Rose was soon summoned.
The moment she entered, she saw Joffrey, his eyes bloodshot and his expression deranged, and beside him stood Lynn, a man whose calm expression only made her fear him to her core.
"Lord Lynn."
Rose bowed, stealing a cautious glance toward the adjoining room.
The cries and sounds of tearing had stopped, replaced by a man's heavy breathing and Liana's muffled sobs.
Joffrey's body was taut as a fully drawn bow, every muscle twitching with rage.
"That girl, Liana."
Lynn ignored Joffrey's condition and spoke to Rose evenly.
"Name your price."
Rose's heart tightened.
She knew the real performance had begun.
"My lord, what do you..."
Rose put on a troubled expression. It was all part of the script Lord Lynn had taught her beforehand.
"Liana is our most sought-after girl. Countless lords and nobles line up just to see her..."
"I don't care about any of that!"
Joffrey whipped his head around and roared at Rose like a cornered beast.
"Name your price! I'm buying her! Now!"
The sight of him made Rose's heart clench with fear, but she steeled herself and held up five fingers as the script demanded.
"F-five thousand Gold Dragons."
It was an astronomical sum even in King's Landing.
"I'll give you ten thousand!"
Joffrey shouted without a moment's thought.
He did not even understand the value of a Gold Dragon.
All he knew was that he needed an utterly overwhelming sum to proclaim his ownership.
"Get that fat pig out of here! He's never to touch Liana again!"
"Your Highness, you don't have that much money."
Lynn reminded him calmly from the side.
"I don't, but my mother does! House Lannister does!"
Joffrey had completely lost his reason.
**"I'll write to Casterly Rock right now! My grandfather will give me