Game of Thrones: I Created the Magic Web

Chapter 62: Change in the Red Keep

The time was just early morning.

The throne room of the Red Keep was already filled with guards.

A hundred or two guards wore the crowned stag sigil on their armor or cloaks, and more than a hundred others wore the Lannister style of dark red armor.

Varys and Petyr exchanged a glance, both understanding that the time had come.

Clack, clack, clack…

Two long lines of gold cloaks marched past them, armor polished, heading towards the throne room.

This was a garrison stationed at the Red Keep, about three hundred men, of whom the Small Council usually only mobilized a third at most, but today they had all arrived.

Leading the group was Janos Slynt, Commander of the City Watch of King's Landing.

This lowborn commander was short and stout, his greed far greater than his barrel-shaped belly, but he also knew how to be loyal to the king.

“Haha, Lord Petyr, Lord Varys, rest assured, my lads are more than enough to guarantee safety. When His Majesty returns, he will surely see an unscathed Red Keep!” The commander patted his chest in assurance.

Littlefinger chuckled. “Lord Varys, shall we go in together?”

Varys sighed. “I really don’t know what important matter requires announcing at this hour. To keep His Majesty’s Red Keep running smoothly, I was up very late last night.”

“Who knows?” Littlefinger agreed.

Indeed, they were both puzzled.

Investigating the councilors' intelligence, bribing or assassinating the gold cloaks in the city, and launching an attack at the Small Council almost simultaneously; the manpower in the Red Keep and the city could also suppress any resistance afterward. The plan seemed very feasible, at least taking them down was no problem.

But what made them think they wouldn't notice?

Once this plan was leaked in advance, could a mere handmaiden and a lone Hound really defeat two Small Council members with deep roots? Not even with the Lannisters!

But the fact was that they had indeed discovered it, and had made strong preparations for a counterattack.

The situation was excellent.

The slight doubts and unease were just instinctive reactions, and could be ignored.

So Varys and Petyr deferred to each other, and finally confidently stepped through the doors of the throne room.

Inside the hall stood all the courtiers and ladies of the Red Keep.

Beneath the sharp Iron Throne stood the familiar council table, where Grand Maester Pycelle and Master of Laws Renly sat, with no empty seats.

Beside the throne stood the Master of the Red Keep, the four Kingsguard, and the handmaiden Hanna.

Petyr scanned the room. “You lords are truly diligent. Lord Varys and I are actually the last to arrive. Has the meeting already begun?”

The Grand Maester coughed. “Please forgive us, my lords, but the steward of the Crown Prince, Miss Hanna, said that there was a secret edict from His Majesty that urgently needs to be announced in public, so…”

Varys understood their intention.

A secret edict? What an old and cliché method, but unfortunately, it often works.

Hanna walked to the council table and presented a sealed scroll, the round wax seal bearing the imprint of the King's royal seal.

“May I trouble you all to pass this around one by one, to check whether His Majesty's secret edict is sealed intact, and whether the royal seal is genuine. Afterward, please have the Grand Maester read it aloud.”

Hanna had obtained this secret edict from the Hound, and it came in handy today.

She first handed it to Grand Maester Pycelle.

The Grand Maester examined it carefully for a long time, nodding silently, and passed the secret edict to Renly.

“I trust the Grand Maester's judgment.” Renly glanced at Hanna with a smile that wasn't a smile, and directly passed the secret edict to the courtier next to him.

One after another, the secret edict finally reached Varys and Littlefinger, who were standing in the center of the hall.

Varys caressed the scroll with his smooth palm, repeatedly praising, “Exquisitely made. Especially the crowned stag on the wax, majestic and strong, with clear lines. What questions could I have?”

He handed it to Littlefinger.

Littlefinger respectfully took it, gave Renly and the commander of the City Watch a meaningful look, and strode forward to return it to Pycelle, then retreated to the center of the hall.

“It seems there was some miscalculation in today's arrangement, so Lord Varys and I will just have to make do and stand here to listen to the edict.”

The atmosphere in the throne room immediately became extremely delicate.

The courtiers and nobles were already deeply suspicious of today's unusual summons, and now that they had witnessed such a scene with their own eyes, even the most obtuse person knew that something major was about to happen.

Pycelle opened the scroll and cleared his throat.

The throne room immediately fell silent, hundreds of eyes all turning to the aged Grand Maester.

Far away in the Neck, Joffrey was also watching intently.

In less than a breath's time, the Grand Maester widened his eyes, his long white beard trembling violently.

Everyone held their breath. What was it?

After muttering vaguely for a while, the Grand Maester finally began to recite resolutely:

“The following is the decree of Robert I of House Baratheon, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm.

I hereby declare that Petyr Baelish of House Baelish, Master of Coin, and Varys, Master of Whisperers, are guilty of treason. The two…”

The hall erupted in an uproar!

Ser Meryn Trant of the Kingsguard beside the throne immediately shouted, “Silence!!!”

Only then did the people abruptly quiet down, all looking at the two ministers being judged in the center, but seeing two indifferent faces.

…colluding with the foreign enemy 'Bloodraven' Brynden Rivers, illegally amassing wealth, corrupting courtiers and officers, abusing power, plotting to harm the kingdom, murdering the former Hand of the King, Lord of the Eyrie and Warden of the East, Jon Arryn of House Arryn, and murdering my brother, the former Lord of Dragonstone, Master of Ships, Stannis Baratheon of House Baratheon.

Their crimes are unforgivable!

Imprison the two immediately to await my personal trial and disposal.

Gods be good, to show mercy and compassion, I pardon the crimes of all those under them, who shall remain in their respective positions. However, anyone who opposes or pleads for them shall be considered guilty of the same crime.

Let the Small Council execute this, supervised by Hanna, steward of my son Joffrey, and Sandor Clegane, guard.”

The hall was silent.

Lannister guards, Baratheon guards, and gold cloaks all involuntarily gripped their sword hilts and spear shafts tightly.

Littlefinger looked at Renly. “Lord Renly, we have been Small Council members together for so many years, don’t you understand my character? Someone must have been twisting tongues to cause His Majesty to misunderstand!”

Varys collapsed to the ground with a sob. “There must be a mistake, I want to see His Majesty, I am loyal to His Majesty, His Majesty has always known!”

The courtiers remained silent.

Hanna urged, “The two lords can explain their grievances to His Majesty in person later, but now, let's follow the decree first. Guards!”

Several guards took a step forward subconsciously, immediately triggering countless swords and spears to be drawn.

The commander of the City Watch waved his hand. “Put them away! This is the Small Council, weapons are not for use here!”

The commander turned to Hanna. “His Majesty would not be so rash, that decree must be a misunderstanding!”

Hanna showed anger on her face. “Do you want to defy the decree?!”

“I dare not. I only know that His Majesty entrusted the City Watch to me, and I must ensure that King's Landing and the Red Keep are peaceful and without incident.”

The expression of doubt on the commander's face was clear to everyone. “Even if that secret edict is indeed real, I don't care how His Majesty punishes me after returning to the palace, but in any case, I will not allow any action now! These are two Small Council members!”

Varys and Littlefinger had already exchanged glances with most of the courtiers.

Renly then stood up.

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