Cersei hesitated for a moment, but her face quickly hardened back into fury."You actually dared to do something this despicable! The antidote must be on him—kill him and you'll find it!"
"If you want big brother to die, then that's the way to do it," a voice said lazily. "Since they dared to send him here, they definitely thought through what would happen next."
At that moment, from outside the great hall of King's Landing, a cynical, carefree voice drifted in.
A short man with a ridiculous, almost comical gait walked in. He ignored the strange looks around him and went straight to the chest. Seeing the weakened Jaime inside, sorrow surfaced on his face.
"Forgive me, big brother. I may love you, but if you want our situations to be swapped, I'd rather die."
The little devil Tyrion joked with Jaime in the box. Inside, Jaime forced out a weak smile. Seeing his brother and his lover again felt like a dream.
Cersei looked at the little devil, disgust overflowing."Weren't you with Father? Why are you here?"
Tyrion hopped onto a chair and spread his hands."What a pity. I was planning to kiss my dear sister on the cheek just to disgust you, but I didn't expect you to be standing. As for why I'm here—well, isn't it because of all the stupid things you've done…"
Tyrion Lannister pulled a letter of appointment from his robes. It was written by Duke Tywin, the current Hand of the King, appointing the little devil as Acting Hand of the Realm.
"Count Tyto Lickwood had already met Father before coming here. Father basically agreed to his request. In the end, though, the decision is still yours. I'm just here to watch."
Sitting back in his chair, Tyrion looked at Count Lickwood with great interest."I never expected you'd hide my brother in a box. Both Father and I were fooled. That King Robb really has some nerve, daring to do something like this."
Joffrey roared, "He's not a king! He's a false emperor!"
Tyto Lickwood corrected him solemnly, "Our king has no intention of contending for the rule of all Westeros. He is a king, but not an emperor."
Supported by Cersei, Jaime struggled to his feet. He looked at her apologetically."Before coming here, I swore an oath to Robb. Whether or not you reach an agreement, I must return his two sisters. Don't blame me—if you refuse, I'll release them myself in secret…"
Cersei looked at Jaime. She knew this was exactly the kind of man he was.
Others called him the Kingslayer and claimed he had no knightly honor, but she had always known—Jaime was simply this kind of person.
Moreover, the moment she saw the little devil, she understood Father's intention: she was to agree to Robb's demands.
This deal was absolutely worth it for House Lannister.
Jaime in exchange for the two daughters of House Stark?Even ten Stark daughters wouldn't be a loss!So there had to be other demands.
Cersei turned to Lickwood."Fine. Tell me what your master wants. What will it take for him to give me Jaime's antidote?"
Lickwood declared loudly, "First: release our king's two sisters and send them safely back to White Harbor by sea from King's Landing. And publicly announce that the betrothal between Sansa and Joffrey Baratheon is officially annulled."
Cersei could fully accept this. Joffrey was furious—he wanted to kill Robb—but there was nothing he could do.
"Second: immediately return Lord Eddard's remains. We will fulfill Lord Eddard's wish and bury him in the crypts of Winterfell, where he will rest beneath the earth with his siblings. The bodies of the guards who followed him to their deaths in King's Landing must also be returned."
Joffrey was displeased. To him, he had just lost an interesting toy.
"Third: Lord Eddard's greatsword, Ice, must be delivered to Riverrun and handed over to our king."
"Fourth: Duke Tywin must release all of our knights and lords captured after the Battle of the Green Fork. Once that is done, our king will immediately release all hostages taken during the battles of the Whispering Wood and Riverrun."
The little devil found a cup of wine and drank it down. These points had already been settled between Count Lickwood and Tywin—this visit was merely to inform the lords of King's Landing.
"Finally," Lickwood continued, "King Joffrey and the Queen Regent must announce to the entire realm that they relinquish all claims over the North and the Riverlands. From this day forth, our realm will have nothing to do with yours. We shall be a free and independent kingdom, just as in ancient times. Our territory includes all Stark lands north of the Neck, as well as the lands watered by the Trident and its tributaries—west to the Golden Tooth, east to the Mountains of the Moon."
Though the final demand was not unexpected, it still made everyone's hearts jump.
It was like knowing bad news was coming for a long time, only for it to finally happen right before your eyes.
Cersei was so furious her face turned pale. Joffrey flew into a rage."Damn it! Damn it! I'll never agree! I'll kill him—I'll kill him!"
"King Joffrey!" Count Lickwood showed no fear as he shouted back. "These are all of our king's conditions. Accept them, and our king will bring peace to King's Landing. Refuse them, and King's Landing will become the next Whispering Wood!"
Seeing Joffrey frightened once again, Lickwood felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction. He recalled Robb's words to him.
Negotiation is a contest of the powers behind the scenes.What you can't take on the battlefield, you won't get at the negotiating table.But now I've taken it on the battlefield—what remains is up to you.
Cersei stared at Lickwood."We will not agree to the final condition."
"Then when Lord Renly marches on King's Landing with a hundred thousand troops," Lickwood replied calmly, "Lord Tywin will discover that his army has been trapped by our king at Harrenhal."
Cersei sneered."You want to ally with Renly? Don't forget—Renly has proclaimed himself king as well. Every king has only one demand: submission. Renly will never agree to your terms."
Lickwood stepped forward, unyielding."That's not a problem for someone whose head isn't already hanging from the city walls."
Cersei fell silent, then said with difficulty, "We still have Dorne."
Count Lickwood burst into laughter."That Dorne which wishes the extinction of House Lannister?!"
The great hall of King's Landing fell deathly silent. No one could refute Lickwood's words.
"Ser Jaime has one more day," Lickwood said. "Take your time to consider. But our king is not a patient man—make your decision quickly."
Looking at the grim faces before him, Count Lickwood bowed slightly and said politely,"Now, please take me to where I'll be staying. A prison cell or a guest room in the castle—either is fine with me."
...
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(End Chapter)