P.S.: Yesterday, a reader pointed out an error I made regarding blond and black hair. As long as the black-haired parent carries the recessive gene, having a blond child is perfectly normal. House Baratheon producing only black-haired children is the real exception, possibly because of magic. So I revised the previous two chapters and removed the protagonist's need to dye his hair.
"Have Ser Simon testify in court? You're not joking, are you?" After hearing Ian's plan, Ser Veld's first reaction was that it was absurd.
"If the useless men under your command had caught Darren Grafton, would we need to resort to this?" Ian struck first, turning the blame on Ser Veld.
"If Ser Aris hadn't killed himself—"
"Even if Ser Aris hadn't killed himself, he never would have spoken out against his own family. Otherwise, why do you think he killed himself the moment he accidentally revealed the truth?" Ian said. "As things stand, having Simon voluntarily accuse his father and brother is the only way we can move the Iron Throne."
"But it isn't honorable!" Ser Veld still hesitated.
"Not honorable? You watched helplessly as the Ghost of White Wall City ravaged this region for more than three months just so major powers wouldn't interfere with the Blackfyre treasure, and you have the nerve to talk about honor? What comes next is even less honorable—dishonorable, but profitable."
"What?"
"The promise I gave Simon was false. Its purpose was to lure him into admitting his family's treason. But after he finishes speaking, you must deny the part about him coming to you voluntarily for help.
"You must reveal the truth: that Ser Simon was forced to cooperate only after you saw through him and captured him. Then accuse Simon of committing the same treason as his father and