Still lightly clattering.
His bloodshot eyes stared at the lightly clattering candelabra ring. Joffrey skillfully strung and loaded another arrow, then... with a 'whoosh', the crossbow bolt again passed through it.
Then, after a few clicks, Joffrey reloaded the crossbow.
At that moment, the door was pushed open, and the figure of Ser Mandon Moore of the Kingsguard appeared. Joffrey aimed the crossbow in his hand at him.
Ser Mandon's lifeless, pale grey eyes seemed completely oblivious to the crossbow aimed at him. He walked straight up, clasped his chest, and said, "King."
Joffrey uninterestingly aimed the crossbow elsewhere and asked, "Have you found any news of Lady Margaery?"
Ser Mandon's voice seemed devoid of emotion. "I heard she is studying court etiquette every day, as advised by the Small Council."
Joffrey sneered, "She still needs to learn court etiquette? This must be my grandfather's arrangement again."
After a moment of silence, Ser Mandon said, "The King's wedding is less than a month away, and everyone is praising the future Rose Queen."
Joffrey's green eyes moved, and he looked at the Kingsguard, asking, "Praising what?"
Ser Mandon replied, "Every morning, she prays for the peace of the kingdom with the noblewomen and ladies. They say she will be the kindest queen in the Seven Kingdoms."
"Stupid woman, can't she see this is just a candy Tywin is using to play with her?"
Joffrey was very disappointed with the obedient Margaery. Thinking of his mother, who only advised him to endure, his heart churned with anger. "Cowardice has blinded their eyes. Endurance and cooperation... will only lead to more humiliation."
Having said that, the crossbow in his hand suddenly pointed at Ser Mandon. "Why do you keep appearing before me lately?"
Facing the sudden question, Ser Mandon's expression and tone remained unchanged. "I sense danger. My duty is to protect the King."
Whoosh!
The crossbow bolt almost grazed Ser Mandon's cheek, but he did not move a muscle.
Seeing this, King Joffrey chuckled. "Very good, I believe in your loyalty now."
He stood up and stepped closer. "I have something for you to do, Ser."
After a pause, Ser Mandon's thin lips parted. "Please command."
"Secretly tell Duke Green that I want to see him."
Joffrey's whites of his eyes were streaked with fine blood vessels. He stared at Ser Mandon. "You go find him, and he comes to see me. Both must be hidden from Tywin's eyes, understand?"
Ser Mandon seemed to ponder for a moment before replying, "It might take a few days."
This answer made Joffrey chuckle. "Very good, you are very clever. When this is over, I will reward you, Ser Mandon."
Before leaving, Ser Mandon suddenly said, "King, your uncle has sent people three times. I heard he wanted to see you, but he was driven away by my Kingsguard brothers and the Red Cloaks."
Joffrey asked in confusion, "Uncle?"
Ser Mandon nodded slightly and replied, "Tyrion Lannister."
Hearing this, Joffrey paused, then sneered, "The ridiculous Imp, does he still think I'll pardon him?"
"If that were truly the case, there would be no need to deliberately prevent you from meeting, King."
Having said that, Ser Mandon clasped his chest, his snow-white cloak swished, and he walked away.
Joffrey blinked. If not to beg for mercy, then what? Was he going to confess to the King before he died?
A bit puzzled, Joffrey habitually looked behind him... The Hound wasn't there.
He immediately became angry. What a useless fellow, he broke his leg in a fight!
Click, click, stringing and loading an arrow.
When Joffrey again aimed at the lion banner hanging on the wall, he paused slightly. Could it be that Tywin didn't want Dwarf to see him?
Why would Tywin obstruct it?
With a 'whoosh', the crossbow bolt Joffrey fired struck the lion's head on the lion banner.
Joffrey admired his achievement with satisfaction. At this moment... he had forgotten that little suspicion... Two days later in the morning, today was Tyrion's day of trial.
