Outside the Throne Room, dark clouds gathered, portending an impending downpour.
Inside the Throne Room, candlelight flickered.
Varys slowly began, "Renly left most of his infantry at Bitterbridge. Most of the lords and knights who rushed to Storms End with him have defected to Stannis."
Queen Regent Cersei took a sip of summer red from her cup, frowned, and said, "Varys, I don't mind the Small Council becoming even smaller."
She put down her cup and added, "I want specific intelligence. Remember that!"
Varys shivered, immediately dropping the 'profound and inscrutable' expression from his face, and said, "The more than ten thousand cavalry from Storms End are now Stannis's. This is almost all the heavy cavalry in the entire South."
He continued, "As for the several thousand sellswords Renly originally hired, they should still be waiting for Stannis's generosity."
Grand Maester Pycelle's tone carried a hint of sarcasm: "It must be the Florent who led the way. Many know that family is a chameleon."
Varys chuckled, "Maester Pycelle, you guessed right. The first to defect was indeed Earl Allister Florent of Brightwater Keep, and most of the lords followed suit."
Tyrion suddenly asked, "Most? You mean not all?"
Varys nodded slightly and said, "Not including Randyll Tarly and Matus Rowan. The two of them led the knights who refused to join Stannis back to Bitterbridge."
Tyrion grinned, "Finally, some good news."
Varys smiled and said, "Renly's queen, the Little Rose of Highgarden, is still at Bitterbridge, where eighty thousand infantry are gathered."
Shaking his head slightly, he continued, "So many soldiers have not only lost their king, but many of the lords they served have defected to Stannis at Storms End. I imagine they are now at a loss as to what to do. How pitiful."
Tyrion's eyes moved, and his upper body unconsciously leaned slightly forward: "In my opinion, this is our opportunity. Everyone loved Renly, but Stannis is not. We can win over Highgarden."
As Tyrion's words fell, silence descended, then Queen Regent Cersei coldly said, "My Prime Minister, does the Golden Rose love Lannister?"
Tyrion grinned, "Obviously, that's unlikely..."
His tone shifted, and he said seriously, "Renly, whom they adored, is dead. As long as we can prove that Joffrey is even slightly better than Stannis, that will be enough."
The Lioness's emerald eyes trembled, and the hand under the table clenched into a fist.
Varys seemed very curious: "Prime Minister Tyrion, how will this be proven?"
"I believe the late Renly has set a very good example for us..."
Tyrion's gaze swept over everyone, and he continued, "We will secure an alliance with the Golden Rose through marriage."
Maester Pycelle glanced at the silent Queen Regent Cersei and stammered, "Prime Minister, you want King Joffrey to marry Margaery Tyrell?"
Queen Regent Cersei looked coldly at Tyrion. His sister's gaze made him a little flustered, and he quickly offered what he thought was a docile smile as his response.
She mocked, "Tyrion, you're truly delusional. Have you forgotten Loras Tyrell and Garlan Tyrell?"
Tyrion shrugged and replied, "Of course I remember. Father's big dog caused an unfortunate incident."
Queen Regent Cersei snorted and said, "So, you're still naive."
Tyrion smiled, "The Little Rose of Bitterbridge has just lost her newlywed husband... From another perspective, the Golden Rose is in need of comfort right now. They need comfort that is very sincere."
Cersei Lannister's eyes trembled. She had not forgotten the witch's prophecy: 'You will be queen until another, younger and more beautiful, comes to cast you down and take all that you hold dear.'
When they first met at Maegors Holdfast (Chapter 112), Cersei had suspected Margaery was the woman in the prophecy who would take everything from her.
Later, when Margaery married Renly, she dismissed that suspicion.
Now, Cersei felt the witch's prophecy drawing closer step by step.
...
To become my son's queen?! To take everything from me?! Margaery Tyrell's fate will only be to turn to dust!
Queen Regent Cersei's eyes were filled with cold light: "Marry my son to a woman filled with hatred? Who knows when her fire of hatred will ignite? At a lively banquet or in the bedchamber late at night?"
Tyrion joked, "The Little Rose of Highgarden is very charming. Joffrey would be very willing to share a bed with her. All men would be jealous..."
Queen Regent Cersei interrupted angrily, "Enough! What do you take my son for? You ugly Dwarf!"
