Everything Cersei prided herself on—her beauty, her birth, her power—was shattered in that moment.
Her body trembled uncontrollably.
For the first time, fear appeared in her sapphire-blue eyes.
He knew.
He actually knew everything!
"What nonsense are you spouting?!"
Cersei's voice changed pitch, as if she was using her last ounce of strength to maintain her pathetic dignity.
"I don't understand!"
"Don't understand?" Lynn chuckled.
"Then let's talk about something you *can* understand."
Lynn's voice was low, every word precisely piercing Cersei's heart.
"For example, your good cousin, Lancel Lannister."
"Such a thoughtful boy; His Majesty the King was going boar hunting, and he had already prepared triple-strength liquor."
"After all, a drunken King, when facing tusks, will always react just a little bit slower, won't he?"
Cersei's pupils suddenly constricted, and her breath hitched!
Lancel!
She had only mentioned this matter to Lancel!
And she was indeed prepared to do it.
But Ned had always advised Robert not to hunt, especially not to drink while hunting, so the plan hadn't succeeded.
It seemed Ned's actions were all because of this Lynn!
Lynn didn't give Cersei any chance to breathe.
"And the poor Lord Jon Arryn."
"He merely wanted to find a book about the genealogies of the great families, and then suddenly died of an acute illness."
"His widow, Lady Lysa of the Eyrie, must have been very sad, wouldn't she?"
"Otherwise, why would she write to her sister Catelyn, insisting that the House Lannister was responsible for the poisoning?"
"Oh, right, that book that Lord Jon Arryn had worn out is now in Lord Ned's hands."
"The reason we haven't revealed it is simply because we don't want to stir up trouble."
"If Lord Ned were to actually tell Robert, you probably wouldn't just be confined here."
Boom!
Cersei felt the world spin.
She instinctively took a step back, her back hitting the cold wall heavily, barely preventing herself from falling.
"That bitch Lysa!"
"How dare she accuse the House Lannister!"
"We House Lannister didn't lay a hand on Jon at all!"
Lynn shrugged.
"Of course I know."
"Otherwise, do you think I would still be so polite to you if you had killed Lord Arryn?"
"So, Your Majesty the Queen."
"Your enemy is not House Stark."
"But rather that venomous snake hidden in the shadows, attempting to make the wolf and the lion fight each other."
Cersei tried to say something, but was quickly interrupted by Lynn.
"It's not over yet, Your Majesty the Queen, don't be so eager."
Lynn's face still held that calm smile.
But to Cersei, that smile was more terrifying than a demon from the seven hells.
"Isn't your greatest reliance your father, Lord Tywin, and the inexhaustible gold mines of the House Lannister?"
"But do you know that those mines west of Casterly Rock haven't produced any decent gold for almost ten years?"
"Your arrogant father, in order to maintain the House Lannister's prestige, has almost emptied the Iron Bank of Braavos."
"A hollow shell, strong on the outside but weak within... Heh heh... How long do you think it can still protect you?"
If his previous words were knives, then this last sentence was a battering ram.
It fiercely smashed Cersei's last line of defense!
She was finished.
She was completely finished!
In front of this man, she had no secrets whatsoever!
She was like a prisoner stripped naked, standing exposed before Lynn, awaiting his final judgment.
"No... no..."
Cersei shook her head in a daze, her golden hair scattered across her pale face, her eyes unfocused.
"How did you know? Who told you?"
Suddenly, she seemed to grasp at a last straw, a frantic light bursting in her eyes!
"Tyrell! Yes! House Tyrell!"
"I will have Joffrey marry Margaery Tyrell!"
"As long as we have the support of Highgarden, as long as we have the food and armies of the Reach, none of you will be able to shake the House Lannister!"
She shrieked hysterically, like a drowning person.
"An excellent idea, Your Majesty the Queen."
Lynn even clapped for her.
"Unfortunately, you forgot two things."
"First, Joffrey is just a prince; his marriage requires the King's approval."
"Do you think King Robert would agree to a marriage that would greatly increase your and the House Lannister's power?"
"Second..."
Lynn's tone became playful.
"Even if the King agreed, do you think the ambitious House Tyrell would be willing to marry their 'Rose of Highgarden' to a... impure... bastard?"
"Once this secret leaks out, do you think you'll face the friendship of House Tyrell, or nearly two hundred thousand of their troops turning against you to seek new allies?"
"Or perhaps... offering their loyalty to His Majesty the King?"
