The figure was tall and slender.
A crimson silk gown traced every inch of her mature, alluring curves.
Her golden hair had been carefully woven into intricate braids and pinned behind her head.
A few unruly strands fell against her smooth neck.
Cersei Lannister.
The most beautiful woman in the Seven Kingdoms.
She looked nothing like her portrayal in the show. Even though this was not Lynn's first time seeing her, her beauty still took him aback.
And that impression was even stronger up close.
Cersei wore no queen's crown.
But her innate arrogance outshone any jewel.
The scent of leather and sweat from Jaime still lingered in the room.
Cersei's arrival brought a rich, sweet floral fragrance, like something from a southern garden.
It claimed the cramped room with domineering force, driving out every trace of the North's rugged chill.
The moment Lynn saw her, his muscles tensed even more than when Jaime had entered.
If Jaime was a lion baring his fangs,
then Cersei was a venomous snake coiled in the shadows, ready to deliver a killing strike at any moment.
"I heard of your bravery."
Cersei spoke.
Her voice was like the finest wine: rich, smooth, and touched with an intoxicating sweetness.
Yet a faint sneer always seemed to hover on her face. That bitchy look stirred an urge in Lynn to tear her apart.
If Sansa embodied grace and propriety, Cersei was the very picture of sultry beauty.
Cersei walked slowly into the room, her red skirts gliding soundlessly across the floor.
She did not look at Lynn. Instead, her gaze surveyed every corner of the room.
The crude bed, the solitary chair, and the thin layer of dust on the windowsill.
A hint of undisguised contempt showed in her eyes.
As though her presence were a blessing bestowed upon the room.
Cersei reached the bedside and stopped.
Those green eyes finally settled on Lynn.
"A brave man of the Night's Watch."
Cersei's lips curved into a captivating smile, but it never reached her eyes.
"You saved a child of House Stark."
"And in doing so, you spared His Majesty the King embarrassment."
"Tell me, how should I thank you?"
Lynn said nothing. He simply looked at her calmly.
At the beautiful face celebrated by bards throughout the Seven Kingdoms.
And at the cruelty and madness hidden beneath that beautiful mask.
What a beautiful woman.
That was Lynn's private assessment.
Cersei seemed untroubled by his silence.
She reached out a hand.
It was an impeccably cared-for hand.
Her nails were neatly rounded and smooth, gleaming with a healthy sheen.
Her fingertips settled lightly on his arm beneath the blanket.
Even through the coarse linen, Lynn could feel their softness and coolness.
"Tell me, what do you want?"
Eager to learn what he knew, Cersei leaned forward slightly, entirely unaware of the impropriety of her actions.
With none of the coverings used in this era to obstruct his view, everything there was exposed to Lynn.
Those two little white bunnies really were...
Incredible...
Lynn did not point it out. He simply treated it as a free perk from Cersei.
The cloying fragrance seemed to grow even stronger.
"Gold?"
"Or would you like a good position in King's Landing?"
Cersei lowered her voice, giving it a seductive power that tempted a man to stray.
"Just say the word, and House Lannister can grant your every wish."
On the surface, it looked like a simple visit to offer sympathy.
Anyone else might already have accepted the reward.
But Lynn had an omniscient perspective. He knew Cersei's character all too well.
This was a trap.
If he agreed, he would fall under House Lannister's control.
All that awaited him then was murder to silence him.
Lynn knew that if there was even a chance he knew about the incident, Cersei would move against him herself.
This woman would allow no variable beyond her control.
Lynn lowered his eyelids, hiding the emotions in his eyes.
"Serving House Stark is my duty, Your Grace."
"Bran being alive is the best reward I could ask for."
Cersei's hand paused for an instant.
The faintest flicker passed through her beautiful eyes.
She withdrew her hand, her smile unchanged.
"What a loyal warrior."
"Ned Stark has found himself a fine subordinate."
Cersei changed the subject, adding just the right touch of concern to her voice.
