Chapter 804: Chapter 804: Jaime's Resolve
Tyrion led Jaime, now disguised, towards Maegor's Holdfast. Jaime had initially wanted to shed his Faceless Man disguise and reveal his true identity.
It would be best if everyone, including his sister who had married into the Iron Islands, knew that the "Kingslayer" had returned to turn himself in.
Although Jaime had never accepted the derogatory title of "Kingslayer" in his heart, it was one of the unresolved issues he had never mentioned to others.
In the past, when people called him "Kingslayer," Jaime could still confidently pretend not to care, but now he could no longer do so.
Jaime wanted to reveal his true face and confess his crimes openly. He thought that the silver-haired boy he had personally sent off in a carriage years ago must have hated him immensely for killing his father, King Aerys, leaving him to wander for so many years.
Jaime hoped that Viserys would set up a public trial for him, just like his father Tywin, who was beheaded in front of the Red Keep years ago.
At the time of Tywin's trial, Jaime was also among the crowd. He witnessed his father being subjected to the condemnation of ten thousand men before being beheaded by Sandor "The Hound" Clegane as a public spectacle.
Jaime wanted Viserys to hold a public trial for the "Kingslayer" as well. At the trial, he could face thousands of people and calmly explain everything that had happened back then.
Why did he draw his sword and kill King Aerys?
What exactly had happened in the palace at that time?
Jaime wanted to make everything clear and then die with great fanfare.
How posterity would judge him, how his honor would be viewed, and whether he would still be labeled as the "Kingslayer" were naturally matters that would occur after his death. Jaime didn't need to worry about them.
However, Jaime's frenzied idea met with strong opposition from his younger brother Tyrion. Unfortunately, Jaime had made up his mind, and Tyrion couldn't persuade him to change it.
In the end, Tyrion used all his strength to persuade Jaime not to face Viserys with his true appearance, leaving at least some room for maneuver.
"Halt."
The long night was everlasting, and the dark sky was an unchanging main theme, but the palace, the political core of the empire, remained brightly lit.
Tyrion and Jaime headed towards Maegor's Holdfast. At this moment, the Unsullied guards were patrolling outside the holdfast, braving the cold. The main passage leading to Maegor's Holdfast was a drawbridge, and torches burned on the tall, sturdy outer walls of the palace, bringing warmth and dispelling the darkness.
The palace guards, holding round shields and long spears, scanned the dignitaries coming and going from the Red Keep with cold, meticulous eyes until they saw Tyrion and Jaime walking towards them. They then routinely stopped the pair for inspection.
Leading this group of royal guards was an Unsullied captain wearing a helmet with two spikes.
Seeing Tyrion, he naturally recognized him as the most famous dwarf in the empire, bar none. He didn't address Tyrion, only giving a slight nod.
Then his gaze shifted to the middle-aged man beside Tyrion. After looking him up and down, he spoke.
"Lord Tyrion."
"And this is?"
If it were only Tyrion coming to see His Grace, the Unsullied guards wouldn't have stopped him. After all, Tyrion was quite diligent in his work and often had matters to discuss with His Grace. But since Tyrion had brought a stranger, it was natural to inquire.
Tyrion turned his head to look at Jaime, confirming that he hadn't given himself away, then turned back around. With a straight face, he nodded and explained in a steady voice.
"He is someone His Grace wishes to see."
Tyrion's explanation left no room for doubt in the Unsullied captain's mind.
When Viserys was busy with official duties, he often summoned people they had never seen before. Some were nobles from within the empire who had come to King's Landing to pay their respects to His Grace.
After all, the empire's territory was so vast, and there were even more landed nobles across its expansive lands.
Not to mention that the Unsullied couldn't recognize them, now that the number of nobles had increased several fold compared to the time of Robert Baratheon. All sorts of strange and varied sigils and house words had sprouted up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, to the point where even the nobles themselves couldn't keep track of who was who.
Nowadays, the education of noble children included studying the sigils and house words of the empire's major families. When unfamiliar nobles conversed with each other, they would present a card symbolizing their family to help the other party understand.
However, Tyrion was the emperor's personal advisor and a member of the Small Council. The person he brought as a guide was unlikely to cause any problems.
"Lord Tyrion, please enter."
Thus, the Unsullied captain simply checked that neither of them was carrying weapons and then let them both in.
"However, His Grace is currently busy. Not long ago, the Sealord of Braavos sought an audience. You may have to wait a while."
Inside the Red Keep, there was also Viserys's personal guard, Gendry. The Unsullied captain didn't say much more.
Even if they went in, they wouldn't disturb His Grace's conversation with the Sealord, as Gendry would stop them and properly arrange His Grace's time.
Just then, footsteps sounded from within Maegor's Holdfast. Tormo Fregar, the Sealord of Braavos, walked out. He was dressed in a gray-purple robe with a seashell necklace hanging from his neck. At his side followed his First Sword, a lean man with sharp eyes.
Because Jaime had undergone a simple disguise, the Sealord of Braavos didn't recognize him. He merely saw Tyrion, stopped briefly to humbly greet him, and then left.
"You still have a chance to change your mind, Jaime."
After exchanging greetings with the Sealord of Braavos, Tyrion curiously watched his retreating figure. He wasn't clear on what business this Sealord had with His Grace. Once they entered Maegor's Holdfast, Tyrion tried one last time to persuade his brother.
Unfortunately, Jaime had made up his mind and shook his head. Tyrion was helpless.
"You're being stubborn."
His brother's temperament and personality were just like this—very emotional and prone to acting on impulse, doing whatever he thought of without considering the consequences. Even though he had become a Faceless Man and endured many hardships, he was essentially still the same. Perhaps this was the real Jaime, and Tyrion should be glad that Jaime was still the person he used to be.
Unable to convince Jaime to back out at the last moment, Tyrion could only steel himself and lead him to Viserys's study.
At this moment, Viserys was in his study, pondering the matter Tormo Fregar had just proposed. Just then, there was a knock on his door.
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