Littlefinger's Price

Shireen sat somewhat timidly on the throne, looking down at the crowd bowing to her. She felt their gazes were cold, as if they were watching a rather unoriginal play.

They whispered amongst themselves, their eyes darting around like icicles.

Shireen's body was stiff as wood. She was exhausted. After leaving King's Landing, she had traveled nonstop to Gulltown. The Vale was mountainous, and even riding in the Eyrie, she was thrown onto the throne.

Shireen's eyes kept glancing at her mother, Selyse, who was sitting beside her.

At this moment, Selyse also somewhat dazed. She hadn't expected that Stannis would identify Shireen as his successor before his death.

She felt incredibly remorseful, realizing she hadn't needed to do it. How could she have committed such a terrible act?

Killing a king or murdering a husband—even a thousand years later, the gods would not forgive oneself.

He looked at Petyr, who was not far away, and suddenly he gradually understood everything.

Revenge, was it for revenge?

Selyse didn't know, but now she had no choice. She didn't know where she was going, nor what victory meant; she only knew that she could only keep going in silence.

Her only wish in life is to see her daughter grow up safely.

"May she live a long and peaceful life!" Petyr proclaimed to the crowd from before Shireen's throne.

May she enjoy lasting peace and tranquility.

May she enjoy lasting peace and tranquility.

May she enjoy lasting peace and tranquility.

Other nobles from all over the Vale joined in the cheers, and Petyr wore a faint smile, as if the cheers were for him.

Selyse instinctively sensed that Petyr was terrifying and something was wrong, but now she was all alone and could only take things one step at a time.

At least I'm still the Empress Dowager, I can still protect Shireen.

Selyse thought this, but the next second Petyr shattered her illusion.

"My lords, His Majesty, on his deathbed, appointed me Regent until Shireen Baratheon I comes of age."

"The Regent?!"

Selyse was startled, thinking that Stannis hadn't had time to say anything before he died, and the poison he drank was clearly the Strangler!

Following that, Petyr further stated that he also had custody of Robin Arryn and that he was about to marry Lysa.

Selyse looked at Lysa, Lysa was gazing at Petyr with tenderness and adoration.

In this love-struck mind's view, a nobleman from the frontier who suddenly becomes regent is no less impressive than that bastard Jon.

However, they failed to notice that there was another person whose eyes shone with deep coldness and vigilance— Varys.

Petyr acted much faster than he had imagined, accomplishing so much before he even arrived. He not only became Robin's adoptive father but also married Lysa.

Varys was merely a Minister of Intelligence, and now that he has left King's Landing, he has practically no one he can rely on.

He was Shireen to the coronation ceremony almost as soon as he arrived at the the Eyrie, which means that it was all Petyr's own doing!

This is what infuriates Varys the most. It was the same when he killed Jon Arryn and plotted to murder Eddard Stark, and now he's unilaterally installing Shireen and declaring himself regent.

This guy is a complete, uncontrollable time bomb.

After the coronation ceremony, Varys asked with a stern face, "Sir Petyr, wasn't that a bit too hasty?"

Although the powerful lords of the Vale who dared to take the lead all died in the purge of Harrenhal, it was impossible for Petyr to occupy the Vale for long.

Especially since Shireen was just a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl, and the House Baratheon had only lasted for a little over a decade, people would eventually change their minds and yearn for Jon was more legitimate and more powerful.

If Petyr wants the Vale, he must Young Griff.

Only Targaryen can stand against Targaryen.

Petyr's grey-green eyes gleamed with amusement as he spoke, "Lord Varys, there's no need for such haste. Supporting Shireen has its advantages. Wouldn't it be more fitting to have Shireen relinquish her crown to our Aegon and submit to him, thus showcasing the majesty of the Dragon King's return?"

Varys hadn't anticipated this. It was indeed more meaningful for Shireen to surrender to Young Griff. The Golden Company had already arrived in Pentos and would be setting out soon.

Seeing that Varys ' attitude had softened slightly, Petyr then suggested that Aegon could then legitimately declare Shireen the Duke of Storm's End, and then use Shireen to arrange a marriage between her and a nobleman from the Stormlands to ensure the Stormlands ' loyalty.

Then Aegon promised Prince of Dorne another marriage, along with the Vale, so that Young Griff could fully inherit Stannis's sphere of influence, and even double it.

Of course, Petyr's support for Shireen was also for his own protection.

By installing Shireen as regent, he can raise his own status when surrendering to Aegon.

