Two Paths, What Outcome

Lymond Lychester remained silent.

His graying hair looked even paler beneath the flickering firelight.

After a long while, he asked Suleiman, "Didn't you say the chances of winning a rebellion were slim?"

"But you also said there was a sliver of hope."

"What is that sliver of hope you spoke of?"

Suleiman gestured for the old man to come closer, to the enormous map of Westeros spread across the table.

His finger landed on the Riverlands.

"Someone wants us to enter King's Landing and fight the Baratheon dynasty until both sides are ruined."

There was no warmth in his voice.

"This person wants us to bleed out our very last drop, so they can profit from it."

"The Riverlands have no natural defenses. Once war begins, they will certainly be ravaged by flames and reduced to a living hell."

His finger slowly moved across the map, passing over the Crownlands before finally stopping at the Stormlands.

"The Crownlands and the Stormlands are no different."

"Most of their lords and armies followed Robert Baratheon to the Iron Islands."

"Once our army enters, we will surely treat them the same way. Those lands will also be ravaged by war."

Suleiman raised his head and looked at Lymond Lychester.

"Regardless of how this war ends, House Lychester has already lost its chance to become a player in this game."

"The people of the Riverlands are the foundation of our rule."

"Once we lose our ruling strength, we also lose the right to rule the Seven Kingdoms."

"And the Baratheon dynasty is no different."

"The Stormlands and the Crownlands will be destroyed, and they too will lose the foundation upon which they rule the Seven Kingdoms."

"This is the outcome those conspirators wish to see."

Suleiman's gaze fell back onto the map.

"As for