"That poor child, Bran."
"How terribly unfortunate."
"I hear he's loved climbing since he was little. Such a mischievous boy."
She seemed to be talking to herself, yet also asking a question.
Lynn's heart beat steadily in his chest.
"Yes, Your Grace."
"It was an unfortunate accident."
Lynn echoed her words without adding a single unnecessary detail.
Cersei's gaze lingered on his face for a long time.
She seemed determined to find even the slightest flaw in his calm expression.
But she failed.
Lynn's face was like the frozen earth of the North: hard and utterly unmoving.
"You were practicing your swordsmanship beneath the tower at the time?"
Cersei asked as though it were a casual question.
"Yes, Your Grace."
"It's very quiet there."
"I heard a scream."
"Then I saw Bran fall."
Lynn's account matched what he had told Catelyn, word for word.
Cersei fell silent.
Only the crackle of burning wood in the fireplace remained.
The sweet floral fragrance began to feel oppressive.
A long time passed.
Only then did Cersei smile again.
This smile was even more radiant than the last.
"Lynn."
"Rest well and recover."
Cersei straightened, once again assuming the imperious bearing of a queen.
Then she turned and walked toward the door.
Lynn's gaze lingered on her gracefully swaying figure as she left.
A queen?
I wonder what conquering her would feel like.
Holding her beneath me as she writhed in pleasure would certainly be thrilling.
She is a queen, after all, and the most beautiful woman in the Seven Kingdoms.
It would be a shame not to conquer her...
This world was remarkably permissive.
Even wives did not mind their husbands lingering in other women's beds, which explained all the bastards.
A man could have only one wife, true, but there was no limit on the number of lovers...
Just think of it as... a little dessert before dinner...
Cersei disappeared beyond the door.
But her cloying floral scent remained in the air, clinging to the room like a deep-rooted infection.
Lynn knew he was not completely out of danger yet.
As long as Bran remained unconscious, the secret would stay buried.
"Knock, knock."
Another knock sounded at the door.
It was soft, unlike any of the others before it.
Lynn frowned.
"Come in."
The door opened a crack.
A little head poked through.
She had a thin little face, tousled hair, and gray eyes filled with worry and trust.
It was Arya Stark.
Unlike Sansa, she wore no elaborate dress.
She wore only a gray tunic and trousers that allowed her to move freely, with a wooden sword tucked at her waist.
Her eyes brightened when she saw Lynn.
Arya pushed the door open and entered, then carefully closed it behind her.
She approached the bed and tipped her head up to look at Lynn as he lay there.
"Are you badly hurt?"
Lynn shook his head and ruffled her hair.
"They said you saved Bran."
Arya spoke again.
Admiration shone on her face.
It was exactly the same expression Sansa wore when she looked at Joffrey.
"They said you caught him with your body."
"They said all your bones might be broken."
Arya's voice was filled with wonder.
"You're so brave."
"Braver than Robb and Jon."
Lynn looked at her.
At the girl who would one day become one of the Faceless Men.
Right now, she was still just a little girl who admired heroes.
"Thank you."
Lynn spoke.
Arya pressed her lips together, as though making some momentous decision.
Suddenly, she leaned forward.
Before Lynn could react, something soft and cool touched his cheek.
It was a kiss.
Carrying the sweet freshness of a young girl.
Arya's face flushed bright red the instant she finished the kiss.
Like a startled rabbit, she abruptly backed away two steps.
"This... this is my way of thanking you!"
She stammered.
With that, Arya turned and ran.
She pulled the door open and disappeared into the corridor without looking back.
Young as she was, the nuns' teachings had ensured she was not entirely naïve. She knew exactly what she was doing.
Silence settled over the room once more.
Lynn raised his hand and gently touched his cheek.
A trace of the girl's warmth still lingered there.
Just then.
A long horn blast sounded outside the castle.
The hunting party had returned.
Before you continue