Destroyed at the hands of the woman he had loved for five years.
Destroyed at the hands of the man he didn't even dare to hate.
The maesters put him on a stretcher and carefully carried him out of the room.
As he passed the corridor, Cole's eyes swept across the Kingsguard standing on both sides - his comrades, his brothers, the people he once thought he would fight side by side with for the rest of his life.
They looked at him with pity, shock, and fear.
I feel pity for his experience, I am shocked by the cruelty of the murderer, and I am afraid of what kind of power and power the person who dares to do this murder to Kingsguard's second-in-command in Red Keep, at Kingsguard's residence, actually has.
The stretcher was carried downstairs and disappeared into the corner corridor.
Harold Westerling stood in Cole's room, looking at the pool of blood on the floor that had not yet dried up, and was silent for a long time.
"Captain," Steffon Darklin walked up to him and lowered his voice, "Do we... should we investigate this matter?"
Harold glanced at him and said slowly, "Check? How to check?"
Steffon opened his mouth but did not answer.
Yes, how to check?
There are only a few people in King's Landing who can enter White Sword Tower silently, subdue Cole instantly, and dare to take action in Kingsguard's residence.
And among those, none of them he could move.
Harold turned around and walked towards the door. When he reached the threshold, he stopped and did not look back.
"Today's matter," he said, "Don't mention it to anyone. Wait until Cole wakes up and ask questions."
He paused, with a hint of fatigue in his voice. "If... if he is willing to say it."
After saying that, he walked away.
The other Kingsguard looked at each other, and finally dispersed silently.
The wind blew through the corridor, bringing Blackwater Bay the salty and damp smell.
White Sword Tower still stands in the moonlight, overlooking the sleeping King's Landing.
But everyone knows that after today, the atmosphere in this tower will never be the same again.
The next morning, when the first ray of sunlight shone on Red Keep, a lonely figure was already standing outside Rhaenyra's bedroom.
gram Lys ton·Cole.
He was wearing an ordinary robe, his face was as pale as paper, he was shaking slightly when he walked, and he seemed to be enduring great pain with every step he took.
His eyes were hollow, his lips were chapped, and he seemed to have aged ten years overnight.
The bedroom door opened, and Rhaenyra stood at the door.
She looked at the man in front of her, with complex emotions welling up in her heart.
There is guilt, pity, and a hint of indescribable... relief?
Cole looked at her, moved her lips, and finally said only three words: "I'm sorry."
Rhaenyra Close your eyes and take a deep breath.
When she opened her eyes again, there was only peace in those violet eyes.
"Sir Cole," she said, her voice not high, but it was clearly heard in the ears of everyone present, "You were the pride of Kingsguard and my most trusted guard.
But you did something you shouldn't have done and said something you shouldn't have said. From today on, you are no longer Kingsguard, and you are no longer King's Landing."
She paused and continued, "Leave here and never come back. This is... the last thing I can do for you."
Cole looked at her, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
There is pain, reluctance, and a hint of... relief?
He slowly knelt down, gave her a final knightly salute, then stood up, turned and left.
His back looked so lonely and desolate in the morning light.
Rhaenyra stood at the door, watching the man who had blocked countless swords for her gradually walk away and disappear into the shadow of the castle.
She didn't cry.
Because she knew that this was the best ending.
To Cole, to her, to Redd.
In the distance, the spire of White Sword Tower shines brightly in the sun.
The waves of Blackwater Bay are still lapping at the rocks, making an eternal sound.
A new day has begun.
The air in the study seemed to be frozen.
Redd and Rhaenyra sat opposite each other across the thick ebony wood desk. The distance between them was only a few feet, but it seemed like they were separated by thousands of mountains and rivers.
The sun shines through the high windows, forming a dividing line of light and shadow between the two people, separating them into two completely different worlds.
Silence.
A long silence.
Rhaenyra lowered his head, folded his hands on his knees, and his knuckles were slightly white from exertion.
She could feel Redd's gaze falling on her. The gaze was not as casual as usual, but with a kind of... scrutiny that she had never seen before?
No, more like a trial.
She is waiting.
Wait for Redd to speak, wait for the inevitable question, wait for the question she doesn't know how to answer.
Finally, Redd broke the silence.
"I don't care what your previous relationship was with that Cole."
His voice was very calm, as calm as if he was talking about today's weather. But it was this calmness that made Rhaenyra's heart suddenly tighten.
"It doesn't matter why you married me."
Redd continued, his purple-gold eyes looking directly at her without any emotion, as if he was just stating a fact. "Since you have become my wife in name only, then please obey the rules."
Cole This kind of thing must never happen a second time."
Rhaenyra raised her head and met his gaze. There was guilt, uneasiness, and a hint of stubbornness in those violet eyes.
"There won't be a second time." She said, her voice not loud but extremely firm, "I promise."
Redd looked at her, noncommittal.
That kind of gaze made Rhaenyra even more uneasy.
She would rather he get angry, would rather he question, would rather he vent all his anger.
But he just looked at her like this, with that calm and scrutinizing gaze, which made her feel as if she was being stripped naked and scrutinized, and all the disguises and excuses were gone.
"Remember your words."
Redd finally spoke, his tone still calm, but the next words made Rhaenyra's heart sink to the bottom.
"Since you chose to marry me because of power, then don't regret it."
He stood up and looked at her condescendingly. For the first time, real coldness appeared in his purple-gold eyes. "I can make you sit in the position of crown prince, and I can also make you step down from the position of crown prince."
If it comes to that, just don't blame me for being cruel."
Rhaenyra's face instantly turned pale.
She knew what Redd said was true.
She knows better than anyone else how powerful, ruthless, and... unscrupulous this man is.
He helped her sit on the throne of crown prince because she was his wife in name only and the mother of his child.
But if she really violated his bottom line, if he really decided to change someone to be the crown prince...
Rhaenyra dare not think further.
"I understand." She lowered her head, her voice trembling slightly, "I... I will remember it."