Throne Room, dark clouds gathered, foreshadowing an impending downpour.
Throne Room, candlelight flickered.
Varys slowly began, " Renly left most of his infantry at Bitterbridge, and most of the lords and knights who followed him to Storm's End under Storm's End have defected to Stannis."
Queen Regent Cersei her glass, took a sip of Summer Wine, frowned, and said, " Varys, I wouldn't mind if the small Small Council were made even smaller."
She put down her wine glass and said again, "I want to hear specific information, please remember that!"
Varys shuddered, immediately wiping the "inscrutable" expression from his face, and said, "The more than ten thousand cavalrymen from Storm's End have come under Stannis's command; this is practically all the heavy cavalry in the entire Southern Territory."
He added, "As for the thousands of Free Riders that Renly originally hired, they are probably still waiting for Stannis's generosity."
Pycelle 'Grand Maester tone carried a hint of sarcasm. "It must be the Florent family leading the way; many people know that family is a chameleon."
Varys chuckled, " Grand Maester Pycelle, you guessed right. The first to defect was indeed Earl Alistair Florent of Brightwater Keep, and most of the lords followed suit."
Tyrion suddenly said, "Most of them? You mean not all of them?"
Varys nodded slightly and said, "Except for Randyll House Tarly and Mathis Rowan, the two of them led the knights who refused to side with Stannis back to Bitterbridge."
Tyrion grinned. "Finally, some good news."
Varys smiled and said, " Renly's Queen, Little Rose of Highgarden, remains at the Bitterbridge, where eighty thousand foot soldiers are gathered."
He shook his head slightly and continued, "So many soldiers have not only lost their king, but many of the lords they served have also defected to Stannis at Storm's End. I imagine they are now at a loss for what to do. How pitiful."
Tyrion's eyes flickered, and he leaned forward slightly involuntarily. "In my opinion, this is our opportunity. Everyone loves Renly, but Stannis doesn't. We can win Highgarden over."
Tyrion's words were followed by a moment of silence, then Queen Regent Cersei said coldly, "My Hand of the King, does the Golden Rose Lannister?"
Tyrion grinned. "Obviously, that's unlikely..."
His tone shifted, becoming serious. " The Renly they adored is dead. All we need to do is prove that Joffrey is even slightly better than Stannis, and that will be enough."
The Lannister Lioness's blue eyes trembled slightly, and her hand under the table clenched into a fist.
Varys seemed curious. " Hand of the King Tyrion, how can this be proven?"
"I believe the late Renly set a very good example for us..."
Tyrion glanced at the crowd and continued, "We will use marriage to secure an alliance with the Golden Rose."
Grand Maester Pycelle glanced at the silent Queen Regent Cersei and spoke tremulously, " Your Lord Hand, do you intend for King Joffrey to marry Margaery Tyrell?"
Queen Regent Cersei gave Tyrion a cold look. His sister's gaze made him a little flustered, and he quickly put on what he thought was a well-behaved smile in response.
She scoffed, " Tyrion, you're really delusional. Have you forgotten Loras Tyrell and Garlan Tyrell?"
Tyrion shrugged and replied, "Of course I remember. My father's big dog caused some regrettable trouble."
Queen Regent Cersei scoffed and said, "So, you really are naive."
Tyrion smiled and said, " The Little Rose of the Bitterbridge has just lost her new husband... On the other hand, the Golden Rose needs comfort right now, and she needs very sincere comfort."
Cersei Lannister's eyes trembled. She hadn't forgotten the Maggy the Frog's prophecy. "One day you will be queen, until another woman comes, younger and more beautiful than you, who will overthrow you and take away everything you truly love."
When Cersei first met Maegor's Hold (Chapter 112), she suspected that Margaery was the woman prophesied to take everything from her.
Later, Margaery married Renly, and she put aside her suspicions.
Now, Cersei senses that the Maggy the Frog's prophecy is drawing ever closer to her.
To become my son's Queen?! To take everything from me?! Margaery Tyrell's fate will be nothing but ashes!
Queen Regent Cersei's eyes flashed with cold light. "Make my son marry a woman filled with hatred? Who knows when her hatred will ignite—at a lively banquet or in the dead of night?"
Tyrion chuckled, " Little Rose of Highgarden is very charming. Joffrey would be more than willing to share a bed with her, and all men would be jealous..."
