Upon his return to King's Landing from the humid docks of Lys, Ser Kevan Lannister did not even have time to wash the salt from his skin before receiving a summons to the Hand's Tower.
Inside the solar, the air was heavy with the scent of old parchment and expensive tallow. Lord Tywin sat at his desk, wearing a resplendent Hand's chain over a deep crimson velvet robe. He looked like a statue of judgement. Queen Mother Cersei was also present, clad in a scarlet brocade gown that shimmered under the torchlight. A gold-rimmed circlet adorned with black diamonds rested on her golden hair, and a ruby-studded necklace accentuated the pale elegance of her neck.
Kevan quickly averted his gaze, but he couldn't help but notice his two sons, Lancel and Willem, standing like silent sentries on either side of the Queen Mother. They were captivated by her, their eyes tracking her every movement with a hunger that made Kevan's stomach churn.
What a sin, Kevan thought bitterly. The Lannisters did not forbid unions between cousins, but those were marriages blessed by the High Septon, not the illicit, lingering glances between knights and a Queen. If word of such a mess reached the streets, Casterly Rock would become the laughingstock of Westeros.
"You've worked hard, Kevan," Tywin said, seemingly oblivious to his nephews' distractions. "How did things go in the East?"
Kevan's skin was cracked and darkened by his weeks at sea, and his voice was a hoarse rasp. "Tywin, things are not as easy as we initially thought. Lys, Tyrosh, and Myr are in the midst of a trade war. The Archon of Lys refused to provide a fleet, claiming the Iron Throne was a sinking ship."
Tywin's dignified face showed a flicker of irritation. "So you've returned empty-handed?"
"Of course not," Kevan shook his head. "I bypassed the Archon and persuaded the Trade Prince, Trygg Omollan. He is willing to provide twenty oared warships and fifty longships, along with full crews, for a six-month contract. But the price is steep. The down payment is five hundred thousand gold dragons, plus thirty thousand per week. A total of over one million dragons."
"Give it to him," Tywin said calmly. "Secrets in this city are like water in a sieve. Stannis likely knows about our moves in the Vale already. With more strength, we have more options."
Cersei stretched languidly, her movement making Lancel nearly stumble back in a daze. "Were those merchants the City Watch hanged recently truly Stannis's spies, Father?"
"The 'Deer-horn' people?" Tywin glanced at his daughter. "Varys provided the intel. In truth, they were just scoundrels trying to default on their massive debts to the Crown. They thought if Stannis won, their ledgers would be burned. How naive. If that stubborn bull sat on the throne, he would have bestowed honors upon them, then confiscated their property and hanged them for the sin of greed anyway."
Kevan's face was grim. "As Master of Coin, I must tell you: the treasury is bare. Tyrion taxed even the prostitutes to pay for the wedding feast. We are barely covering the Golden Cloaks' salaries and the Iron Bank's interest. We don't have a million dragons."
Cersei clapped her hands, her eyes bright. "Then we stop paying the Iron Bank! Tell them a Lannister always pays his debts, but the Bank must wait for the rebellion to end. They are across the Narrow Sea; what can they do?"
Tywin looked at his daughter with eyes that saw a fool. "They will support our enemies and prop up another King. If you weren't my daughter, Cersei, you would have been sold off to a Dothraki horselord long ago."
Tywin turned back to Kevan. "I have demanded a sum of gold from the Tyrells, and they have agreed. We will use the 'Wedding Fund' to pay for the Lysene fleet. We are attacking the Stormlands soon; Highgarden cannot ask for more when we are spending Reach gold to avenge their son-in-law."
He then looked at Cersei, his tone dropping to a cold, undeniable register. "After Tommen and Margaery are wed, you will return to Casterly Rock with them. Then, I will discuss with Doran Martell. You will be married to Prince Oberyn."
"Me?" Cersei froze, her face turning a violent red. "No! I am the mother of two Kings! I will not be shipped off to that desert to be a Dornishman's toy!"
"Your Majesty," Kevan interjected, glancing at his sons. "You are still young, fertile, and beautiful. You cannot remain a widow forever. And once you are married, the rumors about... your past... will cease."
"I am the Regent! I decide for myself!" Cersei shrieked, standing up.
"Sit down," Tywin commanded, "or I will marry you to Euron Greyjoy. I hear he likes quiet women best, and he is quite skilled at cutting out tongues with a dagger."
The threat made Cersei tremble as she sank back into her seat.
"Dorne or the Kraken, Cersei. Choose one," Tywin said. "I intend to secure the South. With the Crownlands, the Vale, the Reach, and Dorne united, we will crush the resistance in the North like a flood by next spring."
Cersei regained her composure, her expression turning into a mask of cold spite. "You are too thoughtful, Father. A perverted sea monster or a debauched prince. I need a few days to consider which hell I prefer."
She rose and swept out of the room. Tywin watched her go, then turned his gaze to Lancel.
"I intend to replace the Red Keep's guard force with Lannister Red Cloaks," Tywin said. "The Golden Cloaks have been infiltrated by every spider and rose in the city. Lancel, you and Willem will oversee the transition. I want this castle held by blood, not by hirelings."
"Yes... yes, My Lord," Lancel stammered, overwhelmed.
Once the younger men had departed, Kevan turned to his brother. "Tywin, why the purge? Do you not trust the Tyrells anymore?"
Tywin leaned back, his pale green eyes glinting. "I suspect the Tyrells and Littlefinger conspired to kill Joffrey. They wanted a puppet like Tommen, not a mad dog. Tyrion isn't foolish enough to use a whore as an accomplice, and I watched him too closely. He didn't have the time."
Kevan was stunned. "The Tyrells? Our allies?"
"Varys told me," Tywin said, his voice dropping. "He provided so much evidence I almost thought he was involved himself. Be careful in this house, Kevan. The Lannisters are surrounded by enemies, and many of them are sitting at our table."
[System Notification: Political Shift: Lannister Internal Purge.]
[Strategic Status: Cersei Lannister (Betrothal Pending).]
[Observation: Tywin Lannister suspects the Tyrell/Baelish alliance.]
[Soul Power Gained (Family Consolidation): 200 SP.]
Drop Some Power Stones Plz.
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