iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 446 I Am the King

Tommen lowered his head and remained silent. Cersei asked coldly: "Tell me, who is whispering in your ears?"

"Please answer my question, Tommen."

Tommen glanced at his mother secretly and whispered, "It was my own idea, no one else's."

Cersei sneered: "No one else? But why can your mother smell the scent of roses? You dare to lie to me. As a mother, I should punish you."

She raised her chin slightly. "But you are the king, so I have no choice but to punish the people around you. I will beat all those who serve you to pieces."

The lioness looked at a lamb. "So, do you want me to do this, Tommen?"

The little king quickly shook his head: "No, mother, don't do that."

Picking up the jeweled golden cup, Cersei took a sip of the sweet wine, raised the corners of her mouth slightly, and said, "Very good, now you can tell me who told you this."

"Yes..." Tommen's little head almost lowered under the table, mumbling: "It's Miss Margery."

"That's right. Mother and son should be honest with each other."

Cersei nodded slightly with satisfaction and continued, "Listen, Tommen, I have to deal with the affairs of the kingdom every day. These things... you are too young to understand, and I... will not allow children to sit on the Iron Throne and disturb me with childish questions."

After a pause, she looked directly at her son and continued, "Look at me, let me guess... Margaret also encouraged you to attend my royal meeting, right?"

Tommen looked at Cersei cautiously, nodded, and said, "Yes, she thinks I should learn the ways of the king sooner."

"When you grow up, you can attend as many imperial meetings as you want. I promise you, you won't even be tired of it by then."

Cersei's voice gradually became gentle. "Every time he attended the royal meeting, Robert almost always dozed off. He preferred riding and hunting, so he left the tedious government affairs to his adoptive father."

She smiled: "Do you remember the old duke?"

Tommen nodded obediently. "I remember him. He was often sick and later died of illness."

"Yeah, he looks really pathetic."

Cersei put down her wine glass and suggested to her son: "You are a studious king. Today... I will let the maester tell you the story of the king and the prime minister."

Tommen seemed eager to leave the restaurant. "Mom, can I go listen to the story now? I'll tell you tomorrow morning, too. I promise."

"Of course. Come, my son."

When Tommen came to her, Cersei kissed him on the forehead and said softly, "My good boy, go ahead."

After walking out of the restaurant and turning into another corridor, Tommen's short legs suddenly quickened his pace, like a restless little ball of meat rolling hard.

The maids and Kingsguard following Tommen were stunned almost at the same time, and couldn't help but quicken their pace.

…………

In the dining room, a maid whispered in Cersei's ear for a while, then retreated respectfully.

After a pause, Cersei's fullness rose and fell slowly.

Has little Tommen learned to send messages secretly?
The lioness was relieved that her son was beginning to learn to distinguish who could be trusted.

The lioness was annoyed that her son had learned to secretly side with the cunning little rose.

Is he still a man no matter how young he is?
Cersei put down her napkin and asked coldly, "Where's Margaery?"

…………

In the Virgin's Garden, the morning light shines through the dense branches and leaves, falling on the ground in patches.

Margery was wearing a simple light blue dress. Her eyes were bright and lively, and her smile was like a crescent moon, beautiful and charming.

The Tyrell maids sat around Margaery, their laughter spreading, and their clear and melodious laughter echoed in the garden like silver bells.

At this moment, Cersei's figure suddenly appeared at the entrance of the garden, looking at them with a gloomy face, forming a sharp contrast with the cheerful atmosphere opposite.

After standing quietly for a while, Cersei did not ask the master of ceremonies to announce anything, but walked over directly, followed by two Kingsguards.

"Five times in one night? Gods!"

"Oh, he certainly wouldn't dare to swear."

"Haha, he's going to create a new record with you."

"Oh, why did he ask you that?"

"You guessed it, oh, he encouraged me and said we should break the record together."

"Would you like me to play the wooden harp for you?"

"Yalan, put away your instrument, I'm curious!"

"Meige, Yalan is shy."

"Tsk, you are not curious about that man, Elo, but you are not curious about Duke Green..."

"Meige, you are too curious."

