Arya Stark drank the soup with relief; in her heart, Glynn was her good friend, which was not difficult.
Sansa Stark's eyes were dazed. "Why are you sending me back?"
"Father, I will never quarrel with my sister again. Please, I don't want to go back."
Sansa racked her brains for a reason… She and her sister often quarreled, which angered her father, so he wanted to send her back to Winterfell.
Duke Eddard didn't react immediately, wondering why his daughter suddenly admitted her mistake, so he looked over with some confusion.
"Sansa, my daughter, I'm not blaming you."
For her love with Joffrey, Sansa mustered her courage, ready to argue with her respected father… As a result, she still shed tears first, and her voice was filled with pleading.
"Father, I swear, I'll be a good daughter! Really, just let me stay! I promise, I'll behave as nobly and politely as the Queen."
Duke Eddard: "…"
Why would the Direwolf's little wolf girl worship a woman like Cersei?!
Duke Eddard only blamed himself for neglecting his children's education after coming to King's Landing.
"Sansa, I'm sending you back to Winterfell because I'm concerned for your safety."
She had a premonition… If they parted this time, she might never see Joffrey again, and Sansa cried even more sadly.
His eldest daughter was crying incessantly, and the big man from the North couldn't help but scratch his head with a headache. At this moment, he glimpsed a figure lingering at the door; it was Jon Snow.
"Sansa, you'll know the reason when you get home."
Arya, who had been smiling at her crying sister, reined in the schadenfreude on her face. Was Sansa really sad this time? It seemed she wasn't faking it.
Arya reached out and gently touched her sister's arm: "Sansa, don't cry. Our family will be together again soon, and there will be many fun things on the way."
Sansa yelled: "I only want Joffrey!"
With that, she shook off Arya's small hand and quickly left the dining room.
The father and the younger daughter first looked at the fuming Sansa who had left, then exchanged glances: "…"
"None of your business! You're not family!" Sansa's angry voice came from the dining room entrance.
Arya's small body jumped up and slammed the table, shouting: "Sansa! Don't run! I'm going to hit you!"
Although Arya was young, she was clever. Her sister loved to pretend to be a lady, and the only people who could make her say such things were her and their… Jon.
Before Arya could make her next move, she was caught by her father's large hand.
"Arya, you don't have much time. Maester Mordane is packing your things. You should go see."
Her father's expression was serious, and Arya reluctantly let go of the annoying Sansa.
At the staircase outside the dining room, Duke Eddard patted Jon Snow, whose face was somewhat pale.
He comforted him: "Sansa is angry with me, my child."
Jon forced a smile and said: "I'm fine, Lord Stark."
After a moment of silence, Jon, with his face slightly lowered, suddenly looked up directly at Duke Eddard and said: "Lord Stark, I want to know who my mother is?"
Before Duke Eddard could answer, Jon pressed on: "Is she still alive? Does she know about my existence? Does she know where I am?"
Jon lowered his head and murmured: "Does she care about any of this?"
A sad expression flashed across Duke Eddard's face. He reached out and grabbed Jon's shoulder: "I promise, she loves you most."
Joy appeared on Jon's face, but it quickly turned into anger.
He moved his shoulder, breaking free from Duke Eddard's hand: "Fa… Lord Stark, I'm not a child. I don't need pretty bedtime stories. I want to know the truth."
Duke Eddard hesitated and said: "My child, I haven't deceived you."
Jon's eyes were red: "Is she a whore? Or… I'm sorry, Lord."
Jon turned his face away, quickly wiped the corner of his eye with the back of his hand, and whispered: "I haven't forgotten that I'm a baseborn bastard. Please forgive my offense."
With that, Jon silently left.
Duke Eddard stood in place, as if he had turned into a statue, unmoving… Lyanna, your child has grown up. Perhaps it's time to find an opportunity to tell him his true parentage.
Maegor's Holdfast.
