chapter 105 part 2
...
Petyr's eyes quivered. Lord Mace's appointment as Hand of the King was absolutely not good news for him. The powerful House Tyrell had the ability to stabilize the realm in a short amount of time.
Without a chaotic situation, the stepping stones for his own ascent would not appear.
Petyr's mind raced. He could not openly object.
The Red Keep had no secrets. What happened in the Small Council today would reach the ears of House Tyrell sooner or later. Petyr did not want to offend House Tyrell directly.
An idea sparked in Petyr's mind. *The direwolf.*
Lord Jon Arryn's lips moved. His greatest worry now was whether House Tyrell and House Lannister had already formed a secret alliance.
If the lion and the rose had already allied, then the moment the issue of the royal bloodline was exposed would be the moment a great war began. At that point, the bloodline issue would become the Lannisters' best pretext to firmly bind the Westerlands and the Reach to their cause.
When the fundamental interests of the great houses clashed, no one would care about the truth anymore.
If this great war erupted, all Seven Kingdoms would be drawn in. Its scale would be no smaller than the rebellion of a dozen years ago, perhaps even greater.
*For the stability of the realm, must I actively conceal this ugly truth and personally tarnish my own honor?*
Lord Jon Arryn was momentarily at a loss. His failing health made it difficult to cope with such a complex situation.
Petyr looked at Lord Jon Arryn, who had kept his eyes closed and remained silent, and grew inwardly anxious.
Petyr had no choice but to speak up and remind him, "Lord Hand, you should respect Queen Cersei's recommendation. The Small Council cannot ignore Her Grace's suggestion. You can present her choice for the Hand's successor, along with your own, to His Grace, King Robert."
Lord Jon Arryn's eyes opened, and a bright glint flashed in their murky depths.
King Robert had long neglected matters of state, leaving Jon Arryn accustomed to taking all problems into his own hands.
Queen Cersei could recommend a candidate, but the final choice rested with King Robert.
Who would King Robert appoint as the next Hand of the King?
On this point, Lord Jon Arryn already knew the answer.
...
Jon Arryn was grateful for Petyr's timely reminder. He had always admired Petyr's talent. It was a pity his birth was not noble enough, otherwise...
Lord Jon Arryn pushed the thought aside and said, "Queen Cersei, I will report your recommended candidate to King Robert."
Lord Jon Arryn forced himself to rally. Whether or not the lion and the rose had allied, he would find a way to drive a wedge between them.
Perhaps the very fact that Queen Cersei herself had recommended Lord Mace as a candidate for Hand was a golden opportunity.
Cersei gave a cool, indifferent nod.
Just then, Renly suddenly said, "Lord Jon, please be so kind as to report my name along with the others. I nominate myself as the next Hand of the King."
Renly's cheerful words made it impossible for anyone to tell if he was joking.
Lord Jon Arryn looked at Renly. "Renly, are you serious?"
Renly shrugged. With a complex expression, Lord Jon Arryn gave a slight nod.
Why had Renly suddenly nominated himself?
Lord Jon Arryn sighed internally. Renly was still too young, always so prone to impulse.
*Does he feel betrayed?*
Lord Jon Arryn was well aware of the deep friendship between Renly and Loras Tyrell, but Loras did not speak for House Tyrell.
Loras Tyrell is the third son of Lord Mace Tyrell of Highgarden, known as the "Knight of Flowers." When Renly was at Storm's End, he took Loras Tyrell as his squire, and they have maintained a strong friendship ever since.
...
Standing behind Queen Cersei, Jaime watched the smiling Renly and clenched his fists, a cold glint hidden in his green eyes.
Jaime would not forget the grudge of how Renly had secretly hurt Cersei.
Glyn had already promised Jaime he would help him scheme against Renly (Chapter 89).
A Lannister always pays his debts. But for Cersei's safety, Jaime was willing to be patient, waiting for Glyn's return from Essos.
...
Cersei was not finished. She said, "Lord Arryn, Highgarden is far to the south. We must invite Lord Mace to come at once."
Lord Jon Arryn's brow furrowed. He said in a low voice, "Queen Cersei, I am still the Hand of the King. Lord Mace has not been appointed as the new Hand by King Robert. Lord Mace is currently just a candidate."
Cersei said dismissively, "Of course I know Lord Mace is not yet the Hand of the King. But since he is a candidate, he should naturally be invited to the Red Keep. It is a matter of due respect."
Cersei sniffed coldly and continued, "Inviting Lord Mace in advance would certainly be more dignified than having the Master of Coin run errands for you."
Petyr: "..."
Lord Jon Arryn was now certain that the mastermind behind today's events was Lord Tywin, far away in Casterly Rock.
If it were not Lord Tywin's plot, he refused to believe Queen Cersei could have thought of all this on her own.
Cersei did not possess this level of political cunning, to be able to make move after move against him.
Willful and never calm—that was Cersei Lannister, the former Light of the West.
At that moment, Grand Maester Pycelle rose shakily to his feet. "Lord Jon," he said, "if we can secure the grain supply from the Reach, you will surely be able to pacify the populace when you seal the city."
Hearing this, Lord Jon Arryn looked toward Petyr.
Petyr offered an elegant smile, his tone respectful. "Lord Hand, I can already imagine the price of grain in King's Landing becoming absolutely outrageous. I dare not overestimate the integrity of the city's grain merchants."
This time, Petyr did not cooperate with Lord Jon Arryn, deliberately giving a nonsensical answer that was essentially nonsense.
Lord Jon Arryn's brow twitched... *Never mind. I suppose Petyr is also in turmoil right now. Today must be the day he has truly realized how difficult Cersei can be!*
Only he himself knew the true purpose of sealing the city.
After Robert took the Iron Throne, House Tyrell had been excluded from the Red Keep.
The Red Keep was the center of power in the Seven Kingdoms. The mighty House Tyrell would not easily let this opportunity pass. He had to take this matter seriously.
Events had already taken an unexpected turn. Lord Jon Arryn had no choice but to adjust his original plan.
After a moment of thought, Lord Jon Arryn said with resignation, "We will delay sealing the city for now."
"Queen Cersei, I will write the letter to invite Lord Mace myself."
Hearing Lord Jon Arryn agree to her demand, Cersei finally showed a flicker of satisfaction.
Varys clasped his hands, nodded slightly, and said to the Queen, "Your Grace, I must remind you that there is currently no suitable position in the Red Keep for the Lord of Highgarden."
(end of chapter)