Everything Cersei prided herself on.
Beauty, lineage, power...
All were torn to shreds in this moment.
Her body trembled uncontrollably.
In her clear blue eyes, fear surfaced for the first time.
He knows.
He actually knows everything!
"What nonsense are you spouting!"
Cersei's voice cracked.
It sounded like she was using the last of her strength to maintain her pathetic dignity.
"I don't understand!"
"Don't understand?" Lynn laughed.
"Then let's talk about something you can understand."
Lynn lowered his voice, every word stabbing precisely into Cersei's heart.
"For example, your good cousin, Lancel Lannister."
"Such a thoughtful lad. The King goes hunting for boar, and he has already prepared wine three times stronger than usual."
"After all, a drunk King reacts just a little bit slower when facing tusks, doesn't he?"
Cersei's pupils contracted sharply, her breath hitching!
Lancel!
I only mentioned this to Lancel!
And I planned to do it.
But Ned kept advising Robert against hunting, especially against drinking while hunting, so the plan didn't succeed.
It seems the reason Ned did that was all because of this Lynn!
Lynn gave Cersei no chance to breathe.
"And poor Lord Jon Arryn."
"He just wanted to find a book about the lineages of the great houses, and suddenly died of a sudden illness."
"His widow, Lady Lysa of the Eyrie, must be heartbroken, yes?"
"Otherwise, why would she write to her sister Catelyn, insisting it was the Lannisters who poisoned him?"
"Oh, by the way, that book Lord Jon Arryn wore out reading is now in Lord Stark's hands."
"The reason we haven't shown our hand is simply because we don't want to start trouble."
"If Lord Stark really went to Robert, I'm afraid your punishment would be more than just confinement here."
Boom!
Cersei felt the world spinning.
She instinctively took a step back, her back hitting the cold wall hard, barely keeping herself upright.
"That bitch Lysa!"
"How dare she accuse the Lannisters!"
"We Lannisters never touched Jon!"
Lynn shrugged.
"Of course I know that."
"Otherwise, if I thought you killed Lord Arryn, do you think I'd be this polite?"
"So, Your Grace."
"Your enemy is not Stark."
"But the viper hiding in the shadows, trying to make the wolf and lion tear each other apart."
Cersei tried to say something, but Lynn cut her off quickly.
"Not finished yet, Your Grace. Don't be hasty."
Lynn still wore that calm smile.
But to Cersei, that smile was more terrifying than a demon from the Seven Hells.
"Your greatest reliance is your father, Lord Tywin, and House Lannister's endless gold mines, isn't it?"
"But did you know, the veins west of Casterly Rock haven't produced decent gold in nearly ten years?"
"Your arrogant father, to maintain the facade of House Lannister, has nearly borrowed the Iron Bank of Braavos empty."
"A hollow shell strong only on the outside... Heh... how long do you think it can protect you?"
If the previous words were knives, this last sentence was a battering ram.
It ruthlessly smashed the last line of defense in Cersei's heart!
It's over.
It's completely over!
In front of this man, she had no secrets at all!
She was like a prisoner stripped naked, standing before Lynn, awaiting his final judgment.
"No... no..."
Cersei shook her head absently, golden hair plastering messily to her pale face, her eyes unfocused.
"How do you know? Who told you?"
Suddenly, as if grasping a final straw, a glint of madness sparked in her eyes!
"Tyrell! Yes! House Tyrell!"
"I will have Joffrey marry Margaery Tyrell!"
"With Highgarden's support, with the Reach's food and armies, none of you can shake the Lannisters!"
She screamed hysterically like a drowning person.
"A brilliant idea, Your Grace."
Lynn even clapped for her.
"A pity you forgot two things."
"First, Joffrey is only a Prince. His marriage requires the King's nod."
"Do you think King Robert would agree to a marriage that would vastly increase yours and House Lannister's power?"
"Second..."
Lynn's tone turned playful.
"Even if the King agreed, do you think the ambitious House Tyrell would be willing to let their 'Rose of Highgarden' marry a... bastard of impure blood?"
"Once this secret leaks, do you think you'll face House Tyrell's friendship, or their army of nearly two hundred thousand turning against you to find a new ally?"
