Robert had left.
He had set off for Winterfell with three... oh no, four Lannisters.
Why four?
Because although his fine eldest son Joffrey bore the name Baratheon, that surname was his only connection to the Baratheons.
A king's departure was naturally a grand affair. An enormous entourage had marched out of King's Landing as though heading off to war.
Yet the lone reindeer banner was almost entirely swallowed by the crimson lion banners that blotted out the sky above the procession, leaving it completely out of sight.
With Robert gone, almost all authority in King's Landing fell into the hands of Arthas, Commander of the Gold Cloaks.
But just as he was preparing to make his mark, Kevan arrived in King's Landing with a company of Lannister knights, his arrival timed almost precisely to Robert's departure.
"Dear Uncle Kevan, what brings you here?"
Arthas sat squarely in his chair, his golden eyes fixed on his uncle, who had grown somewhat stout in recent years. He made no effort to hide the scrutiny and wariness in his gaze.
Only three years younger than his brother Tywin, Kevan no longer possessed the burly physique of his youth. Yet his talents, every bit the equal of Tywin's, kept his gaze sharp, as though he could see through any political scheme at a glance.
"You know, Ael."
With the same classic Lannister elegance, and the same manner of conversation between intelligent men, Kevan did not spell things out too plainly, but conveyed his meaning very effectively:
"On your father's orders, I brought the finest Lannister knights here, riding through the night."
"Yet you won't even let them through the gates. Isn't that rather unreasonable?"
"Heh..."
Arthas knew perfectly well why Tywin had sent him, but he had no intention of surrendering the power he had only just secured so easily.
"I don't understand, Uncle Kevan."
He simply spread his hands, adopting an expression of complete ignorance.
His experience of two lifetimes had made playing dumb a skill etched into his soul:
"When I left the Westerlands, I brought more than twenty Lannister knights with me."
"If Tywin ordered you to send men to protect me, then I must say that is entirely unnecessary."
"But..."
Casually picking up Frostmourne from beside him, Arthas gripped its hilt and planted it before him. A barely perceptible trace of killing intent showed in his eyes.
"If you intend to seize King's Landing with these mere hundred knights while His Grace is away..."
"Then, as Commander of the City Watch, I will have to put duty before family!"
That righteous declaration left Kevan stunned. He had never expected Arthas to be so ruthless, immediately saddling him with an accusation of plotting rebellion.
"Don't take this too far, Arthas!"
Faced with such a grave accusation, even Kevan, with the composure cultivated over decades as Tywin's deputy, struggled to keep his cool. He promptly slapped the table, rose, and angrily rebuked Arthas:
"If I intended to take King's Landing, why would I bring so few men?"
"Then how many men do you think it would take to capture a city as vast as King's Landing?"
"Of course it would take..."
Before he could finish, Kevan noticed the faint hint of amusement in Arthas's eyes. He immediately realized that he had unwittingly fallen into the boy's trap.
"I must say, Ael."
Slowly exhaling, Kevan sat back down and decided to devote his full attention to dealing with this young lion king, whose claws and fangs were already beginning to show:
"Your intelligence and methods really are exactly like your father's."
Having regained his composure, Kevan directed his discerning gaze at Arthas, who sat upright like a king, and seemed to offer a heartfelt observation.
Yet beneath that note of admiration and praise lay a probe aimed at Arthas. After all, his poor relationship with Tywin was hardly anything new.
"Don't try to provoke me, Uncle Kevan."
Seeing that the other man actually intended to turn his own trick back on him, Arthas curled his lips into a disdainful smile:
"If you think such a simple ploy will fool me, you're underestimating me, aren't you?"
The implication was that Kevan had fallen for it so easily just now, but Arthas was not as shallow as he was.
"Very well, Ael."
With a soft sigh, Kevan knew that unless he gave Arthas a satisfactory answer today, he would probably struggle to achieve his purpose:
"I think we should both stop beating around the bush. Just state your terms."
"Jaime is determined to remain a member of the Kingsguard anyway. House Lannister will be yours sooner or later."
Having made his decision, Kevan even sounded a little gratified. His keen gaze gradually softened, as though he had become lost in memories:
"To tell the truth, when Tywin first brought you back, I opposed it fiercely."
"Lannister honor simply could not tolerate such a disgraceful presence."
"I know your father wasn't entirely firm in his resolve back then, either. His eyes betrayed his uncertainty. Proud as he had been all his life, even he did not know whether his decision was right or wrong."
"But there was no helping it. Casterly Rock needed an heir, after all."
At that, Kevan chuckled, picked up the wine on the table, and took a small sip:
"Come to think of it, if I were Tywin, I would have handed Casterly Rock to Tyrion without hesitation."
"I know that boy is as intelligent as anyone."
"But now, I am profoundly grateful..."
