Myrcella's first reaction was that she had misheard. Wasn't Roman drinking with her father? Why was he here?
But then Roman asked again, "Princess, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Do you need my help?"
The princess quickly dried her face with a towel, adjusted her expression, and then opened the door.
"Ser Roman, welcome. That was just the sound of the wind."
Roman saw at a glance that Myrcella's eyes were slightly red and swollen, but he didn't call her out. Instead, he let Fili carry a large wooden box inside.
Myrcella was shocked that a seemingly frail girl like Fili had such strength; that wooden box would likely require a strongman to move.
"Ser Roman, what is this?"
Amidst Myrcella's confusion, Roman smiled and opened the wooden box, and a blast of cold air rushed out.
The princess, who had grown up during the Long Summer, was instantly startled by the low temperature and instinctively took a step back, but Myrcella immediately realized—this was ice!
The princess watched in surprise as neatly arranged ice blocks sat in the wooden box, with thick frost coating the inner walls.
There were also several glass containers in the box filled with various colors of fruit juice, and a large bowl containing several differently colored "scoops of cream."
"Princess, although it's the end of the year, the weather is still hot. I specially prepared fresh ice and snacks to help you cool off."
Looking at the wide array of icy treats, even Myrcella, who lived in The Red Keep, gasped in awe.
Myrcella thought for a moment and asked, "Ser Roman, may I invite others to join us?"
"Of course, Your Highness. This was originally a gift for you; you may dispose of it as you wish."
The princess beamed with joy upon hearing this. She quickly called her female companions back and even invited Fili to enjoy it with them.
"Princess, it wouldn't be appropriate, would it? I'm just a..."
"Don't say that," Myrcella said, taking Fili's hand. "This is the first time any of us have seen these things. You are always by Ser Roman's side, so it's most appropriate for you to teach us how to eat them."
Roman also signaled for Fili to agree, and the girl sat down to accompany the princess.
While the girls were having their tea party, Roman used his White Flame Vision to observe The Red Keep.
"Two secret passages, five Little Birds. That fellow Varys is truly impressive; he's probably the one most familiar with the secret passages here now."
But before Roman could investigate further, Robert came running in with his booming voice.
"Roman, where did you run off to, you brat? Didn't we say... Oh, my darling, why are you with Roman?"
"Father, Ser Roman brought ice to see me."
Robert looked at the pure ice in the wooden box and immediately glared at Roman. "You brat! You gave me ice with sawdust in it, but when it comes to Myrcella, it's meticulously prepared. You really don't show any respect for your king!"
Hearing Robert's childish remarks, Roman couldn't help but retort:
"Your Majesty, it's not like you haven't had ice from The North. Long-distance transport requires sawdust. The ice for the princess is a gift, so of course it had to be specially made."
"Then couldn't you give your king something good to eat?"
Roman rolled his eyes. Once you got to know him, Robert really didn't act like an adult, as if he were still that warrior who lived for wine and women.
Seeing Roman's look of disdain, Robert didn't waste any more words and tried to pull him back to drink.
But Roman pulled back on Robert. "Your Majesty, it's rare for you and your daughter to be together. Why don't you stay here and keep the princess company? It's a good time for some family talk."
Robert was held firmly by Roman and couldn't move at all. Helplessly, he had to stay.
The father and daughter sat together in a slightly awkward atmosphere. Seeing this, the other female companions slowly left.
Roman instructed Fili, "Give some ice to the young ladies as well; they will surely need it."
The girl nodded and left. At that moment, only three people remained at the table.
Robert looked conflicted. He was happier than anyone when it came to riding and hunting, but this kind of small talk was torture for him.
But under Roman's guidance, the father and daughter began to converse.
The content was nothing more than everyday experiences. Myrcella knew her father's preferences, so she tried her best not to talk about trivial matters.
The conversation fell into silence for a moment until Myrcella brought up Roman.
"Father, can you be friends with Ser Roman?"
"Hmm? Why do you ask? Aren't we good friends already?"
Roman was still wiping the scales on his tail when he was suddenly pulled over by Robert.
"Your Highness, King Robert and I have always been on good terms. Trade between Harrenhal and the iron throne is flourishing. Where did you hear that there was discord between His Majesty and me?"
