Game of Thrones: Holy Flame King

Clang—clang—clang—

The bell struck like a pounding on Lord Renly Baratheon's heart.

Of course he knew the meaning of the bell—his brother, King Robert, was dead.

He thought that he would not be sad at all, but when this moment really came, Lord Renly still felt a sense of grief and panic from deep within his heart.

Yes, panic.

The Minister of Justice is wearing a gorgeous velvet gown today, with a gleaming golden sword around his waist and a huge ring on his right thumb that symbolizes the status of a duke. His chin is clean-shaven and his hair is carefully combed. The whole person looks handsome and extraordinary.

But when he came to the throne room, waiting to preside over the trial for the murder of Jon Arryn, he found no one there.

The Red Viper was gone, Littlefinger was dead, and Grand Maester Pycelle was dead too.

Now even the king is dead.

Lord Renly felt that the gods must be joking with him. This should have been a glorious day for him, but it was suddenly shattered by death one by one.

He stood alone next to the Iron Throne, the iron chair made of a sharp sword, covered with ferocious spikes and strange twists, seemed to suddenly become more terrifying than ever before.

"Lord Renly." The servant Loras Tyrell walked over and reminded, "Is it time for you to attend the imperial meeting?"

right!

Imperial meeting!

Lord Renly came to his senses at last.

When the king is dead, it is time for the will to be read by the imperial council.

And he will become the regent and guardian of the whole territory!

Until Joffrey comes of age, the country will be in his hands!

Thinking of this, Duke Renly regained his energy and strode out.

Stepping on the soft red carpet is like walking on the clouds.

Lord Renly's spirits jumped again.

But as soon as he went out, he met a group of people coming towards him.

Headed by Queen Cersei, she was wearing a black dress with a teardrop-shaped ruby ​​hanging on her chest, her curly blond hair was scattered on her shoulders, and her green eyes had a faint arrogant smile.

She led Prince Joffrey by her right hand, and behind her were the seven White Knights of the Kingsguard, and Ser Jonos Slynt, Commander of the City Watch, and a host of gold cloaks.

Mighty and menacing.

"Lord Renly. Where are you going?"

"The Imperial Council." Duke Renly had a bad feeling in his heart, but he still said politely, "Your Majesty passed away, and the Imperial Council should be held immediately to read out the will."

"That's fine, let's go together." Cersei didn't hide the smile on her face.

The smile made Lord Renly angry.

"Your Majesty, if I remember correctly, there should be no place for you in the imperial meeting."

"But there is a place for my son." Cersei stepped forward slowly, and came to Duke Renly, "Of course there will be a place for me."

Duke Renly's tone was a little stiff: "There is no place for the Queen Mother in the Imperial Council."

"And what about the Queen Regent?"

Duke Renly clenched his fists tightly, but when he saw the row of white knights behind Cersei, he finally let go again, and he squeezed out a smile:

"It depends on how His Majesty arranges in the will..."

"Your Majesty is dead," Cersei revealed mercilessly, "and the new Majesty is my son Joffrey."

"But Lord Joffrey is not yet of age..."

"Your Majesty!" Joffrey interrupted Lord Renly arrogantly, and shouted, "You should call me Your Majesty!"

Duke Renly looked at the undisguised hostility in Joffrey's eyes, and his heart sank even further.

"Little Joe, don't be rude to uncle." Cersei turned her head to comfort her son, and then hooked her fingers at Lord Renly, "Come, Lord Renly, let's talk alone."

After speaking, she swayed and stepped into the throne room.

Lord Renly hesitated, but followed.

Cersei didn't speak any more, but walked straight along the red carpet to the Iron Throne.

Lord Renly followed her, full of thoughts.

"Want to sit?"

Cersei's words echoed in the empty throne room, waking Lord Renly awake.

He came back to his senses, followed the Queen's gaze, and looked at the terrifying iron chair.

no answer.

"Heh—" Cersei let out a sneer full of sarcasm, actually lifted the hem of her skirt, stepped straight up the steps, then turned around and sat high on the Iron Throne!

Like a queen.

"You!" Lord Renly glared at her.

"I know you want to sit, Renly, but you don't dare." Cersei carefully avoided the spikes on the armrest with her hands, "and I dare."

Duke Renly snorted coldly: "Cersei, you are a bold and crazy woman! No lord in the Seven Kingdoms will surrender to you, you are a joke!"

"It was just a joke. Why are you so nervous?" Cersei stood up from the Iron Throne and looked down at Lord Renly. "But don't think I don't know what you're thinking?"

"Cersei, don't you think I don't know your little secret!" Lord Renly shot back.

"What little secret?"

"What about you and your brother!" Duke Renly said. He tried to find the panic on the queen's face but failed, which made him flustered instead. They're not of Robert's kind!"

Cersei still didn't panic, she smiled coldly: "Where's the evidence? Renly, where's your evidence?"

