iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 162 Morning at the Red Fort

Arya Stark ate the soup with confidence. In her heart, Green was her good friend. This was not difficult.

Sansa Stark's eyes were dazed, why did you let me go back?
"Father, I will never quarrel with my sister again. Please, I don't want to go back."

Sansa racked her brains to think of reasons... She and her sister often quarreled and their father was annoyed, so he wanted to send her back to Winterfell.

Duke Benlang didn't realize for a moment why his daughter suddenly admitted her mistake to him, so he looked over with some confusion.

"Sansa, my daughter, I do not blame you."

For the sake of her love with Joffrey, Sansa mustered up the courage and prepared to argue with her respected father... As a result, she shed tears first, and her voice was full of pleading.

"Father, I swear, I will be a good daughter! Really, as long as you let me stay! I promise, I will behave as noble and polite as the queen."

Duke Ed: "..."

Why does the little wolf girl from Running Wolf admire a woman like Cersei? !

Duke Eddard only blamed himself for neglecting the education of his children after coming to King's Landing.

"Sansa, I asked you to return to Winterfell out of consideration for your safety."

She had a premonition...if they were separated this time, she might never see Joffrey again, and Sansa cried even more sadly.

The eldest daughter burst into tears, and the man from the North couldn't help scratching his head. At this time, he caught a glimpse of a figure lingering at the door, and that was Jon Snow.

"Sansa, you'll find out why when you get home."

Arya, who had been smiling at her sister crying, suppressed the gloating on her face. Sansa seemed to be really sad this time?Doesn't seem like a lie.

Arya reached out and touched her sister's arm gently: "Sansa, don't cry. Our family will be able to live together again soon, and there will be many fun things on the road."

Sansa yells, "I only want Joffrey!"

After saying that, she shook off Arya's little hand and left the restaurant quickly.

The father and the youngest daughter first looked at Sansa who left angrily, and then looked at each other: "..."

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"You need to take care of it! You are not my family!" Sansa's angry voice came from the door of the restaurant.

Arya's little body slapped the table and stood up, shouting: "Sansa! Don't run! I'm going to beat you!"

Although Arya is young, she is very clever. Her sister likes to pretend to be a lady. The only people who can make her say such things are her and their...brother Jon.

Before Arya could make her next move, she was caught by her father's big hand.

"Arya, you don't have much time. Septa Mordane is packing your things. You should go take a look."

Her father's expression was serious, and Arya reluctantly let the hateful Sansa go.

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At the stairs outside the restaurant, Duke Eddard patted Jon Snow, who looked a little pale.

He comforted, "Sansa is angry with me, my child."

Jon smiled reluctantly and said, "I'm fine, Lord Stark."

After being silent for a while, Jon, with his face slightly lowered, suddenly raised his head and looked directly at Duke Eddard, and said: "Lord Stark, I want to know who my mother is?"

Before Duke Eddard could answer, Jon asked again: "Is she still alive? Does she know that I exist? Does she know where I am?"

Jon lowered his head and murmured: "Does she care about this?"

A sad look flashed across Duke Eddard's face, and he reached out and grabbed Jon's shoulders: "I promise, she loves you most."

Joy appeared on Jon's face, but it quickly turned to anger.

He moved his shoulders and broke away from Duke Ed's hand: "Father... Lord Stark, I am not a child. I don't need a nice bedtime story. I want to know the truth."

Duke Ed hesitated and said, "My child, I did not lie to you."

The corners of Jon's eyes turned red: "Is she a female branch? Or... I'm sorry, my lord."

Jon turned his face to the other side, wiped the corners of his eyes quickly with the back of his hand, and whispered: "I have not forgotten that I am a despicable bastard, please forgive me for my offense."

After saying that, Jon left silently.

Duke Eddard stood there, as if he had turned into a sculpture, motionless... Lyanna, when your child grows up, it may be time to find a chance to tell him his life experience.

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Maegor's Tower.

Cersei Lannister held Sansa in her arms and said kindly and gently: "Good child, don't be sad, I will help you."

Sansa's eyes were red and swollen as she said, "I love Joffrey so much, but my father won't even let me say goodbye."

Cersei patted Sansa's back gently, she raised her lips and said: "Sansa, if you didn't love Joffrey, why would you come to see me and tell me your father's plan to send you away? Woolen cloth?"

Sansa tapped her chin shyly... She had always been a good and obedient daughter, but when she sneaked away from the Hand's Tower and went against her father's wishes, she felt as bad as Arya... She had never been so willful. But if she hadn't loved Joffrey deeply, she wouldn't have done this.

Cersei let go of Sansa gently and touched her tear-stained face.

"Good boy, I want to thank you for helping Joffrey."

At this moment, Sansa admired Queen Cersei so much that she decided... She must be as noble and gentle as her in the future, and be a good wife and queen.

"Lancel."

Following Queen Cersei's voice, Sansa saw a young man coming over and standing in front of them to salute.

It looked so good... Sansa couldn't help but take another sneaky look.

"Lancel, Sansa needs to rest. Help her find a comfortable room and take care of my Sansa for me."

Queen Cersei stroked Sansa's hair and said: "Sansa, he is my cousin. You go with him to rest for a while. I will call you when Joffrey comes."

Sansa nodded shyly.

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There were only Cersei and Jaime in the room.

Cersei took a sip of summer red, paused, and put down her glass.

She snorted coldly and said, "Benlang is about to take action."

James showed a slightly confused look: "Listen to what the little girl said, aren't the Starks planning to leave King's Landing?"

As he spoke, he picked up the flagon and poured wine for Queen Cersei.

Cersei's green eyes looked at Jaime: "My Jaime, you are so naive."

As she said that, she stood up and continued: "The prerequisite for Benlang's departure is...to kill us. James, today is the decisive battle. Either he dies or we die."

