Game of Thrones: I Created the Magic Web

Chapter 56: Hanna

The sun was bright.

The Crown Prince's chamber was tall and spacious, with a vast view. Hanna leaned by the window, looking out, taking in most of the Red Keep.

The Prince's favor granted her the privilege of observing the workings of the court.

It had been four months.

The Red Keep had no king, no queen, and no princes or princesses.

The four members of the Small Council each did as they pleased. The courtiers didn't know who to turn to for instructions. Petitions to the Throne Room had long ceased. The servants simply repeated their daily tasks, maintaining the status quo.

During the day, the Red Keep was bustling with people, lively and peaceful, seemingly no different from before.

But Hanna had already sensed the undercurrents.

Beneath the empty Iron Throne, she saw the courtiers sharing a gluttonous feast, the delicacies named power and money.

She saw Petyr Baelish, the Master of Coin, increasing the speed and scale at which he acquired brothels, taverns, and other businesses in King's Landing, with countless courtiers and their lackeys sharing in the profits.

No one knew what Littlefinger was doing with the treasury and taxes.

She saw Varys, the Master of Whisperers, spending longer and longer in that dark little room, even missing the weekly Small Council meetings.

The Prince had told her that the room was connected to all the secret passages in the Red Keep.

She saw Grand Maester Pycelle summoning many young serving girls, one after another. His apprentice, Samwell Tarly, who had entered the palace on the Prince's orders, had become almost a full-time servant.

She saw the Master of Laws, Renly Baratheon, dealing with legal matters with increasing leniency, spending his days frolicking with Loras Tyrell.

And the rumors of the "Rose of Highgarden" were likely the work of the Tyrells.

These days, people in the Red Keep and the city were praising her beauty, comparing her to the fairest Winter Rose, even though these people had never seen her.

Why mention the Winter Rose?

With her keen intuition and experience in court life, Hanna quickly thought of Lyanna Stark, the King's former betrothed.

Margaery Tyrell was plotting to take Queen Cersei's place!?

The Lannister versus Tyrell struggle was another secret and dangerous court game, and many would die in unknown corners because of it.

Hanna no longer cared about these things.

She knew that once the Prince's goals were achieved, all of the Tyrells' efforts would be in vain.

The Prince had sent seven messages through magic, each shorter than the last, all of which were instructions regarding the affairs of the Red Keep and King's Landing, without telling her anything else.

But she guessed.

If King Robert could still reach King's Landing alive, why would the Prince send the signal "Action in seven days" the day before?

King's Landing in chaos, the King dead—this was what would happen in a week.

And she would serve as the Prince's eyes, mouth, and arms in the Red Keep, examining the courtiers, conveying orders, and dealing with rebels.

"Steward Hanna, do you have any instructions?"

An unremarkable middle-aged man stood respectfully behind her, asking softly.

This was a lucky commoner who had first been fortunate enough to enter the Red Keep to work, and then accidentally noticed by Hanna, the new steward of the Crown Prince. Now, he had become one of the deputy stewards.

Hanna knew his code name, "Hidden Stag."

"Has anything new happened recently? It's really getting boring without the Prince."

Hanna waved for everyone to leave.

The servants silently walked out of the room, all speculating about the relationship between the two. No wonder this guy became a deputy steward.

Hidden Stag handed over a roll of information, "A red-robed, red-haired sorceress named Melisandre has recently appeared in the city. It is said that she comes from Asshai and is a priestess of the Lord of Light, R'hllor."

Hanna unrolled the scroll.

Hidden Stag scoffed, "Just because of her beauty, many men in the city are about to abandon their faith and prepare to join the embrace of R'hllor."

"Is that so? I wonder if the men will love the Rose of Highgarden or this priestess more? Gods bless, but hopefully, no one will die." She silently read the words on the paper.

Our strength:

Thirteen mid-level officers, forty-six junior officers, and two hundred and fifty-eight soldiers in the King's Landing City Watch.

More than a thousand secret personnel and more than three thousand peripheral members.

One hundred and fifty-six Lannister guards, more than thirty attendants, and more than four hundred servants.

The power that the Master of Coin has identified:

One hundred and fifty mercenaries, more than ten officers and more than fifty soldiers in the King's Landing City Watch, nearly half of the close courtiers, and almost all of the stewards of the treasury, mint, port, tax farmers, and agents.

The power that the Master of Whisperers has identified:

More than five hundred little birds, nearly half of the courtiers who interact with him, and more than twenty officers in the King's Landing City Watch.

(The target is alert. Immediate action is recommended.)

The power that the Master of Laws has identified:

More than twenty Baratheon guards, more than twenty mercenaries, more than fifty knights in good standing, and potential allies are difficult to estimate.

Hidden Stag looked regretful, "There's one more thing. The fleet that set off to meet the remnants of the evil dragon has returned. No ships carrying the pretender were found on the Pentos route. Lord Varys was probably deceived."

"What a pity. Gods bless, may they be buried at the bottom of the sea." Hanna shook her head and sighed.

She compared this data with that of two weeks ago. There was little change in her own people, but there were many more identified rebels. It was obvious that if she continued to investigate, the numbers would probably be more than this.

Littlefinger, the Spider, Renly, the Gold Cloaks—who would want to deal with these four forces at the same time?

Just a few months ago, she could only stand behind the Queen and salute these big figures, and they wouldn't even glance in her direction.

She heard the Queen talking to them, the calm words hiding hidden opportunities, and one or two sentences involved huge interests that would drive people crazy. Various pawns were sacrificed in the back-and-forth, while they remained safe and sound.

Now, the blade was finally about to be cut on their own bodies.

"Steward, the decorations you ordered to be sent over are all ready. When do you think we should arrange them?"

Hanna handed Hidden Stag a note, "It seems I don't like it that much anymore. I'll think about it again."

The handwriting on the note was beautiful: "Action at dawn in five days. Arrest the former Master of Coin and Master of Whisperers according to His Majesty's will. Clean up the City Watch rebels.

Secretly dispose of Renly Baratheon, who murdered Duke Stannis.

The rest of the vassals do not need to be pursued.

Seal off the entire city, no entry or exit allowed. Kill without mercy if there is resistance.

Invite Duke Tywin to the palace to discuss state affairs."

This was a somewhat feasible plan, but it was far from perfect and had considerable risks.

The enemy's strength had not been completely investigated. How much resistance would there be?

Hanna and Lannister were not enough to issue orders on behalf of the King. What would be the reaction of the courtiers to this?

And if it really succeeded, how would it be explained afterward?

Hanna was very worried. Why did the Prince trust her so much? Why did he think he could succeed?

"Steward, a small gift, no disrespect." Hidden Stag presented a silver plate with a line of words written in jam: The Hound has arrived in King's Landing.

How much use could a warrior be?

Hanna was still deeply uneasy, but she couldn't think of any other choice.

In any case, she would know in five days.

"Go."

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