Just as Maegor Tyrell was about to speak after being interrupted, Elo Tyrell's eyes moved slightly and he whispered to Margaery, "The Queen Mother came later."

Margery's doe eyes trembled slightly, she turned her head and looked, then a happy smile appeared on her little face.

She stood up from her chair and walked over to Cersei.

"Welcome, Your Majesty."

After getting closer, Margaery opened her arms, hugged Cersei and kissed her lightly on the face.

Cersei's lips curved up in a slightly stiff arc, and she kissed Margaery lightly on the face, saying, "Look how charming you are."

The two separated, and Cersei looked at Margaery tenderly, and said, "You look radiant... It seems you have adapted well to the Red Keep."

Margaret smiled and said, "You took very good care of me. I am always grateful to you."

"No need to thank me, I am the queen mother, and this is my responsibility."

Cersei stared at Margaery's young and beautiful face. "What a pity! My son is fascinated by you, but he is too young. I hope he can grow up quickly and marry his beautiful bride soon."

Margaery blinked her eyes gently and smiled. "I am looking forward to it, too, but I want to thank you even more. Your Majesty, it was you who raised Tommen, who has been so charming since he was a child. When he grows up, he will surely be brave and good at fighting. He is half lion and half stag. Oh, whenever I think of that day, I will be ecstatic."

"As long as you're happy." Although Cersei maintained a smile on her face, her fingers trembled imperceptibly.

Margaret looked back and said, "Would you like a cup of tea?"

Then, she showed a regretful expression: "If I knew you were coming, I would definitely prepare the wine in advance. At this time..."

She shrugged slightly: "For me... it's too early. It's not time to drink yet."

Cersei's fingers trembled again, and she could hardly maintain her smile: "You are so thoughtful."

Margaret seemed very happy. She bowed and said, "I am so grateful for your praise... Oh, I don't know how to express my wonderful feeling at the moment."

Cersei's expression suddenly twisted, although it was only for a moment... Margaery's pupils couldn't help but shrink. The woman in front of her reminded her of the Mad King II - Joffrey.

Cersei slowly raised a hand and stretched it out, her fingertips gently brushing Margaery's white collarbone. She had a stiff smile on her face: "Let's talk, Margaery Tyrell."

Hearing this, Margaret raised her eyebrows and chuckled, "Of course."

Margaery gestured to the maids standing respectfully behind her, and Cersei turned her head and nodded to the Kingsguard standing behind her.

Soon, Cersei and Margaery were the only ones left.

"What were you talking about just now?"

After saying this, without waiting for Margaery's response, Cersei walked towards the small round table.

Margaery followed with light steps. "One of my maids fell in love with a good knight. They are talking about him."

Cersei paused, casually glanced at the teacups, teapots and flowers on the table, and said, "Does court life bore you, Lady Margaery?"

"of course not."

Margaery came in front of Cersei. The lioness was half a head taller than her. She raised her chin slightly and said, "It is very important to me to accompany your son as he grows up."

Cersei's eyes narrowed slightly. "Is it important?"

Margaery smiled, nodded, and said, "Yes, you work hard for our kingdom every day, and it is difficult for you to take time to accompany Tommen's growth. I am very honored to take your place and play your role."

She reached out and took one of Cersei's hands, patted it gently, and said softly, "Please rest assured, I understand my responsibilities. I know that this is also a contribution to the kingdom. I will do my best to make up for your regret of not being able to accompany your son to grow up."

Cersei pulled her hand away and said coldly: "Enough, if this is the thorn of the rose, I have fully felt it, please put away your hypocritical kindness."

Margaret seemed to be frightened. She couldn't help but take a step back, her eyes suddenly reddened. "Your Majesty, please don't misunderstand me. I sincerely want to help you."

"help me?"

Cersei sneered. "How will you help me? Encourage my son to go against me?"

"The Queen Mother—"

Margaery's eyes were filled with tears. She covered her chest and said sadly, "You misunderstood me too deeply. I only told Tommen how tired you were. I could only encourage him to study hard, practice sword skills, and share the responsibility you had to fulfill on his behalf as soon as possible."