Tyrion's smile instantly vanished, his mismatched eyes fixed unblinkingly on Queen Regent Cersei.
After a pause, he said word by word, "Queen Regent, this is the Small Council!"
Queen Regent Cersei scoffed and said contemptuously, "Be a good puppet. I warned you."
"My dear sister, if you keep this up, I'll get really angry!"
"How ridiculous. You dare to threaten me? Are you planning to complain to Father again?"
"Perhaps, this time it will be a different surprise, my dear sister."
Cersei glared at Tyrion, and Tyrion calmly returned her gaze. The atmosphere was tense, the siblings unyielding.
Cersei's voice was cold: "I can have you thrown into the Black Cells right now."
Tyrion grinned, "I don't think you can."
"Cough, cough..."
The new Master of Coin, Earl Gyles Rosby, who had been silent, coughed softly a few times and said, "Your Grace, I think the marriage alliance proposed by the Prime Minister is worth a try. Our biggest enemy is Stannis, and relying solely on our current forces, it will be very difficult to defend King's Landing."
Varys also advised, "Queen Regent Cersei, you have a mother's heart, but we, who presume to govern, must prioritize our kingdom in all matters and temporarily set aside our own desires."
He paused, then said solemnly, "This might be the only way for King Joffrey to live until his wedding night."
The siblings' 'affectionate' gaze ended, and Queen Regent Cersei leaned back in her chair. She remained unmoved: "Say what you will, but my son is proud by nature. He will never like Renly's leftovers, and he will never agree to this marriage."
Tyrion spoke, "Until Joffrey comes of age, you are his Queen Regent, and I am his Prime Minister. Whoever we tell him to marry, he must marry, even if it's leftovers, he can only make do."
Everyone was watching Cersei Lannister, who sat upright.
After a long silence, Queen Regent Cersei's eyes suddenly moved, and she said, "You arrange it. If this angers Joffrey, you'll have to pray to the gods."
The change in Queen Regent Cersei's expression did not escape Tyrion's eyes. What new trick was his self-proclaimed clever sister up to now?!
As Queen Regent Cersei's words fell, Tyrion immediately interjected without thinking too much, "I'm glad we've reached a consensus."
Seeing his sister about to speak, the good brother spoke first, "We need to choose a good envoy. We need to make the Golden Rose happily marry their Little Rose here."
Tyrion's gaze swept over his sister, who looked as if she wanted to devour him, and then over the other Master of Coin present.
Everyone was deep in thought. Queen Regent Cersei's beautiful eyes turned to the Dwarf Prime Minister, and a charming smile appeared on her face: "We'll send Ser Jacelyn Bywater (the current Commander of the Gold Cloaks) south. He's trustworthy, isn't he, my Prime Minister?"
Tyrion blinked... My dear sister, do I look that easy to fool? Can't your schemes be a little more clever?!
Tyrion grinned... It seems his sister has finally realized that the Gold Cloaks have been taken by her obedient brother? Too bad... It's too late!
He shook his head slightly and said seriously, "Queen Regent Cersei, what we need is not a messenger. The envoy we send must be able to negotiate with the Golden Rose on behalf of the King and the Small Council, and get things done quickly."
His gaze swept over those present again, and he continued, "Stannis won't leave us much time."
After another period of silence, Queen Regent Cersei's voice sounded: "The Prime Minister is the King's spokesman, so... you are the most suitable candidate. It will be as if Joffrey himself were there."
Her voice became very gentle: "My Tyrion, your tongue is as sharp as Jaime's sword. Where else could we find a better candidate?"
If he leaves now, he'll never come back, will he? Why does my sister always mistakenly think everyone else is stupid... Tyrion mused to himself.
"You flatter me..."
Tyrion replied with a smile, "Sister Cersei, actually, in my opinion, for arranging a child's marriage, a mother is more suitable than an uncle..."
The corners of his mouth turned up: "Besides, you have a talent for making friends. I greatly admire your skill."
Flames flickered in the Lioness's eyes, and the siblings once again exchanged a 'deeply affectionate' gaze.
"If Earl Glynn were here..." Varys's voice eased the heavy atmosphere.
Tyrion's eyes moved, and his gaze shifted to Varys, who had a faint smile on his face. He narrowed his eyes slightly.
Meeting everyone's varied gazes, Varys slowly said, "Duke Mace is very fond of Earl Glynn. Everyone says they are like father and son."
