Tywin, the Uncrowned Lion of Lannister

"Your Highness, it is time to depart."

Hannah, still flushed from their first night together, shyly pushed the prince.

Joffrey rolled over and pulled the girl into his arms. "Then let's go. The carriage can move on its own."

He was quite satisfied with his body. Though only twelve, he already stood a full 178 centimeters tall, and everything about him had matured.

Could it be the effect of Healing Magic?

Hannah still hesitated. "Wouldn't it be improper if Lord Tywin saw us?"

Right. Joffrey remembered that today, he was supposed to have a proper talk with Grandfather Tywin.

The eternal Hand of the King, Lord of Casterly Rock, Shield of Lannisport, Warden of the Westlands—Tywin Lannister, a man with the bearing of a king. What resounding titles.

The procession moved forward in orderly formation.

Lord Tywin rode at the front with his head held high and chest out. His crimson armor was traced with gold, and a golden lion on his left shoulder clasped a blood-red half-cloak.

Watching from behind, even Joffrey had to admit that the man's bearing was extraordinary. No wonder he had once ruled the Seven Kingdoms.

During a rest stop, Lord Tywin sat with several lords and knights.

Joffrey walked over.

Adam Marbrand greeted him. "Prince, what are your orders?"

Joffrey knew him: an outstanding, charismatic young commander from the Westlands. "My lords, I have an important matter to discuss with my grandfather. Please excuse us for the moment."

Everyone looked to Lord Tywin.

"You heard the prince." Tywin's eyes remained fixed on Joffrey.

The empty wilderness was the best place to reveal secrets.

Joffrey went straight to the point. "Grandfather may not know this, but Uncle Jaime is actually my father."

He spoke the most shocking words in the calmest tone.

Lord Tywin's brows twitched violently.

"Joffrey, have you gone mad? You dare spout such nonsense before me?"

Joffrey immediately dropped another bombshell.

"Actually, Lord Jon Arryn has already discovered some clues and is conspiring with Stannis."

Joffrey had been carefully watching his grandfather's reaction. Though his expression had changed, his eyes were far too calm.

Sure enough, Lord Tywin knew everything.

The reason he had brought so many men to King's Landing, and why he would remain armored on the return journey, was perhaps because of Jaime and Cersei's incestuous affair.

But did you know this?

Joffrey played his final card. "Hand of the King Jon will be poisoned within the next few days. He will die in agony, but with his mind clear and conclusive evidence in hand."

Lord Tywin abruptly rose.

Within several breaths, countless possibilities flashed through his mind. Disaster seemed unavoidable.

But in the end, Lord Tywin sat back down.

"Joffrey, stop making trouble. If you are going to invent stories, at least think them through."

Since Lord Tywin had not driven him away, Joffrey knew he had listened. He was testing him.

"Grandfather, everyone has their own secrets. I have merely grown up."

Joffrey treated this entirely as a negotiation.

"Grandfather need not be so nervous. I also know that Hand of the King Jon will not reveal this secret, and King Robert still knows nothing."

"Joffrey, you are talking nonsense."

Joffrey sighed with faint sorrow. "Grandfather, Lord Tywin, can we only communicate through lies and deception?"

Tywin fell silent for a moment. Who had ever dared mention those rumors of the "golden twins" in front of him? Not even the Crown Prince!

But before the survival of the Lannister family, none of that mattered.

The Lion of Lannister seemed to be issuing an order. "Continue."

Joffrey was not nervous in the slightest.

This was the safest environment he had been in these past few days. Everyone around him was a Lannister: Cersei, Jaime, Tywin.

As long as he was not foolish enough to reveal everything, who would want his life?

Joffrey was about to make up another story.

"Blessed by the Gods, I had a dream and saw certain secrets."

"I did not dare believe it at first, but some events over the past few days have happened to confirm scenes from that dream."

Meeting Tywin's piercing gaze, Joffrey felt no guilt at all.

"As a young lion of Lannister, I naturally have to consider the family. I cannot stand by and watch opportunities slip through our fingers."

"Grandfather, the Lannister family's standing for the next thousand years rests on a single thought of yours."

Tywin had many questions, but these were extraordinary times. He bore the family's burden and could not dwell on pointless details.

"What are your plans? What else do you have to say?"

