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Splash, splash!
The beautiful three-masted merchant ship Crey had chartered for a large sum was called the Wind Witch, a Braavosi vessel.
Standing on the deck, Robb watched King's Landing grow farther and farther away from view, feeling emotions that were difficult to describe.
In only a few days in that city, he had gone through betrayal, sacrifice, slaughter, and so many other things he had never imagined experiencing in his past life.
And it was precisely through experience that one grew.
After all of that, he had gained a much deeper understanding of how to see this world and how to truly become part of it.
"Brother, will we still see Father again? And why didn't you take him by force?
And... what are we going to do about Arya?"
Sansa approached Robb from behind. Thinking of her father and sister, who were still in King's Landing, she could not hold herself back and asked in a low voice.
"Sansa, don't say foolish things. Of course we'll see Father again.
He simply got what he wanted. He protected his own honor and the honor of House Stark.
At that moment, I also thought about taking him by force. But if I had done that, he wouldn't have been happy. On the contrary, he would have spent the rest of his life drowning in guilt and regret."
Robb turned his face toward his sister, placed an arm around her shoulders, and continued.
"As for Arya, she isn't in danger for now. Once I have time, I'll go to Braavos myself and bring her back.
Our family will be reunited again. I promise."
"Mm."
After spending days in tension and fear, Sansa leaned her head against her brother's shoulder and felt a sense of safety and relief that seemed impossible to find anywhere else.
...
The cleanup inside the Red Keep only ended late that night.
When Jaime arrived at Cersei's chambers, Joffrey was there as well.
After he relayed Eddard's words, Cersei wore a thoughtful expression, while Joffrey grew visibly excited.
After all, that day, Robb Stark and his giant wolf had entered and left King's Landing and the Red Keep as if they were out for a stroll. The honor of the royal family had been trampled underfoot.
Joffrey, more eager than ever to force everyone to acknowledge his authority, immediately turned to Jaime and said:
"Tomorrow. Tomorrow, in front of the Great Sept of Baelor, in the square of Baelor's statue, Eddard Stark will admit before everyone that he betrayed the crown and that I am my father's rightful heir."
"But that seems wrong to me. Eddard Stark could have escaped, and I can understand that he didn't because of honor.
But agreeing to confess to treason? That doesn't fit him at all."
Hearing Joffrey's order, Jaime shook his head and spoke to Cersei, who remained deep in thought.
Cersei lifted a cup of wine, touched it to her red lips, and answered coldly.
"Jaime, do you think Eddard Stark is someone capable of playing political games?"
"Heh. If that hard skull of his were capable of scheming, we'd be the ones in the dungeon right now."
"Then, if he said he will confess, can we assume he'll keep his word?"
"Yes. I think he will."
Hearing her beloved brother's confirmation, Cersei finally smiled.
"Then it's settled. Go tell him that if he keeps his word, we will allow him to take the black and return to that ice-covered North."
"Even so... I still feel like something isn't right."
"Jaime, his son turned King's Landing and the Red Keep into chaos. If he doesn't offer some compensation for that, then the moment Joffrey ascends the throne, House Stark will become a direct target.
If that happens, House Stark may cease to exist altogether.
The son made the mistakes. Now the father is paying for them."
Cersei's confidence was absolute as she presented her analysis.
"Hm. If that's the case... then it makes sense. Compared with honor, family and bloodline truly weigh more.
I'll go speak with him now. And I'll also have old Barristan reinforce all security for tomorrow's outing."
After answering, Jaime left the room.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Joffrey, his eyes shining, turned to Cersei and asked:
"Mother, when Eddard Stark admits tomorrow that I am the rightful heir, then can I be crowned king?"
Cersei looked at her son's handsome face and answered with a gentle smile.
"Yes. Within the Seven Kingdoms, no one doubts Eddard Stark's honor. Once you are crowned, no one will be able to intimidate us anymore."
...
The next morning, under Cersei's orders, a large number of Gold Cloaks were sent to the city's seven gates and the busiest main streets to make loud announcements.
At noon, the former Hand of the King, Eddard Stark, would confess to his crime of treason before Baelor's statue at the Great Sept of Baelor.
The news instantly set King's Landing's smallfolk ablaze with outrage.
Because of the carefully spread propaganda from Cersei, everyone now knew that the armored giant wolf belonged to Robb Stark.
All the destruction, all the deaths, and all the losses caused by that creature had been laid at House Stark's feet.
If Robb were still in King's Landing, those smallfolk would only dare to fear him. They would not have the courage to openly show any anger.
But Robb had already left.
And so, Eddard Stark, the man who would confess his guilt that day, immediately became the new target for all that public fury.
People began calling their friends, relatives, and neighbors, gathering in groups and rushing toward the Great Sept of Baelor. Everyone wanted to arrive early and secure a good place to watch the spectacle.
Yoren of the Night's Watch had just delivered the few remaining prisoners from the Red Keep's dungeons and completed all the transfer paperwork when he heard the news.
He held genuine respect for Lord Eddard, who had sincerely tried to help him.
Upon learning that Eddard would admit guilt, he frowned and followed the crowd toward the Great Sept of Baelor.
In an alley of Flea Bottom, a burly middle-aged man was holding the hands of a dirty little beggar as the two argued in hushed but heated voices.
"Didn't you say that with enough money, anyone can be killed? I want to kill Cersei. I want to kill Joffrey."
The dirty little beggar, deeply agitated, spoke loudly.
"Some people cannot pay the price.
Then the Many-Faced God will not accept that person's offering."
The burly man kept a faint smile on his face and answered in a gentle voice.
"Jaqen, why did you kidnap me? If it's money you want, then send me back to the North. My brother will give you lots of gold."
Seeing that the man remained calm and unshaken, the little beggar gradually settled down and asked the question in a tone full of suspicion.
"If the girl follows a certain person to the House of Black and White, then her brother will naturally come looking for her."
Jaqen continued smiling as he answered Arya.
Earlier, beside the inner wall, Arya had still been waiting for Robb when everything suddenly went dark before her eyes.
When she woke again, this burly man, who called himself Jaqen, was already in front of her.
He did not hurt her, but he also did not let her leave.
After hearing the news about her father earlier, Arya had become so agitated that she tried to run away, and the situation had ended up turning into this confrontation.
"I want to see my father."
"You may. But the girl must follow a certain person's instructions. Otherwise, the girl will sleep again."
"Understood."
After agreeing to Jaqen's conditions, Arya followed him toward the Great Sept of Baelor.
...
At noon, at the Great Sept of Baelor...
The square of Baelor's statue was entirely paved with white marble.
At its center stood the enormous statue of Baelor I, serene upon its pedestal, with an expression of compassion turned toward all mankind.
Cersei and Joffrey stood at the top of the square's stone platform.
Behind them, Barristan and Jaime guarded them closely.
On the level below the platform, Varys, Petyr Baelish, Pycelle, the High Septon, and Sandor Clegane were positioned to the left and right.
Farther below, scattered across the square, the men of the Kingsguard and the Gold Cloaks kept watch with weapons in hand and chests held high.
And in that enormous space before the statue, a countless mass of smallfolk pressed in from every side, there only to watch the spectacle.
Clink, clink.
The sound of chains echoed.
Accompanied by two Gold Cloaks, Eddard was brought out through one of the sept's side exits.
After spending so long in the absolute darkness of the black cells, Eddard raised his face to the sky and, feeling the sun bathe the earth, closed his eyes and stood still, simply taking in that light.
The longing on his face made it seem as if he wanted to carve that sensation into himself forever, the feeling of touching the world's brightness once more.
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