Duke Tywin's cold, green eyes looked down at his Dwarf son. "Tyrion, do you admit that you killed Prince Oberyn?"
Tyrion looked up at the Old Lion on the high platform. "I've seen enough of this shameless performance…"
Duke Tywin coldly interrupted, "Just answer my question."
After a pause, Tyrion grinned, "I plead guilty, a terrible crime. Do you want to hear it?"
Duke Tywin stared intently at Tyrion but didn't speak.
Seeing this, Lord Mace stroked his beard and said, "Tyrion Lannister, in the presence of the Gods, please truthfully confess your crimes."
Tyrion's gaze didn't waver, a mocking arc appearing on his lips. "The crime I committed is more terrible than murder. My crime is being born a Dwarf, and for that, I repent."
"Absurd!"
Duke Tywin scoffed and continued, "Are you trying to escape your crimes this way? This is not a trial of a Dwarf."
Hearing this, Tyrion suddenly stepped forward and looked directly at the Old Lion. "Wrong, Lord Tywin. My very existence is the original sin. My entire life has been a trial of a Dwarf, and today's farce is just one part of it."
"Farce…"
Duke Tywin tapped his finger on the armrest of his chair, gazing at Tyrion.
Gritting his teeth, his voice was like the coming of winter. "Have you lost your mind, Tyrion?"
Tyrion met the Old Lion's sharp gaze without fear, a grin on his face. "I am clearer than ever, Lord Tywin."
On the second floor, Cersei looked at the Dwarf who was still trying to use sophistry to escape his guilt, a hint of disdainful sneer on her face. She gently raised her hand.
Seeing Cersei's gesture, on the spectator stands on the other side of the hall, Brother Olidor, one of the High Septons of the Great Sept of Baelor, slowly rose.
The hall immediately fell silent. He pointed his hand at Tyrion and declared, "This man is defying the laws of the kingdom and a just trial! The Gods will never forgive him!"
The High Septon's voice immediately ignited the crowd's anger, and the hall was filled with cries of "May the Gods punish him severely!"
Tyrion recognized the seemingly benevolent High Septon Olidor. This man was also one of the candidates for the former High Septon. At that time… he, as acting Hand of the King, chose another candidate to be the new High Septon (Cersei sent Osney to smother him with a pillow).
This High Septon had always held a grudge against the Dwarf Hand of the King… Although he hadn't chosen to support Olidor as the new High Septon at the time, he actually quite liked him. They had met many times in brothels.
Tyrion looked up at the second floor. Perhaps… his good sister had promised High Septon Olidor something. To cut off the Dwarf's big head, Cersei was truly doing her best.
At this moment, Daven also looked upstairs. Leyton had reported to him that High Septon Olidor was one of the most likely candidates to become the next High Septon. It seemed he had actively sided with Queen Mother Cersei, hoping to quickly surpass other competitors and ascend to the position of High Septon.
"Silence! Silence! Silence!"
Once the hall gradually quieted down, Duke Tywin whispered a few words to Duke Daven and Lord Mace, then announced, "The trial is suspended."
He stood up. "In one hour, the bells will ring for the resumption of court."
The Lord Steward chanted, "Adjourned—!"
Everyone rose, watching the three presiding Dukes leave one after another.
As their figures disappeared, the hall instantly erupted into a clamor. Tyrion glanced at a fleeting white cloak in the distance.
Amidst the curses and noise, Tyrion closed his eyes and sang softly.
He rode through the city streets, leaving the high hill.
His horse trod over cobblestone alleys, taking him to the maiden's side.
She was his treasured darling, his shy hope.
Necklaces and castles are empty, not as good as a maiden's kiss.
...…
A small room in the Throne Room.
Jaime Lannister strode in. He came before Duke Tywin and said in anguish, "Father, are you truly going to execute your own son?"
"Jaime."
Duke Tywin looked up from the trial records in his hand at his eldest son and said, "Tyrion is not dead yet. The trial is not over."
He put down the thick parchment and added, "I granted your request to delay your departure with the troops and attend the trial, so you should play your role well."
Ser Jaime clenched his fist and said, "Tyrion is not wrong. This is a farce, a farce manipulated by Cersei from behind the scenes."
He tightened his fist. "Father, you know, those laughable things can never escape your eyes."
Duke Tywin leaned back in his chair, stared at Jaime for a moment, and said, "I know nothing of your conjectures. I only consider whether the testimonies of those witnesses can convict Tyrion."
After a pause, Jaime suddenly said loudly, "You have always disliked Tyrion, so you let Cersei find those so-called witnesses!"
Duke Tywin also raised his voice, "Everyone believes Tyrion killed the Prince of Dorne!"
Facing his father's wrath, Jaime did not back down. "I also killed a king!"
Duke Tywin's chest slowly rose and fell. He gazed for a moment and said, "Everyone is waiting for me to preside over justice."
Jaime seemed to find it amusing. "Justice? As soon as Tyrion tries to defend himself, someone immediately jumps out, shouting for his death. What kind of justice is that?"
"Jaime."
Duke Tywin picked up his wine glass and said coldly, "I am fulfilling my duty as Hand of the King."
He took a sip of the wine in his glass and added, "If Tyrion cannot prove his innocence, I must punish him according to the laws of the kingdom. As Captain of the Kingsguard, don't you understand this principle?"
After a long silence, Jaime whispered, "Tyrion will be executed, won't he?"
Duke Tywin put down his wine glass, shook his head slightly, and said, "He will be punished according to his crime, Jaime."
Jaime slowly exhaled, looking at the stern-faced Old Lion, and said, "Father, you once taught me that family is inheritance, that it continues forever. If Tyrion dies, what will happen to the Lannister family?"
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right nobut who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/TripleCrown
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"