chapter 173 part 2
He closed his eyes in agony. His most precious honor was about to vanish, and he would forever bear a false name that did not belong to him.
He only hoped his daughter could return home safely... He would spend his life regretting this moment of tarnishing his honor.
Lord Eddard's lips were bitten open at some point, and fresh blood flowed freely.
With a pained expression, he loudly declared, "I am the Lord of Winterfell and Hand of the King, Eddard Stark. Today I come here, before the Gods above and men below, to confess my acts of treason."
He spoke louder and louder, his voice echoing across the plaza.
Buzz!
The crowd began to shout and curse, the air filled with various taunts and obscenities.
Lord Eddard's eyes welled up with a tear. He raised his voice again: "I betrayed my King, my friend. I betrayed Robert's trust and faith..."
He cried out, "I swore to protect his children, yet I plotted to depose his son and enthrone another. Now, I ask the High Septon, and the Most High Seven, to bear witness to the truth of my words... Joffrey Baratheon is the Iron Throne's sole legitimate heir. In the name of the Gods, he is the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms and Warden of the Realm."
Cursing immediately erupted from all sides.
A stone flew from the crowd, striking Lord Eddard's forehead and opening a deep wound, from which fresh blood gushed.
More stones followed, but they were not only aimed at Lord Eddard, who was kneeling on the ground... one stone almost grazed the High Septon's ear... the Goldcloaks swiftly raised their shields to block.
After a long moment, the Goldcloaks, along with the Septons and Septas, finally managed to calm the agitated crowd.
The High Septon adjusted his crown, then bowed before Joffrey and said, "Because we are sinners, we suffer. Eddard of House Stark, before the Gods above and men below, has confessed his crimes in this holy place."
The High Septon raised both hands, his voice deep and resonant: "The Gods above are just, yet the Gods are also merciful. Your Grace, how should this traitor be dealt with?"
After a pause, King Joffrey stepped out from behind the Kingsguard's shields.
The clamoring crowd gradually quieted, everyone's attention fixed on the young King.
Joffrey sighed lightly and said, "My mother wishes me to send Lord Eddard to the Wall, and Sansa has also pleaded for her father many times..."
As he spoke, he turned to look at Sansa behind him, revealing a faint smile.
Before Sansa could show gratitude, Joffrey had already turned back towards the crowd below.
"But that is the weakness of their womanly hearts! As long as I am King for a day, all traitors shall receive severe punishment!"
Joffrey declared loudly, "Ser Ilyn Payne, chop off the Wolf's head for me!"
Queen Regent Cersei stood up in shock, her tone stern: "Joffrey!"
Joffrey walked over, his face displeased.
Queen Regent Cersei suppressed her anger, making her voice as gentle as possible: "Joffrey, if you kill the Wolf, we will be unable to negotiate with The North. I hope—"
Joffrey rudely interrupted his mother's words: "Then just kill them all!"
Glynn looked up at the sky, and Lancel imitated him.
"Joffrey, Stannis Baratheon and Renly Baratheon are our—"
Joffrey's face was impatient, his tone stubborn: "Hmph, I am King! What I say goes! I will never pardon the Wolf's treason!"
"You—"
"Hmph, don't say it! I've already shown mercy! If you hinder me again, I'll have him drawn and quartered and flayed. He won't die cleanly."
"..."
The nobles and Knights made way, and Ser Ilyn Payne, the Hand of the King's Executioner, walked out step by step.
Sansa's knees buckled, and she collapsed, sobbing softly.
Ser Ilyn Payne made a gesture, and the Lannister Red Cloaks forced Lord Eddard's head onto the stone block.
Ser Ilyn Payne drew the greatsword Ice from his back. His sunken, pale, lifeless eyes seemed to be appreciating House Stark's Ancestral Sword.
"..."
Queen Regent Cersei finally yielded, and Joffrey turned around, a triumphant look on his face.
*Thud!* A lump of excrement suddenly struck Joffrey squarely in the face.
Joffrey shrieked, "Who threw that?!"
Joffrey flung his head back, shaking off a handful of feces, his face filled with fury: "My Hound, seize the person who threw that filth for me!"
Sandor, the Hound, immediately took a few Red Cloaks and jumped off the high platform. The people nearby scrambled and pushed to make way, while those further away tried to squeeze in to watch the commotion, making it impossible for him to pass through the dense throng of people.
"Whore's bastard!"
"Bastard King!"
"Bitch! Bitch! Bitch!"
"Bastard! Bastard! Bastard!"
Shouts and curses erupted from all sides, like a raging storm.
"Bastard King, die!"
"Bastard! Bastard!"
"Mongrel! Mongrel!"
"Die! Die!"
"..."
The public's emotions soared, and an atmosphere of rage seemed to permeate every corner of the air.
After Joffrey roared a few times, a timid expression appeared on his face. He hurriedly hid behind the Kingsguard's shields.
This atmosphere, filled with anger and hatred, made people feel terrified, as if a single spark could ignite everything.
*Thwack!* A sharp arrow deeply penetrated Ser Ilyn Payne's eye. Fresh blood gushed from his eye socket, flowing down his face.
Ser Ilyn Payne collapsed in pain, his body writhing into a ball from the intense agony.
The people around were stunned by this sudden sight. After a few seconds of silence, various panicked and uncontrollable screams erupted.
For a time, people lost control, pushing and shoving each other, becoming extremely chaotic.
A thunderous roar of anger, fear, and hatred rolled in from all directions. The irrational people seemed to want to devour everyone dressed in finery.
"Mongrel!" "Beast!" "Bitch!" "Bastard!" "Incest!" - the insults began to mix with some shouts.
"Long live Stannis Baratheon!"
"Long live Renly Baratheon!"
"Long live Winterfell!"
"Long live the Eyrie!"
"Long live Riverrun!"
"Long live Highgarden!"
"Long live Sunspear!"
"..."
The Goldcloaks desperately maintained their defensive line, as stones, excrement, and various other filth whizzed over their heads.
"We want bread, mongrel!"
In an instant, thousands of voices shouted together: "Bread! Bread!"
"Bread! Bread! Bread!"
"..."
Glynn calmly donned his helmet. His eyes twitched, and with a swift sword stroke, he blocked a flying stone.
"Queen Regent Cersei, please do not leave my side. I will lead you to safety."
Having said that, Glynn pulled down his visor.
Queen Regent Cersei's face, however, showed no panic. She immediately moved closer, tightly grabbing Glynn's other arm.
(end of chapter)