The bells of the Red Keep tolled.
The sound was dull and long, like the dying sigh of a giant from beyond the Wall, echoing through every street and over every roof in King's Landing.
The King was dead.
In the Tower of the Hand, Lynn stood by the window, overlooking the city that had fallen into an eerie silence below.
Robert's death came a bit faster than he expected.
He originally thought the wild boar would at most critically injure Robert, leaving him bedridden for ten days or half a month, slowly exhausting his life in pain and high fever.
Unexpectedly, that beast, fed some "seasoning" by Jaqen beforehand, was so ferocious.
With one strike, Robert didn't even survive two days.
Just as well.
Saving him from having to return to clean up this mess after dealing with Northern affairs.
Now, everything could be resolved together before he left King's Landing.
Lynn turned and left the Tower of the Hand.
...
The atmosphere in the Throne Room was oppressive to the extreme.
Under the huge dome stood a hideous throne forged from a thousand sharp swords.
The key ministers of the Small Council were all present.
They were all here for this butt-pricking throne, and the candidate for King who was about to sit on it.
Ned Stark, dressed in plain black clothes, stood in the Hand's position.
Grand Maester Pycelle shrank his neck; the maester's chain representing his identity looked more like a heavy shackle at this moment.
Varys the "Spider" stood in the shadows, wearing a compassionate expression, but those hands hidden under wide sleeves were unconsciously rubbing gently.
Sansa Stark, as Master of Coin, also rushed over immediately.
Queen Cersei Lannister, dressed in a luxurious black gown, stood at the foot of the Iron Throne.
On her devastatingly beautiful face, not half a sadness could be seen.
Only an almost morbid excitement, and a hard-to-conceal nervousness.
Her gaze constantly scanned the entrance of the hall.
She was waiting for someone.
When Lynn's tall figure appeared at the door of the Throne Room, everyone's gaze turned in unison.
Cersei's heart almost jumped out of her throat at that moment.
Her hands gripped her skirt tightly.
He came.
The man who held the secret of Joffrey's birth, he came.
What would he do?
Would he expose that secret enough to doom House Lannister in front of everyone?
Would he fulfill the fragile "alliance" between them, or choose to deal her a fatal blow at this most critical moment?
Cersei felt her breathing stop.
Lynn ignored those gazes of scrutiny, apprehension, or curiosity.
He walked slowly to the center of the hall, first nodding slightly to the heavy-faced Ned Stark, then his gaze landed on Cersei.
Eyes met.
Cersei couldn't see any emotion in those deep eyes.
No threat, no mockery, nor comfort.
Only a bottomless calm.
And this calm terrified her more than any clear attitude.
Because she simply couldn't figure out what Lynn would do next.
"The passing of His Grace the King is a tragedy for the entire kingdom."
Lynn's voice sounded, echoing clearly in the silent hall.
"But sorrow solves no problems."
"At this moment, what the kingdom needs most is stability."
"An unquestionable and strong ruler!"
Lynn's gaze swept over everyone present, finally settling on that hideous Iron Throne.
"According to the laws and traditions of the Seven Kingdoms, King Robert's eldest son, Prince Joffrey Baratheon, is the only legitimate heir to the throne!"
"I, Lynn, King beyond the Wall, hereby support Prince Joffrey to succeed the throne!"
And Cersei, after experiencing the initial shock, felt a huge ecstasy instantly sweep through her whole body.
She bet right!
Lynn chose to honor their alliance!
She and her son were safe!
That heart suspended in mid-air finally settled.
But immediately after, a deeper chill rose from her heart.
She looked at Lynn standing in the center of the hall.
She suddenly realized that Lynn's "support" was never free.
Without Lynn exposing Joffrey's birth to stir up trouble, everything became logical.
Just as everyone in the hall had different thoughts, a slightly immature but ecstatic and arrogant voice sounded.
"Lord Lynn is right!"
Prince Joffrey walked in from the side door.
He had changed out of his mourning clothes, wearing a gorgeous tunic embroidered with the crowned stag and roaring lion.
On that handsome but somewhat mean face, an abnormal flush appeared due to excitement.
He didn't even look at his mother, walking straight to Lynn, eyes shining with undisguised gratitude and deep trust.
Lyanna's words and Lynn's support made him feel he instantly possessed the whole world.
He was no longer the cowardly prince living in his father's shadow.
He was about to become King!
"I am the true stag of House Baratheon!"
Joffrey's voice was a bit sharp due to agitation.
He looked around at the people in the hall, his gaze lingering on the faces of the powerful ministers for a moment, carrying a trace of provocation.
Suddenly, he thought of Renly's "conspiracy."
This made him furious.
Then, Joffrey turned abruptly, issuing his first voice as "King" in a tone bordering on roaring.
"My uncle, Renly Baratheon!"
"That coward! That conspirator who climbed up by pleasing women and men!"
