She instinctively stroked the scar beneath her veil. It still ached faintly.
Tywin did not answer her directly, but turned his gaze toward Littlefinger Baelish.
Littlefinger took the hint at once. With a smooth, faintly mischievous smile, he bowed slightly to Cersei. "Your most noble Grace, your concerns are entirely reasonable. But please rest assured: the moment Lord Tywin's mighty host reached the Gate of the Gods in King's Landing, our commander of the City Watch, Lord Janos Slynt, led every gold cloak in pledging his unparalleled loyalty to Lord Tywin. At this very moment, every gate and every street in King's Landing is firmly under the control of Lord Slynt and soldiers loyal to House Lannister."
Tywin picked up where Littlefinger left off, but his gaze swept over every member of the Small Council present, his words carrying a warning. "In addition, I will leave two thousand of the finest soldiers of the Westerlands in King's Landing. They will be stationed in the Red Keep and at key locations, taking their orders directly from the Queen. Their duty will be to silence any opposition and crush any treacherous schemes."
At these words, the great weight hanging over Cersei's heart finally eased a little.
Though she still resented her father leaving troops rather than Jaime, the feeling of having soldiers under her command instantly diluted her fear, even nurturing a trace of twisted satisfaction within her.
She straightened her back, and beneath her thin veil, the corners of her lips seemed about to rise.
She had even decided that once her father left, she would proclaim herself Queen Regent and savor the feeling of ruling the Seven Kingdoms.
Tywin took in every subtle change in his daughter's expression, and his face abruptly darkened. "This is only a temporary arrangement. Before