Sansa Stark shook her head frantically, her eyes welling up with tears: "Count Kleber, I didn't know. I only knew that my father was sending us away. The Queen Regent can testify for me."
Kleber raised an eyebrow: "Your Grace, the Queen Regent, why would you testify for a rebel's daughter?"
Upon hearing Kleber's words, Sansa's hot tears began to stream down her face, and she collapsed weakly: "No! He would never do such a thing, this must be a misunderstanding!"
Kleber pressed on: "Didn't you see it with your own eyes this morning? The blood in the Throne Room hasn't been wiped clean yet. Shall I take you to refresh your memory?"
Sansa was in tears, both heartbroken and terrified… Why would her father do such a thing? Would she truly become a rebel's daughter? Could she still love Joffrey?!
She shouted: "That's his own mistake, it has nothing to do with me!"
Kleber had originally intended to directly hint at Sansa… that Kleber never forgets… but he now abandoned his original plan; love had already blinded the young girl's mind.
Until she realized the true faces of Cersei and Joffrey, Kleber could not offer her his hand.
… … … …
Thump ~ Thump ~ Every one of Kleber's footsteps made Sansa's heart pound faster. He crouched down and clamped one hand on her cheek.
"How amusing. The father is a rebel, and the daughter betrays her own father. Are they truly of the same bloodline?"
Sansa wanted to shake her head in denial, but Kleber's hand was like a vice, preventing her head from moving.
"No, no, no."
Sansa desperately denied it. She remembered that Count Kleber was a very good person; why was he treating her like this and accusing her of crimes?
Sansa pleaded weakly: "Please, please let me go. I truly know nothing."
"Miss Sansa, your current appearance has only slightly calmed my anger."
Kleber's hand released Sansa's cheek, and he continued: "Without Duke Eddard, who would care about your feelings?"
Kleber's ear twitched, and he slowly stood up.
He looked down at Sansa and said coldly: "This is your current situation. Do you understand?"
Sansa cautiously glanced at the unfamiliar Kleber, and stammered: "I… I understand."
"Tell me, where is Arya Stark?"
How would she know where Arya ran off to? Sansa felt it was utterly unfair; why was everything being blamed on her?!
Seeing Sansa's silence, Kleber's face grew cold.
Sansa had already resolved to be a lady, to be as gentle as the Queen and as resolute as her mother, but the Kleber before her frightened her greatly, and her body couldn't help but tremble.
"Please, let me go, I truly…"
The door suddenly pushed open, interrupting Sansa's sobs.
Kleber turned his head to look. Cersei Lannister walked in, followed by Ser Boros Blount and Ser Meryn of the Kingsguard.
Ser Boros from the The Crownlands and Ser Meryn from the Stormlands were both members of Robert I's Kingsguard. Rumor had it that they had secretly pledged allegiance to Cersei even while Robert I was still alive.
And… Lancel, at the very back, waved at Kleber, indicating that he definitely hadn't snitched!
Kleber bowed: "Good day, Queen Regent Cersei."
Queen Regent Cersei glanced sideways at Kleber. She walked over, helped Sansa up, and held her in her arms.
Queen Regent Cersei's gentleness made Sansa choke up: "Your Majesty, please believe me, I truly know nothing."
Queen Regent Cersei gently patted Sansa's back, comforting her: "My poor child, how could I not believe you?"
After speaking, she looked at Kleber.
Queen Regent Cersei accused: "Count Kleber, how can you interrogate Miss Sansa privately? She is not a prisoner."
Kleber said helplessly: "Empress Cersei, I merely wished to inquire about some matters with Miss Sansa. The surprise Duke Eddard sent has made me uneasy."
Queen Regent Cersei's face showed a look of disdain, and she murmured: "The Direwolf's petty tricks are truly clumsy…"
Saying this, she stroked Sansa's beautiful hair and said: "Count Kleber, I believe Sansa is innocent, and I do not wish for this child to be unnecessarily frightened."
Kleber looked at Queen Regent Cersei and said respectfully: "As you command, my Queen Regent."
At this moment, Sansa felt very safe, obediently nestled in Cersei's embrace.
"Alright, you rest well for now."
… … … …
… … … …
The Red Keep, dungeons.