Setting down his cup, Kevan slowly rose and openly showed his acceptance of the powerful, intelligent youth before him:
"I am profoundly grateful that Tywin made that decision back then, Arthas."
"If it's you, you will surely lead House Lannister to even greater heights of glory."
"What, now that provocation hasn't worked, you've started playing on my feelings?"
Although he knew that most of Kevan's words were sincere, Arthas remained merciless with his tongue. Still, he set Frostmourne aside, and his tone grew considerably gentler:
"I won't compromise on a single one of my terms, Uncle Kevan."
"Of course, Ael."
Kevan inclined his body slightly, adopting an air of leaving everything to Arthas:
"As the heir to House Lannister, you may set any terms that aren't too excessive, and I can agree to them."
"Good."
Seeing how readily Kevan agreed, Arthas stopped circling around the matter and spoke plainly:
"There are more than six thousand Gold Cloaks in King's Landing. The twenty knights I brought simply cannot manage them all."
"I know Tywin sent you here to bring the Gold Cloaks completely under Lannister control. I fully agree with that myself, and I can cooperate with you completely by installing them as squad leaders."
"But..."
At this point, Arthas finally began to reveal his ambition to Kevan.
The corners of his mouth lifted, exposing white teeth, while his eyes made no attempt to conceal his hunger for power:
"I want every one of them to swear that from now on, they will serve me alone!"
"Hahaha!"
"You certainly have quite an appetite, Ael."
Arthas's imperious words drew a burst of laughter from Kevan, but at the same time, he could not help admiring the youth, who seemed already to hold all power in his hands.
At least when he himself had been that age, he had barely understood what power meant.
"The men I brought this time are the finest of the Lannister elite. Expecting them all to pledge themselves to you on the strength of a few words is impossible."
Shaking his head, Kevan rejected the unrealistic demand.
"Then I believe we have nothing more to discuss, dear Uncle Kevan."
Seeing that they could not reach an agreement, Arthas stood as well and bluntly dismissed his guest:
"Unfortunately, the gates of King's Landing will not open for you. Please go back."
"No, no, Ael."
As he watched Arthas show him no consideration whatsoever, the amusement in Kevan's eyes deepened.
A Lannister leader who could put interests first was a truly good leader.
"What I mean is that I personally lack the ability to make them swear loyalty to you. That does not mean they cannot pledge themselves to you."
Seeing Arthas give him a puzzled look, Kevan explained further:
"As I said, I brought the finest Lannister knights. They are all proud, unruly young men."
"I cannot force them to pledge their loyalty to you, but you can find your own way to win them over through your personal appeal."
As he spoke, Kevan leaned forward slightly. A trace of aggression emerged through his elegant bearing, and he fixed Arthas with a burning gaze as he asked:
"I believe you can do it, can't you?"
"The finest knight in the Seven Kingdoms!"
Looking at Kevan, whose tone carried a hint of provocation, Arthas understood that this was a test he had to undergo as the heir to House Lannister.
"Deal!"
He agreed with a smile, his earlier overbearing manner entirely gone. At that moment, Arthas seemed to have become that warm, gentle youth once again.
The atmosphere in the room immediately relaxed, and Kevan likewise laughed heartily, like an affectionate elder.
"By the way, where is Tyrion? Why haven't I seen him at all?"
Only after a long while, when the two foxes' smiles had gradually faded, did Kevan ask in a conversational tone.
Although the Imp had never been welcome with Tywin, his uncle Kevan treated him very well and did not discriminate against him for being a dwarf.
In Kevan's view, anyone who belonged to House Lannister was his family and deserved his care.
"Tyrion said he wanted to go with Robert to see the sights of the North."
At the mention of the Imp, a warm smile unconsciously appeared on Arthas's face as well:
"But I think he simply wanted to escape the Faith of the Seven's demands for repayment."
"After all, he's only just become Master of Coin. There are still plenty of matters he hasn't sorted out."
Kevan nodded. He had heard a little about the Imp becoming Master of Coin during his journey.
That spendthrift Robert had borrowed three million Gold Dragons from the Lannisters alone. Other outstanding debts were hardly surprising.
"Speaking of the Faith of the Seven."
While Kevan was still considering how the Imp would resolve the royal debt, Arthas changed the subject and looked toward the blond youth beside him, who had remained silent throughout:
"Cousin Lancel, please convey my orders. Have the Gold Cloaks open the gates and welcome our Lannister brothers inside."
"As the heir to House Lannister, I'll take you all somewhere nice."
"Consider it a welcome for the glorious knights of the lion."
The blond youth glanced at his father. Once Kevan nodded his approval, he turned and left without hesitation.
After he left, Arthas slowly rose and looked toward the nearby Great Sept of Baelor. A cruel smile touched his lips as he murmured in a barely audible voice:
"I'll see whether you really are the true gods of legend, or just vermin that know how to beguile people's hearts!"
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