In the courtyard, the air seemed to freeze.
The crossbow reflected a cold glint under the sunlight.
The deadly bolt was aimed steadily at Tywin Lannister's heart.
Joffrey's twisted face was filled with a sickly excitement.
He felt he had never wielded the power of life and death like he did now.
The Gold Cloaks behind him gripped their spears, points aimed at the Lannister guards in their crimson cloaks.
The Lannister guards formed an airtight shield wall, protecting Tywin behind them.
Their swords were drawn, confronting the Gold Cloaks from a distance.
Both sides stared dead at each other, muscles taut.
As if waiting for a single command to spill blood on the spot.
However, no one dared to move first.
Because the person being pointed at by the crossbow was Tywin Lannister.
Warden of the West, Lord of Casterly Rock, Hand of the King.
Tywin's face looked like it was carved from rock, devoid of any superfluous expression.
He just calmly looked at his mad grandson.
His pale green eyes were bottomless cold pools.
Hearing Tywin threaten him, Joffrey felt no fear, but laughed even more maniacally.
"The Mad King didn't dare, but I do!"
"Because I am the true King! What was Aerys?!"
"You old thing, today I will let you know who the real master of the Red Keep is!"
Joffrey's finger was already on the trigger of the crossbow.
Just at this tense, explosive moment.
A soft female voice abruptly sounded from behind the crowd.
"Your Grace, of course you are the sole master of the Red Keep."
Everyone looked toward the voice.
Lianna, wearing a simple and elegant blue dress, walked slowly out from the side door of the courtyard.
She looked at no one else, walking straight through the confronting soldiers to Joffrey's side.
Then, she lifted her skirt and, amidst countless stunned gazes, knelt elegantly at Joffrey's feet.
"My King, please quell your anger."
Her voice wasn't loud, but carried a strange soothing power.
"It is not worth dirtying your hands for a rebellious subject."
The madness on Joffrey's face paused slightly.
He looked down at Lianna kneeling at his feet.
The girl looked up, her clear eyes full of worship and worry for him, the King, without a trace of impurity.
"Rebellious subject?"
Joffrey chewed on this term, the expression on his face becoming playful.
"Your Grace, you are the King of the Seven Kingdoms, your power is supreme."
Lianna's voice dropped lower, almost audible only to Joffrey.
"And Lord Tywin, he is merely the Hand appointed by you."
"His power all comes from you."
"He dares to defy your will, even using force to coerce you; is this not treason?"
"He disregarded the King's dignity, pressing the King onto a bench and beating him like a child. Nothing so outrageous has happened in Westeros for ten thousand years..."
"Do you want this incident to be remembered forever by future generations?"
Every sentence from Lianna was like a small hammer, precisely striking Joffrey's vain and fragile heart.
"The Hand's duty is to assist you, not replace you."
"Since he is no longer loyal, you naturally have the power to take back everything you bestowed upon him."
"You are the King; you only need a decree to depose him."
"By then, he will no longer be the Hand, just a bannerman daring to openly defy the King."
"A... traitor!"
The madness in Joffrey's eyes gradually faded, replaced by the ecstasy of sudden realization.
Right!
Why didn't he think of that!
He was the King!
All of Tywin's power was given by him!
If he could give it, he could take it back!
This was pressuring him with righteousness!
Even Ned Stark, didn't he roll back to the North dejectedly because of a word from him?
Did Tywin have one more ball than Ned?
"Haha... HAHAHAHA!"
Joffrey threw away the crossbow in his hand, letting out a burst of incredibly hearty laughter.
He pulled Lianna up from the ground, hugging her tightly.
"Well said! Too well said!"
"You! Are more useful than all these useless fools around me combined!"
He planted a heavy kiss on Lianna's cheek, then let go of her.
Joffrey took a step forward, opening his arms like a clumsy actor, delivering his self-righteous solemn verdict to everyone present.
"I, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, King Joffrey Baratheon!"
"Hereby declare!"
Joffrey's voice was sharp and loud.
"Tywin Lannister! For his rebellious acts and disloyal heart!"
"Effective immediately, he is stripped of his position as Hand of the King!"
"All seats on the Small Council are reclaimed!"
Joffrey pointed his finger at Tywin, his face full of the pleasure of revenge.
"You! Are no longer my Hand!"
