Harrenhal
At night, in Roman's bedroom.
Fili, wearing a black silk robe, was massaging Roman's joints. They had been running around for months and hadn't had time to rest.
Only after returning to Harrenhal could they lie on a comfortable bed.
Fili had just finished bathing, her fair skin glowing with a rosy hue. Her natural scent mixed with the floral fragrance of the shower gel filled Roman's nostrils.
Because of long-term fighting, Roman had been suppressing his desires. Now, completely relaxed, he couldn't help but feel a bit distracted.
Fili asked first: "Lord Roman, since Lord Tyrion is staying at Harrenhal, don't we need to do something?"
Roman turned to face Fili and said: "I've already spread the word. Tyrion is our lobbyist. Now that people in the territory know this news, we don't need to... Wait!"
An idea suddenly popped into Roman's mind, and he smirked, leaving Fili confused.
"Lord Roman, have you thought of something?"
"I'm thinking that just talking isn't enough. I should invite Tyrion to dinner tomorrow. That way, Tywin will believe it even more!"
The young girl was skeptical: "Lord Roman, Lord Tyrion is Tywin's son after all. Would Tywin really doubt him just because of a meal with us?"
"Of course!" Roman said decisively. "If Tywin really cared about this son, Tyrion, he wouldn't have been indifferent when the proposal to use Tyrion for peace talks was made at Winterfell. He only used Tyrion as an excuse when he mobilized his troops initially. We might as well add fuel to the fire between father and son."
Listening to Roman's careful analysis, Fili couldn't help but shiver.
"Lord Roman, I just realized you are so dark-hearted! You won't use these tactics against me in the future, will you?"
Roman looked at the trembling girl in front of him, feeling both annoyed and amused. He pinched Fili's chin, turning her rosy, soft face toward him.
"Those are tactics for enemies. When have you ever seen me use such dirty tricks against my own people? You have done so much for me and for Harrenhal; I cherish you too much to ever harm you."
Hearing Roman's words, Fili's face instantly flushed, the redness spreading to her earlobes.
"Lord Roman, I... I'm sorry."
"An apology isn't enough. You know what you should do tonight!"
Then Roman kissed Fili's lips, his other hand stripping the thin silk from the girl's body.
Fili's eyes became dazed, she gave a soft "Mm" of consent, then lowered her head, not daring to look at Roman again.
After receiving consent, Roman withdrew the White Flame in the room, and the bright bedroom instantly plunged into darkness.
...
The next day, Roman grandly invited Tyrion to a banquet at Harrenhal.
Roman usually didn't hold such banquets. This one instantly attracted attention within the territory. Everyone was even more shocked when they discovered the invited guest was Tyrion of House Lannister.
"Could the rumors be true? Is The Imp really going to lobby Tywin for Lord Roman?"
"Hahaha! There's a good show to watch now. I want to see how Tywin and Tyrion get along next!"
The Imp was almost dragged into the banquet by Roman, and his guards were invited in as well.
Tyrion couldn't eat a single bite of the delicacies in front of him, while his guards were eating heartily; such an opportunity might only come a few times in a lifetime.
Throughout the entire banquet, Roman didn't discuss any military or political matters, conversing with Tyrion entirely as a friend.
"Lord Tyrion, it's been a while since we parted at Winterfell. This time makes up for it."
"Come, come, these are all specialties of the Riverlands. You can't eat such fresh food in the West."
Tyrion understood that he couldn't avoid this, and in the end, he could only smile bitterly, pick up his wine glass, and drain the wine from the Arbor in one gulp.
"Ser Roman, you've really ruined me!"
Roman didn't commit, gently swirling the juice in his glass, and said: "Don't say that, Lord Tyrion. You and I are friends. If you are in trouble in the future, you can come to me for refuge."
After eating this delicious yet bitter feast, Tyrion immediately bid farewell to Roman and ran back to the West along the main road.
Tyrion saw that his father had already assembled a large army, and the camp was crowded with supplies and servants. His heart tightened, and he rushed toward Tywin's room.
Tywin was currently assembling troops in the West and discussing how to attack with his subordinates when he suddenly heard that Tyrion had returned.
The old lion's calm face instantly wrinkled, his disgust evident. When The Imp arrived before his father, he saw Tywin's sour face.
To be honest, Tyrion had wanted to slap Tywin in the face with a board more than once, but now he couldn't lose his temper; there was something more important to report.
"Father, I saw the specific situation at Harrenhal. You must be cautious about sending troops!"
"Oh?" Tywin sneered. "Are you telling me not to go help Jaime, and just leave him alone at Riverrun?"
"No! I mean that even Jaime should come back as soon as possible. The Harrenhal army hasn't moved yet. If Roman joins the war, we..."
"Tyrion!" Tywin suddenly shouted, interrupting The Imp's speech.
"There have been rumors in the Riverlands that you have become a lobbyist for Stark. I don't believe it. Roman invited you to a banquet, and I don't think you would betray me. But now, you are asking me to retreat?"
Tyrion hurriedly explained: "That's not it, Father! I am really thinking for the family. While Harrenhal hasn't joined the war yet, we still have a chance!"
Hearing this from The Imp, the old lion shook his head in disappointment, his face as gloomy as if it were about to drip water.
Tywin said to Tyrion in a grim tone: "If I hear you speaking for the Hean Family again, prepare to go to the dungeon."
Tyrion was too familiar with this tone. Every time Tywin was dissatisfied with him, he would use this tone. The Imp knew his father was serious.
For a moment, various emotions surged in his chest: anger, hatred, grievance, unwillingness, jealousy...
But in the end, Tyrion suppressed his expression, which was about to explode, bowed respectfully to Tywin, and then backed out.
Was Tywin really unaware of these words? Actually, if he just thought about it carefully, he would understand that what The Imp said was completely correct.
But just because these words were spoken by Tyrion, combined with Roman's public opinion campaign during this period, Tywin thought without thinking that Tyrion must have received benefits.
Tywin had always regarded Tyrion as the murderer of his wife, and treating him was more like an enemy than a father and son.
Meanwhile, Tyrion was sulking in a deserted corner. He kicked and beat a tree stump, but because he only had the stature of a dwarf, the stump was unharmed, and Tyrion's hands were bleeding instead.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Why do you treat me like this? Just because I am a dwarf? Or because you think I killed mother? You bastard! You really should die!"
After a burst of kicking and punching, Tyrion collapsed on the ground, his heart filled with desolation.
Now The Imp had no tricks left. If Tywin didn't want to listen to advice, it was useless for anyone to come, unless it was his deceased wife.
Finally, the disheartened Tyrion proposed to Tywin to return to King's Landing.
On one hand, Tyrion didn't want to stay by Tywin's side and suffer; on the other hand, he also wanted to make a career by his Uncle Kevan's side in King's Landing, not to make Tywin look at him with admiration, but at least not to let his father continue to hold a grudge against him.
With complicated feelings, Tyrion set off on his journey once again.