The first ray of sunshine in the morning casts slender beams of light on the stone floor in front of Throne Room.
Stoke Worthsburg Earl Bronn stood outside the arch of Throne Room, his back straight.
He was dressed very gorgeously today and looked even more energetic than when he attended Tywin's Regent coronation. He even shaved for the first time!
Because of him, Bronn Earl is today's protagonist!
... At least that's what he thinks.
Because just last night, Corleone personally sent someone to inform him that he would attend the imperial meeting today.
Bronn was so excited that he almost jumped out of the prostitute's bed!
But he endured it.
After all, considering his status as Earl, no matter how exciting the news is, he should maintain a calm attitude, just like... well, Corleone and Tywin.
So at this moment, Bronn stood outside the door of Throne Room, with the corners of his mouth curved upward in an arc that he thought was calm and unhurried. It looked like... he was more pretentious than calm.
But he came too early.
We entered the Red Fort before dawn. At this time, the archway of Throne Room was still tightly closed. There were only two guards in black armor at the door, with Black Hand Badge embroidered on their chests.
The two guards stood there expressionlessly, with their hands on the hilts of their swords and their eyes fixed, as if they had not seen Lord Xinpu at all.
This kind of atmosphere makes Bronn feel a little bored. After all, if no one pays attention to it, then isn't my pretense in vain?
"You are from Black Hand Mafia, right? I am Bronn Earl from Stoke Worth. I have a very good relationship with Master Corleone."
Hearing this, the guard just glanced at him and did not answer.
Bronn continued to ask without being discouraged, "My knees must be hurting after standing here for a long time. Speaking of which, I have done this job before."
The guard still didn't answer.
"Young people should endure more hardships and be willing to contribute. As long as you work hard, you will one day become a big shot like me. Oh, hehe. The more he said, the more outrageous he became. He let out an old money laugh in his throat, and even planned to put his hand on the shoulder of a certain guard.
"Stand back, Master Earl."
His movement finally aroused the guard's reaction, but what he got in return was the Longsword on his waist slightly unsheathed and a cold warning.
"Hey! Hey! Don't be so excited...
Bronn immediately raised his hands and took a step back, no longer asking for trouble, but he still muttered unconvincingly, "Young people nowadays really don't know what politeness is."
Then he kept repeating things like "I don't have martial ethics" and "I am a hero" in a low voice.
Throne Room The atmosphere outside suddenly became... not so cheerful.
After all, his voice was very low, but the two Black Hand Mafia guards still stood at the door with expressionless faces, and their hands on the sword hilts did not relax at all.
Fuck.
After all, I am a Earl.
Bronn thought angrily in his heart, but unconsciously moved his feet half a step to the side, farther away from the two guards.
I spent a full fifty Gold Dragon on this suit of clothes.
These two guys don't know how to praise at all, and they deserve to be unable to make any money for the rest of their lives!
Hum!
"I am the hero...
Just when Bronn was about to continue comforting himself, a hearty voice came from behind. "Good morning! Bronn Earl!"
Hearing this voice, Bronn's shoulders shook first, then turned around, and sure enough he saw the smiling face of Ray Foley Lake.
The corners of his mouth twitched slightly, and then he tried to force out a decent smile, "Morning, Earl Lych."
Rivere Lake was dressed equally gorgeously today, with a circle of silver fox fur on his collar and the cross Warhammer coat of arms of the Lake family embroidered with silver thread on his chest.
His hair was meticulously combed and his beard neatly trimmed, which was in sharp contrast to Bronn's "I have money" nouveau riche temperament.
How to describe it, it's probably "I've been fucking rich since my ancestors"!
"You look good today." Ray Foley walked to Bronn and praised calmly.
"You too." Bronn simply responded dryly.
"Did you sleep well last night?"
"Not bad."
"That's good."
Riverey nodded, then raised his head and looked at the closed arch of Throne Room, and murmured thoughtfully, "Today is a good day."
"Yeah, good times." Bronn agreed, but in his mind he was wondering why the old guy didn't shut up.
But Rivere clearly had no intention of shutting up.
He withdrew his gaze and turned to Bronn, still wearing the smile that made Bronn feel uncomfortable, "Speaking of which, you walked really fast that day at Sept."
Hearing this, Bronn's eyelids twitched.
"I... I saw something was wrong and evacuated quickly." He tried to sound confident.
"Oh, yes, yes."
