The Spider and Littlefinger

The last merchant ship from Blackwater Bay had already left, and King's Landing's Landing was experiencing further population loss. The news of the Reach army's northward march, deliberately spread, had created widespread panic throughout the Crownlands.

Davos, who remained in King's Landing, had no idea how to deal with this situation.

He may be adept at diplomacy, but overseeing the administration of the capital was somewhat beyond his capabilities.

"My lords, let's adjourn today's meeting." Davos looked weary. Although he was in the position of the Hand of the King, he dared not sit down, but stood and discussed state affairs with these nobles who he had looked up to just over a decade ago.

Petyr smiled and said, "Sir Davos, I've gone to attend to the supply matters; at least our shipping lanes remain unobstructed."

"Yes, thank you for your hard work, Sir Petyr." Davos looked at Petyr with a smile on his face, but inwardly he was on high alert.

When he left Casterly Rock, Jon told him everything about Petyr, such as conspiring with Lysa to poison her husband and instigating the war between the Lannister and the Stark.

Although there was no evidence, he believed Jon had no reason to lie to him. What Petyr had done was simply too horrifying. If it were true, then this guy and Lysa's names would be scorned by the Seven Kingdoms for a thousand years.

As Petyr left, he gave Varys a wink, and Varys told Davos that he needed to plan how to send spies and messages to Dorne, while also keeping an eye on the East, before he too left the meeting.

Petyr and Varys left the meeting in different directions, but they met at an archway shaped like a statue made of dragon scale armor, with the statue holding a long bronze axe that was also greenish.

Although Varys arrived first, he easily sensed Petyr's arrival by the sound of Petyr's heavy cane striking the ground.

"What exactly did Jon Snow offer that tempted Martell so much that they remained unmoved?" Petyr said, leaning his cane against the armored statue beside him.

"Perhaps the heads of the Mountain and Amory?" Varys shrugged.

"Don't try to play riddles with me, Lord Varys," Petyr scoffed. "With the Southern army arriving in Riverlands, Stannis's defeat is inevitable, and Jon will unify the Seven Kingdoms. Is that what you want to see?"

Varys instinctively wanted to retort, but he also realized that there was no point in continuing to cover it up at this point.

"What do you want to know?" Varys asked.

"Who is behind you? Or who are you fighting for?" Petyr narrowed his grey-green eyes.

Varys looked at Petyr, their eyes locked, as if trying to see inside each other's bellies.

"Let me start," Petyr said. "I plotted to kill the former Hand of the King Arryn, and I'm also involved in Eddard Stark's death." In fact, Varys already knew all this, but he had no evidence, and digging into it wouldn't do him any good.

However, since Petyr was able to say these things to him, it was a sign of sincerity, Varys felt that it was harmless for him to say things without evidence.

"Jon Snow is a Usurper! I fight for the true Targaryen!" Varys declared.

Petyr was overjoyed to learn this secret, his eyes gleaming with the schadenfreude of a wolf spotting its prey.

Varys then recounted his story with Illyrio once more.

He recounted everything from rescuing Rhaegar's son, Young Griff, to their finding Connington, including the story of the Golden Company.

Petyr, who was able to learn such a secret, became more and more excited as he listened, and he secretly tightened his grip on the statue, as if he was suppressing his excitement.

"Have you gone to see that Targaryen princess? I mean the one who hatched the dragon."

Varys was startled, but quickly calmed down; after all, it would have been easy for Petyr to figure this out with his intelligence.

"Yes, we've already looked. Young Griff will soon marry Daenerys Targaryen and return to Westeros with her dragons."

"A dragon."

Petyr said softly, his breathing becoming heavier without him even realizing it.

What could be more exhilarating or satisfy one's ambition than riding on the back of a dragon, ruling the skies and surveying the earth?

Of course, he knew it was unlikely, but if Young Griff, whom Varys spoke of, could really marry Daenerys and obtain dragons, then the situation in Westeros would be reversed once again.

The Targaryen surname is more prestigious than Baratheon's.

The side with the dragon is stronger than the side without the dragon.

After a moment's thought, Petyr understood Varys's intention.

"So you're hoping Jon Snow and Stannis will go to war, preferably to weaken them both and clear the way for Rhaegar's son, right?"

"Yes," Varys nodded. "Just as Stark said, Winter Is Coming, and we need to quell the war as soon as possible."