Perhaps because he had finally finished Tysha's portrait with the painter last night, Tyrion had a good appetite. The boiled eggs, fried bacon, and fried bread brought by the jailer were all eaten by him.
He took a delightful sip of the summer red, which exuded a fruity aroma. He was still thinking that he should relieve himself beforehand, otherwise, requesting a pause during the trial due to "discomfort" would make Dwarf seem to be disrespecting those noble people.
Actually, he was more worried that those people wouldn't believe him and would insist on him performing urination or defecation in front of everyone.
Well... it wasn't impossible. He thought that the Grand Maester writing the true history would certainly not miss such an interesting and impressive scene.
Never mind... Tyrion sat for a while, then dutifully walked to a corner of the cell, sat on the toilet, and, frowning, covered his mouth and nose as he "emptied" himself.
It was already unfortunate enough that Tysha's husband was a despicable and cowardly Imp; he couldn't bring her any more ridicule and trouble.
He also had to prepare a spacious and warm castle for Tysha, numerous servants, beautiful dresses and sparkling jewelry, and hire the best chefs in the Seven Kingdoms.
Most importantly, before finding Tysha, he needed to possess the power to no longer let her be harmed.
It seemed that across the Seven Kingdoms... Tyrion had to admit, he only had one path left: desperately currying favor with Greene.
Thankfully, that man was not interested in Dwarf's * *.
The surrounding air was filled with a pungent stench, but thinking of his wife, Tyrion could still grin and even chuckled aloud.
When Tyrion changed his clothes and stepped out of the cell, he saw Ser Adam and a dozen Gold Cloaks waiting outside.
He looked around with his hands behind his back and said, "I thought my amiable father would send the Kingsguard to escort me. Has he forgotten that I am the King's uncle?"
Ser Adam stood to the side. "Lord Tyrion, the Kingsguard's primary duty is to protect the King. Furthermore, Duke Tywin believes that you are a member of the royal family, and if other nobles were to see you escorted by the Kingsguard at this time, it would cause unwarranted suspicion about the fairness of today's trial."
"Me at this time? I like that phrasing. The Seven Gods, he old... cough, the Gods above, Lord Tywin always considers things so thoroughly."
Tyrion grinned, "Then please, lead me to court, Ser Adam."
Arriving at the great doors of the Throne Room, Ser Adam pushed open the bronze oak doors first, leading Tyrion onto the long red carpet that connected to the Iron Throne.
Buzz!
Hundreds of nobles had come to witness today's trial. The moment Tyrion appeared, all eyes in the hall focused on him.
Tyrion walked with a limp, but he strolled with his hands behind his back, occasionally glancing at the crowds on both sides. His mismatched black and green eyes spotted many familiar faces.
In the spectator stands were many Dornish nobles, glaring angrily. He actually wanted to smile kindly at them, but... he held back. He worried that if he provoked them, they would rush over recklessly. Now... he valued his life more than before.
The Iron Throne was empty; Joffrey was not seen, which caused Tyrion's eyes to subtly twitch.
Below the Iron Throne was a raised platform built for today's trial.
Tyrion's gaze shifted there. Duke Tywin, in a red tunic with a black cloak, sat in the center. To his right was Lord Mace, in a green tunic with a gold cloak, and to his left was Duke Green, in a white tunic with a blue cloak.
"Silence! Silence! Silence!"
The trial began with the prayers of the monks, who invoked the Father to preside over justice.
After the prayers, the Lord Steward proclaimed loudly, "Silence! The trial of Tyrion Lannister — accused of the murder of — Oberyn Nymeros Martell — begins. Presiding judges are — Duke Tywin Lannister — Duke Mace Tyrell — and Duke Greene Crabb. The recorder of the trial is — Grand Maester Pycelle. May the Gods above bear witness."
No sooner had the Lord Steward's words finished than Duke Tywin leaned forward, gazing down, and said, "Tyrion, did you kill Prince Oberyn?"
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