James's eyes trembled and he said in a deep voice: "Cersei, did Stark find out the cause of Robert's death?"

Queen Cersei raised her chin and mocked: "How could the stupid running wolf realize that the drunkard died because of my plan."

"That's..." "Okay, no need to guess." Queen Cersei looked impatient.

She said coldly: "James, Running Wolf has found out that Joffrey and the others are our children, so we will never let Joffrey inherit the Iron Throne."

James' pupils narrowed and he froze.

Seeing that James had been in a daze, Queen Cersei stepped forward... and slapped James on his handsome face.

Cersei said angrily: "Stop those boring tricks of knights, what is glory? Only the winner is qualified to have glory!"

James touched his cheek and sighed: "Cersei, you know, I only care about you."

Only then did Cersei show a look of satisfaction. One of her hands was placed on Jaime's chest, and the other hand gently touched Jaime's face.

"James, as long as we defeat Running Wolf, I will be the Queen Regent of the Seven Kingdoms. At that time, no one will dare to question us anymore. Do you understand?"

James closed his eyes.

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Outside the Red Keep, Green stopped a dilapidated transport carriage.

"Earl Green!"

Arya shouted excitedly, jumped off the carriage nimbly, ran a few steps and hugged Green's thigh.

Green lowered his eyes and said with a smile: "Miss Arya, it's obvious that I can help you with something."

Arya's eyes widened: "How do you know? Are you a prophet?"

Green touched Arya's furry little head and said, "I'm not a prophet, I just guessed the answer from your enthusiasm."

"Yes, your expression is too easy for people to guess your true thoughts. You have to pay attention, girl."

A thin, bald man walked over. When he saw Green's gaze moving towards him, he stopped and saluted gracefully.

"Syrio!"

Arya immediately let go of Green's lap and ran towards Syrio Forel.

"Syrio, I was still thinking about how to find you, but you showed up yourself!"

Syrio spoke in a Free Trader accent: "Your carriage caught Syrio's attention, girl."

Arya's eyes lit up: "You are so amazing!"

Silio grinned: "Girl, use your eyes to see, use your ears to listen, use your..."

Arya put her little hand behind her back and said: "Taste with my mouth, feel with my skin, and finally think with your head, so that you can understand the truth!"

Syrio shrugged and said, "Arya is a smart girl."

Arya raised her head proudly, and took Syrio to introduce to Green: "Earl Green, his name is Syrio Forel, he is my swordsmanship teacher, can I take Syrio with me?"

Green spread his hands and said, "Miss Arya, if Sir Syrio agrees, there will be no problem."

Arya looked at Syrio.

Sirio nodded slightly: "Girl, your course has not been completed yet, Sirio can only go with you."

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Green looked at the inside of the carriage, then sighed towards Duke Ned's bodyguard Kane: "Where is Miss Sansa?"

Kane said doubtfully: "Miss Sansa got on the carriage in advance...she was not in it?!"

"Lord Green, Sansa said to go find you first..."

As she said that, Arya's expression changed and she said angrily: "Oh, I was deceived by her again, I shouldn't reconcile with her!"

Syrio grinned: "You just listened, but didn't use your eyes to see, girl."

Jon Snow hurriedly came over from behind, his face was very pale: "I...I'm going to find Miss Sansa!"

Arya noticed her brother's regret: "Brother Jon, I don't blame you for this. Sansa is the most annoying. She will get angry if you get close to her!"

Jon shook his head: "Arya, this is not Miss Sansa's fault, and I promised Lord Stark that I will take good care of you."

Green rubbed his hair and reached out to stop Jon who was about to leave.

"give it to me."

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In the Prime Minister's study, Duke Ed walked to the window and looked at the square in the distance.Lannister soldiers, fully armed and wearing bright red cloaks, were performing morning drills, fighting with swords, or riding horses to chop down dummies made of straw.

The tall Sandor Clegane galloped across the hard dirt, raising his iron spear to pierce the scarecrow, while the red Lannisters laughed and cursed.

Duke Eddard frowned... Is this a deliberate demonstration to me?Cersei was even more foolish than he thought.

Damn it, why didn’t this woman run away?I give her another chance again and again!
Does it have to bleed?Duke Eddard withdrew his gaze. The following exercises seemed to him like children's play.

Duke Eddard walked over, reached out and took down the ice sword hanging on the wall. Stark was never afraid of fighting!
"Jory."

When Duke Ed's voice fell, his guard captain immediately pushed open the door and stood in front of him.

Duke Eddard said seriously: "Jory, we may have to fight a battle, so everyone should wear armor."

Qiao Li nodded. He hesitated and asked, "Sir, who will be our enemy?"

Duke Ed suddenly remembered Green's advice and replied: "All southerners may be our enemies."

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In the morning, the sky was cloudy and heavy.

Duke Eddard sent someone to invite all the royal ministers to the Prime Minister's study.

Barristan Selmy arrived first, wearing a snow-white cloak and silver armor, completely white and flawless.

Barristan greeted him first, and then said, "Prime Minister Ed, my duty now is to protect the young king. Please let me serve him."

Duke Eddard's face was serious: "Ser Barristan, your duty lies here."

Not long after, Pycelle and Varys walked in one after another.

Varys's body smelled of lavender, his fat face was cleansed and freshly powdered, and the soft slippers under his feet were gentle and silent.

"Prime Minister Ed, the little birds are singing sad songs, and the whole country is crying today."

After Wallis sat down, he asked again: "Shall we start?"

Duke Eddard glanced at Varys, who had a sad face, and said, "Renly hasn't arrived yet."

Varys was surprised: "Didn't Lord Renly ask for your consent?"

Duke Ed frowned slightly and said, "What happened?"

(End of this chapter)