Chapter 53: The Disdained Glyn
Stannis was silent for a moment, then said, "Send someone to investigate. I want to know everything he has been doing in King's Landing."
Davos nodded and accepted the order.
Stannis spoke again, "Would he serve me?"
Davos's steps faltered for a second before returning to normal. "Lord Stannis, the young Lord may not know you yet."
Stannis shot Davos a sharp glance. "Doesn't know me?"
Davos nodded slightly. "If he understood your noble character, Lord Glyn would surely have pledged his loyalty to you, not the Queen from House Lannister. The Lannister's wealth can easily blind a young man's eyes. I must say, you have lost the initial advantage."
Stannis snorted coldly. "Gold Dragons cannot buy loyalty."
Davos agreed, "Lord Stannis, Lord Glyn's political acumen and military capabilities are both outstanding. That is quite rare. He is worthy of your patience."
***
King's Landing, Hook Alley, Glyn's study.
Glyn's scheme had achieved its desired effect. Before long, Glyn smoothly took his leave of Princess Myrcella and returned to his residence on Hook Alley.
Glyn was staring at a large map spread out on his desk.
It was a map showing the route from King's Landing to the Kingswood, with detailed markings of the inns where the royal hunting party would stay overnight.
The Kingswood hunt was an event held for the noble ladies of the court. They all traveled in carriages, and their stamina had to be taken into account, so the party could not travel at the pace of an army on the march. The entire journey to the Kingswood hunt would take five days and four nights.
Glyn roughly estimated the distances on the map. The four inns were perfectly spaced for four nights of travel.
The Kingswood hunt was a royal event that had been held every two years since the time of the Targaryen dynasty.
Glyn deduced that a stable market had formed along this route, and the four inns where the Kingswood hunting party would lodge were a product of this market.
Glyn stroked his chin. Everything was based on precedent; the trivial details would be handled by experienced personnel. His main job was still to ensure the safety of the Kingswood hunting party. It seemed his work wouldn't be as tiring as he had imagined.
Glyn's long fingers tapped the location of the Kingswood on the map.
After arriving at the destination in the Kingswood, the entire party would set up camp and remain there until the seven-day hunt was over.
It seemed Glyn had found a way to use his Gold Dragons.
***
As evening approached, just as Glyn had finished arranging his affairs and let out a breath, Lancel Lannister, his cheeks slightly red and swollen, suddenly came to find him.
"Lancel, what happened to your face?"
Lancel tried to smile, but instead hissed and sucked in a sharp breath. "It was Prince Joffrey. I left the Red Keep as soon as the noon meal was over, but he sent someone to summon me back, saying he wanted me to teach him swordsmanship."
Glyn leaned back slightly in his chair, his tone laced with doubt. "Is it just my imagination, or do you seem to be in good spirits?"
Lancel saw Glyn's squire fill his cup. He reached out, took a large gulp of wine, and then said, "Prince Joffrey summoned me, and I couldn't refuse. I couldn't find my cousin Tyrion on such short notice, so I had no choice but to go. As a result..."
He paused, his face bitter, before continuing, "What happened after I saw Prince Joffrey... let's not talk about it. I want to forget it ever happened."
Glyn nodded slightly. "The part that comes after is the point, isn't it? What happened next?"
Lancel's tone became excited. "Fortunately, my cousin Cersei appeared just in time and happened to come across us."
Glyn said nothing, merely gesturing for Lancel to continue his story.
"My cousin Cersei saw the injuries on my face and compensated me."
Glyn put on a timely expression of curiosity. "Oh?"
"Once King Robert returns, I'm supposed to become his squire. As you know, the Kingswood hunt is an event organized by the Queen, and the King doesn't participate, so I would have had to miss it. But when my cousin Cersei saw that I had been injured by Prince Joffrey, she agreed to help me as compensation. She said I can join the Kingswood hunt and take up my duties as the King's squire after I return."
Perhaps it was a matter of personality, but Glyn could never share Lancel's enthusiasm for such noble activities.
Before Glyn could react, Lancel said with an ecstatic expression, "What a rare opportunity! Only during the Kingswood hunt can one see all the noble ladies of the Crownlands at once! The golden armor I brought from the Westerlands can finally be put to use. I have dreamed countless times of wearing my gleaming golden armor and meeting a beautiful, elegant lady in the lush Kingswood."
Glyn tilted his head back and laughed. "I hope your beautiful dream has a happy ending."
Because of the injuries to his face, Lancel didn't dare to laugh out loud. He could only chuckle lowly, which made his laughter sound rather lecherous.
***
Glyn asked, "Did you come here specifically to share your good news with me?"
Lancel leaned forward slightly. "Are you still in need of guards?"
Glyn's thoughts shifted, and he understood Lancel's purpose. "Lancel, you're planning your romantic encounter a bit quickly, aren't you?"
Lancel gave an embarrassed laugh. "Ah ha, you saw right through me!"
Glyn shrugged. "It wasn't difficult."
Glyn's tone grew a bit more serious. "Lancel, regarding your marriage, I'm sure your father has already made arrangements. As your friend, I must advise you to be careful. Protect yourself. Your family name can easily be exploited by those with ulterior motives."
Lancel's gaze went blank for a moment before he spoke. "Lord Glyn, what if I..."
Before Lancel could finish, Glyn cut him off. "I guarantee you will suffer a terrible fate."
Lancel was at an age for fantasizing about beautiful romances, so he asked, unwilling to give up, "How terrible could it be?"
"You don't want to know."
After replying, Glyn sighed softly, rose from his chair, and walked over to the somewhat dejected Lancel, patting his shoulder. "Lancel, do it for your House. Only with a quiet heart can you master your emotions."
He who wears the crown must bear its weight.
Though Glyn was comforting Lancel, it felt as if he were also speaking to himself.
Lancel looked up, his large eyes blinking as they fixed on Glyn.
Lancel's occasional gestures always made Glyn shudder inwardly. Glyn subtly increased the distance between them. "Lancel, don't be dejected. Think of pleasant things. Perhaps the Old Man of the Seven has already arranged everything for you."
It was a turn of phrase for the Seven that Tyrion was fond of, and Glyn had inevitably been influenced by him.
(end of chapter)
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