Stopping in her tracks, Cersei Lannister frowned slightly, her voice tinged with displeasure: "Ser Kevan, when did you arrive?"
After speaking, she coldly glanced at Ser Osmund Kettleblack, her Kingsguard Captain.
The Cate Black brothers, at this moment, couldn't help but show vigilance towards the unexpected "guest." Ser Osfryd and Osney quickly guessed the answer: Lannister red-cloaked soldiers guarded Maegors Holdfast, and their true master was Tywin Lannister.
"Good evening, Cersei."
Ser Kevan first personally opened the ornately decorated study door, then gestured inside, adding, "Duke Tywin is waiting for you."
How did the Old Lion suddenly come, and in this manner?
After a full day, when Cersei, having somewhat regained her "sanity," heard her father's name, her heart couldn't help but feel a little guilty and uneasy.
The Old Lion must learn to respect me... This did not prevent the Lioness from maintaining her pride. She snorted lightly at Ser Kevan and walked in.
The door closed, and the tall figure of Duke Tywin stood with his back to the long table in the study.
Although Cersei had mustered her courage before entering the room, when she met the Old Lion's gaze, the proud Lioness instantly became a docile kitten.
Under the Old Lion's authority, she managed a faint smile and curtsied gracefully: "Good evening, Father."
The candlelight flickered. Duke Tywin gazed at his good daughter until her expression became unnatural, then he slowly spoke: "Cersei, just yesterday afternoon, your son gave Lannister a'surprise.'"
Hearing this, Queen Mother Cersei opened her mouth and said, "Father, Joffrey is just a little willful, I promise he won't next time..."
Duke Tywin coldly interrupted Cersei's defense: "Willfulness and foolishness are two different things."
Pausing, he looked directly at his daughter: "Joffrey told me 'The King is fearless.' What nonsense is that? Who taught him?"
Queen Mother Cersei's face stiffened for a moment and she said, "I didn't teach him, please believe me, I wouldn't..."
As she spoke, her green eyes shifted slightly, and she continued, "I guess Joffrey heard it from Robert. That drunkard often talks nonsense in front of my son."
Duke Tywin looked at his daughter's small gestures in front of him expressionlessly, paused, and said, "Grandfather is hiding in Casterly Rock, afraid to come out... Did Robert teach him that too?"
"Hmm?"
Queen Mother Cersei was slightly startled and said, "Yes, I think... yes."
As if she suddenly remembered something, she said with certainty, "Father, I remember now, Robert often taught Joffrey... as his heir, he must be brave and fearless..."
Duke Tywin interrupted Cersei again: "You told me Robert doesn't like your son."
Queen Mother Cersei blinked rapidly, she nodded and said, "Yes, Robert doesn't like Joffrey at all. If I hadn't protected him, he would have hit him!"
Her tone gained a layer of hatred: "That... barbarian you made me marry, once, just because Joffrey accidentally killed a cat, he beat him so hard he lost two teeth."
She lifted her chin: "If I hadn't threatened Robert that if he dared to lay a hand on him again, I'd cut his throat while he slept, he wouldn't have learned to restrain himself, otherwise..."
Cersei's words were interrupted by the Old Lion again, his tone containing a warning: "I tell you, you must remember, I painstakingly cared for this turbulent kingdom not to win the throne for Robert II."
Didn't Joffrey's right of succession begin with Robert I?
Although she didn't understand the Old Lion's meaning, she still nodded with a "composed" expression.
Duke Tywin looked at his "serious" daughter, then sat at the head of the long table, saying, "Sit, they'll be here soon."
Queen Mother Cersei lifted her skirt and sat down gracefully, asking with a puzzled expression, "Father, who else have you invited?"
The Old Lion's pale green eyes shifted slightly: "Lannister."
After a while, the room door opened, and Ser Jaime's figure appeared first: "Father, Cersei."
Behind him was Tyrion: "Lord Tywin, didn't you invite me to dinner..."
Limped closer, he seemed to just notice Cersei: "Aha, isn't this the charming Queen Mother? The Master of Coin salutes you."