Eddard saw a youthful Robert, tall and handsome, wearing a stag helmet, wielding a warhammer, and riding on horseback like a horned giant god.
Robert's hearty laughter came from the darkness, his eyes clear blue, like a mountain lake.
"Seven Hells…"
Robert seemed to sigh with emotion: "Ned, we once defeated the Targaryen together and won the Iron Throne… You're imprisoned here, and I was killed by a wild boar. How did we end up like this?"
Duke Eddard couldn't open his mouth, couldn't make a sound.
He could only scream in his heart: Robert, my good friend, my brother, I'm sorry, I deceived you, I concealed the truth, it was I who killed you.
"You stubborn fool, I sought my own death, and you sought your own death too."
Eddard realized that Robert could actually hear his thoughts.
Robert cursed: "Ned, you're just arrogant, you just won't listen. Can pride be eaten? Can honor protect your children?"
Eddard: You're right to scold me, I am a hopelessly foolish fellow. Robert, I think we'll meet soon.
"Get out, don't disturb Lyanna and me! Damn fellow, I don't want to see your ugly face yet."
An old friend is leaving, and you can't stop him no matter what.
"Robert!"
… … … …
Duke Eddard woke up from his dream, and after a while, he slowly came to his senses… Where was this? There was no light at all, and the straw beneath him reeked of urine.
Duke Eddard reached out and touched the cold stone wall. He was no different from a blind man now, or rather, no different from a dead man.
The King feasts, the Master of Coin defecates.
The King dies, the Master of Coin is buried with him.
Duke Eddard felt that this was a good place to be buried, very suitable for a damned fool like him.
He had lost this game of power, and his subordinates had paid the price for his foolishness with their blood and lives.
"In the game of power, if you don't win, there's only death."
He vaguely heard Cersei's mocking voice. Duke Eddard's eyelids grew heavier and heavier, as if pressed down by an irresistible weight.
My children… Duke Eddard's cracked lips trembled slightly, and he fell into a coma again.
… … … …
… … … …
Maegor's Holdfast, small hall.
Lancel saw that Kleber had no intention of troubling him, and remembering their past friendship, his racing heart gradually calmed down… Lancel regained his valiant image in front of Cersei.
Queen Regent Cersei stood by the window, with Kleber and Lancel behind her. Two Kingsguard members stood alert in the distance.
Kleber glanced at Lancel, who was engrossed in playing knight, then lowered his eyes and remained motionless.
… … … …
After a while, Queen Regent Cersei's voice drifted over.
"You heard it too, didn't you? Janos Slynt is dead…"
Saying this, Queen Regent Cersei turned around, her emerald eyes looking at Kleber.
Kleber's eyes trembled slightly, and he said respectfully: "Queen Regent Cersei, Count Slynt betrayed your trust."
Queen Regent Cersei showed a satisfied expression.
"Count Kleber, why do you say that?"
"You had already planned everything. If not for his recklessness, he should now be awaiting your reward and assisting you in winning over the Gold Cloaks' loyalty."
Queen Regent Cersei was momentarily stunned, but quickly regained her normal expression.
Queen Regent Cersei walked up to Kleber and said: "Kleber, will you satisfy me then?"
Kleber placed his hand on his chest, his voice trembling slightly: "Empress Cersei, I am loyal only to you."
Lancel, seeing the Queen Regent's closeness to Kleber, felt very jealous. Hearing their conversation, he thought Kleber was very foolish; the Queen Regent was clearly asking if he could satisfy her, but he only expressed his loyalty.
Before Lancel could finish gloating, the content he heard next stunned him.
… … … …
After hearing Kleber's reply, Queen Regent Cersei slightly lifted her chin and curved her lips.
"Count Kleber, starting today, you are the Commander of the Gold Cloaks."
Kleber knelt on one knee, suppressing his excitement, and said: "Empress Cersei, Kleber will forever remember your grace."
Lancel looked at this scene in disbelief, temporarily forgetting to close his gaping mouth.
Queen Regent Cersei turned, walked to the table in the small hall, and sat down, pulling out a blank parchment.
"Rise."
Cersei picked up a quill and dipped it in ink. As she wrote, she said: "Count Kleber, are your troops sufficient?"