Lord Renly was at a loss for words.

Cersei stepped down from the Iron Throne, came to Duke Renly, and stretched out her hand to gently brush his cheek:

"Without evidence, why do you question Joffrey's legitimacy? Also, in Robert's will, did he appoint you as Regent and Guardian of the Realm?"

Duke Renly's pupils shrank slightly.

Someone leaked!

He realized it immediately.

who is it?

"I don't know what ecstasy you gave Robert to agree to hand the country over to you," Cersei continued. "But I will not let this mistake continue. Joffrey will revoke your order." regent……"

"He doesn't have this power!" Duke Renly's voice suddenly became louder, causing echoes in the empty hall, "At least he doesn't have this power before he reaches adulthood!"

"Power? Do you have power?"

"I have His Majesty's will!"

"It's just a scrap of paper." Cersei pointed to the door of the hall. "Look carefully, Renly, and see who is standing behind King Joffrey. That is power."

Lord Renly did not look back, he had already seen it.

Barristan Selmy, Jaime Lannister, Meryn Tran, Janos Slynt...

This represented that the strongest force in the Red Castle had already stood by the queen.

And he...

The Tyrell family backed out, and the nobles of the Reach rejected him, and maybe someone even betrayed him!

And Dorne... His plan to plot against the nobles of Dorne has become a joke.

Lord Renly knew that he had no chance of winning.

"Renly." Cersei's slender hand reached down, caressing his chest, "Don't think that a piece of paper can give you power, otherwise, your end will be miserable."

Lord Renly bit his lip and made no reply.

He knew that this crazy woman could really do it, she even dared to sit on the Iron Throne, and even the death of the king - he had always suspected that this woman murdered his brother!

"Don't be afraid." Cersei felt the man's trembling, and continued to lower her slender hand, bringing the most gentle hint, "As long as you take the initiative to resign as regent, I can continue to let you stay in the imperial council, and you can also keep the wind." How about the title of Duke of Fort? Am I nice to you? Shouldn’t you be nice to me too?”

Lord Renly took a step back as if electrocuted, trying to avoid the queen's hand.

Cersei chuckled: "So you're really not interested in women? It's a pity."

Then, she strode out without looking back:

"Come on, Lord Renly, let us go to the Council. I trust you will make a wise choice."

Duke Renly's face changed for a while, and finally followed him slumped, like a queen's attendant.

When the group arrived at the chamber, they found that several other cabinet ministers had already arrived.

Of course, there are not many people left in the current cabinet.

Lord Stannis, Sea Lord, had slipped back to Dragonstone, Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish, Lord Chancellor of the Exchequer, was dead, and so was Grand Maester Pycelle.

So when the queen walked in, there were only Duke Ed, the Hand of the King, and Varys, the chief intelligence officer, in the conference hall of Nuoda.

When Duke Ed saw the Queen coming in, he frowned, but he remembered something, and he didn't say anything after all.

Cersei took her son Joffrey and sat down on the main seat, saying:

"Lord Ed, is it time to read the will?"

Duke Ed nodded, took out the will, showed the intact sealing wax to everyone, then opened it, flattened it, and read:

"The following is the will of Robert I of House Baratheon, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Warden of the Realm, hereby appointing the Warden of the Stormlands, Lord of Storm's End Renly of House Baratheon is Regent and Guardian of the Realm, and after my death, I will rule over the state for me, until my son Joffrey comes of age..."

Hearing this, all eyes were on Duke Renly's face.

And Queen Cersei's eyes are particularly sharp.

Duke Renly took a deep breath, and when Duke Eddard finished reading the will, he immediately said:

"My lords, I am deeply grateful and honored that His Majesty Robert has entrusted me with this important task! But..." Duke Renly gritted his teeth, and continued, "But I really... can't bear this responsibility, and I am afraid that I will fail Your Majesty I hereby voluntarily resign from the positions of regent and guardian of the whole territory, and please choose someone else."

Cersei smiled with satisfaction and said:

"Since this is the case, then my lords, you should re-elect someone."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Joffrey yelled, "I nominate my mother!"

The audience was silent.

Joffrey, who didn't get a response, suddenly became unhappy, and shouted again:

"Why not? What about your opinion, Ser Barristan?"

The old white knight leaned slightly towards the king and said:

"I support the king's decision."

"Very good!" Joffrey nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Varys again, "Lord Varys, what's your opinion?"

Varys smiled sweetly: "I agree."

Joffrey looked at Duke Eddard one last time: "Hand of the King, what's your opinion?"

Duke Eddard looked up into Cersei's eyes, and the lioness on the opposite side met his gaze without flinching.

After a while, it was Duke Ed who looked away first, and he said silently in his heart——

Sorry, Robert, I can only deal with one enemy at a time.

"I agree."

"Very well!" Joffrey announced excitedly, "From today on, Mother, you are the Queen Regent!"