Your Queen Is Very Angry

Red Keep, Maegor's Garden.

Queen Cersei sat in her opulent attire, her brows and eyes filled with smiles as she watched Princess Myrcella playing with Prince Tommen.

Prince Joffrey sat beside Queen Cersei, a trace of impatience etched onto his face.

Not far away, Jaime stood with his sword, clad in white robes and silver armor.

Lancel stood beside Jaime, trembling as he dodged the glances Joffrey cast his way from time to time.

The figures of Lord Gryn and Tyrion appeared in the garden, approaching Jaime and Lancel.

Lord Gryn stood beside Jaime, while Tyrion laughingly pulled the visibly awkward Lancel to the other side.

Jaime glanced at Cersei in the distance and lowered his voice instinctively: "Little Baron, what did the old Duke say?"

Without realizing it, Jaime's form of address for Lord Gryn had upgraded from "little wildling" to "Little Baron."

Lord Gryn replied: "He wants to use the governorship of Crackclaw Point to make me..."

Lord Gryn did not deliberately conceal anything, recounting the events to Jaime, particularly emphasizing the discovery of the hidden compartment in the Hand's Study.

Jaime's tone carried a hint of mockery: "The Hand of the King's study is drafty on all sides, yet the old Duke never noticed a thing."

Lord Gryn nodded in agreement.

After Jaime and Lord Gryn finished their business, the atmosphere turned somewhat awkward. Although they had grown more familiar, perhaps their temperaments truly did not match; aside from official matters, they had little in common to discuss.

To break the awkward silence, Lord Gryn looked at the children playing in the distance.

Should I praise his little darling?

Searching for a topic, Lord Gryn decided to start a conversation: "Princess Myrcella is very lovely."

Jaime did not pick up on Lord Gryn's lead, merely casting a cold, sidelong glance at him.

At that moment, the perceptive Lord Gryn felt as if he had grasped something.

Tyrion, who had been standing on Jaime's other side, had witnessed the entire process.

Tyrion's eyes rolled, his face remaining calm, though he chuckled inwardly.

Before Lord Gryn could ponder further, Queen Cersei's maidservant approached gracefully: "Good day, Lord Gryn. Her Grace the Queen requests your presence."

Lord Gryn and Jaime exchanged a look, then set off after the maidservant.

Queen Cersei nodded slightly toward Lord Gryn as he offered his greetings, saying: "Lord Gryn, this is my eldest son, Joffrey Baratheon, heir to the Iron Throne."

Joffrey held his chin slightly high, the curl of his lips identical to Queen Cersei's.

Just like me. No wonder Cersei loves Joffrey the most!

Lord Gryn bowed with his hand over his chest: "Good day, Your Highness."

Joffrey was very satisfied with Lord Gryn's form of address.

His crybaby brother was called Prince Tommen, and he himself was also called Prince Joffrey; this similarity in titles had always left Joffrey deeply dissatisfied.

He was the sole heir to the Iron Throne; the only one who should represent the title of Prince was Joffrey himself.

Lord Gryn's address was exactly to Joffrey's liking.

Joffrey's mood suddenly improved: "Good day, Baron. I have heard of you, and I admire your valor."

Queen Cersei was somewhat surprised; it was rare for the arrogant Joffrey to show such goodwill toward someone he was meeting for the first time.

Cersei nodded inwardly with satisfaction. He is worthy of being my son; he can discern a person's value at a glance. Just like me!

In high spirits, Cersei called over Myrcella and Tommen.

"Good day, Prince Tommen."

"Good day, Princess Myrcella."

Lord Gryn busied himself with bowing to the children.

Lord Gryn's way of addressing Tommen made Joffrey's mood even better: "Mother, I want to bestow a reward upon Lord Gryn."

Lord Gryn's ears perked up, and the ache in his lower back suddenly vanished.

Capable people only become more loyal when constantly rewarded. Joffrey had already grasped this principle. Cersei felt gratified; Joffrey was indeed just like her!

Cersei wore a gentle expression, doting on Joffrey: "Very well, I understand, my prince. I will see to it for you."

"Tommen, Myrcella, wipe your sweat and take a rest."

After speaking, Queen Cersei instructed the maidservant to attend to them, then raised a hand toward Lord Gryn: "Lord Gryn, walk with me."

Lord Gryn's mind raced. He approached Queen Cersei, gently supporting her slender forearm as she raised it, helping her to her feet.

In the distance, watching Cersei and Lord Gryn walk into the garden, Jaime and Tyrion exchanged a look.

Tyrion grinned: "Brother, your schemes didn't work on our sister."

Jaime felt awkward and helpless.

Tyrion patted Jaime's thigh and offered comfort, "Jaime, don't worry. Things aren't as dire as we feared. It seems my sister isn't angry after all, which is a good sign. You haven't failed."

Gryn strolled through the gardens with Cersei; the gardens of Maegor's Holdfast were lush with shade, filled with the songs of birds and the scent of flowers.

Queen Cersei stopped in her tracks, gazing out at a sea of blossoms, her tone cold, "Lord Gryn, when do you intend to tell me what that old man wanted with you?"

The Red Keep truly had no secrets. One couldn't rely on Jaime for such things; he was only fit for hacking people to pieces!

Gryn's brown eyes flickered, "The old man tried to bribe me into crossing the narrow sea to deal with the two Young Dragons of Targaryen."

Queen Cersei scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain, "What a cowardly craven."

Cersei's beautiful eyes cast a sidelong glance toward Gryn and she asked, "A bribe?"

Gryn's tone carried a hint of mockery, "He promised that if I succeeded, he would make me the governor of Crackclaw Point and name me the Warden of the Peninsula."

"You don't seem pleased?"

Gryn nodded, "Your Grace, I have heard that the Red Keep has been sending assassins to hunt the Young Dragons for over a decade. To hand me a task that hasn't been accomplished in all those years—the old man's motives are impure."

"What do you think the old man's goal is?"

After a pause, Gryn spoke, "He wants to draw me away from your side. He likely feels that this sword, held in your hand, is far too sharp."

Cersei turned around, meeting Gryn's gaze. She tilted her elegantly lined chin slightly, the corners of her lips curving upward, "Just as I thought. Lord Gryn, you are of a similar age to Joffrey, and I have high hopes for your future."

Gryn's tone carried a trace of excitement, "Your Grace, the House Crabb will never forget your kindness."

Cersei walked slowly until she stood before Gryn. Because they were so close, Gryn could already feel Queen Cersei's breath.

Queen Cersei looked at Gryn with great tenderness, raising her arm to stroke his cheek with her delicate hand, "What a fine child..."

Cersei then helped Gryn gently adjust his collar.

Under Queen Cersei's touch, she noticed Gryn's Adam's apple bobbing up and down, his chest rising and falling with a suppressed intensity.

Queen Cersei curled her lips.

Queen Cersei's delicate hand stroked Gryn's cheek once more, "The old man dares to bypass me and command my best Steward. He has never held me in any regard. Your Queen is very angry, and we must do something about it, or your Queen will not be able to swallow this insult."