After Kleber stood up, he slightly nodded in Cersei's direction: "Empress Cersei, in ten days at most, you will command 8,000 swords."
Swish, swish, swish, the quill moved, and Queen Regent Cersei said nothing more.
… … … …
After the appointment letter for Kleber as Commander of the Gold Cloaks was written, Queen Regent Cersei signed at the end: Protector of the Realm, Queen Regent, Cersei of the Lannister.
… … … …
… … … …
The next day, Maegor's Holdfast, council chamber.
The long table in the hall was piled with papers and candles. Queen Regent Cersei sat at the head, Sansa stood beside the Queen Regent, and Grand Maester Pycelle and Master of Whisperers Varys sat on either side.
Cersei's tone held regret: "Sansa, we found this on a Stark guard. The recipient is my deceased husband's brother, Stannis Baratheon, and the letter invites him to seize the throne."
The letter on the table was torn to shreds, stained with dried blood. Sansa spotted the Direwolf sigil… A sudden panic made her feel dizzy.
Pycelle slightly widened his sleepy eyes: "We heard Duke Eddard swear to King Robert that he would protect the young prince and treat him as his own son. We never expected that as soon as King Robert died, he would immediately summon his retainers, attempting to usurp the throne that rightfully belongs to Joffrey."
Varys showed a frightened expression: "I never imagined Duke Eddard would rebel for power. It's truly unbelievable."
Sansa was both confused and terrified: "Your Majesty, the Queen Regent, please, send for my father. He will explain to you. He is King Robert's friend, he would never write such a letter."
"Robert thought the same way. If he were still alive, this matter would surely break his heart. Thankfully, the gods are merciful and didn't let him see it before he died."
Queen Regent Cersei sighed softly and then said: "Sansa, my dear child, I know this is a heavy matter for you, but you must also know how difficult this makes things for us. We all understand that this has nothing to do with you, but you are, after all, a rebel's daughter. How can I possibly let you marry my son?"
A rebel's daughter… Yesterday, Sansa had heard these words from Kleber. Would she also be judged? And could she still marry Joffrey?!
Sansa was sobbing: "Queen Regent, but I love Joffrey."
Things shouldn't have turned out this way… Hadn't the Queen Regent already agreed to her marriage with Joffrey? She had even dreamed of their wedding… Would she and Joffrey be cruelly separated just because of her father's actions?
"My child, don't cry anymore."
Queen Regent Cersei looked at Pycelle and Varys with a troubled expression and said: "Pycelle, Varys, what are your thoughts on Sansa's situation?"
Varys showed a look of reluctance. He said softly: "What a pitiful child… Your Majesty, this is such pure devotion. It would be too cruel not to agree… But then again, her father did commit such a great crime… Alas, what else can we do?"
Pycelle slowly began to speak: "Your Majesty, since Sansa Stark is a rebel's offspring, I fear the rebellious nature may have taken root in her heart. She is a lovely, good child now, but what about ten years from now?"
He shook his head slightly, looked at Sansa, and finally said: "No one can say."
"No!"
Sansa said in horror: "I'm not, I wouldn't… I would never betray Joffrey, I love him, I swear I truly love him."
Varys sighed with emotion: "Oh, how heartbreaking… But ultimately, it's always unsettling, after all, oaths are not as reliable as blood."
Sansa turned her pleading gaze towards the Queen Regent.
Queen Regent Cersei was clearly troubled for her, but Sansa noticed the loving kindness in the Queen Regent's clear emerald eyes, which rekindled her hope.
"Your Majesty, I certainly don't have rebel blood. I've always been very obedient, you can ask Maester Mordane and she'll tell you. I promise, I only want to be Joffrey's loyal, good wife."
Queen Cersei scrutinized the earnest Sansa for a moment and said gently: "My child, I believe everything you say is true."
Sansa cried and laughed: "Your Majesty, thank you, I will never betray Joffrey, I swear I truly love him."
Queen Regent Cersei smiled and nodded. She turned her head and looked: "Pycelle, Varys, my two Master of Coin, this child Sansa is almost breaking my heart… In my opinion, since it was Duke Stark's actions alone, if Sansa's family in Winterfell is willing to swear fealty to Joffrey's Iron Throne, then we need not worry about her."