Starkworth Castle at night was far less lively and noisy than The Red Keep, even permeated with a faint, decaying, oppressive atmosphere.
Since the death of the lord of this place, former City Watch commander Ser Manly Starkworth, in the war over a decade ago, this once-prominent family in King's Landing had gradually been marginalized, slowly fading from the center of power.
In a relatively tidy bedroom, Shae was fulfilling her duties as a handmaiden.
She held a comb in her hand, 'patiently' untangling Miss Lollys's messy hair. The simple-minded Lollys sat in a high-backed chair, uttering meaningless, babbling syllables.
"Oh dear, there's a knot here, miss!"
Shae said in an overly sweet voice, but her actions were far from as gentle as they appeared. She gave a sharp tug, the comb teeth scraping harshly against the scalp, pulling out a few strands of hair.
Lollys cried out in pain, shrinking her neck in confusion, yet she didn't know to resist. She just turned her head back with a dull, puzzled look, only to see her handmaiden's face full of concern.
Then, she picked up a soaking wet cloth and began roughly wiping Lollys's face, the force so great it almost seemed to scrape off a layer of skin.
"Must get it clean, miss."
She muttered, her voice full of resentment: "Otherwise, it'll attract bugs."
However, perhaps her actions frightened Lollys, or perhaps due to pregnancy and her mental state, she couldn't control her bodily functions.
A foul odor gradually began to permeate the air.
"Damn it, you've soiled yourself again, you fool!"
Seeing a dark yellow stain seep through Lollys's skirt, Shae's stomach churned, and she couldn't help but curse angrily.
Nevertheless, she still had to force herself to endure the disgust and, with great reluctance, clean her up.
"Look at you."
As she mechanically attended to her, Shae vented her inner rage at Lollys in a very low voice: "A fool who was ravaged by the mob, a useless waste who can't even control her own shit and piss."
"Why should I have to serve you like a queen, wipe your ass, comb your hair, endure this disgusting sight of you!"
The more she spoke, the angrier she became. She simply threw the cloth aside and forcefully tore open Lollys's robe, revealing her swollen body.
"So fucking ugly!"
Seeing Lollys still giggling foolishly, as if completely unaware she was being mistreated, a surge of intense resentment welled up in Shae's heart.
She was not reconciled!
She, Shae, had once circulated among countless army camps, moving with ease among those wolf-like soldiers. Even when she had to handle several at once, she was adept.
She knew how to read people, how to please men, and had even trained her manners to be more elegant than those of noble ladies. She believed herself to be a thousand times better than this dim-witted woman who only had a noble title!
It was that dwarf who took her out of the camp brothel, gave her hope, and then personally pushed her into another abyss.
He promised warmth and protection, but what was the result?
At first, he just kept her like a canary hidden from the light. And now, he had sent her off to this gloomy, dilapidated castle to act as a nanny for a fool!
She hated it!
What she wanted was simple, so simple!
She just wanted to stand openly by Tyrion's side, even if he was just a dwarf!
She wanted to wear beautiful silk gowns, put on dazzling jewelry, and let everyone know she was a Lannister woman!
But even such a simple dream was out of reach.
Even after coming to King's Landing, the place she most yearned for, it was merely moving from one disgusting place to another!
She felt like an object, casually transferred and used, never respected as a real person.
"Knock, knock, knock."
But just as Shae was cursing in her heart with the most venomous language while roughly changing Lollys into a clean shift, the door was knocked.
Shae was startled. Flustered, she straightened Lollys's clothes, quickly kicked the pulled-out hair under the bed, pushed the chamber pot into a corner, ensuring everything looked normal.
Then, skillfully, she erased all resentment from her face, replacing it with a submissive expression.
She gently pulled open the door.
"You're too slow."
A face with sharp features came into view. It was Lollys's sister, the eldest daughter of House Starkworth—Falyse Starkworth.
This woman frightened Shae because her narrow eyes always seemed to flicker with dissatisfaction towards the whole world, as if everyone owed her millions of Golden Dragons.
Falyse stepped inside. From start to finish, she didn't glance at her sister once, but instead looked Shae up and down brazenly.
"Take off your clothes."
Just as Shae was feeling unnerved by the stare, Falyse commanded coldly.
Shae was stunned.
"My lady... what is this..." But the only reply was Falyse's increasingly harsh tone: "Take off your clothes, handmaiden!"
Hearing this, Shae gritted her teeth and had no choice but to obey the command, untying the laces of her gown.
The soft fabric slid from her shoulders, exposing her slender, graceful, and shapely body to the air.
Falyse paced in a circle, her gaze scraping over Shae's naked skin as if inspecting goods. This look made Shae feel deeply humiliated.
Although she had once made a living selling her body, since being with Tyrion, she had long drawn a line in her heart with her past self, striving to imitate the manners of noble ladies, hoping one day to become a true lady.
But Falyse's eyes seemed to effortlessly strip her back to her original state.
Time passed in silence until Shae, starting to shiver slightly from the cold, finally prompted Falyse to speak, sneering: "A beauty indeed, no wonder men can't forget you."
Upon hearing this, Shae was first taken aback.
Men?
Tyrion?
No, their relationship was extremely secret. Even his brother Ser Jaime was completely unaware. Within The Red Keep, only that mysterious Master of Whisperers knew and was always eager to help arrange their trysts.
Suddenly, a bold guess surged in her heart.
That elegant, composed face with deep eyes from the daytime instantly appeared before her eyes.