Myrcella said with a look of concern, "Many people in the castle say so. They say that you are a traitorous official, Ser, and that you are gathering Royalists in the Riverlands to start a rebellion. They say the King will certainly not let you off."
The princess suddenly grabbed Roman. "Ser, please don't do such things, okay?"
For a moment, Roman didn't know if Myrcella was being innocent or intentional. He looked into the princess's clear emerald-green eyes and held her small hand back.
"Peace is what I have always hoped for. How could I personally destroy this hard-won prosperity?"
"Princess, I promise you, unless His Majesty becomes a second The Mad King, I will never draw my sword against him."
While Roman stated this nonchalantly, Robert was already fuming.
"These people! I really should lock them all up! By The Seven, these people just want to control me!"
He also grabbed Roman. "Brat, don't listen to their nonsense. I trust you enough. Aside from Ned, you're the one who understands me best!"
Robert had finally found a kindred spirit who was also his big financier; how could he be so foolish as to target Roman?
Robert's influence in The Red Keep had significantly increased, essentially because he had aligned himself with Harrenhal.
The Starks were far away in The North, but Roman was right in front of him.
The overflowing wealth of Harrenhal kept Robert well-fed, and he was also on good terms with the Starks. Roman had just given him another important piece of intelligence.
Robert really couldn't understand why those people in The Red Keep thought he was going to deal with Roman.
Did they really take him for a stupid ox?
Roman looked speechlessly at the Baratheon father and daughter; both of them were still gripping him tightly!
"Alright, alright, our tea party isn't over yet! Would I, a guest, really target the host?"
"The ice is about to melt. If you don't eat it, I'm taking it away!"
After much persuasion, Roman finally eased Myrcella's worries.
Meanwhile, Robert ate ice and thought about how to weed out those greedy the lions.
Once Myrcella was at ease, her childish curiosity took over again. She looked at Roman with a pleading gaze:
"Ser Roman, can I touch your tail and horns?"
"Of course, Your Highness."
Hearing this, Robert also became interested. He watched as Myrcella touched Roman all over, stroking the scales on his tail one moment and carefully examining his dragon horns the next.
"Roman, what's really going on with your tail and horns? It couldn't really be a curse, could it?"
Roman spread his palms nonchalantly. "Who knows? It doesn't affect my life anyway. Some people call me a monster, but in the end, a person should be judged by what they do."
"Heh, you brat would definitely get along with Tyrion; he wants recognition more than anyone."
Robert took a sip of iced milk and sighed. "If only Westeros had more monsters like you, there wouldn't be so many problems!"
Myrcella circled around Roman and then ran back to Robert to ask her father about Roman.
Using Roman as a topic, the father and daughter could finally set aside the rift caused by Cersei and chat actively and happily.
Only then did Robert realize how little he knew about his children. He had previously only seen Myrcella as a little girl manipulated by Cersei.
But now he was surprised to find that beneath the little princess's fragile appearance was a wealth of determination and wisdom.
She was always able to observe Robert's emotional changes immediately and then provide an appropriate response.
Myrcella remained cautious about things Robert clearly disliked; for things Robert loved, even if she didn't like them, she wouldn't slight him.
This made Roman, who was observing from the side, marvel in admiration.
Roman thought to himself, "How did that outrageous woman Cersei raise such an excellent daughter?"
Myrcella only showed her childish side when talking about Roman.
The conversation between father and daughter lasted until evening. By then, Myrcella was exhausted, and Robert had a Servant take her away.
Afterward, the King grabbed Roman and asked with a smile, "Thank you, brat, for letting us talk like a normal family. Myrcella cares more about you than she does about me, her father."
Roman was about to give a perfunctory answer when the King's tone suddenly shifted. "Brat, tell me the truth, do you like the princess?"
Robert's smile vanished, and his expression became as serious as steel.
Roman looked at Robert, paused for a few seconds, and said, "The princess is too young; many things are still uncertain. Your Majesty should not act rashly."
Robert stared at Roman for a while and finally laughed and cursed:
"You brat, you're more slippery than a sea fish! We'll talk about this later. Now, come have a drink with me. This time, don't you dare refuse your King!"
more chapter available in p@tréøñ(Atoki_29)