He sighed softly, then continued, "If he were still at the Red Keep, he would be the best candidate to go to the Golden Rose."
After a pause, Varys smiled faintly and added, "Earl Glynn's tongue is also as sharp as Ser Jaime's sword skills."
Grand Maester Pycelle's expression was complex, and Master of Coin Earl Gyles spoke up, "Your Grace, Prime Minister, we must indeed treat this marriage alliance with caution, so the person we send should ideally be someone the Golden Rose can trust."
Cersei's voice contained dissatisfaction: "Varys, where is Glynn now?"
Before Varys could reply, Tyrion spoke first, "Sister Cersei, wasn't Glynn sent to the Eyrie to capture Lysa Tully and Robert Arryn, by your son's command?"
The Lioness barely managed to suppress the urge to rush over and slap Tyrion. She said angrily, "This is all your conspiracy, isn't it?"
Tyrion was slightly stunned. Did his sister misunderstand something?
His eyes shifted... She must know that the order for Glynn to go to the Eyrie to capture people came after I met Joffrey... Does she think I deliberately moved her sword away? From the result... it really is indefensible!
In Queen Regent Cersei's gaze, Tyrion's expression at that moment revealed a guilty conscience, and her hands involuntarily clenched.
Soon after, she revealed a hint of a smile. Can a conspiracy that she sees through still be called a conspiracy?!
Queen Regent Cersei raised her chin slightly and said, "Bring Glynn back."
The Lioness's gaze, full of warning, slowly swept over everyone and said, "I want Glynn back, immediately! No one is allowed to stop him, otherwise..."
She raised her voice and said, "Hear me roar!"
...
...
Outside the Prime Ministers Tower, in the pavilion, Bronn led a dozen Gold Cloaks who stood Wai around the outside. Inside the pavilion stood Tyrion and Varys.
Tyrion gazed at the respectfully expressioned Varys and said, "I always thought you were my ally, Lord Varys!"
Varys's plump face showed a flicker of confusion. He bowed slightly and said, "Prime Minister Tyrion, I am at your command."
Through the thick dark clouds, sunlight briefly peeked through, making Tyrion's golden nose shine.
He said with a grim face, "Varys, you've been making quite a few small moves recently... Your goal is to get Glynn back, isn't it?"
As Tyrion's words fell, a momentary panic appeared on Varys's face. He quickly shook his head and said, "It must be my improper actions that caused your misunderstanding, my Prime Minister."
Tyrion was unmoved by Varys's denial. He raised a hand, and the Gold Cloaks outside all turned to face the direction of the two men, their hands on the hilts of their longswords.
"Lord Varys, I'm giving you a chance. Let me know what your purpose is."
Varys calmly glanced at the Gold Cloaks surrounding them and said, "My Prime Minister, I must admit you truly have sharp insight."
He sighed, "I will be frank with you, but this matter is only for your ears."
Tyrion stared at the sincere-looking Varys for a moment, then made a gesture, and the Gold Cloaks retreated.
After a pause, Varys began, "Prime Minister Tyrion, our Queen Regent has already sensed that she has lost control of the Gold Cloaks."
Tyrion stared unblinkingly at Varys and said, "I haven't reached out to the Gold Cloaks in the Red Keep."
Varys sighed again, "Many people willingly become Queen Regent Cersei's eyes and ears. Your actions cannot be hidden from her, and she doesn't trust Ser Lancel very much."
Tyrion raised an eyebrow and said, "So?"
Varys moved slightly closer to Tyrion, lowering his voice, and said, "My little birds tell me they saw the Lioness recruiting some strange monks. I smell danger there, my Prime Minister."
...
...
In the Prime Ministers study, Tyrion picked up the letter his small attendant had just delivered. He glanced at the golden wax seal on it, then opened the envelope.
The content was still about Myrcella's marriage alliance, but the Old Lion, far away in Harrenhal, had changed the plan.
Princess Myrcella's intended spouse was no longer the House Martell of Sunspear, as Tyrion had suggested, but had been changed to—Robert Arryn of the Eyrie.
Why the sudden change of mind? The benevolent Father had not explained the reason for this in the letter; he only gave cold, hard commands.
After some thought, Tyrion felt a headache coming on, and he couldn't help but run his hand through his hair.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
[patreon.com/TripleCrown07]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"