Could it be him?
Strangely, Shae actually felt a flicker of anticipation.
However, before she could sort out her thoughts, Falyse had already turned and started walking out.
"Put on your clothes and come with me."
"Of course, you can also choose not to wear them. Tomorrow, I'll sell you to Silk Street."
Hearing this, Shae dared not delay. She hurriedly picked up the gown from the floor, threw it on haphazardly, and followed Falyse's steps.
The great hall.
Herber Leyke sat sprawled in a chair with great swagger.
He had changed into clean silk outerwear, his hair carefully combed. Beside him, a full five Gold Cloaks stood like guards. Anyone unaware would think he was the City Watch commander.
Who would have thought this guy was locked up in a cell just this afternoon.
"Going to such lengths for a handmaiden, he's really willing to spend."
Bored, tapping on the table, Herber couldn't help but complain to the Dothraki Warrior behind him: "Even more exaggerated than when my elder brother got engaged to Lady Stokeworth."
"Is that woman's nethers made of gold?"
Hearing this, the usually taciturn Yigo actually couldn't help but chime in: "I don't like that woman."
"She's too thin and also short, perhaps even unable to mount a horse."
"Among the dothraki, women who cannot ride cannot bear strong children. They are usually left to fend for themselves."
These words made Herber glance at him, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.
Chatting with this guy was really boring. He always steered the conversation onto a track completely incomprehensible to him.
Fortunately, however, they didn't have to wait long.
Following Falyse into the hall, Shae's eyes quickly scanned the room. Seeing that the person seated was not the anticipated Corleone but a somewhat flamboyant young noble, a flicker of disappointment passed through her eyes.
However, when she spotted Yigo, her heart tightened again, and she unconsciously clenched her skirt.
"I've brought her to you, Leyke."
Stopping, Falyse's gaze swept over the several Gold Cloaks, somewhat enviously: "You must keep the promise you made to me!"
Since her father, Ser Manly, died, it had been who knows how many years since Gold Cloaks had last come to Starkworth Castle.
It was all because her useless husband couldn't even secure a position in the City Watch despite leveraging House Starkworth's influence, causing the family's decline.
And Herber Leyke, though only a second son, was deeply favored by his father.
One must know, Twilight Valley Town's taxes were the lowest in the entire Crownlands. The Leyke family had managed it for over a decade, accumulating unimaginable wealth.
It was just a pity about her sister...
"Tsk tsk tsk..."
Just as Falyse was lost in her thoughts, Herber Leyke stood up and slowly walked over to Shae, circling halfway around her.
"Looks decent enough, figure passable."
His tone was identical to Falyse's earlier one, even more brazen, as if appraising a mare about to be sold.
Shae stood there stiffly, letting the two nobles decide her fate while she herself had absolutely no say.
She secretly resolved that if this Herber Leyke insisted on taking her by force, she would immediately scream to alert the guards Tyrion had arranged in hiding, sending them posthaste to report to The Red Keep.
However, Herber's commentary continued: "A pity... too small."
"I really don't know why Lord Corleone values you so much."
Corleone!
Hearing this name, Shae's heart gave a violent leap, and she looked at Herber in disbelief.
Seeing her like this, Herber finally gave a polite, slight nod: "I am Herber Leyke. By Lord Corleone's commission, I have come to invite you to dine with him."
Upon hearing this, Shae almost jumped for excitement. The disappointment, humiliation, and fear from moments ago instantly faded, replaced by an indescribable elation.
So that elegant and mysterious man had not forgotten their brief encounter during the day!
No, not only did he remember, but he had sent a genuine noble and Gold Cloaks to invite her away from this disgusting place!
The Leyke family—Shae was quite familiar with that name. It was a major house ranked among the top in power in the Crownlands. Corleone could actually command such a noble, and he even brought City Watch men!
His influence was truly unimaginably vast!
Shae tried hard to maintain a calm exterior, but her slightly trembling fingertips betrayed her inner excitement.
Tyrion had hidden her away here like trash, while Corleone not only openly invited her to dine but also gave her an exaggerated level of respect!
"It seems you accept."
Herber saw this reaction and clapped his hands. Immediately, a splendid sedan chair was carried in by servants.
Then, he turned his head, looked at Falyse, and grinned: "Thank you for your generosity, my lady. Lord Corleone asked me to convey that the matter of your husband Ser Balman's position in the City Watch will certainly be arranged properly."
"Give my regards to Lord Corleone."
Hearing this, Falyse finally showed a slight smile on her face.
Although she didn't know who this 'Lord Corleone' really was, Leyke had indeed shown a handwritten letter bearing the hand of Hand Tywin.
It clearly stated: Appoint Vito Corleone as the Royal Chief Special Agent.
This strange and unfamiliar position, Falyse had never heard of it, but it certainly sounded impressive.
"So then."
Herber turned to look at Shae, spreading his hands: "After you, Miss Shae. Don't keep Lord Corleone waiting too long."
With such a display, Shae could no longer suppress her excitement at the desire to climb the social ladder.
Completely forgetting Tyrion's warnings, she smiled gracefully, lifted her skirt, and stepped into the sedan chair.
Running her hand over the soft, gold-embroidered cushion, at this moment, Shae felt as if she had truly become one of those lofty noble ladies!
The procession slowly departed from Starkworth Castle, heading towards King's Landing.
Not until the Gold Cloaks disappeared beyond the castle gates did a servant who had been sweeping drop his dustpan and quietly follow them.
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