"Grandfather, a great change unseen in a thousand years is coming. The Seven Kingdoms have been united under the Targaryen Dynasty for nearly three hundred years. From noble lords to common folk, everyone has gradually come to see the Seven Kingdoms as a whole."

In a sense, the Targaryen Dynasty was Westeros Continent's Qin Dynasty—only less centralized, and somewhat longer-lived.

"The supreme authority represented by the Iron Throne is enough to drive anyone mad. If Baratheon can sit upon the throne, why can't another house replace them?"

Joffrey looked exceptionally solemn.

"The lords will soon realize that the times have changed."

"War will not end with restraint as it did when the Andal Kings fought one another, nor will it be constrained as it was beneath the threat of dragons. It will destroy everything! Uproot the grass and dig out the roots! Countless 'The Rains of Castamere' will be born!"

He paused briefly, calming the turbulent breath in his chest.

"If that is the case, why can't we go one step further? Do the Seven Kingdoms truly need so many Liege Lord lords? Can the minor lords continue ruling independently forever?"

"Does the name Seven Kingdoms still have any meaning? Are we not all one kingdom beneath the Iron Throne!?"

Even Lord Tywin could not help being shaken. Joffrey actually possessed such ambition!

With the mood properly set, Joffrey began offering temptation.

"The Lannister family should not stop at the Westlands! Grandfather, does Highgarden, seat of House Tyrell, and the fertile, prosperous Reach not tempt you?"

Lord Tywin showed little reaction. "Stop with the pretty words. Speak of practical matters."

Joffrey laid out his plan.

"War will break out within the year! Grandfather can prepare in advance: stockpile armor and weapons, expand the standing army."

"After Lord Jon dies, the king will head north to Winterfell and appoint Lord Eddard as his successor. At the same time, he will have me betrothed to Lord Eddard's eldest daughter."

"Gain the strength of the Direwolf, and we gain the support of the North, Riverlands, and Vale."

"The king will die at exactly the right time."

"Then, with the strength of four kingdoms plus the Crownlands, we will first deal with Stannis and Renly, then turn our full force against the Reach, intimidate Dorne, and bring the Seven Kingdoms under our control!"

"There is only one problem."

Joffrey was satisfied with everything except this one matter, which left him speechless. "My parentage."

"Quite a few people in King's Landing are hoping to use this secret to plunge the Seven Kingdoms into chaos. We cannot turn against House Stark and give others an opening."

Lord Tywin neither agreed nor disagreed.

Joffrey then stated the most direct purpose of this conversation.

"After Lady Lysa poisons the Hand of the King, she will take her son back to the Vale and shut herself away. But at Littlefinger's instigation, she will send a secret letter to House Stark, framing us for the Hand's murder."

"The letter may reach Winterfell with the king's northern-bound procession, or things may change. Will she use a Message Raven? Send someone with a verbal message? I cannot be certain."

"Grandfather." Joffrey smiled faintly. "You will find a way to stop them, won't you?"

Lord Tywin remained expressionless. It was impossible to tell whether he believed anything Joffrey had said.

"Joffrey, I will not press you about your secrets. You are better this way. I will personally verify this information. If it is true—"

The old lion looked at the little lion draped in stag hide.

"I will protect the family."

Jaime, Cersei, Tyrion—which of them could be my heir? Where is my grandson?

"Remember your blood. Lions are stronger and fiercer than stags. Remember your words: 'Hear Me Roar!'"

Could Joffrey be an option?

Watching his grandfather's tall back as he prepared to leave, Joffrey felt completely secure.

"Before the king dies, do not make any moves that are too big, Grandfather."

Truly worthy of being the king of the pride.

Joffrey seemed to feel a little sense of belonging to the Lannister family.

As the procession set off, he returned to his carriage and kneaded the soft, springy cheeks of the little maid as he sank into thought.

Lord Tywin had been unexpectedly easy to talk to. Today's goal had been perfectly achieved. With this matter handled, he probably would not need to worry about his life for the next few years and could develop properly.

Looking on the bright side, taking the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros was only a matter of time.

As for beyond Westeros...

He bent down and found his eyes a soft, warm blindfold.

Though it was merely an insignificant move with no bearing on the overall situation, success would naturally be better.

Elin, it all depends on you. Good luck.

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