"You are just a traitor from the Westerlands!"
Tywin's expression finally changed in that instant.
Joffrey continued.
"Whoever dares to help Tywin is opposing your King!"
"I will behead anyone who dares to disobey me!"
"Not only that, I will kill his entire family, leave no one alive!"
A commotion arose among the Lannister guards behind Tywin.
They were loyal to the Lannisters, but they were even more loyal to the King on the Iron Throne.
The King deposed the Hand.
Then what was Lord Tywin before them?
A... rebellious subject openly opposing the King?
The Lannister captain's face changed again and again.
He didn't want to bear the crime of treason.
"Lord Hand..."
He spoke hesitantly.
"It is Lord Tywin."
Another voice interrupted him coldly.
A centurion of the Gold Cloaks stepped forward, pointing his spear at the Lannister captain.
"Did you hear His Grace's order?"
"Now, lay down your weapons and surrender on your knees immediately!"
"Otherwise, kill without mercy!"
The Lannister captain looked at Tywin, whose face was dark as water, then at the murderous Gold Cloaks.
He finally made a decision.
With a clang, he threw his sword to the ground.
"I... we... pledge loyalty to His Grace the King!"
He knelt on one knee.
His action was like a pushed domino.
Half of the Lannister guards behind him followed suit, throwing away their weapons and kneeling.
They didn't want to fight the entire kingdom for a deposed Hand.
The remaining half of die-hards, pale-faced, gathered around Tywin, forming an even tighter defensive circle.
Tywin looked at the soldiers surrendering on their knees, at his smug grandson, and at Lianna standing behind Joffrey with lowered eyes, as if she had done nothing.
He seemed to have lost this time.
Not to swords, but to a few words from this little girl he had never taken seriously.
He underestimated the world, and overestimated his own authority.
"Retreat."
A cold word squeezed out from between Tywin's teeth.
He didn't spare another glance.
Surrounded by the remaining few dozen loyal guards, this lion who just held power over the court retreated quickly toward the depths of the castle like a stray dog.
No fighting, no hesitation.
His retreat was terrifyingly decisive.
"Don't let them get away! Catch that traitor!"
Joffrey screamed excitedly.
However, the Gold Cloaks only chased symbolically for a few steps before stopping.
No one wanted to chase down the former Hand and his last guard in the complex environment of the Red Keep.
Moreover, Lynn had instructed them to act according to the situation before leaving.
Follow whichever side was stronger, preserve strength.
No need to fight to the death with the Lannisters.
After all, they were loyal to Ned and Lord Lynn; Joffrey was nothing!
Just humoring him on the surface was enough!
"Hahaha! He ran! That old thing ran!"
Joffrey watched Tywin's wretched retreating figure, laughing until tears came out.
He won!
He relied on his own "wisdom" and "majesty" to defeat the arrogant Tywin Lannister!
He turned around, picked up Lianna, and lifted her high.
"Did you see! My beauty! I am the true King!"
"You are my lucky star! My goddess of wisdom!"
He put Lianna down, held her face, and loudly announced to everyone present.
"From today on! You are my Queen!"
"I will hold the grandest wedding for you immediately!"
Lianna's face showed just the right amount of surprise and shyness as she buried her head in Joffrey's chest.
"Everything... is as Your Grace commands."
"Haha! Good!"
Joffrey was overjoyed. He pointed at the tightly closed Sept doors.
"Guards! Open the doors!"
"Invite my mother, Cersei, out!"
"I want her to see what a great King her son is!"
The doors of the Sept were slowly pushed open.
A haggard-looking Cersei walked out, supported by handmaidens.
She looked at the chaotic scene before her, at her madman-like son, her eyes full of confusion.
Joffrey rushed over and gave her a forceful hug.
"Mother! You are safe! I drove away that old bastard! I saved you!"
Cersei was squeezed breathless by him, the expression on her face even more baffled.
Lianna stood in the center of the messy courtyard, wearing a gentle and humble smile.
Her gaze crossed the celebrating Joffrey, casting toward the direction Tywin disappeared.
The sky of King's Landing seemed to have changed.
This game of thrones should also change to a new way of playing.
She looked at her fair fingers.
This hand had just pried at the foundation of House Lannister.
A corner of Lianna's mouth curled up in an unnoticeable arc.
All of this was just beginning.