Queen Regent Cersei interrupted angrily, "Enough! What do you take my son for? You ugly Dwarf!"
Tyrion's smile vanished instantly, his heterochromatic eyes fixed intently on Queen Regent Cersei.
He paused, then said, enunciating each word clearly, "Empress Dowager Regent, this is Small Council!"
Queen Regent Cersei scoffed, saying dismissively, "Be a good puppet. I warned you."
"My dear sister, if you keep doing this, I'm going to get really angry!"
"How ridiculous! You dare threaten me? Are you planning to tell Father again?"
"Perhaps this time there's another surprise, my dear sister."
Cersei glared at Tyrion, Tyrion calmly returned the glare. The atmosphere was tense, with neither sibling willing to back down.
Cersei's voice was cold. "I can lock you in the Black Cells right now."
Tyrion grinned. "I don't think you can do it."
"Cough cough..."
The newly Master of Coin, Gyles Rosby, Earl had remained silent until now, coughed a few times and said, " Your Queen Regent, I think the marriage proposed by the Lord Hand is worth a try. Our greatest enemy is Stannis, and with our current forces, I'm afraid it will be difficult to defend King's Landing."
Varys also advised, " Queen Regent Cersei, you have the heart of a loving mother, but we who have presumptuously entered into power must prioritize our kingdom and temporarily set aside our own desires."
He paused, then said solemnly, "This may be the only way for King Joffrey to live to see his wedding night."
After the siblings' "affectionate" gaze ended, Queen Regent Cersei leaned back in her chair, still unmoved. "Say what you will, but my son is proud by nature. He will never like Renly's leftovers, and he will never agree to this marriage."
Tyrion said, "Until Joffrey comes of age, you are his regent, and I am his Hand of the King. We decide who he marries, and he has to marry whoever we want, even if it's leftovers."
Everyone's eyes were on Cersei Lannister, who sat upright.
After a long silence, Queen Regent Cersei's eyes suddenly flickered, and she said, "You should make arrangements. If this angers Joffrey, you'll have to pray to the Gods."
Queen Regent Cersei didn't miss the change in Tyrion's expression. What mischief was his clever sister up to now?!
Before Queen Regent Cersei speaking, Tyrion immediately chimed in, "I'm glad we've reached a consensus."
Seeing his sister about to speak, the good younger brother spoke first, "We need to choose a good envoy so that Golden Rose can happily marry her Little Rose to us."
Tyrion's gaze swept over his sister, who looked as if she wanted to devour her brother, and then over the assembled Lord Chancellors.
Everyone was deep in thought when Queen Regent Cersei's beautiful eyes fell upon the Dwarf Hand of the King of the King, a captivating smile spreading across her face. "We sent Ser Jacelyn Bywater ( the Commander of the Gold Cloaks ) south. He is trustworthy, isn't he, my Hand of the King?"
Tyrion blinked... My dear sister, do I look that easy to fool? Couldn't your scheme be a little more sophisticated?!
Tyrion grinned... It seemed his sister had finally realized her obedient brother had taken the Gold Cloaks? Too bad... it was too late!
He shook his head slightly and said seriously, " Queen Regent Cersei, we don't need a mouthpiece. Our envoy must be able to negotiate with the Golden Rose on behalf of the King and the Small Council, and get things done quickly."
His gaze swept over the assembled crowd once more, and he continued, " Stannis won't give us much time."
After another moment of silence, Queen Regent Cersei's voice rang out. " The Hand of the King is the King's representative, so... you are the most suitable candidate, which is no different from Joffrey's personal presence."
Her voice softened. "My Tyrion, your tongue is as sharp as Jaime's sword; who could be better than you?"
He'll probably never come back now that he's gone, right? Why does my sister always think everyone else is an idiot...? Tyrion thought to himself.
"That's an overstatement..."
Tyrion replied with a smile, "Sister Cersei, actually, in my opinion, a mother is more suitable than an uncle to arrange a marriage for the children..."
A smile played on his lips, "Besides, you have a talent for making friends, and I have great respect for your skill."
The Lannister Lioness's eyes gleamed with fire as the siblings gazed at each other with "affection" once more.
"If only Lord Gryn were here..." Varys ' voice eased the tense atmosphere.
Tyrion's eyes flickered, and his gaze shifted to Varys, who wore a faint smile. He narrowed his eyes slightly.
