The Hean Family reunited within the White Flame; those separated by death were together once more.
Lady Helaena of House Hoare could not help but step forward, longing to embrace the family she had not seen in over a decade.
But Roman was quick to stop her.
"My Lady! While these flames will not burn you under my control, contact with the Earl might be a different matter."
Roman then turned, bowing one by one to Earl Walter and the other members of the Hean Family.
"My Lord."
Earl Walter returned the gesture to Roman.
"Thank you for your efforts. The Hean Family will never forget your kindness!"
Roman tactfully stepped aside. "My Lord, you can only remain manifested for about twenty minutes at most, so please say what you need to say quickly. This is your last chance."
The Hean Family looked at one another, momentarily at a loss for words, until finally, Lady Helaena of House Hoare's daughter broke the silence.
With a choked voice, she expressed her heartbreak over Lady Helaena of House Hoare's aging.
This stirred the emotions of the others, and they began to discuss the changes in Lady Helaena of House Hoare over the past decade.
There was no profound discussion, no intricate scheming—only the care and simple chatter between family members.
Seeing that standing was not ideal, Roman quickly fetched a stone chair for Lady Helaena of House Hoare and conjured six seats of White Flame for Earl Walter and the others.
Lady Helaena of House Hoare gradually shed her initial reserve, beginning to vividly recount her experiences over the past decade.
All the past experiences became precious and delightful topics of conversation, and the thick sense of loneliness that had once surrounded Lady Helaena of House Hoare was nowhere to be seen.
The family chatted happily, and the joyful atmosphere even caused Roman's White Flame to dance along.
But happy times are inevitably short, and twenty minutes passed in the blink of an eye.
It was time to say goodbye.
The figures of Earl Walter and the others suddenly became blurred; everyone noticed it.
At this moment, Lady Helaena of House Hoare could no longer hold back, and tears streamed from her eyes.
The blurred faces of Lady Helaena of House Hoare's children also twisted; they were equally devastated.
In the end, it was Earl Walter who interrupted the family's weeping.
"It is already a blessing from the Seven that we could reunite. Since we are destined to leave, let us not make it so difficult."
He looked at Lady Helaena of House Hoare. "Helaena, you will have to live alone again. I am sorry..."
At the same time, he bowed to Roman. "Child, as Earl Walter, I am a man of my word. I heard you have no family, is that correct?"
Roman nodded. "Yes, My Lord. I have had no family since I was born."
"Good!" Walter looked pleased. "I, the master of Harrenhal, Earl Walter, hereby announce again that Roman Rivers is officially a member of the Hean Family!"
After he finished speaking, Earl Walter's children began to applaud, their flaming hands scattering and reforming with each clap.
Earl Walter and his children took Roman's hands and told him about Lady Helaena of House Hoare's preferences, habits, and other matters.
Then, they once again entrusted Roman with taking good care of Lady Helaena of House Hoare.
Finally, Earl Walter made one last request. "Roman, can you control these flames? I want to embrace Helaena one more time."
Roman broke into a cold sweat instantly, but in the end, he nodded.
"I will try. Please be careful."
The pale White Flames were suppressed again by Roman's will, and Walter touched Lady Helaena of House Hoare, trembling.
There was no burning sensation from the fire, only a warm current flowing through Lady Helaena of House Hoare's arms.
In that instant, Lady Helaena of House Hoare completely let go of her wariness and hugged her family tightly.
Amidst Lady Helaena of House Hoare's weeping, the figures of Earl Walter and the others gradually dissipated, eventually turning into embers in the hallway.
Lady Helaena of House Hoare stood where she was, staring at the spot where her family had just been, silent for a long time.
"Lady Helaena of House Hoare?"
Roman stepped forward with concern, but what met his eyes was Lady Helaena of House Hoare's resolute gaze.
Unlike the numbness that had looked at nothing, Roman saw hope in Lady Helaena of House Hoare's eyes now.
For the first time, there was a light in the old woman's eyes, and Roman could feel her life force bursting with vibrant vitality.
"Roman, my child, let us return. There are many things waiting for us at Harrenhal."
Lady Helaena of House Hoare squeezed Roman's hand, speaking with a spirited voice.
The news of Roman obtaining the status of the Hean Family spread instantly, and this shocking information swept across Westeros in no time.
Harrenhal was the most magnificent castle in the Seven Kingdoms, and Lady Helaena of House Hoare was the only remaining direct descendant of the Hean Family.
Many ambitious schemers had been calculating how to seize the lands around Harrenhal, but Roman's sudden emergence instantly disrupted their plans.
At this moment, Roman became the most conspicuous person in Westeros.
"My Lady, is it really okay to be this high-profile? Shouldn't I have waited to make my appearance?"
Roman was still somewhat worried; after all, according to the law, he was the indisputable heir to Harrenhal.
Roman, who had been doing odd jobs, had suddenly become the heir to Harrenhal. This meteoric rise did not make him feel like he was walking on air; instead, it made him feel immense pressure.
He was well aware of the methods of the old schemers in the Seven Kingdoms during this era, and Harrenhal was certainly not strong right now.
"No, child, the sooner your identity spreads, the better you can deter those petty villains. Although the iron throne does not look kindly upon the Hean Family now, for the sake of stability, King Robert would never reject this proposal."
"Besides, he has no right to refuse."
Lady Helaena of House Hoare looked completely renewed, with no trace of her former frailty.
But while the words sounded bold, the actual situation could not be resolved by mere legalities.
In the world of a song of ice and fire, power has always belonged to those with strong armies.
Who knows if the people on the iron throne might act irrationally? That old fox Jon Arryn is still alive.
If it were just Robert, Roman might be fine, but Old Arryn is a man with an extremely keen political sense.
Roman would not underestimate anyone, not even that fool Cersei.
"Child, it is almost time to pay taxes. You should go with the Guard to King's Landing to meet King Robert; this will also be an opportunity to gauge their attitude."
Roman sighed; he knew he couldn't avoid it.
"Since I am here, I will make the best of it. It's just King's Landing; what of it?"
Roman bowed to Lady Helaena of House Hoare and then went out to prepare. For now, he could only take things one step at a time.
When Roman arrived at the square of Harrenhal, Old Jessy and many members of the Guard were looking at him with strange expressions.
The boy who had been eating and chatting with them just a moment ago had suddenly become a member of the Hean Family and was now their superior.
Old Jessy looked at Roman with a strange expression. His wrinkled mouth trembled slightly, and his old face kept changing, as if he were undergoing an intense internal struggle.
In the end, Old Jessy composed himself, bowed respectfully, and shouted: "My Lord!"
The other members of the Guard also saluted: "My Lord!"
Roman looked at this group of people, his mouth twitching violently.
"It's just delivering taxes; why are you acting like I'm being crowned?"