"What? My uncle Jaime has become the heir to Casterly Rock?" Joffrey exclaimed, startled and enraged. He bit into a piece of bread, glaring at his grandfather.
Tywin calmly speared a piece of beef. "I had assumed he would refuse. Yet, Jaime has shed his white cloak. Ser Loras Tyrell has taken his place in the Kingsguard, tasked with safeguarding the future Queen Margaery."
"The future queen?" Joffrey spat. "Renly sent me a portrait of her." A servant presented the painting, and to his dismay, Joffrey saw that the girl from Highgarden was rather lovely. A hot spike of jealousy pierced him. Why should Renly, only two years his senior, have the first claim to the Iron Throne and such a beautiful maiden?
"When will he marry this Margaery?" Joffrey forced a smile.
Tywin, taken aback, replied, "Soon. Your mother envisions the wedding coinciding with Renly's fifteenth name day." That left less than two weeks.
Joffrey was acutely aware that his brother had never cared for him. He would ensure that Renly's wedding would not transpire. Trapped in Casterly Rock without Littlefinger's counsel, he felt powerless.
Later, a guard clad in crimson and gold knocked on Joffrey's chamber door. "A man seeks you, Your Highness. He claims you have purchased from him."
"Purchased? I recall no such thing," Joffrey retorted, seizing a dagger from his pillow. "Let him enter."
The door swung open. A tall figure cloaked in black slowly entered, exuding a pungent odor. "My dear prince, how unfortunate you are," the man said, his voice a familiar, honeyed whisper. He removed his hood, revealing the bald head and soft features of Varys.
"Do you need to state the obvious?" Joffrey retorted bitterly. "My brother holds everything, while I have nothing."
Varys sighed with theatrical sympathy. "Who could dispute that? Alas, it is a terrible shame. For I have it on good authority that Lady Margaery has long held a… secret affection for you."
Joffrey's expression transformed into one of sheer excitement. "She has?"
"Indeed. Look here." Varys produced a letter. "This is from the lady herself, complete with her current address. Should you wish to… pay her a private visit…" Varys licked his lips, revealing a foolish grin. "Of course, you would need a suitable justification to return to King's Landing. I firmly believe if you write to the queen, she will permit it."
As Joffrey began pacing, exhilarated by the prospect, he failed to see the profound amusement flickering in Varys's eyes. The Spider was weaving a web, and Joffrey was a most willing fly.
Meanwhile, in King's Landing, a servant clad in Lannister colors approached Margaery. "Lady Margaery, Prince Renly has sent me to escort you." He gestured to a carriage emblazoned with the Lannister sigil.
Margaery was taken aback; this was certainly not Renly's style. "What does Prince Renly wish?"
"Hunting," the attendant replied flatly.
Across the city, Renly was in the training yard, his garments drenched in sweat. The Hound called out to him, "Your Highness, did you invite Lady Margaery to join a hunt?"
"I have been practicing with the lance all day," Renly replied, confused.
Tyrion Lannister, witnessing the exchange, felt a cold dread. His complexion turned as pale as plaster. "Damn it. It's Joffrey."
Renly's expression hardened. "Sandor, fetch Lord Mace Tyrell. Now." He had refrained from acting against his half-brother for the sake of the realm's stability. But Joffrey was single-handedly shattering the peace.
Varys appeared, his expression fraught with anxiety. "You must go, quickly! Prince Joffrey and Lady Margaery are in the chambers prepared for Lord Stark!"
Renly's face was stern as stone. "Sir Barristan, seize the Spider and take him to the dungeons."
Varys looked at Renly in astonishment. "Your Highness, this matter has nothing to do with me!"
At that moment, an attendant escorted a unharmed, though pale, Margaery into view. Renly clapped his hands. "Joffrey has already confessed. Varys, you sought to incite discord between Highgarden and the Crown." He turned to Barristan. "Confine Lord Varys with Joffrey. Together."
Tyrion Lannister finally grasped the situation, staring blankly at his nephew. "You… you had him under surveillance all along."
Renly did not deny it. He turned instead to comfort the startled Margaery, while the Spider, his plot unraveled, was led stumbling to the dungeons.