Under the various gazes of the crowd, Varys slowly said, " Lord Mace is very fond of Lord Gryn; everyone says they are like father and son."
He sighed softly, then said, "If he were still in the Red Keep, he would be the best candidate to go to the Golden Rose."
After a pause, Varys smiled slightly and added, " Lord Gryn's tongue is as formidable as Ser Jaime's swordsmanship."
Pycelle's expression was complex. Earl Gyles Rosby, the Master of Coin Grand Maester, spoke up, " Your Queen Regent, Your Lord Hand, we must indeed treat this marriage with utmost care. Therefore, the best person we choose to send is someone the Golden Rose can trust."
Cersei's voice held a hint of displeasure. " Varys, where is Gryn now?"
Before Varys could reply, Tyrion spoke first, "Sister Cersei, didn't Gryn go to the Vale to capture Lysa Tully and Robert Arryn, as per your son's orders?"
The Lannister Lioness barely managed to suppress the urge to rush over and slap Tyrion. She roared, "This was all your doing, wasn't it?"
Tyrion paused for a moment, wondering if his sister had misunderstood something.
His eyes flickered... She must have known I'd met with Joffrey before giving the order for Gryn to go to the Vale to arrest people... Did she think I deliberately took her sword? Judging from the result... there's really no way to explain it!
In Queen Regent Cersei's sight, Tyrion's expression betrayed his guilt, and her hands involuntarily clenched.
Before long, a smile appeared on her face. Could a conspiracy that she had seen through still be called a conspiracy?!
Queen Regent Cersei and said, "Bring Gryn back."
The Lannister Lioness's warning gaze slowly swept over the crowd. She said, "I want Gryn back, immediately! No one is allowed to stop me, or else..."
She raised her voice and roared, " Hear Me Roar!"
Outside the Tower of the Hand, Bronn stood in the pavilion, surrounded by a dozen or so Gold Cloaks, while Tyrion and Varys stood inside.
Tyrion gazed at the respectful Varys and said, "I've always thought you were my ally, Lord Varys!"
A look of doubt crossed Varys's plump face. He bowed slightly and said, " Tyrion Hand of the King, I am at your service."
Through the thick, dark clouds, sunlight briefly peeked at the earth, and Tyrion's Golden Nose gleamed.
He said with a stern face, " Varys, you've been making quite a few moves lately... Your goal is to get Gryn back, isn't it?"
As Tyrion finished speaking, Varys's face showed a moment of panic. He quickly shook his head and said, "It must be my inappropriate behavior that has caused you to misunderstand, my Lord Hand."
Tyrion remained unmoved by Varys's denial. He raised his hand, and the Gold Cloaks outside turned to face the two men, their hands gripping the hilts of their longswords.
"Lord Varys, I'm giving you a chance to find out what your purpose is?"
Varys glanced calmly at the Gold Cloaks surrounding them and said, "My Lord Hand, I must admit you have excellent insight."
He sighed and said, "I'm being honest with you, but this is something only you should hear."
Tyrion stared at Varys, who looked sincere, for a moment, then gestured for the Gold Cloaks to retreat.
After a pause, Varys continued, " Hand of the King Tyrion, our Queen Mother has long realized that she has lost control of the Gold Cloaks."
Tyrion stared unblinkingly at Varys and said, "I didn't ask the Gold Cloaks of the Red Keep for anything."
Varys sighed again, "Many people volunteer to be Queen Regent Cersei's spies, and your actions cannot be hidden from her. Besides, she doesn't entirely trust Ser Lancel."
Tyrion raised an eyebrow and said, "So?"
Varys moved slightly closer to Tyrion, lowering his voice, and said, "My Little Bird told me they saw Lioness courting some strange monks. I smelled danger there, my Lord Hand."
In the Hand's Study, Tyrion picked up the letter his servant had just brought, glanced at the gold ink on it, and then opened the envelope.
The story still revolves around the marriage to Myrcella, but the Old Lion in Harrenhal has changed his plans.
Princess Myrcella's marriage partner was no longer the House Martell of Sunspear, as proposed by Tyrion, but instead Robert Arryn of the Eyrie.
Why did he suddenly change his mind? The kind father did not explain the reason in the letter; he only gave a cold, hard command.
After thinking for a moment, Tyrion felt a headache coming on, and he couldn't help but scratch his hair.