Cersei Lannister embraced Sansa and said kindly and gently: "Good child, don't be sad. I will help you."
Sansa, with swollen eyes, said: "I love Joffrey so much, but Father won't even let me say goodbye."
Cersei gently patted Sansa's back, and with a smirk, she said: "Sansa, if you didn't love Joffrey, why would you come to see me and confide in me your father's plan to send you away?"
Sansa nodded shyly… She had always been an obedient and well-behaved daughter, but when she secretly slipped away from the Prime Minister's Tower, defying her father's wishes, she felt as bad as Arya… She had never been so willful, and if she didn't deeply love Joffrey, she wouldn't have done this.
Cersei gently released Sansa and stroked her tear-stained little face.
"Good child, I must thank you. You've helped Joffrey."
At this moment, Sansa admired Queen Cersei so much that she made up her mind… She must be as noble and gentle as her in the future, and be a good wife and a good Queen.
"Lancel."
At Queen Cersei's voice, Sansa saw a young man walk over and stand before them, bowing.
He's so handsome… Sansa couldn't help but secretly glance at him again.
"Lancel, Sansa needs rest. Find her a comfortable room and take good care of my Sansa for me."
Queen Cersei stroked Sansa's beautiful hair and added: "Sansa, he is my cousin. You go rest with him, and I'll call you when Joffrey arrives."
Sansa nodded somewhat shyly.
Only Cersei and Jaime were in the room.
Cersei took a sip of summer red, paused, and put down her wine glass.
She snorted coldly and said: "The Direwolf is about to make his move."
Jaime showed a hint of confusion: "From what the little girl said, aren't the Starks planning to leave King's Landing?"
As he spoke, he picked up the wine jug to pour wine for Queen Cersei.
Cersei's emerald eyes looked at Jaime: "My Jaime, you are truly naive."
With that, she stood up and continued: "The Direwolf's departure is predicated on… killing us. Jaime, today is the decisive battle. Either he dies, or we die."
Jaime's eyes trembled, and he said in a deep voice: "Cersei, has Stark found out the cause of Robert's death?"
Queen Cersei lifted her chin and scoffed: "How could the foolish Direwolf possibly detect that the drunkard died due to my machinations."
"Then it's…"
"Enough, no need to guess," Queen Cersei said impatiently.
She said coldly: "Jaime, the Direwolf has already found out that Joffrey and the others are our children, so he will absolutely not let Joffrey inherit the Iron Throne."
Jaime's pupils constricted, and he froze there.
Seeing Jaime still dazed, Queen Cersei walked forward… and with a slap, struck Jaime's handsome face.
Cersei angrily said: "Put away those boring knightly tricks. What is honor? Only the victor is worthy of honor!"
Jaime touched his cheek and sighed: "Cersei, you know, I only care about you."
Only then did Cersei show a satisfied expression. One of her hands rested on Jaime's chest, while the other gently caressed Jaime's face.
"Jaime, as long as we defeat the Direwolf, I will be the Queen Regent of the Seven Kingdoms. By then, no one will dare to question us, understood?"
Jaime closed his eyes.
Outside the Red Keep, Glynn stopped a dilapidated transport carriage.
"Count Glynn!"
Arya shouted excitedly, then nimbly jumped off the carriage, ran a few steps, and hugged Glynn's leg.
Glynn looked down and said with a smile: "Lady Arya, it's clear I can help you with something."
Arya's eyes widened: "How do you know? Are you a prophet?"
Glynn stroked Arya's fluffy little head and said: "I'm not a prophet. I just guessed the answer from your enthusiasm."
"Yes, your expression makes it too easy for people to guess your true thoughts. You need to be careful, girl."
A thin, bald man strolled over. When he saw Glynn's gaze shift, he stopped and bowed elegantly.
"Syrio!"
Arya immediately released Glynn's leg and ran towards Syrio Forel.