But unlike Bronn, who was hiding it, Reifrey was very calm, and even said in a tone of agreement, "You did it right. If you hadn't led people to stop Cured Meat Street's Lannister garrison in time, Lord Corleone's side might not have been so smooth."
As soon as these words came out, the corner of Bronn's mouth twitched again.
This old guy won't pick up any pot.
After all, he already knew at that time that something was going to happen to Sept, and even made a joke about blowing up Sept with wildfire, but he ran away secretly before the incident happened, which is somewhat unreasonable.
But...
Glancing at Riveri.
Wait, didn't you, old guy, have no intention of saving me at that time?
That day, he followed Corleone's prior instructions and took advantage of the chaos caused by Bonifer to sneak out of Sept and went straight to Cured Meat Street.
The largest Lannister force in King's Landing is stationed there, totaling a thousand men.
Bronn's job is to hold these guys back.
He really stalled.
But the process was completely different from what I imagined.
When he rushed to Cured Meat Street with the batch of golden robes left behind by Balman·Byrch, he found that there was already a fight there.
The Lannister soldiers were blocked at both ends of the street by a group of people who came out of nowhere. Arrows shot down from the roofs like raindrops. In the middle of the street, a temporary barricade was built with carriages and barrels.
Bronn was stunned at that time.
What the hell is going on?
When he took a closer look, he found that those who were attacking the Lannister soldiers were all wearing dark blue robes with the cross Warhammer embroidered on their chests.
Soldiers of the Lake family!
And there were many more people than his golden robe, at least three hundred people.
This group of soldiers was well-equipped and well-trained, blocking the thousand Lannister men in the street, unable to advance or retreat. When Bronn rushed forward with his hundred or so golden robes, the battle situation was almost completely controlled by the Lake family.
And then... he saw Rivere Lake.
The old guy obviously ran ahead of him. Not only was he not surprised when Bronn rushed over with his men, but he grinned and waved to Bronn. His gesture was as relaxed as if he had met an old friend at the market.
"Earl! You're finally here!"
"It's almost over here. Why don't you take someone to guard the intersection to the west? Don't let those Lannister bastards escape over there!"
Bronn was completely stunned at the time.
Why is this old guy here?
Corleone didn't tell him that Ray Foley Lake was also involved in this operation!
No, it's more than just participation.
Judging from the troops dispatched by the Lake family, this old guy is clearly the main force in this operation!
After all, there are three hundred well-equipped family soldiers, which is almost half of the troops that the Lake family can mobilize!
And what about Bronn?
He carries hundreds of gold robes, many of which were temporarily purchased, and his loyalty is uncertain.
It is clear at a glance who is the main protagonist and who is the supporting role.
Thinking of this, Bronn felt sour in his heart again.
He glanced at Rivere Lake, who raised his head slightly, admiring the exquisite reliefs on the Throne Room arch.
"Oh hehehe~~~~"
A deep and hearty laugh burst from Rivere's throat. The laugh was neither loud nor small, but it made Bronn's face twitch.
Fuck.
When did this guy get together with Corleone? Didn't I come here first?
Also...
I hate this laughter!
Compared with a guy like Ray Foley, who exudes the aristocratic temperament of an old-style aristocrat, the "oh hehe he" he practiced for half an hour in front of Bronze Mirror in the morning is simply stupid!
Bronn even felt that the two Black Hand Mafia soldiers were laughing at him!
My God, please end this conversation quickly!
Unlike Riverey's calmness, Bronn felt embarrassed and had to dig his toes out of the three rooms and one living room. Fortunately, at this moment, a burst of dense footsteps came from the direction of the garden.
Bronn and Riveri turned their heads at the same time.
I saw a dozen elite Black Hand Mafia knights in black armor taking the lead to turn out from behind the arch in the garden, followed closely by a similar number in gold robes.
Corleone was in the center of the team, followed by the members of the Imperial Council.
Pycelle, Varys... Well, in addition to Mace Tyrell who has returned to the Reach, and Kevan who resigned from the post of Minister of Justice, there are actually quite a few ministers of the Royal Council!
It seems that from beginning to end, only the Lannister family was kept in the dark about this "plot explosion"!
Even Queen Marga li·Tyrell is following Corleone!
Stopping in front of the arch, Corleone first glanced at Riveri Lake and nodded slightly.
Riverey nodded in return, without any extra courtesy, but the tacit understanding between the two was self-evident.
Then, Corleone's eyes fell on Bronn.
"Come so early?"