Cersei's breasts rose and fell fiercely: "Enough, stop acting!"

Margaret covered her mouth with her hands, crystal tears sparkling in the corners of her eyes, and she shook her head silently.

"you!"

The lioness was so furious that she seemed about to burst into flames.

Margaret still looked pitiful and frightened, but her low voice was full of sarcasm: "Enough, your son is coming."

In the distance, Tommen was running clumsily towards here.

"You, you, you...this is the real you, I was right!" The lioness was shaking with anger.

"Tommen is here to protect me. He loves his future wife..."

Margaret's tears flowed down her cheeks drop by drop, but... her mocking tone was threatening: "Respected Queen Mother, you don't want to cause a rift in the deep relationship between mother and son, do you?"

"you wanna die!"

Cersei hated being threatened the most, let alone by a lioness who was burning with anger. She raised her shaking hand and was about to slap someone.

Margaret's rosy lips curved slightly, but she moved closer and glanced at the lioness's hand: "Have you thought about the consequences of doing this?"

"Very good, you have succeeded in irritating me, I will..."

The lioness's little roar was interrupted by her son's voice: "Don't hurt Margaery!"

Tommen was breathing heavily, his small chest heaving violently, and more and more beads of sweat rolled down his round cheeks.

Tommen trotted between the two frozen women, and his wet, chubby hands tightly grasped his fiancée's hands. Margaery followed his force and was pulled behind her fiancée.

Cersei came back to her senses and asked coldly, "Why are you here?!"

Tommen bravely faced his mother's frightening gaze and shouted, "I will never allow you to hurt Margaery, never!"

Cersei took a deep breath, slowed down, and said, "Do you know what you are saying? I am your mother."

"I know!"

Tommen took Margaery a step back and said loudly: "But I am the king, and you are not. This is the king's order!"

Cersei stared at her son in disbelief. "Orders? You order me?"

Tommen flinched suddenly, but he still held his neck stiff. "If you promise not to touch Margaery, I will...be good, and I can eat some...beets, too."

The lioness's rage finally erupted. She had no time to pay attention to Margaery. She grabbed Tommen's ears and said, "It seems I have to teach you a lesson!"

The screaming little king was dragged away by the lioness, and Margaery stood there... with tears in her eyes and stretched out her hands: "Your Majesty, please..."

The lioness immediately turned around and roared at Little Rose who was still acting: "Shut up, I will show you what real power is!"

Tommen struggled: "Mom, don't hurt..."

"Quiet!"

…………

…………

"I see."

After reporting Jaime's glorious deeds at Riverrun, Ser Anguy stood up and left the lord's tent.

"James' luck is really...good."

Green couldn't help but sigh, and then he tapped the armrests of the chair with his fingers one by one. The rhythmic and crisp sound seemed to be the rhythm of his inner thoughts.

After thinking for a moment, Green reached out and pulled out a blank parchment.

Since Baron Sven has made a difficult choice and has made great contributions, Green, as a ruler, should be fair and generous.

Green picked up a quill and began to write on the parchment. The recipient was the representative of the pro-Creb forces in the Stormlands (Chapter 414) - Brienne's father - Lord Selwyn Tarth.

Sir Baron's family, the Swain family of Stonehelm, will be allowed to join the pro-Crable faction in the Stormlands, led by Lord Tarth.

After writing the letter, Green sealed it with wax and stamped it with the swamp marigold seal.

After Brienne took the letter, Green's eyes couldn't help but turn to the map of the Seven Kingdoms hanging not far away.

Green left his chair and walked to the front of the map. After a pause, he pointed his finger at the Pink City in the Riverlands.

Dick Crabbe, known as the Plunderer, and his retainer knight, Sir Mason, are "purchasing food" in the southwestern riverlands and are stationed with their troops along the Red Fork River near the Pink City occupied by the Lannisters.

Having completed the food purchasing mission, they are now waiting for Green's next order.

On the map, Green's fingertip moved westward from above the Pink City, and finally pointed at the location of the Golden Tooth City, the gateway to the west.

(End of this chapter)