"Does he think he can escape my judgment by fleeing back to Storm's End?"
"I, Joffrey, heir of House Baratheon and House Lannister, order him in the name of the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms!"
"Roll back to King's Landing immediately!"
"Kneel before me and beg for my forgiveness!"
"Otherwise, I will personally lead a great army to flatten Storm's End!"
Cersei's face turned pale as a sheet instantly.
"Joffrey!"
She screamed, wanting to stop her son's crazy remarks.
This was simply madness!
Provoking Renly when his foundation was unstable?
This wasn't consolidating the throne; this was seeking death!
"Shut up, Cersei!"
Joffrey turned back abruptly, roaring at Cersei.
"Now, I am the King!"
"Here, I call the shots!"
Without Tywin and Tyrion by his side, Joffrey had completely let himself go; Cersei couldn't suppress him at all!
Joffrey's face twisted by anger looked exactly like the "Mad King" Aerys back then.
After roaring, Joffrey seemed to feel it wasn't enough.
"Tomorrow, I will hold the grandest coronation ceremony!"
...
King's Landing, Great Sept of Baelor.
This magnificent white building was the center of the Faith of the Seven in Westeros.
Seven crystal towers shone in the sunlight, as if the Seven Gods were looking down at the mortal world from heaven.
Inside the sept, solemn and dignified.
All nobles of the Seven Kingdoms in King's Landing gathered here.
Dressed in the most luxurious clothes, with solemn expressions, witnessing the birth of the new King.
The High Septon stood on the altar; his old voice echoed in the empty hall.
Joffrey knelt on the cold marble floor, head bowed.
The High Septon picked up a crystal vial containing holy oil, anointing Joffrey's forehead, palms, and feet with seven different holy oils.
"In the name of the Father, may you be just."
"In the name of the Mother, may you be merciful."
"In the name of the Warrior, may you be brave."
"In the name of the Maiden, may you protect innocence."
"In the name of the Smith, may you labor diligently."
"In the name of the Crone, may you be wise."
"In the name of the Stranger, may you respect death."
The lengthy prayer ended.
The High Septon took a crown made of gold and obsidian from a squire.
That was Robert Baratheon's crown.
He raised the crown high, and under everyone's gaze, slowly placed it on Joffrey's head.
"I hereby crown Joffrey, heir of House Baratheon and House Lannister."
"King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm!"
"Long live King Joffrey!"
The High Septon shouted.
"Long live King Joffrey!"
Inside the sept, all nobles shouted like a tsunami.
Joffrey stood up slowly.
He turned around, facing the subjects kneeling to him.
Sunlight cast colorful shadows on him through the stained glass windows at the top of the sept.
He felt he was a god.
An omnipotent god.
His gaze swept over the crowd.
He saw his mother, Cersei.
On that beautiful face were complex emotions hard to understand.
He saw the Hand, Ned Stark.
That fool from the North was looking down, thinking about who knows what.
Finally, his gaze landed on Lynn.
Lynn stood at the very front of the crowd, not shouting frantically like others.
He just stood there quietly, a faint smile on his face.
That smile made Joffrey feel incredibly reassured.
And made him believe even more firmly that everything he did was right.
The coronation ceremony ended.
Joffrey walked down the altar, surrounded by Kingsguards, preparing to return to the Red Keep.
Just as he was about to walk out of the sept doors, he stopped suddenly.
He turned around, looking at Ned Stark.
"Lord Stark."
The surroundings fell silent instantly.
Ned looked up, meeting those eyes full of malice.
"My father is dead; shouldn't you, the Hand, also be changed?"
A cruel smile appeared on Joffrey's face.
Clearly, he still held a grudge about his most admired father apologizing to Ned because of Sansa before.
"I heard you haven't liked King's Landing much."
"In that case, I'll fulfill your wish."
"From today on, you are no longer the Hand of the King."
"You can roll back to your icy and snowy North."
As soon as these words came out, the whole hall was shocked.
Ned's face turned iron-blue instantly.
And Cersei felt darkness before her eyes, almost fainting.
You fool!
What on earth are you doing?!
Do you really have zero political EQ?
Although never explicitly stated, any human, even a dog in King's Landing, knew Ned and Lynn were thick as thieves.
In the future, Lynn would even marry Ned's younger daughter Arya.
Even that Sansa had an unclear relationship with Lynn.
Maybe this kid would take both sisters.
And the result?
Good job!
Offending his father-in-law to death.
Lynn just announced high-profile support for you; how will other dignitaries view you?
Burning bridges with Ned today, what about tomorrow?
What will these dignitaries think?
Everyone will feel insecure!
Silly child, you will lose the people's hearts!
Sure enough, the gazes of the ministers looking at Joffrey already carried a trace of alienation and distrust.
Cersei felt her sky was about to collapse.