Sansa left the room, leaving the space to the two of them.
She didn't want Lynn to dislike her because of her rudeness.
After Sansa left, Liana finally looked up.
In her clear blue eyes, there was no longer the adoration and admiration she showed Joffrey, but an undisguised ambition.
Lynn's eyebrows raised slightly, and he watched her with interest.
This uncut jade he had discovered in a brothel seemed even more interesting than he had anticipated.
Not only was she beautiful, but she was also quick-witted.
Indeed.
Such small figures often suffered more setbacks than anyone else.
It was hard not to grow up quickly.
"So what do you want?"
"I want a chance."
Liana's voice was steady and clear, every word ringing true.
"A chance to control my own destiny."
"Gold Dragons will be spent, will be stolen."
"Prince Joffrey's favor can also disappear at any time."
"I want to learn something."
She looked up, her gaze burning as she looked at Lynn.
"Learn the things that will ensure I am never trampled underfoot by others again, never have to crawl back into the mud."
Lynn smiled.
He admired intelligent women, and even more so, ambitious intelligent women.
Liana was very clear about her situation.
She was currently Joffrey's most cherished toy, but toys eventually get boring.
When Joffrey's novelty wore off, when he found a new 'true love'.
Then her fate as a 'former' would likely be ten thousand times more miserable than in the brothel.
Liana had to find a real way out for herself.
And Lynn, standing before her, was her only way out.
"You are very clever."
Lynn nodded.
"From today onwards, you are not only Joffrey's woman, but also my student."
"Joffrey is a brainless mad dog; he needs someone to think for him, to see the path beneath his feet."
"And you will be his eyes, his brain."
Lynn walked up to her, looking down at her.
"I will teach you how to discern people's hearts, how to understand the flow of power, and how to gain the greatest benefit with the least cost."
"I want you to become the most indispensable and irreplaceable person by Joffrey's side."
"I want you to use your wisdom to firmly tether this mad dog to my chariot."
"Paving the way for my upcoming actions."
After Robert's death, Joffrey was a hot commodity.
He was arrogant, heartless, and a brainless fool.
If he could control Joffrey, it would be more substantial than any other benefit.
Liana's body trembled slightly with excitement.
She knew she had made the right gamble!
She had transformed from a plaything that could be discarded at any moment into a piece next to the player, even having the chance to become a secondary player herself!
"Yes, My Lord!"
Liana knelt on one knee, her voice filled with unprecedented determination.
"Liana's life, from today onwards, is yours."
Lynn looked at Liana and suddenly, as if by some strange impulse, said, "Liana, don't blame me for being heartless."
"Sometimes the world is just like this."
"To reap, one must sow; this is an unchanging truth, just like water flowing downhill."
Liana understood Lynn's meaning.
She revealed a bright smile.
"My Lord, I am just a lowly courtesan; if it weren't for you, I would probably never have a chance to rise. How could I resent you?"
Lynn nodded.
He knew of Liana's gratitude towards him.
But this was her path, and she had personally agreed to the plan in the first place.
"Liana, don't worry."
"This matter has put you in a difficult position."
"As long as you serve me diligently, I will never treat you unfairly."
Liana left, full of joy.
After seeing Liana off, Lynn rubbed his brow.
Cersei, Margaery, Sansa, Liana... these women of King's Landing all seemed to like visiting his room late at night.
Each came with her own purpose, each wanting something from him.
He felt less like an Earl and more like a late-night therapist, specializing in solving the difficult problems of noblewomen.
Just as Lynn was about to close the window and end this busy night.
Tap, tap.
A hesitant knock on the door sounded again.
Lynn sighed.
Again?
"Come in."
The door opened, and in walked Sansa Stark.
She had changed out of the elaborate gown she wore at the banquet after stepping out earlier, now wearing a simple and elegant blue casual dress.
Her beautiful auburn hair was simply tied back, and her face was free of makeup, yet it made her appear even more fresh and charming.
However, her eyes were still slightly red, clearly having just cried.
"Lord Lynn."
Sansa curtsied to Lynn, her voice still carrying a hint of a sniffle.
"Still not resting so late?"
"Please, have a seat."
Lynn gestured to a nearby chair.
Sansa did not sit; she merely stood there, head bowed, nervously twisting the hem of her dress with her hands.
"I... I came to thank you."
Sansa finally gathered the courage to look up, her blue eyes filled with sincere gratitude.
"If it weren't for you, I..."
"I merely gave you a script, Sansa."
Lynn interrupted her.
"You were the one who truly completed this performance."
Lynn looked at her, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.
Tonight in the banquet hall, Sansa's performance was flawless.
From her initial confusion, to her shock and heartbreak at being publicly humiliated, to her final tearful, stumbling exit.
Every expression, every movement, was just right, impeccable.
With a perfect performance, she transformed herself from an awkward victim into a vulnerable person who garnered everyone's sympathy.
She successfully made King Robert, in his fury, personally dissolve the engagement that had caused her so much pain.
This saved him a lot of trouble.
It also proved that Sansa had truly grown.
"I used to... always think that if I was ladylike enough, obedient enough, I would get the happiness I desired."
Sansa's voice was low, as if she were talking to herself.
"But King's Landing taught me that here, tears and obedience get you nothing."
"Only strength... only power..."
She looked up at Lynn.
In those once clear and innocent eyes, there was something Lynn was very familiar with.
It was a longing for power.
"Thank you, Lord Lynn."
Sansa bowed to Lynn again.
"Thank you for opening another door for me."
Lynn looked at her, at this Northern Rose forced to bloom early by the cold wind in the snow, and a subtle feeling arose in his heart.
