"I swear on the honor of the Seven and House Lannister, from this day forward, no matter what terrible prophecy the Priestess utters, I will not harm her; I will only be grateful." Lord Tywin's oath was equally solemn, as if issuing a battle order. His face and tone were cold, revealing not a trace of gratitude.
The witch nodded, revealing her shiny black teeth. Her smile was eerie and dark. Her expression as she looked at Duke Tywin was full of godlike authority. No matter how majestic Duke Tywin was, her eyes and expression were always high and mighty, with an aura of looking down on mortals.
However, Duke Tywin Lannister was unperturbed by the witch's assertiveness, and his dignified expression remained as unyielding as ever.
Was Lord Tywin's oath true?
No one knew this, perhaps not even the Duke himself. When things changed, for the Duke, the vow could vanish like smoke.
As a true shrewd and ruthless Grand Duke, Tywin Lannister spoke humbly to the witch because he had a broader vision and a deeper understanding of the situation.
The witch's remarkable prophetic abilities could be completely utilized by him. And they were irreplaceable!
Back in the Targaryen dynasty, two consecutive kings promoted Brynden Rivers, known as "The One Thousand and One Eyes," to the position of Hand of the Seven Kingdoms, second only to the king. Why? Because such talent was rare!
Brynden Rivers was an illegitimate child, though his identity was later legitimized by his father, the King; however, he was still merely a warrior. His rise from warrior to Prime Minister was solely due to his abrupt acquisition of the ability to shapeshift—his possession ability with 'a thousand and one eyes' was extraordinary.
Thus, due to his sudden acquisition of abilities, Brynden Rivers rose from an ordinary soldier to become the kingdom's prime minister, achieving victory after victory in eliminating rebels, suppressing traitors, fighting enemies, and thwarting political plots for the king.
Tywin naturally longed to have a superhuman like the 'One Thousand and One Eyes' by his side, and the confirmation of the witch's prophecy had already stirred his heart. However, Duke Tywin's excitement was as cold and ruthless as ice, completely different from the emotions of others.
Imagine if we had the Witch Queen in literature and the Mountain in martial arts, Lord Tywin would feel much more at ease.
So, can the witch achieve what Duke Tywin Lannister desires—to become a superhuman like Brynden Rivers?
Lord Tywin Lannister possessed his own keen insight and accurate judgment.
*
"Your Grace, Bran Stark is a skilled climber. He is only seven years old, but he already has two years of experience climbing the Broken Tower. He knows exactly where the caves are, where the weeds grow, which floor is inhabited by crows, and which floor by snowbirds. He has a habit of climbing the Broken Tower."
"Yes, I'm listening!" Duke Tywin stood ramrod straight, his back and neck ramrod straight, like a spear.
"He was pushed off the top floor by a lion. Of course, the lion didn't want to cripple him; it wanted to kill him."
"who?"
"Jaime Lannister."
Lord Tywin's breathing became heavier, almost imperceptible. But the witch saw it all too clearly.
"Why?" Tywin's voice remained calm.
"Jaime was discussing court secrets with Cersei on the top floor of the ruined tower when the child overheard them."
silence!
A deathly silence.
"This is unreasonable," said Lord Tywin. His expression remained unchanged, only the veins on his neck bulged.
"I know what you're trying to say. The King and the Duke have gone hunting in the Wolf Forest with a large entourage and won't be back for at least two weeks. It's the safest place in all of Winterfell. Nobody would go up to that abandoned tower, especially the top floor."
Duke Tywin Lannister stared at the witch, whose gentle gaze met his. The duke's piercing stare had no effect on her.
"Witch, I have another question for you."
The Duke of Tywin Lannister said, "It's not what I think, it's what I want," in a definitive tone that brooks no argument or questioning.
"I will tell you what I know."
"Lady Witch, how long has it been since Jaime and Cersei?" For the first time, Lord Tywin Lannister used the honorific "Lady."
All I can say is, it's been a very long time!
The Duke was not satisfied with the witch's answer.
"I will pay you another hundred gold dragons for this matter," the Duke said, his face hardening and his eyes as cold as ice.
This shows that the Duke also had this question in his mind, but he kept it to himself, making it a question he dared not touch upon, simply because the impact of this matter was too great.
If the volatile king finds out, he will not hesitate to behead Jaime and Cersei. The power of Storm's End, the king's family, and the nobility of the royal domains will become enemies of the Westerlands.
Of course, this will also include the North, the Riverlands, the Vale, the Reach, and Dorne, with whom there is a blood feud. Once this war begins, the Westerlands will be finished.
The king must remain in the dark, just as he is now. Even if he is exposed, he must have a way to deny it. Of course, the foolproof method is to kill King Robert, install the clueless young King Joffrey, and then control Joffrey, thus averting the catastrophe.
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Then, Cersei stayed at the palace, and Jaime returned to the Westerlands to become the heir to Casterly Rock. Thus, my wish came true!
"Madam Witch, tell me the details, and I will appoint you as the High Priestess of the West, with a monthly stipend of ten gold coins, and oversee all the priests and sanctuaries of the West. Generals and lords of the West must all show you the utmost respect."
Lord Tywin's words clearly indicate his decision to give the Sorceress an important position. He doesn't want the Westerlands to be destroyed and the Lannisters wiped out. Now that the Sorceress knows a secret she shouldn't know, if she doesn't follow the Duke, will he hang her?
However, this matter was far too significant, so the witch decided to use a more tactful approach. She certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to actually say it aloud.
"Your Grace, what you suspect may be the truth."
Duke Tywin was deeply shaken.
What he suspected was indeed the truth: Prince Joffrey, Prince Tommen, and Princess Myrcella.
Although the witch didn't say it explicitly, the Duke understood. If what the witch said was true, King Robert would immediately kill Jaime and Cersei, stick their heads on spears, then raise an army to conquer the Westerlands and exterminate all Lannister relatives, both close and distant.
Lord Tywin Lannister was instantly drenched in cold sweat. The question that had lingered in his heart for years, one he dared not ask for an answer to, had finally been answered today.
But his expression remained unchanged.
"Lady Witch, is there a way to resolve this crisis?" the Duke asked in a deep voice, his tone already carrying a sharp edge.
"have!"
It was a simple word, yet it was the most beautiful sound the Duke had heard in decades.