Kingswood Gari Route

Maegor's Holdfast, Queen's Ballroom.

Queen Cersei sat at the head of the long table, with Jaime and the administrators seated on both sides.

At first, Gryn had been somewhat interested, but as he listened, he couldn't help but drift off in boredom.

"At recent banquets, Dornish Summer Wine has been appearing far more often than wine from the Arbor."

"Yes, Summer Wine is becoming increasingly popular."

"Off-the-shoulder dresses from Highgarden—the noblewomen of King's Landing now almost all own one."

"Indeed, the jewelry from Highgarden is also popular among the noblewomen."

"True, I heard Lord Janos bought an entire large chest of Highgarden jewelry just to please his new mistress."

Lord Janos, full name Janos Slynt, Commander of the City Watch (Gold Cloaks)

"Which poor girl is it this time, being able to endure that frog face of his?"

"He looks like a wine barrel."

"Is Janos still collecting Gold Dragons from his own men?"

"Naturally, you cannot teach an old dog new tricks."

"There is no helping it; he is deeply trusted by His Majesty Robert and holds 6,000 Gold Cloaks in his hand."

"It is hard on the young girls."

"He can only hook up with illegitimate daughters; which legitimate daughter would ever fancy the son of a butcher?"

"Not necessarily, I heard..."

"You said it yourself, it is only hearsay, so it is a rumor."

The administrators' discussion veered toward gossip, and Jaime gave a timely, light cough.

Gryn actually changed his impression of these colleagues somewhat; if one listened carefully, there was quite a bit of useful intelligence, and they even doubled as the Queen's fashion consultants.

Jaime spoke up: "Continuing from our last discussion, the Queen's hunt in King's Landing has always passed through the Iron Gate in previous years, and this time shall be no exception."

The group fell silent for a moment.

This was the first time Queen Cersei had spoken since the administrative meeting began: "Why is everyone silent? Are those lowborns still spreading rumors?"

Lancel looked left and right before saying, "According to tradition, it will save a lot of trouble. The rumors are spreading fiercely; if we rashly change the route out of the city, it will play right into their hands and cause our Queen to bear a stain on her reputation."

A satisfied curve appeared at the corner of Queen Cersei's mouth: "Lancel, continue."

Lancel nodded, clenching his fists: "There are only eight days left. My suggestion is to severely punish the rumor-mongers. Only rolling heads will make people understand that a noble Queen cannot be slandered at will."

From Gryn's angle, he could see that Lancel's thighs were trembling slightly after he finished speaking.

Was he doing it to cater to Cersei? Or was this actually Cersei's own intention?

Jaime held the opposing view: "There are nearly twenty thousand commoners in the Queens Quarter, Lancel. How many heads do you think need to roll to end the rumors, and how would you quell the riots that might be triggered by the killings?"

Jaime's gaze was piercing; Lancel did not dare to look him in the eye and looked away.

The performance of Jaime and Lancel left Cersei's expression unable to hide her disappointment and anger.

"Speaking of which, why is such a smelly and dirty place called the Queens Quarter?"

"Indeed, indeed, it is one of the most impoverished areas in all of King's Landing."

Those seated actually all knew the origin of the Queens Quarter, but they were just making conversation to ease the stiff atmosphere.

Queen Cersei took up the thread: "I have consulted the maesters. Hah, a certain queen of Aegon the Conqueror once drank a bowl of clear water offered by a lowborn there."

"Oh, so that is how it is."

"These people are too shameless. The Queen drank a bowl of water there, so it is called the Queens Quarter. Aegon was by her side at the time, why wasn't it called the Kings Quarter?"

"The specific truth is not important; it is just that this name is easily exploited by those with ulterior motives."

"Indeed, indeed. There is a disease spreading in the Queens Quarter, yet they point their fingers at our Queen. They actually dare to say that the Queen's lack of mercy brought the disease."

"The King's Landing hunting party... the Queen's carriage will certainly have to pass through the Queens Quarter. I fear it will trigger a riot, which would be detrimental to the Queen's safety and further affect the Queen's prestige in King's Landing."

"There will certainly be trouble. This rumor came suddenly and is aimed specifically at the Queen's Kingswood hunt."

Cersei tilted her head slightly toward Jaime: "Merciful Ser Jaime, do you have any good solutions?"

Hearing Cersei's words, Jaime's brows furrowed: "According to the intelligence I received today, the atmosphere in the Queens Quarter is very bad. If blood is shed... it is highly likely to trigger a large-scale riot."

Cersei seemed to lose patience, unwilling to listen to any more so-called excuses, and interrupted: "Tell me a concrete solution."

Jaime did not mind Cersei's reaction and smiled: "Throw some Gold Dragons. That is the fastest way. One or two thousand Gold Dragons should be enough."

One or two thousand Gold Dragons?!

Gryn, who had been quiet the whole time, pricked up his ears.

Gryn noticed that Cersei's expression was clearly moved—how very Lannister.

Gryn felt it was time for him to make an appearance, for the sake of the impoverished smallfolk of Crabb.

Lord Gryn gave a light cough to draw attention, then rose and addressed Queen Cersei, "Your Grace, if I may be so bold, I have a suggestion."

Queen Cersei seemed to hold the newly arrived Lord Gryn in high regard; she nodded with a gentle expression and gestured for him to sit and speak.

"Ser Jaime's suggestion is quite sound, but I must remind you, my lord, that you have overlooked their appetite for the next time, or perhaps the time after that."

Jaime glanced at Gryn sideways but remained silent.

Isn't it said that Jaime possesses the spirit of a great knight? Why does it feel like he's always targeting me!

Gryn continued, "As for Ser Lancel's proposal, I actually find myself in agreement."

Lancel looked at Gryn with such sparkling eyes that Gryn felt a slight shiver.

Hearing Gryn support Lancel's plan for executions, Jaime's gaze turned intimidating once more.

Gryn mimicked Jaime's sideways glance, "We must not overlook the Queen's return journey after the Kingswood hunt concludes; will we not have to pass through the Queens Quarter once again at that time?"

The group nodded slightly.

"Rumors are the first problem, though I personally feel this is the easiest to resolve."

No one stepped forward to mock him; instead, the group wore expressions of timely confusion.

"Since it is a rumor, it possesses inherent weaknesses. We can utilize an even greater rumor to diminish or even eliminate the ones unfavorable to Her Grace."

The officials pondered Gryn's words, one after another letting out sounds of amazement.

Lancel's "twinkling" eyes seemed fixed upon Gryn, "Ser Gryn, for example?"

Gryn smiled first, his brown eyes shifting toward Lancel, "The unspeakable secrets between His Majesty Robert and Lord Jon?"

After fifteen years of oppression, Gryn, who had self-styled himself as the Warden of Crackclaw Point, was "irreconcilable" with Lord Arryn.

Gryn blinked after speaking, and to his surprise, everyone simultaneously let their minds wander in the wrong direction.

For a moment, the upright Jaime thought of many things, as if he were verifying the truth of Gryn's words.

Jaime shook his head, casting off the strange thoughts that had emerged from being led astray by Gryn.

Not to mention the others.

It must be said that in the Queen's Ballroom, targeting His Majesty Robert and Lord Jon was politically correct, for it pleased Queen Cersei.

"This is the first step in resolving the rumors. We can discuss the specifics of what rumor to use; I was merely offering an analogy."

Oh~ The officials were brimming with excitement.