Queen Mother Cersei first said gently to Jaime: "Jaime."
Immediately after, she gave a contemptuous snort to the grinning Tyrion.
Duke Tywin's voice rang out: "Jaime, Tyrion, please sit."
It was a rare family gathering, but after Jaime and Tyrion took their seats, they looked at each other, and the atmosphere became slightly strange, or rather, awkward.
After a pause, Tyrion broke the "wonderful" silence: "Father, you called your obedient son from Hook Alley, and I thought it was a rare warm Lannister dinner, at least..."
His black and green eyes swept over the empty long table, and he continued: "Prepare some wine to quench thirst... Well, it might help the Lannister who like to hide their deep affection."
As his words fell, Ser Jaime shrugged, while Cersei coldly glared at the Dwarf.
Duke Tywin looked at his Dwarf son, whose head was barely visible, and said, "This is your sister's Maegors Holdfast."
"There's no wine for you."
After a pause, Queen Mother Cersei said disdainfully, "Tyrion, haven't you realized Father called you here to discuss business?"
"It's just my foolishness."
With a sigh, Tyrion said with a smile, "I hear Joffrey's fiancée is about to enter King's Landing, and I'm deeply concerned about her residence. So, clever sister, please tell me, where should she live?"
Queen Mother Cersei glanced at her father, who was sitting upright, and said proudly, "I've already had her room prepared in the Maidenvault. Your worries are quite unnecessary."
Tyrion grinned: "And after the wedding, Queen Mother?"
"Of course Maegors Holdfast..."
As she spoke, Queen Mother Cersei's words suddenly stopped, looking at the smiling Tyrion... The hand she had hidden under the table clenched into a fist.
Jaime seemed to speak, but Cersei didn't hear what he was saying. At this moment, another voice echoed in her ears: She will take everything you cherish... She will take everything you cherish... She will take everything...
When she finally came to her senses, she heard the Old Lion's voice: "...Three days later... You will represent Lannister at the Blackwater River Dock to welcome Prince Oberyn."
Tyrion said in surprise: "Me? Lord Tywin, perhaps I should remind you, for this kind of thing... the magnificent Brother Jaime is more suitable than me."
Duke Tywin's green eyes swept over Jaime and said, "The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard's duty is to protect the King."
Tyrion reminded again: "If the King himself welcomes him, wouldn't the Dornishmen be happier?"
Cersei then spoke, her gaze at her Dwarf brother filled with mockery: "On that day, Lannister will be accompanying my son to welcome his fiancée. Only you are free."
Hearing this, Tyrion's face seemed normal, but his voice trembled slightly: "...It seems we will win the war very soon."
Queen Mother Cersei showed a sweet smile: "Tyrion, this is all Father's doing."
Tyrion grinned: "And it's also thanks to Your Majesty, the Queen Mother."
"Enough."
Duke Tywin glanced at Cersei and his Dwarf son, who only uttered useless words, and said, "Don't be happy too soon. The enemies have not been eliminated, and things are not over yet."
Queen Mother Cersei slightly raised her chin and said to Duke Tywin, "The North is still resisting the Iron Islands' invasion. Without the support of the Northerners, the Riverlands facing the alliance of the Westerlands, the Reach, the Vale, and Dorne alone is simply courting death."
She announced arrogantly, "The lords of the Riverlands are not fools. They will soon turn to us, and the Direwolf and the Fish of Riverrun can only kneel and surrender."
Duke Tywin stared at Cersei for a moment and said coldly, "The Small Direwolf and the Blackfish will not surrender, nor will they sit and die."
Tyrion cheerfully added for his father: "Riverrun claims that Lannister murdered the heir of the Duke of Riverrun and the Small Direwolf's bride, my good sister. This is a deep hatred."
Queen Mother Cersei argued, "The outcome is no different. As long as they don't surrender, it's ultimately a dead end."
Tyrion merely smiled slightly and said nothing.
After a pause, Queen Mother Cersei couldn't help but probe: "Father, the matter of Riverrun was you..."
Before she could finish, Duke Tywin said coldly, "Not Lannister."
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