A dead end.
A perfect dead end.
All of Cersei's hopes, all of her escape routes, were effortlessly and completely blocked by Lynn.
Everything she prided herself on was vulnerable to absolute information disparity.
"You... what exactly do you want?"
Cersei's voice suddenly returned to calm.
"It's simple."
Lynn walked up to her.
He reached out.
And gently traced the back of his fingers across her cold cheek, chilled by fear.
That soft touch, however, made Cersei's body tremble violently as if electrocuted.
"You see, Your Majesty the Queen."
Lynn's voice was like a lover's whisper, yet carried an undeniable command.
"Your secrets, your wealth, the future of your family..."
"These things hold no value to me."
"But..."
He paused, and a hint of desire finally appeared in his unfathomably deep black eyes.
"I am a generous man."
"I will give you a choice."
Cersei slapped Lynn's hand away.
"Please be more respectful!"
"I am the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, and your Queen!"
Lynn smiled, not refusing Cersei's request; he withdrew his hand and continued to speak to himself.
"Remember, this secret is known only to you and me."
"If you dare to reveal it to a third person."
"I believe I have the ability to make your secrets spread throughout King's Landing overnight!"
Cersei's body went limp, and she collapsed onto the opulent chaise lounge.
Robert was not dead yet!
As long as he was alive, no one would be willing, nor dare, to ally with the House Lannister.
Robert already held a strong grudge against the House Lannister.
He would never allow the House Lannister to grow stronger unchecked.
All her schemes were predicated on Robert already being dead.
Cersei knew she had no choice; she said weakly,
"What choice? Tell me, I'm listening."
Lynn nodded in satisfaction.
"It's simple, Queen."
"I want you to pledge allegiance to me!"
Cersei's breathing stopped.
She looked into Lynn's aggressive eyes and instantly understood the hidden meaning behind those words.
It was a humiliation more unbearable than death!
"You wouldn't dare!"
Cersei shrieked, raising her hand to slap Lynn!
But her wrist was easily seized by Lynn.
The force was so great that Cersei felt her bones were about to be crushed.
"Your Majesty the Queen, you'd best think carefully."
Lynn's tone also turned cold.
"You no longer have any right to bargain."
"As soon as I walk out that door, if I reveal even half a sentence of what we've discussed today."
"You, your three children, including Jaime, and the entire House Lannister will instantly turn to ash."
"I believe Renly, Stannis, Ned, and all the lords who have pledged allegiance to the King would be very willing to eradicate the House Lannister."
"I imagine, no matter how strong the House Lannister is, they probably couldn't withstand their repeated ravaging, could they?"
Lynn released her hand and stepped back.
He adjusted his cloak, as if nothing had just happened.
"Of course, you are perfectly free to refuse."
"The choice is yours."
Lynn looked down at Cersei, who was slumped in the corner, as if admiring a trophy he was about to acquire.
"As long as you are obedient, these secrets will rot in my gut forever."
"During my absence from King's Landing, as long as you behave yourself and don't provoke anyone from House Stark, I can guarantee the absolute safety of you and your three children."
"Moreover, if you pledge allegiance to me, I can guarantee."
"As long as I am still alive, no matter how turbulent the situation, I guarantee that your House Lannister will always endure."
"And not be utterly annihilated in the dust of history."
"Think about it, Your Majesty the Queen."
"This deal is very favorable for you."
With that, Lynn no longer looked at her, turning and walking towards the door.
Of course, it wasn't to save the House Lannister, but merely to ensure she wouldn't cause trouble in his absence.
"Oh, right."
As Lynn's hand rested on the doorknob, he seemed to remember something and turned back to add,
"Do not reveal this matter to anyone."
"Neither Jaime, Tyrion, nor Tywin—you cannot tell them."
"I will visit you again tonight."
"I hope by then, you will have made your decision."
"Don't force me to bring my Gold Cloaks to escort you."
"Also, the mole on your inner thigh is truly sexy."
"Bang—"
The heavy oak door closed, and Lynn's receding footsteps echoed in the corridor.
In the room, only Cersei remained.
Her face was filled with disbelief.
She couldn't understand.
How Lynn knew such intimate details so clearly!
Was he truly omniscient?
Cersei slid weakly to the floor, her luxurious black gown spread out on the cold tiles.
She was terrified by Lynn.
The fear in her heart was evident.
Finally.
A hot tear rolled from her sapphire-blue eyes.
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