folded into his sleeves, smiling as he spoke.
"Lord Varys, I am honored that you have thought clearly and chosen to join my side. I also approve of your proposal.
"I will offer generous terms. You may convey them to Robb Stark for me.
"So long as House Stark and House Baratheon join hands once more, nothing can stop us."
As Brienne took Renly's armor aside to place it properly, Renly answered Varys with a smile.
At that moment, a breeze blew in. The tent flap opened under that wind, and a cloud of black smoke entered the tent with it.
Varys's eyes widened as he watched the black smoke drift behind Renly and gather into a human shape.
Slash!
Brienne, who had just set down the armor, turned around in time to see the black figure with Stannis's face stab a black dagger through Renly's heart from behind.
"No!"
The black figure scattered with the wind. Brienne looked at Renly, who was coughing up blood, and cried out in despair.
Renly fell limply to the ground. Brienne rushed forward, her eyes wet, watching him slowly breathe his last.
Clang, clang!
Two guards outside the royal tent heard the sound and rushed in at once. With a single glance, they saw Brienne standing beside Renly's blood-covered body.
"You will pay for this with your life!"
Seeing their king dead, the two guards drew their swords and charged at Brienne without another word.
But Brienne, filled with despair and rage, drew her own sword and killed both guards in the tent in a single exchange.
"No... no, ahhh!"
After killing the two guards, Brienne dropped her sword, held Renly's body, and wept aloud.
"We must leave quickly. They will certainly think I helped you kill King Renly."
Everything in the royal tent had happened too quickly. Only now did Varys react. He immediately stepped forward to pull Brienne away, trying to persuade her.
"I will never abandon him."
Brienne easily broke free of the hand Varys had placed on her and spoke through her grief.
"If you die, you will forever bear the crime of murdering Renly. Who will avenge him then?"
Varys's mind worked quickly. In an instant, he found the reason that would persuade Brienne.
"Yes. I saw that black shadow had Stannis's face. It must have been his witch's magic."
Hearing this, Brienne remembered the black shadow and nodded.
"Yes. Stannis.
"They will certainly try to seize you. I suggest you go north.
"The Riverlands are in the midst of war. No matter which side holds power there, none of them can easily reach you."
Varys nodded, confirming that he had seen it as well, and gave Brienne his advice.
"And you?"
"Me? Since the king most likely to bring peace to Westeros is dead, I will naturally return to King's Landing."
Varys shrugged and answered with deliberate lightness.
"Inside. I heard screams inside!"
A guard's angry shout came from outside the royal tent. Brienne and Varys escaped separately through the rear of the tent.
Brienne knew the camp extremely well. While the camp was in chaos after discovering Renly's death, she slipped out quietly.
After parting from Brienne, Varys altered his appearance with his own arts of disguise, transforming into a cavalryman from Renly's army. Then he mounted a horse and openly rode toward King's Landing.
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