When Rhaegar left, he looked at Lyanna, who was already staring at him. "Him? Seriously? A married man with children at that? You just made Lady Elia your enemy."
"What could I have done? He's the Prince." She shrugged, considering it nothing major. "Besides, a Lady's favor isn't always about romance, but also support and admiration."
"You could've given it to me."
She giggled in response. "What a tragedy it would be to let that sour face of yours go unseen. I couldn't allow it."
Hah… This girl. She'll do the opposite of whatever I advise. Better to deal with it directly.
He looked back at the jousting field, imagining himself in Robert's place, basing the silver fucker's chest.
To Wylis' luck, he wasn't the only one with a sour face there. No, it wasn't Elia, Ashara, or Aerys.
####
It should have been me! How dare he ignore my presence! My father has the gold! My father has the mines! I am the most beautiful woman in the entire realm! I—I…
Cersei Lannister fumed as she watched Rhaegar Targaryen seek Lyanna Stark's favor. Lyanna Stark, a woman she considered completely beneath herself. Not as beautiful as her. Not as feminine as her. Not even as wealthy as her. Even the clothes she wore, she believed, cost a hundred times more than the Stark girl.
Why her? Why? I-I am… that prophecy.
She seethed as she watched Rhaegar win the joust and leave the grounds. She just sat there that entire day, feeling betrayed. Her green eyes grew cold and enraged.
I won't… allow this.
Just as the day's events came to an end, she looked away and noticed the seven-foot-tall man in the stands, a man she considered worthy of being a noble knight for his actions, character, and beauty.
She was there during the melee, during the archery, and the axe-throwing. She'd seen his body, as if carved by the Warrior himself. She truly believed that her brother, Jaime, was amongst the finest fighters in the realm. But when seeing that man, she couldn't help doubting her brother's chances. Perhaps it was better he got sent to King's Landing.
That evening, she didn't visit the feast. She remained in her lavish chamber, alone, pondering what to do. And lost in thoughts she never realized when she fell asleep.
But when she woke up, she had a plan and a goal set. She cleaned herself and donned the finest attire she had brought along. A beautiful, red gown with a lot of gold embroidery. Off the shoulder, it revealed plenty of her neck, her unblemished skin, and some of her cleavage. She was young, but she was proud of her body which grew finer by the day. Then she wore some gold jewelry, painted on some eyeliner, had her hair done beautifully, curly and long, and lips painted red.
"Take me to the Stark camp outside the castle."
She ordered her guards.
####
The second day of jousting was upon him. Wylis didn't sleep well the previous night. The thought of Rhaegar taking away Lyanna haunted him. He wanted to do something about it, but his hands were tied.
And the damn joust was moving too slowly. He needed to win against the random Knights before reaching Rhaegar. But he was determined.
Still, he couldn't stop his blood from boiling.
Shhhhh~
Shhhhh~
Covered in his jousting armor, Wylis waited for his turn as he sat on a wooden crate in the Stark camp. Using a whetstone, he sharpened his main, six feet long greatsword. It was a habit of his since the sword was indeed too long and took time to maintain.
He was alone, left alone to his thoughts. He wanted to earn money and power without becoming a target of major Lords. It was a tough road.
"You're not supposed to use those."
Hearing that young, feminine voice, Wylis looked towards the tent's entry. He almost cursed out loud at the randomness of it.
Why's she here?
"My Lady." Wylis stood up with courtesy and greeted her. "This isn't a lance, but the main sword I use in real battles."
Cersei walked into the modest tent, gazing around at the various tools and equipment. Her demeanor was proud, and she was arrogantly tall. Her status, wealth, and her confidence oozed in every little movement she made.
And Wylis had to agree; she was even more beautiful from up close. He reckoned she was around five-feet-eight, one or two years younger than him. She was slender with a graceful figure.
But often, the brightest of berries are poisonous. Wylis didn't hold any illusions.
"Battles? I heard rumors that you've never seen a battle. That you're a mere stableboy," Cersei asked, half curious and half full of disdain. As if she hated just being there, that speaking to him was beneath her status.
Wylis shrugged and stood straight, eclipsing Cersei even with her tall frame. "I did once cleave a rapist bandit in half, from head to toe. But Lord Stark never allowed me outside Winter Town after that."
Cersei sneered. "Certainly scared that you would outshine his precious heir. You're not the first victim of a father's obsession."
She's probably cursing Tywin for trying to keep Jaime away from her. He saw right through her.
"Wouldn't put it past them, my Lady. Things go sideways more often than not. That said, I might be summoned at any moment. What can I do for you?"
Cersei raised her chin and revealed a golden, silky piece of cloth. "I admire a man who knows how to win. Have this—my, Cersei Lannister's favor for this jousting tourney."
Ah! I see now. Rhaegar angered her as well.
"I… am honored. But I fear the spectators will form rumors. Rhaegar could do it because he's a Prince. I'm nobody," Wylis replied, gently declining her offer. Though he was also instigating her.
"I don't care!" Cersei raised her voice. "I want Rhaegar unhorsed and defeated—I mean, I wish to see you win."
Pfft… She's not even half as wise as she thinks she is.
"Rhaegar?" Wylis frowned and seriously looked at the piece of cloth. "I…"
"Are you not confident?" Cersei looked up at him, frowning.
"No, it's not that. You said unhorse him, while I was planning to break his teeth in. Now I'm conflicted about which one to aim for."
Instantly, Cersei's eyes brightened. "Break his teeth!"
"Very well, my Lady. I'll accept your favor. But save it for the joust—makes for better theatre. I'll ride up, take it from your hand, and then proceed to unseat every pompous knight in my path. Your favor might just bring me a streak of luck."
Faintly, Cersei blushed. At the end of the day, she did consider Wylis handsome. "Let's do that."
But right when she started to leave, Wylis stopped her.
"But my Lady—may I seek another favor in return?"
Huffing, Cersei crossed her arms and turned to him, giving a show of her magnificent cleavage. "How much gold do you want?"
"No, it's not gold that I want." He eyed her with deeper intent, nothing sexual, however. "Just a favor, maybe. Someday, when you're Queen, I might need a hand. Nothing more."
"You believe that? That I'll become the Queen?"
"Considering your beauty and your age, I'd wager your chances of becoming Queen are as certain as the sun rising come morning."
In short, it was bound to happen.
Cersei smiled with a trace of a blush. "It seems your tongue is as sharp as your skills."
"I've heard that before, my Lady."
Cersei genuinely chuckled while nodding. "Very well, I'll owe you a favor. But since you're so confident about my future, what would you wager if you were wrong?"
After some quick thinking, Wylis pointed at the chest sitting behind him. "Forty thousand gold dragons—my entire tourney winnings. Might seem a pittance to you, but it's a fortune to me. And mark my words, you'll be Queen within the next three to five years."
"Such confidence? Very well, if you're right, I'll repay you twice over and grant you two favors. But know this: I never forget a debt, nor do I forgive a fool."
Wylis agreed to her terms. "If only time could move faster now."
"I feel the same."
Saying that, Cersei left the Stark camp.
Wylis followed her out and watched her fleeting figure, her perfect hips swaying. Seeing her face, he couldn't help but sigh at the waste of potential.
But he had no doubts or delusions about Cersei. She was as he understood—low cunning, hungry, and greedy for power. She was a monster who hyped herself to believe she had greatness within her, while none of it was true.
But there was also another undeniable fact about her. She had one thing that helped her despite her low cunning.
A monster she may be, but one blessed with striking beauty.
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