"I... that... is used to getting up early." The corner of Bronn's mouth twitched.
Hearing this, a smile flashed in Corleone's black eyes.
"Then let's get started." But he didn't say much, he just turned around and faced the closed arch of Throne Room.
Several Black Hand Mafia soldiers immediately stepped forward, pressed their hands on the heavy oak door panel, and pushed it inwards.
As the door creaked open, the Iron Throne standing on the steps at the end of the hall came into view.
The morning light fell on those sword blades, reflecting a cold light.
Corleone steps across the threshold.
Marga Li followed him, and then the members of the Imperial Council. Their boots made a crisp sound on the stone floor, echoing repeatedly in the empty Throne Room.
When he reached the steps of the Iron Throne, Corleone walked up to the steps without any hesitation and sat on it very naturally.
Bronn stood at the bottom of the steps, watching Corleone walk up the seven steps step by step, his mind suddenly buzzing.
No, you just sat on it alive?
That's the Iron Throne!
The Iron Throne only a king can sit on!
Even if the king is young, that is the position that only Regent or the King's Hand can sit!
As a finance minister, no matter how great your merits are, you can't just sit on it!
Bronn's eyes almost popped out of his head, and he subconsciously turned to look at the others, hoping to see the same shock on their faces.
But it's a pity that no one except him raised any objections to this, as if Corleone was born to sit there.
No, haven't you seen it?
He sat on it!
The Iron Throne!
Bronn screamed crazily in his heart, but he did not dare to make any sound.
Then he seemed to see out of the corner of his eye, the corners of Queen Marga li·Tyrell's mouth were even rising slightly!
Bronn's head was buzzing again.
No, why are you still laughing?
Corleone How happy are you to sit on the Iron Throne?
Bronn felt that his worldview was collapsing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
He has been working as a hired hand Mercenary for twenty years, crawling around in the mud of the Riverlands, what ridiculous things have he not seen?
But today, a knight from Farmer sat on the Iron Throne in such a grand manner. Queen stood beside him and smiled like Rose in the spring. None of the ministers in the court stood up and said, "This is illegal."
What the hell is going on?
But before Bronn could figure it all out, old maester Pycelle walked out of the queue step by step.
This most hard-core actor in King's Land has a severely stooped waist and a long, snow-white beard that almost reaches his knees. Every step he takes seems to be using all his strength to fight gravity.
He looked like he was dying.
When he reached the bottom of the steps, Pycelle stopped and took out a roll of parchment from his wide sleeve.
"Ahem."
He cleared his throat and said loudly, "In the name of Tommen Baratheon I Your Majesty, since Lord Regent Tywin Lannister was seriously injured in the Rebellion of Baelor Great Sept, he is temporarily unable to personally manage the affairs of the country."
"In order to maintain the operation of the government affairs of the seven countries and ensure the stability of the royal territory and various fiefdoms, Queen Marga li·Tyrell was unanimously recommended by the Imperial Council. Your Majesty has signed and approved that the Minister of Finance, Vito·Corleone, is hereby conferred as...Acting Hand of the King!"
"Before Regent recovers, he will assume the powers of acting Prime Minister, lead the Royal Council, and coordinate the government affairs of the seven countries!"
Pycelle finished reading the last word and slowly rolled up the parchment.
Throne Room was quiet for a moment.
Then, Varys took the lead in bowing, followed closely by Rivere Lake. The knights and golden robes of Black Hand Mafia all knelt down on one knee, and the sound of the collision of armor and stomach echoed in the empty hall.
Only Bronn stood there, looking at everything in disbelief with his mouth wide open.
Acting Hand of the King!
Corleone is now Acting Hand of the King?
Wait... that's not important, what's important is this...
Bronn turned his head sharply and looked at Riveri Lake who was standing diagonally in front of him.
There was no surprise on old Earl's face, and even the faint smile on the corner of his mouth was exactly the same as when they were chatting outside the door just now.
Fuck!
I am the last one to know!
Don't mention how long it has been for Bronn. After these days of showing his loyalty, he thought that he was Black Hand Mafia's "one of his own" after all, but he didn't expect that he didn't know as much as the old guy Ruifrey Lake!
If I had known earlier, I should have licked Corleone harder!
"Earl."
At this moment, the voice of Corleone came from the direction of the Iron Throne. Bronn was shocked and raised his head suddenly. "Yes! Lord Hand of the King!"
Corleone looked at his appearance and couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth slightly.
"You're standing too far away, come to the front."