King's Landing.Inside the resplendent, gold-and-jade great hall.
Count Tytos Lockwood wore plain armor, engraved with a silver withered tree, ravens circling its branches. Draped over it was a magnificent cloak woven from raven feathers.
He was tall and thin, so when he looked toward Joffrey on the throne and Cersei standing behind him, he only needed to lift his chin slightly—there was no need to look up.
This posture instead made him appear upright, open, and powerful.
The moment Joffrey saw him, disgust welled up inside him."Damn rebel! I will never agree to any of that traitor's conditions! One day I'll take his head, just like his father's, and hang it on a spear for flies and crows to feast on!"
Count Lockwood didn't even spare Joffrey a glance. He knew very well that the one truly calling the shots in King's Landing was not this so-called king.
He met Cersei's gaze, trying to see through what this regent queen was thinking.
His Majesty has ascended the throne as King in the North. That would certainly enrage these two Lannisters.All I can hope is that Cersei is as deeply attached to Jaime Lannister as His Majesty claims.
A trace of unease surfaced in Lockwood's heart, but nothing showed on his face.
Robb's words echoed in his mind from before his departure:
Never let your enemy know what you're thinking.
Seeing that Tytos Lockwood completely ignored him, Joffrey flew into a rage."You dare disrespect your king?! Hound, kill him!"
Ser Sandor Clegane—known as the Hound—was massive, one of the most fearsome warriors on the continent. Upon receiving the order, he strode toward Tytos Lockwood with heavy footsteps.
One… two… three…Here he comes.
Lockwood's expression didn't change at all. Only when the Hound's hand closed around his neck did the silent countdown in his mind come to an end.
At the same time, he heard the voice he had been expecting.
Cersei spoke up to stop it."Wait. We might as well hear what that northern pretender has to say."
Cersei could not allow Joffrey to kill Count Lockwood. If she did, it would be a declaration that negotiations had completely broken down—and Jaime would never come back.
The Hound glanced at Joffrey. Joffrey hesitated for a moment, then begrudgingly followed his mother's will.
Cough, cough…
Count Lockwood coughed twice, easing the discomfort caused by the Hound's grip.
He bowed gracefully to Joffrey and Cersei."A wise choice."
Then he looked around, his sharp gaze sweeping across everyone in the hall—the Master of Whisperers, the Grand Maester, the Master of Coin…
Some met his eyes. Others instinctively lowered their heads.Regardless of their reactions, Count Lockwood began his speech.
"The invincibility of our king in battle is something all of you should already know. At present, our king holds Riverrun. It will take the army only two days to reach the Golden Tooth. Most of the Westerlands are already within our king's sight. In just a few more days, the lords of the Westerlands will bow beneath our king's iron hooves."
"Lord Tywin still guards Harrenhal, but the moment he dares to step out of it, our king and Lord Roose will take his head without hesitation."
"To the south, Lord Renly has gathered a hundred thousand men and has proclaimed himself king. He will soon be marching on King's Landing."
Lockwood's words echoed through the great hall. Many exchanged glances—some hearing this for the first time, others already well aware of it.
Joffrey's face changed drastically. There were things even he hadn't known, such as Renly declaring himself king.
He looked to his mother, hoping she would tell him it was all a lie.
But before Cersei could speak, Count Lockwood suddenly let out a furious roar.
"Joffrey! You just tried to kill me—do you think I'm afraid?!"
"At Riverrun, I had only three thousand men, while the Kingslayer commanded fifteen thousand! They built siege towers overnight and hauled up trebuchets! Back then, I didn't know when I would die—maybe the very next second, the Kingslayer's army would break through the gates and take my head!"
"After enduring that kind of torment, you think I would still fear your threats? Just because of this little dog that isn't even fit to sit at the table?"
"You can kill me. Hang my head on a spear like the old duke's, but—"
Lockwood's eyes turned vicious. He pointed straight at Joffrey, a cruel aura bursting from him.
"I swear, our king will avenge me!"
"He will smash open the gates of King's Landing, slaughter every enemy who stands in his way, seize you just like he seized the Kingslayer—hack off every limb, flay every inch of skin, and hang you from the walls of King's Landing for every passerby to admire!"
"If you don't believe me, then try it."
"Kill me. Right here."
"Kill me. Now!"
"Come on!"
Joffrey was so terrified that he sprang up from the Iron Throne. The images painted by those words filled him with overwhelming fear. He trembled, screamed:
"How dare you… speak to me like that?! Kill—kill him! Kill him! Kill him!"
But no one moved.
He looked like a madman, screaming alone.
Cersei hurried forward and pulled her child into her arms, doing her best to comfort him. Her eyes, fixed on Count Lockwood, burned with fury.
"Don't kill him. Cut off his arms and legs!"
Count Lockwood still stood tall and straight."You won't do that, Your Grace. If you want the Kingslayer to lose all his limbs as well, you can certainly try."
Cersei's expression changed instantly."Now? You mean… Jaime is already in King's Landing?!"
"Of course. Otherwise, how could our king show his sincerity?"
Count Lockwood signaled his attendants to bring out a chest. Cersei did not stop them and watched as it was opened.
She hurried over and looked inside.
The Kingslayer, Jaime, was in the chest.
He had grown much thinner, his entire body shrouded in a faint red glow.
Curled up inside, Jaime had survived the long journey—something that was nothing short of a miracle. At this moment, he struggled to open his eyes, trying to make out Cersei's face.
Joy flashed across Cersei's face—then instantly turned into rage. She turned toward Count Lockwood and ordered the surrounding guards:
"Kill him!"
Jaime was already alive and in King's Landing. Cersei no longer cared about anything else. Going back on her word was second nature to her—especially when she hadn't actually reached any agreement with Robb yet.
"No… don't…"
Jaime's weak voice came from the chest.
Seeing her lover in this state, Cersei's fury boiled over, and she was determined to have Count Lockwood killed.
"I've been poisoned. Only he has the antidote…"
Jaime raised his hand weakly, showing his current condition. His palm was covered in a large patch of red substance—like rotting flesh, yet also like a holy flower—radiating something deeply unsettling.
Cersei's face changed dramatically.
...
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(End Chapter)