More importantly, by marrying Lysa, he gained custody of Robin Arryn, which further secured his position in the Vale.

If Young Griff kills Petyr, then the Vale will have no one to lead it, and a fragmented Vale will be of no help to him in his quest for the Iron Throne.

Ser Varys, when will our Aegon and Princess Daenerys arrive in Westeros?

Hearing this, Varys leaned forward half a step, exuding an even more composed and confident demeanor. He naturally already knew that Connington and his group had messed things up.

Daenerys did not agree to marry Young Griff, and she did not bring back any of the three-headed dragons.

But they must now lead the Golden Company back to Westeros, or they will only be able to watch Jon methodically unify the Seven Kingdoms and ascend the Iron Throne.

However, they couldn't tell Petyr that Daenerys hadn't joined their alliance yet. That guy was really untrustworthy; instead, he was more likely to behave himself by being seduced by dragons.

"Aegon has arrived in Pentos, and the Golden Company will arrive soon. They will set off in a month at most and land in the Stormlands."

"Stormlands? Why not just go and occupy the Crownlands?"

Petyr asked, somewhat puzzled.

A hint of disdain flashed in Varys's eyes as he thought to himself that such a person, who only knew how to scheme and manipulate power, really had no real talent or ability.

"It's very simple. Crownlands was once the center of the Seven Kingdoms Seven Kingdoms, receiving their support. King's Landing thriving trade also generated substantial tax revenue. However, now it's wartime. Not only is there no tax revenue, but Crownlands's Crownlands people. Moreover, the Vale is easy to defend and difficult to attack, making it safe and secure. If we occupy Stormlands, we can join forces with the Dorne army to the south. With Stormlands, we can reclaim Crownlands to the north and threaten the Reach to the west. There's no need for us to rush into sitting on that Iron Throne now."

After Varys explained, Petyr feigned sudden realization.

In reality, he just didn't understand warfare; he was quite clear about these principles.

He did this simply to lower Varys's guard.

To gain Petyr's unwavering loyalty, Varys brought up the Free Cities, revealing to Petyr the existence of Illyrio.

This indicates that the Free Cities also tend to support Young Griff.

This made Petyr even more excited.

"In that case, let us await His Aegon Aegon's arrival," Petyr said cheerfully.

Putting their differences aside for the time being, the two of them joined forces to approach Selyse.

At this moment, Selyse was like a stone corroded and riddled with holes. After learning that Shireen had been sent to the the Eyrie by Varys, even the most foolish person would realize that the two had colluded.

But she doesn't know how to resist, or even how to fight back; she can only stand in front of her daughter like a tattered shield.

"Your Majesty, no, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, please rest assured. We are now in the Vale. You have seen the Blood Gate in the Vale; countless people have failed to breach it. Moreover, we are now in the the Eyrie. There is no safer place in the world than here."

Petyr approached Selyse and gently guided her.

However, Selyse could no longer believe this terrifying man. She asked, "You won't hurt my daughter, will you?"

Petyr looked at Selyse and suddenly burst into laughter.

His laughter disgusted Varys, who was standing nearby.

"My Queen Mother, what are you thinking? I have already pledged my allegiance to our Queen Shireen, how could I possibly harm her?"

Petyr's lips curled into a sneer as he thought to himself, "Your ugly daughter is only useful because of her surname. Even if you marry her off, you'll have to offer her something else."

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, all the men of Baratheon are dead. No one will harm you and your son," Varys said bluntly.

They certainly couldn't slaughter the orphan and widow like Tywin and Robert did, especially since the Targaryen were naturally more legitimate and had no need to do so.

Selyse felt somewhat relieved after receiving the promise, but living in the the Eyrie was not so comfortable.

She often hears the howling wind, which makes her feel very insecure.

I often dream that I am falling from a great height.

Whether in Brightwater Keep, Dragonstone, or King's King's Landing, she preferred to fall asleep to the sound of the waves.

But the the Eyrie wasn't just filled with the terrifying winds; it also echoed with the moans of Lysa and Petyr during their rendezvous.

Lysa's cries were extremely exaggerated; they could no longer be called moans. Sharing was a form of catharsis, a way of showing off, as if she were the only one in the world who had a man.

The shout was so loud that it could be heard almost throughout the entire the Eyrie.

A few days later, the woman's voice became hoarse, but she seemed exceptionally cheerful.

Especially when Lysa met Selyse, she was arrogant and looked down on everyone. Anyone who didn't know better would think that Lysa was the queen or the empress dowager.

At times like these, Selyse misses Stannis terribly.