"This is just the beginning, Sansa."
"Escaping Joffrey is merely jumping from one mire into another."
Lynn walked up to her, his voice very low.
"Remember what we need to do."
"The position of master of coin is your true freedom."
"When you hold the kingdom's purse strings in your hand, you will no longer need to curry favor with anyone, no longer need to use tears to gain sympathy."
Sansa's breath hitched slightly, and she nodded vigorously.
"I understand."
Looking at the girl's face, filled with determination and resolve, Lynn smiled with satisfaction.
Sansa looked at Lynn's face, so close to her, and instinctively narrowed her eyes, leaning in.
Lynn was about to say something more when the study door was suddenly pushed open with a 'bang' from outside.
A small figure, like an angry wolf cub, burst in.
Arya Stark.
She held her "needle" in her hand, its tip pointing directly at Sansa in the room.
Her gaze swept back and forth between Lynn and Sansa, her grey eyes filled with wariness and suspicion.
Sansa also quickly distanced herself from Lynn.
"What are you two doing?"
The study door hadn't been fully closed, merely ajar.
Arya had been worried about her sister.
She knew how much Sansa liked that golden-haired bastard Joffrey, and she knew how devastating the events of the banquet hall tonight had been for Sansa.
She was afraid Sansa would do something foolish, so she had secretly followed her.
Then, she overheard her sister's conversation with Lord Lynn.
She didn't hear it very clearly, only catching some scattered words.
Things like "script," "performance," "thank you," "another door," "true freedom"... these words combined in Arya's little head instantly conjured up a grand romantic drama of the year.
Her sister was heartbroken because Joffrey had abandoned her, and then the gentle and powerful Lord Lynn appeared.
Lynn comforted her, encouraged her, and opened the door to a new world for her.
Finally, the hateful sister fell in love with Lord Lynn!
It must be so!
That's how the bards' songs always went!
"Arya! You are so rude!"
Seeing Arya like this, Sansa was both angry and anxious, instinctively wanting to use her authority as an older sister to scold her.
"I'm rude?"
Arya sneered, gripping her needle tighter.
"You're not sleeping in the middle of the night, running into Lord Lynn's room, the two of you, alone, what exactly are you trying to do?"
Her words were like a sharp knife, piercing through the ambiguous air in the room.
Sansa's face instantly turned red, from her cheeks all the way to her ears.
"You... what nonsense are you spouting!"
Sansa was both ashamed and angry, pointing at Arya, trembling with rage.
"We... we were just discussing serious matters!"
"Discussing serious matters?"
Arya's gaze fell on Sansa's flushed face, and her eyes grew even more suspicious.
"What serious matters require you to blush like that?"
"What can't be discussed during the day?"
"You!"
Sansa was so choked up she couldn't speak.
She was indeed blushing, but it wasn't because of the sordid things Arya was implying.
It was because she suddenly realized that when she stood with Lord Lynn, her heartbeat would indeed accelerate uncontrollably.
She would instinctively want to show her best side.
She would feel a secret delight from Lynn's praise, and a strange dizziness from his unique masculine scent when he came close.
Could it be... Sansa's heart was in turmoil.
"Arya."
Lynn's calm voice interrupted the sisters' standoff.
He walked in front of Arya, looking at this little girl full of thorns, and shook his head with some amusement.
"Put away your needle."
Lynn reached out and gently pressed down her sword.
"I don't want to hear about a bloody incident in the Tower of the Hand tomorrow, with the murderer being the Hand's own daughter."
Arya looked at Lynn, hesitated, and then reluctantly put away her sword.
But her grey eyes remained fixed on Sansa.
"Tell me! Do you like Lord Lynn?"
Arya went straight to the point, asking the most explosive question.
It was too blunt.
The air in the room instantly solidified.
Being called out, Sansa felt her brain go 'buzz,' and it was completely blank.
She was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly bristling.
"Arya Stark! Are you mad!"
Sansa's voice suddenly rose, becoming sharp and a little distorted.
"What nonsense are you talking about!"
"I'm not talking nonsense!"
Arya stuck out her neck, not backing down an inch.
"I heard it all just now!"
"You thanked him! You said he opened the door to a new world for you!"
"The way you look at him is exactly the same as how you used to look at that bastard Joffrey!"
Arya paused, seemingly trying to find a more precise adjective.
"No! Even brighter than then!"
"As bright as... an owl's eyes!"
"And you two were standing far too close!"
"That's not a normal distance a Lady should keep with a man!"
Sansa completely broke down.
She felt all her secrets were being brutally torn open and exposed to broad daylight by her outspoken sister.
Sansa was both ashamed and furious, and tears welled up uncontrollably.
"I didn't! I didn't!"
Sansa covered her face, refuting incoherently.
"What do you know! You're just a little kid who doesn't understand anything!"
After saying that, she couldn't bear to stay any longer, pushed Arya away abruptly, and ran out of the study crying.
In the study, only Lynn and a stubborn Arya remained.
"Satisfied now?"
Lynn looked at Arya, a hint of helplessness in his tone.
Arya pouted and mumbled softly.
"Who told her not to admit it..."
"She clearly is, and I'm not the little girl I used to be, I understand everything..."
Despite saying so, a flicker of undetectable panic flashed in Arya's eyes.
It seemed she... really made her sister cry.
"Lord Lynn..."
Arya looked up, looking at Lynn with some uncertainty.
"Does my sister... does she really like you?"
Lynn looked at her face, filled with curiosity and gossip, and suddenly felt a headache coming on.
One Sansa was already enough to worry him.
Now there was another mischievous and incredibly formidable Arya.
Why were the daughters of House Stark more troublesome than the last?
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