Joffrey's voice held a sickly tenderness, but his hand kept tightening around Cersei's throat.
Cersei's face had turned crimson.
She clawed helplessly at Joffrey's wrist, her nails leaving bloody scratches.
Her vision began to darken. She could not hold on much longer.
Just then.
Creak-
The Council Chamber's heavy wooden door was pushed open from outside.
A figure stood silently in the doorway, silhouetted against the light from the corridor.
Joffrey's hand abruptly froze around Cersei's throat.
He slowly turned his head toward the door.
When he recognized the newcomer's face, a flicker of panic appeared in his frenzied blue eyes.
It was Lynn.
Hadn't he already left?
Why had he come back?!
Lynn looked at the absurd scene before him, his face expressionless.
He simply stood there in silence, his gaze sweeping over Joffrey before settling on the woman who was nearly dead in his grip.
"You..."
Joffrey instinctively let go.
"Cough... cough, cough!"
Cersei clutched her throat with both hands and coughed desperately, greedily drawing in each precious breath.
She gasped for air, tears mingling with saliva, utterly bedraggled.
Joffrey looked at Lynn, then at his mother on the floor, now breathing again. His mind was in turmoil.
He had been caught.
The man he respected and feared most had caught him in the act of trying to kill his own mother.
"Lord Lynn... I..."
Joffrey opened his mouth, trying to explain.
But he realized he could explain nothing.
Lynn slowly closed the door, plunging the room into dimness again.
He walked toward Joffrey, one step at a time.
Every step felt as though it landed on Joffrey's heart.
Lynn stopped before him. Standing a full head taller, he radiated an overwhelming pressure.
"You wanted to kill her?"
Lynn tipped his chin toward Cersei, who was still gasping