His gaze toward Petyr lessened somewhat.

In fact, he now needs an ally. It's time for their strength to surface, and he can no longer remain dormant as before. Since he needs to take action, his strength is somewhat insufficient.

Petyr, though dangerous and ambitious, is an excellent partner for the moment. At worst, I can stay and just tell Young Griff not to rely on him.

However, at this moment, Petyr raised a question that made Varys ponder deeply: what if Jon and Stannis did not choose war, but instead retreated to their respective territories to begin preparations for the Long Night?

"How could that be? Stannis wouldn't agree," Varys retorted.

"But you can't ignore this possibility, can you? Let me think." Petyr said, stroking his short beard as he speculated, "Rhaegar's son Aegon might land in Dorne or the Stormlands, which would divide the entire country into three. But Dorne is so remote; it's unlikely that three dragons alone could conquer the Seven Kingdoms, right? Perhaps Jon might even join forces with Stannis?"

Petyr was working on his deductions while secretly observing Varys, but unfortunately, the guy remained as steady as a rock, his face expressionless.

"Lord Varys, while I cannot currently influence the entire Vale, I can still take away the the Eyrie's army and seal the Blood Gate. I can leave the Blood Gate in the Vale to your True Dragon, giving him a steadfast ally in the north, or I can keep it closed—what do you think?"

Varys knew that Littlefinger was demonstrating his abilities.

He first learned Varys ' true objective, then pointed out the potential risks, and then demonstrated his abilities, still hoping to gain merit by following in Young Griff's footsteps and continue climbing the ranks in the future.

Petyr took two steps closer to Varys and continued, "Ser Varys, I think we must consider the possibility of Stannis and Jon Snow making peace. Once they decide to do so, we must ensure the wheels of war keep turning."

"So you want to—" Varys looked at Petyr, his green eyes seeming to be brewing an alluring poison.

"That's right, at this crucial moment, we need to get rid of Stannis!"

"So what do you plan to do?" Varys asked.

If Stannis is killed, then at least a power vacuum will be created in the Crownlands and the Stormlands.

The Golden Company will at least have a foothold and base to land at, providing space for their rapid expansion.

"Leave this to me." Petyr smiled mysteriously, a woman's face already appearing in his mind—

At this time, in the Maegor's Holdfast, Queen Selyse was in a state of constant anxiety.

This was not only because of the arrival of the Southern Army, but also because of the unrest caused by Axell's rebellion.

She felt the news wasn't quite true, and it might even be a rumor.

But the information had been verified by himself with Grand Maester Pycelle and Varys respectively.

After confirming the news, Selyse had even more trouble sleeping and was also losing clumps of hair.

She had a terrible temper and would throw things at the drop of a hat, so the maids and servants didn't dare to breathe under such pressure.

Shireen, who was with her, could sense her mother's unease even more. She was very careful in everything she did, even slowing down her breathing, for fear of upsetting her mother.

However, Selyse still felt very unhappy seeing her ugly daughter and always vented her resentment on her daughter.

"Why aren't you a boy! That way, the one sitting next to your father isn't your uncle's illegitimate son," Selyse said in a shrill voice.

"I'm sorry, Mother."

Shireen lowered her head, her body stiff and helpless. Her mother's voice was like a whip, the harsh, unfounded accusations brutally pounding on her eardrums.

Although she didn't want to get sick and couldn't decide her gender, Shireen's biggest feeling at this moment was self-blame.

She didn't know what she should do to make her mother happy or to ease her father's burden.

Shireen thought for a moment and then said, "Mother, I... I will start practicing Swordsmanship from today onwards. I will definitely be able to help Father in the future."

"What's the use of practicing swordsmanship now! Your father is about to be surrounded! That bastard is against him, and the Dornishmen have betrayed him!"

"Ah?!"

Hearing her mother say this, Shireen burst into Tears, but didn't know what to do.

"Cry, cry, all you do is cry! What else can you do!"

"Mother, I—"

Shireen's Tears soaked her veil, but Selyse still wouldn't let him go. Instead, she grabbed her daughter's shoulders, shaking her while questioning her.

Just as things were getting chaotic Maegor's Holdfast, a servant brought Selyse a handkerchief.

Upon seeing the handkerchief, Selyse knew it was Petyr.

"Let him in quickly!"

Selyse felt that Petyr was the only person who could help her now.