Sounds came from outside the cell door. Tyrion Lannister, curled up on the bed, raised his head. He tried to get off the bed but found his legs numb from lying down for so long. He had to bend down and rub his limbs.
He hated the Dwarf's short legs at this moment.
The key turned, the cell door opened, and light shone on his face. Tyrion raised a hand to block it, squinting his eyes, and said: "Jaime?"
"Are you alright, Tyrion?"
Ser Jaime entered with a small candlestick. He closed the cell door, looked around, and said: "The cells in Riverrun weren't this damp and cold, but they were much gloomier than here."
Tyrion grinned: "I've also tasted what it's like to be locked up. The Seven Gods is truly just. What a pair of happy Lannister brothers."
Ser Jaime smiled and shook his head. He placed the candlestick on the small square table and said: "I heard you killed the Red Viper, famous throughout the Seven Kingdoms."
As he spoke, he sat down on a chair.
Tyrion laughed heartily: "Yes, it was because his black-haired mistress from Dorne fell in love with the Lion at first sight. We dueled on the spot, just like in the songs."
He made a motion of gripping a sword hilt and thrusting: "I couldn't reach his heart, and the lovely Red Viper even stood there waiting for me to bring a chair."
Ser Jaime couldn't help but smile: "Many people know you are not the murderer, Tyrion."
"Let me guess…"
Tyrion's smile vanished: "But Lord Tywin certainly hopes I'll happily confess to all the crimes thrown at me, right?"
After a pause, Ser Jaime sighed: "You know, our father is a just man. He may not…"
Tyrion scoffed: "Will he be just to a rat in a gutter?"
He pointed to himself: "See, that's me."
Ser Jaime frowned and said: "Tyrion, you are Duke Tywin's son, not some… rat."
Tyrion's voice was filled with hatred: "No, I am not Duke Tywin's son. You are, Jaime, you are his only son! He's wanted to execute me, the Dwarf, for over twenty years… He's finally got this wonderful opportunity, and he can even appease the Dornishmen. He must be thrilled now!"
He paused, then grinned: "Oh, and my dear sister, she's wanted me dead for ages. Has she already started celebrating early? Did she ask you to dance, big brother Jaime?"
After Tyrion finished speaking, Ser Jaime stared at him, his voice slightly weary: "You won't die, I promise, my brother."
"Ah, you promise?"
Tyrion looked at his brother mockingly: "How can you promise? I hear you're about to lead an army out? Are you planning to attack the Red Keep's dungeon?"
Ser Jaime frowned: "Tyrion, as long as I promise Father not to have a trial by combat for you, I can wait until the trial is over before leaving King's Landing."
Tyrion looked at Jaime in disbelief and said: "You're staying to enjoy my clownish appearance, crying and begging for mercy when Lord Tywin sentences me to death?"
He grinned: "Or do you want to hear my dying confession?"
Ser Jaime clenched his fist and said: "Tyrion, I told you, I won't let you die."
Tyrion's gaze shifted slightly: "Ah, big brother Jaime, do you want me to have a few more sweet dreams before I die?"
Ser Jaime leaned back in his chair, slowly exhaling, and said: "If Father truly sentences you… to death, I will directly take you out of this damned dungeon."
He paused, then added: "I've already made preparations."
"You're going to secretly let me go, Ser Jaime?"
Tyrion's eyes widened. He got out of bed and stood: "For me, your Dwarf brother? Have you thought about the consequences? How will you face Lord Tywin and Cersei's wrath? And the Dornishmen's wrath… You're willing to betray Lannister for me?!"
After a pause, Jaime's voice was somewhat unusual: "I'm just… repaying a debt."
He managed a smile: "A Lannister always pays his debts."
Tyrion looked up, staring motionlessly at the solemn-faced Jaime. He grinned: "Repaying a debt? I don't quite understand, my brother."
Jaime's voice grew even stranger: "It's better not to understand. Some things are best buried forever."
Tyrion suppressed his anger and said: "Tell me, what shameful deed or evil act is it?"
Ser Jaime seemed a bit distracted. He opened his mouth and said: "Tyrion, I'll find a good time…"
The Little Lion's voice suddenly Rose: "No, you must tell me now, immediately!"
A heavy atmosphere filled the cell.
The Lannister brothers stared at each other for a while, and finally… Jaime turned his face away, paused, and whispered: "Tysha…"
Upon hearing this, Tyrion trembled all over. He squeezed out a voice from his throat with difficulty: "What… about her?"
After a moment of silence, Ser Jaime murmured: "She… wasn't the prostitute I bought for you. It was all a lie Father made me tell. Tysha… Tysha was just Tysha. She was a farmer's daughter. You met her by chance on the road."
Jaime could not face his brother at this moment. Tyrion stood frozen like a statue. Tysha… Suddenly he forgot what she looked like… He remembered she was a little girl, she was just a little girl back then.
He hissed: "My wife, she married me, with The Seven Gods as witness."
Ser Jaime continued: "At the time, Father told me she approached you only for your money. She was a commoner, you were a Lannister of Casterly Rock. If not for gold, she would never have come to you, so it was equivalent to… a prostitute. Father also told me that… so what I said wasn't a lie, not a real lie, and… and he thought you needed a good lesson."
He closed his eyes in pain: "Father told me that from then on, you would learn your lesson and be grateful to me… At the time… I truly didn't expect Father to do that…"
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