The news of Lancelot's disappearance beyond the Wall reached King's Landing, causing a massive uproar.
Rumors of Lancelot's death spread like wildfire through the streets and alleys. After all, once someone disappeared beyond the Wall, no one had ever reappeared alive in the public eye!
Upon hearing this, King Joffrey wanted to lead an army personally to kill all the White Walkers and avenge Lancelot.
Everyone in the Small Council advised him against this idea.
"As a king, putting yourself in danger is not what a king should do," Tywin said sternly.
He looked at Joffrey with disappointment, wishing he were more capable.
"Indeed, Your Grace! No king has ever gone beyond the Wall to wage war. Even the Kings in the North of old only fought wildlings on Northern soil."
"Please think thrice before you act," Grand Maester Pycelle advised.
"I don't care! Lancelot is my brother. If I don't avenge him, who will?" Joffrey stubbornly insisted on leading the troops himself.
Tywin summoned Cersei and had her take Joffrey back to the royal chambers to rest.
Back in his palace, Joffrey began a rampage. Every vase and jar was smashed, tables were overturned, and several holes were smashed through the windows.
Joffrey even started setting fires.
Cersei shouted loudly,
"Joffrey, calm down! Do you have any semblance of a king?"
"Mother, Lancelot was my brother! He was my blood brother! He's dead; can I just remain indifferent?"
Hearing the words "blood brother," Cersei turned pale with fright. She looked around, relieved that no one else was eavesdropping.
She walked over and hugged her son tightly.
"Child, how could Lancelot be your blood brother? At most, you are cousins!" she said softly.
Joffrey pushed her away.
"Do you think we don't know? Me, Myrcella, Tommen—whose children are we really?"
Joffrey's words plunged Cersei into an icy hell. Her heart went cold, and her expression was full of panic.
"Have you... been listening to rumors from somewhere?"
"Joffrey, no matter whose son you are, you are my son. That is undeniable. I carried you for ten months and gave birth to you," Cersei said with a pained expression.
Joffrey looked at her. Cersei's eyes were filled with tears, her expression one of deep sorrow.
Feeling some heartache for his mother, his attitude softened.
"Mother, my siblings include not just Myrcella and Tommen, but also Lancelot."
"I know the same blood flows in our veins. The blood of the same man."
Outside the palace, Jaime Lannister leaned against a pillar, never entering. He felt uncomfortable too, but he couldn't voice his relationship with Joffrey.
"Jaime!" Myrcella arrived with Tommen.
"Hey!" Jaime forced a smile.
"Lancelot will be fine. He came back safely from the ruins of Valyria; the dangers beyond the Wall can't compare to Valyria. He will definitely be safe," Myrcella said.
"That's right! Lancelot will definitely come back safe and sound," Tommen added loudly.
Jaime looked at his two children. He couldn't say the words aloud, so he silently vowed in his heart:
"No matter what, I will protect them."
After Joffrey left the council, the remaining members continued to discuss who should replace Lancelot as the frontline commander-in-chief.
"I propose that Ser Jaime go to the Wall to replace Lancelot. He is a battle-hardened knight, experienced, and in his prime. Moreover, he is Lancelot's father," Grand Maester Pycelle suggested.
Naturally, he did this to support House Lannister's position.
But Littlefinger gave a light chuckle.
"My lords, fighting in ice and snow—is there anyone more suitable than a Stark? Eddard Stark has returned to Winterfell. Wouldn't it be better to let him serve as the frontline commander-in-chief?"
"What do you all think?"
Littlefinger scanned the room. Tywin Lannister remained expressionless. Grand Maester Pycelle squinted, seemingly about to fall asleep. Varys tucked his hands into his sleeves, looking cold.
Everyone had their own calculations, but Littlefinger calculated the most.
He wanted to do Eddard Stark a favor, but he would collect on this favor later—with interest.
"Since no one has any other opinions, Pycelle, write the letter in the King's name. Appoint Lord Eddard Stark as the frontline commander-in-chief of the Seven Kingdoms' allied forces," Tywin Lannister ordered.
It seemed his command carried more weight than the King's. Grand Maester Pycelle immediately brought paper and pen and wrote in front of everyone:
"Given that Ser Lancelot's whereabouts remain unknown and the frontline cannot be without a commander, Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell, Warden of the North, is the best candidate to succeed Lancelot."
Subsequently, each of them affixed their seal.
Meanwhile, in the monastery outside the city, the High Sparrow dreamed of Cthulhu again.
Ever since becoming the abbot of this monastery, he had met Cthulhu every night.
However, his will was firm, and he had not been seduced.
Because they met often, the High Sparrow learned much knowledge and secret arts from Cthulhu.
But for now, there was no sign of him betraying Lancelot.
Cthulhu could not break the seal and see the light of day.
When he was sealed, two maps were left behind: a Star Map and a Sea Map.
The Star Map was currently in Lancelot's hands, while the Sea Map was with someone else.
Only by relying on these two maps could one accurately locate Cthulhu's seal, offer numerous sacrifices, and break the seal when the stars aligned.
Because the ocean insulated most of Cthulhu's power, he could only influence people through dreams.
Back in the Andalos hills, he had relied on an astronomical alignment closest to "the stars coming right" to establish the Faith of the Seven in the hearts of the Andals.
Later, it was he who drove the Andals in their dreams to cross the Narrow Sea to Westeros.
However, over the long course of history, the Star Map and Sea Map needed to locate R'lyeh were lost.
It was only by luck that Lancelot obtained the Star Map. As for the Sea Map, its whereabouts were unknown.
In Slaver's Bay, on a large ship about to dock at Yunkai, the one-eyed Crow's Eye, Euron Greyjoy, rolled up a spread-out nautical chart and placed it back into a bamboo tube.
"Slaver's Bay... it's been a long time since I've been here. I truly miss the taste of the sacred virgins here!" Euron licked his lips, revealing a wicked, charming smile.
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