Ruler 7

"Lady Asha."

Gryn's voice rang out like the surface of a tranquil lake, utterly without ripple.

His gaze shifted slightly over Asha, then settled on the other newcomer beside her.

"Theon Greyjoy?"

"Y-yes, it is an honor to meet you."

After speaking, Theon raised his eyes to glance at the Lord Regent seated behind the desk, then said no more.

The siblings stood stiffly a short distance from the desk, their posture making them seem somewhat restrained.

"I have heard your name."

Gryn rested his hands casually on the armrests, his tone relaxed. "They say that with only a few dozen men, you nearly captured Winterfell."

Theon's face instantly reddened. His experience at Winterfell... to him, had been nothing but humiliation—a beautiful dream that had shattered all too quickly.

But—

To be honest, there was not a trace of mockery in the Lord Regent's tone, which left Theon deeply puzzled.

Duke Gryn slowly leaned forward, interlacing his fingers beneath his chin as he continued, "If I remember correctly, in the thousands of years since Winterfell was built, it has only been breached twice. And you nearly wrote a new chapter in history."

"Oh? Oh."

A vague sound escaped Theon's throat, as though he had yet to come back to himself.

Glancing at her dazed younger brother, Asha pressed her lips together slightly and placed one hand over the wound on her lower abdomen.

"Your performance this time was also quite good."

Gryn's voice became slightly gentler. "I heard that, to protect your sister, you actually leapt off a bridge while holding Euron Greyjoy."

The corners of his lips curved faintly. "The Seven have blessed you—you survived. You possess exceptional battlefield instincts, and you are both brave and unafraid of sacrifice. Perhaps I will have the fortune of witnessing the birth