"Syrio, I was just wondering how to find you, and you appeared yourself!"
Syrio spoke with a Free Cities accent: "Your carriage caught Syrio's attention, girl."
Arya's eyes sparkled: "You're amazing!"
Syrio grinned: "Girl, use your eyes to see, use your ears to hear, use your…"
Arya put her small hands behind her back and interjected: "Use my mouth to taste, use my skin to feel, and finally use my mind to think, that way I can discern the truth!"
Syrio shrugged and said: "Arya is a clever girl."
Arya proudly lifted her head, then pulled Syrio to introduce him to Glynn: "Count Glynn, his name is Syrio Forel. He's my sword fighting teacher. Can I take Syrio with me?"
Glynn spread his hands and said: "Lady Arya, if Lord Syrio agrees, there's no problem."
Arya looked at Syrio.
Syrio nodded slightly: "Girl, your lessons aren't finished yet, so Syrio can only go with you."
Glynn looked inside the carriage, then sighed towards Caine, Duke Eddard's guard: "Where is Lady Sansa?"
Caine said confusedly: "Lady Sansa got on the carriage early… She's not inside?!"
"Count Glynn, Sansa said she was going to find you first…"
As she spoke, Arya's expression changed, and she said angrily: "Oh no, she tricked me again! I shouldn't have made up with her!"
Syrio grinned: "You only listened, but you didn't use your eyes to see, girl."
Jon Snow hurried over from behind, his face very pale: "I… I'll go find Lady Sansa!"
Arya noticed her brother's remorse: "Jon, this isn't your fault. Sansa is the worst; she gets angry even if you get close to her!"
Jon shook his head: "Arya, this isn't Lady Sansa's fault, and I promised Lord Stark I would take care of you."
Glynn rubbed his hair and reached out to stop Jon, who was about to leave.
"Leave it to me."
Inside the Prime Minister's study, Duke Eddard walked to the window and looked out at the distant square. Fully armed Lannister soldiers in bright red cloaks were conducting morning drills, clashing swords or riding horses to cut down straw dummies.
The tall Sandor Clegane galloped across the hard dirt, raising his iron spear to pierce a scarecrow, while the Lannister red cloaks laughed and swore nearby.
Duke Eddard frowned… Was this deliberately meant to provoke him? Cersei was even more foolish than he imagined.
Damn it, why didn't this woman flee? I gave her chance after chance!
Must there be bloodshed? Duke Eddard averted his gaze; the drills below looked like children's games to him.
Duke Eddard walked over and reached for the Ice sword hanging on the wall. The Starks never feared battle!
"Jory."
As Duke Eddard's voice fell, his captain of the guard immediately pushed open the door and stood before him.
Duke Eddard said seriously: "Jory, we might have a fight. Tell everyone to put on their armor."
Jory nodded in acknowledgment. He hesitated, then asked: "Lord, who will be our enemies?"
Duke Eddard suddenly remembered Glynn's advice and replied: "All southerners could be our enemies."
Morning, the sky was cloudy and heavy.
Duke Eddard sent someone to invite all the Master of Coin to the Prime Minister's study.
Barristan Selmy was the first to arrive, in a snow-white cloak and silver armor, utterly spotless.
Barristan first saluted, then said: "Hand Eddard, my duty now is to protect the young King. Please allow me to serve him."
Duke Eddard's face was serious: "Ser Barristan, your duty is here."
Soon after, Pycelle and Varys entered one after another.
Varys exuded a lavender scent, his plump face clean and freshly powdered, and his soft slippers made no sound.
"Hand Eddard, the little birds are singing sad songs. The whole country is weeping today."
Varys sat down and then said: "Shall we begin?"
Duke Eddard glanced at Varys, whose face was full of sorrow, and said: "Renly hasn't arrived yet."
Varys was surprised: "Did Lord Renly not get your permission?"
Duke Eddard frowned slightly and said: "What happened?"