Chapter 42 CHAPTER 42
The night passed without incident.
Early the next morning, Garon rose from bed and, as usual, headed to the training grounds for his morning exercises.
After swinging his sword for nearly half an hour, another figure finally appeared upon the training field.
It was Robert Baratheon.
"Your Majesty!"
Covered in sweat, Garon immediately stopped training the moment he noticed the king watching him. He sheathed his sword and respectfully saluted.
Robert walked closer, casually waving his hand for Garon to approach.
Garon stepped forward and immediately noticed the bloodshot veins in Robert's eyes. It was obvious the king had barely slept the entire night.
"Training this early?" Robert asked.
Garon smiled modestly.
"Your Majesty, this has long been my habit in Deepwood Motte. If I don't wake early and train, I feel uncomfortable all day."
Robert burst into loud laughter.
"Good! A warrior should live exactly like that!"
After speaking, however, Robert lowered his gaze toward the massive belly he could no longer conceal and sighed helplessly.
"I still remember my days in the Eyrie with Ned. Back then, we also rose before dawn every single day, full of spirit and energy."
"It's a pity the years and endless affairs of state have turned me into this."
Robert shook his head bitterly while lamenting his current appearance.
"Bear Slayer, walk with me."
He gestured toward Garon before turning and strolling aimlessly along the edge of the training grounds.
Garon nodded and followed behind him.
The two walked quietly for a while until they reached the stone stairs leading upward through the castle.
As Robert climbed the stairs, he suddenly asked casually,
"What do you think about what happened last night?"
Garon was slightly startled. His footsteps paused briefly before he cautiously replied,
"Your Majesty means…?"
Robert continued walking as though merely making idle conversation.
"Do you think Theon conspired with Jaime?"
Garon's eyes shifted slightly.
He continued following behind Robert while carefully answering,
"I do not know."
"Don't know?" Robert repeated calmly before falling silent once more.
Only the sound of footsteps echoed through the cold stone passage.
Soon the two men reached the castle wall overlooking Winterfell.
Garon lifted his eyes forward.
In the distance, the endless Wolfswood stretched beneath the pale morning mist, appearing ancient and mysterious.
Robert took a deep breath, allowing the icy northern air to flow through his body like a freezing serpent.
It refreshed him slightly.
"You discovered so many clues yesterday," Robert continued while staring toward the forest. "Surely you have some guesses?"
Garon met Robert's scrutinizing gaze and slowly shook his head.
"Your Majesty, the clues we discovered last night were still too few."
"I could only infer that the matter was likely connected to Theon."
"But whether Ser Jaime truly conspired with him, there is currently no evidence to prove it."
Robert's expression immediately revealed disappointment.
Ever since his unpleasant argument with Ned the previous night, Robert had clearly realized one thing.
Unless the true conspirator behind Bran's fall could be uncovered, Ned's stubborn personality would never willingly follow him south to King's Landing.
Robert sighed heavily and cursed while looking into the distance.
"Damn it."
"Ever since I arrived in the North, I haven't had a single peaceful day."
"Seven hells, I only wanted a few days of comfort…"
A long string of curses poured from Robert's mouth as he completely forgot his identity as king.
Standing nearby, Garon awkwardly stared straight ahead.
But suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind.
"According to the original events, someone will soon attempt to assassinate Bran."
"I can use that incident to shift Robert and Ned's attention back toward the Iron Islands."
"Only by constantly emphasizing the dangers surrounding the North can I reasonably remain here later…"
After pondering for a moment, Garon seized the brief pause in Robert's cursing and spoke.
"Your Majesty, I actually have a plan that may help Your Majesty and Lord Ned uncover another true culprit."
Robert's eyes instantly locked onto him.
"What plan?"
Garon answered calmly,
"Your Majesty, this method requires Lord Ned's cooperation as well."
"Why don't we first return and find Lord Ned? I will explain everything together afterward."
Robert immediately turned around impatiently and strode back down the stone stairs.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
A faint smile appeared on Garon's lips as he followed behind the king.
The two soon returned to the training grounds and questioned a passing servant, only then learning that Ned had already gone to the Great Hall.
When Robert and Garon entered the Great Hall together, they discovered not only Ned present, but Cersei as well.
Ned sat at the dining table with a cold expression, rigidly maintaining the manners expected of a noble host.
Meanwhile, Cersei appeared to be in an exceptionally good mood.
The gloomier Ned looked, the happier she became.
"Ned! Ned!"
Robert strode into the hall excitedly without even glancing toward Cersei.
"I've found a way to uncover the person who conspired with Theon!"
Hearing this, Ned immediately assumed Robert had finally agreed to arrest Jaime.
He instantly rose to his feet.
"I'll have Jaime seized immediately!"
Cersei's expression immediately stiffened with panic.
But Robert waved his hand impatiently.
"It has nothing to do with arresting Jaime."
He pointed toward Garon behind him.
"Garon came up with another method."
Now it was Ned's turn to look disappointed.
He slowly sat back down and asked wearily,
"What method?"
Robert waved toward Garon.
"Go on. Explain it yourself."
Garon calmly swept his gaze across Robert, Ned, and Cersei before speaking.
"Your Majesty, Lord Ned."
"Based on the evidence we discovered last night, Theon definitely had accomplices."
"And there is a very high possibility that one of those accomplices was a woman."
"Now that Theon is dead, the only person besides the conspirators who still knows the truth is Bran."
Cersei suddenly interrupted with a sneer.
"But Bran is still lying in bed half dead."
"I heard Maester Luwin himself say the boy is unlikely to survive."
She looked at Garon mockingly and scoffed,
"Unless you also possess the magic of the Children of the Forest and can somehow save him?"
Unexpectedly, Garon looked directly at Cersei and answered meaningfully,
"That is exactly what I intend to do."
Cersei's expression changed slightly.
Meanwhile, Ned looked surprised.
"Garon, do you also know medicine?"
Garon immediately shook his head.
"Of course not."
Seeing the confusion on Robert and Ned's faces, he slowly explained his plan.
"Right now, everyone in Winterfell knows Bran's life hangs by a thread."
"The conspirators naturally know this as well."
"But what if we spread the news that Bran has already awakened and will soon be able to speak?"
Ned froze briefly before murmuring,
"You mean…"
"Exactly."
Garon nodded calmly.
"We flush the snake from its hole."
"If the conspirators are still inside Winterfell, then after hearing this news, they will not remain calm."
"They will either risk assassinating Bran again…"
"Or they will flee Winterfell overnight."
"But no matter which choice they make, we will easily identify them."
Ned's eyes immediately brightened.
"That's right!"
"All we need to do is secretly guard Bran's chamber and monitor everyone entering or leaving Winterfell."
"Then we'll discover the conspirators!"
But after a moment, Ned frowned again.
"What if the conspirators are no longer in Winterfell?"
Garon calmly shook his head.
"This plan is ultimately still a gamble."
"We are gambling that the conspirators remain inside Winterfell."
"If they have already escaped, then we can only pray Bran wakes soon enough himself."
As Cersei listened, her eyes gradually brightened with amusement.
"Fools."
"The conspirators are standing right in front of you."
"Since I already know the plan, how could I possibly allow Jaime to fall into such an obvious trap?"
Thus, she calmly continued listening to Robert and Ned discuss how they would arrange Garon's plan while secretly watching the scene like someone enjoying a performance.
After their discussion ended, Ned immediately ordered the news spread throughout Winterfell.
By noon, rumors had already swept through the castle and even reached the prostitutes of Winter Town.
Bran Stark, blessed by the old gods, had awakened once more.
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