"Or perhaps... offering their loyalty to His Grace the King?"
A deadlock.
A perfect deadlock.
All of Cersei's hopes, all her escape routes, were effortlessly and thoroughly blocked by Lynn.
Everything she prided herself on was fragile before absolute information asymmetry.
"You... what do you want?"
Cersei's voice suddenly returned to calm.
"Simple."
Lynn walked up to her.
Reached out.
Gently traced the back of his fingers across her cheek, cold from fear.
The soft touch made Cersei's body tremble violently as if electrocuted.
"You see, Your Grace."
Lynn's voice was like a lover's whisper, yet carried an unquestionable command.
"Your secrets, your wealth, your House's future..."
"These things have no value to me."
"But..."
He paused, a hint of desire finally showing in his bottomless black eyes.
"I am a generous man."
"I will give you a choice."
Cersei slapped Lynn's hand away.
"Show some respect!"
"I am the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, your Queen!"
Lynn smiled, not rejecting Cersei's request. He withdrew his hand and continued speaking to himself.
"Remember, this secret is known only to you and me."
"If you dare reveal it to a third person."
"I believe I have the capability to make your secrets known throughout King's Landing overnight!"
Cersei went limp, collapsing onto the ornate chaise longue.
Robert isn't dead yet!
As long as he lives, no one will want, nor dare, to ally with the Lannisters.
Robert already has great grievances with the Lannisters.
He will never allow the Lannisters to grow unchecked.
The premise of all her plots was built on Robert being dead.
Cersei understood she had no choice. She spoke weakly.
"What choice? Speak, I'm listening."
Lynn nodded with satisfaction.
"Very simple, Your Grace."
"I want you to submit to me!"
Cersei's breath stopped.
She looked at Lynn's aggressive eyes and instantly understood the hidden meaning behind those words.
It was a humiliation worse than killing her!
"In your dreams!"
Cersei screamed, raising her hand to slap Lynn!
But her wrist was easily caught by Lynn.
The grip was so strong Cersei felt her bones were about to be crushed.
"Your Grace, you better think clearly."
Lynn's tone turned cold.
"You no longer have any qualification to bargain."
"The moment I walk out this door, if I reveal even half a sentence of our chat today..."
"You, your three children, Jaime included, and the entire House Lannister, will vanish in an instant."
"Trust me, Renly, Stannis, Ned, and all the lords loyal to the King would be very willing to exterminate the Lannisters."
"I imagine, no matter how strong the Lion is, it can't withstand their collective ravaging, can it?"
Lynn released her hand and took a step back.
He readjusted his cloak as if nothing had happened.
"Of course, you can refuse completely."
"The choice is in your hands."
Lynn looked down at Cersei, limp in the corner, as if admiring a trophy soon to be his.
"As long as you are obedient, these secrets will rot in my belly forever."
"During my absence from King's Landing, as long as you behave and don't provoke the Starks, I can guarantee the absolute safety of you and your three children."
"Furthermore, as long as you submit to me, I can promise."
"As long as I live, no matter how turbulent the situation, I ensure your Lannister line will always continue."
"Instead of being utterly annihilated in the dust of history."
"Think about it, Your Grace."
"This deal is very profitable for you."
With that, Lynn didn't look at her again, turning to walk toward the door.
Of course, it wasn't to save the Lannisters, just hoping she wouldn't cause trouble while he was away.
"Oh, by the way."
When Lynn's hand was on the door handle, he seemed to remember something and looked back to add:
"Do not reveal this to anyone."
"Not Jaime, not Tyrion, not Tywin. You cannot say a word."
"I will visit you again tonight."
"I hope by then, you will have made your decision."
"Don't force me to come with my Gold Cloaks to invite you."
"Also, the mole on your inner thigh is truly sexy."
BANG—
The heavy oak door closed, and Lynn's fading footsteps echoed in the corridor.
In the room, only Cersei remained.
Her face was filled with disbelief.
She couldn't understand.
How could Lynn know such a private detail so clearly!
Is he truly omniscient?
Cersei slid weakly to the floor, her expensive black gown spreading over the cold stones.
She was terrified of Lynn.
The fear in her heart was beyond words.
Finally.
A scalding tear rolled from her clear blue eye.
---