House of The Dragon:The Rise of the Emperor of the Seven Kingdoms

Chapter 181: Chapter 180- Everyone’s Blood Is Red (II)

About an hour later, the High Septon’s state could only be described as dire. He no longer even had the strength to scream. Gael showed no mercy toward the man who ordered her son’s murder. The High Septon’s body was blackened, and the stench of burnt human flesh hung nauseatingly in the air.

Maekar did absolutely nothing; he let Gael do everything she wanted. He knew the woman needed to purge the anger and resentment built up inside her. And, though he wanted to as well, he gave the chance to Gael.

Gael set the blood-stained iron pliers on the wooden table beside her and let out a relieved sigh. She looked at the dozens of nails on the table with a satisfied gaze. Unfortunately, the human trash’s nails had run out.

Turning to look at Maekar, she smiled sweetly and spoke in a soft tone.

“Maekar, let’s go.”

The High Septon, whose eyes were closed from exhaustion, pain, and agony, flinched slightly at Gael’s words. One could imagine the trauma he’d suffered from Gael.

He opened his eyes slightly, despite his body protesting against it, and looked at Gael, who was smiling sweetly at her husband. It seemed as though she hadn’t just spent an hour torturing a man.

The High Septon’s blood-stained lips moved weakly.

“It was only a son… you could have had another… you demonic witch…” The whisper escaped his lips in an incredibly hoarse, weak tone. Even now, he didn’t understand why Gael was so angry with him. It was only a son; she could make another.

The High Septon’s mindset was strange to some people, but, having lived as a living god among humans, it was quite normal for him to think he was always right and that others were being overly dramatic.

Hearing those words, Gael’s smile vanished. She looked at the fat pig, his body now charred, with an icy gaze. She spoke in an indifferent tone, “It seems you can still hold up.”

This time, Gael did not move; it was Maekar who took her place at that moment.

“You said it was only a son and we could have another.” Maekar said, looking at the High Septon with a calm gaze. “You’re right, we can have another child.”

“However, it seems hard for you to understand that, even though he wasn’t born yet, he was still our son. Even though he wasn’t born, we loved him. We prepared his room, we prepared his clothes, and we prepared everything for his life before he was even born.”

“But you took him from us just to send a mere warning,” Maekar spoke calmly. “Now, you will suffer for many years, and, even if you beg, plead, and humble yourself, you will not die. That much, I will make certain of.”

The High Septon could only think that this man and woman were mad.

The High Septon seemed to regain some strength and spoke in a tone full of anger, resentment, and pride. “You will never manage to destroy the Faith of the Seven; we have survived six thousand years on this continent and another five thousand years in our homeland.”

“Perhaps.” Maekar did not deny the High Septon’s words. Faith was deeply rooted in the people of Westeros; it was completely impossible to eliminate the Faith of the Seven’s influence without exterminating the entire human race on this continent.

“However, I am content to turn the Faith of the Seven into my own power and use it to slowly destroy the Faith of the Seven itself.” Maekar said with a laugh.

“I will create new doctrines and new stories to convert people and, gradually, eliminate the God of the Seven Faces and replace him with another star with seven faces. It’s not difficult. Just swap the divine figures for others with more conviction and realism.” Maekar let out a laugh, thinking about how he could turn the Faith of the Seven into something completely different.

Even if he could not truly destroy it, he could make it be forgotten over the centuries to come. If he did not finish the work, his son or even his grandson would finish the work.

With blood magic, Maekar was certain that he could live longer than a hundred years, and his descendants equally long-lived.

With so much time, the power of the Faith of the Seven would probably only remain in a few small septs that people would gradually stop using as time passed.

Maekar did not believe the people of Westeros were like the Jews, who, even after so much misfortune, massacres, and deaths, still believed in the God of the Seven Faces.

“And you, High Septon, will be the first step of this long and silent destruction. Of course, but first we must destroy Oldtown and reduce that city to rubble and ruins.” Maekar said, looking at the High Septon with a bright gaze.

“Look into my eyes and see hell through them,” Maekar said, opening his eyes and staring at the High Septon with a look that could send chills through anyone.

In that gaze, the High Septon saw flames, blood, and a promise of great destruction. His eyes seemed to reflect the very Seven Hells described in the sacred scriptures of the Faith of the Seven. At that moment, the High Septon only felt regret for having provoked this mad couple.

Now, not only did the Faith of the Seven have to face this madman, but also King Jaehaerys, who was even more cunning than the devil himself.

Before he could say anything, the High Septon fainted. He was exhausted after suffering so much, it was still a miracle that a man of so little courage and determination had remained conscious.

Maekar did not try to wake the High Septon; he had plenty of time to hurt this man. But, at this moment, he needed to organize things, especially the crusade he would wage against the Faith of the Seven in the coming years.

For that to happen, Maekar needed to speak with all the lords of the Great Noble Houses of Westeros.

“Don’t let him die; give him food and water, but only enough for his survival.” Maekar looked at the Inquisitor Knight and ordered in a calm tone. One meal a day was enough for a human to survive a long time.

“Yes, my prince.” The man answered in a cold tone, looking at the High Septon with a gaze full of scorn. Who would have imagined that even the High Septon, one of the most prestigious figures on the continent, could find himself in a situation like this?

Even if he told someone, no one would believe that the High Septon was now a hostage of the Crown itself. It was something so insane that many would think it was just more nonsense from a drunk at a bar.

Looking once more at the fat man hoisted up by chains, Maekar took Gael’s hand and pulled her out of the prison. Staying too long in this place was truly uncomfortable.

“Maekar, even after torturing him, he doesn’t regret it; he only feels resentful that he provoked you and me.” As they walked, Gael murmured in a calm tone. While torturing the High Septon, she realized the man felt no regret whatsoever for ordering her son’s death.

That made the torture… less satisfying than she had imagined; it even became somewhat empty. What was the point of torturing a man who feels no regret?

“His mindset is different from anyone else’s. He was treated as a living god. Do you think a god cares about killing someone? No, he only cares about himself and nothing else,” Maekar said in an equally calm tone.

Maekar gripped Gael’s hand tightly and spoke, looking directly at his wife. “To hurt him, you have to use his own mind against him. Break his dignity, and then make what he takes pride in the reason for his downfall. However, even after all that, he will not regret anything.”

“Torturing people is hard; I kind of admire the Lord Confessor.” Gael simply let out a sigh.

“It’s a complicated trade,” Maekar said with a smile. It was truly a profession with a high requirement for knowledge of the human body.

“Let’s head back quickly; we have to bathe for the meeting with the lords.” Gael changed the subject and spoke with a smile, walking ahead and pulling Maekar to walk faster.

Maekar let himself be pulled and looked at Gael’s back with a smile. Perhaps from having tortured her chief enemy, she seemed lighter, regaining the lightness she’d had before losing the baby. Although she said it was an empty act, torturing the High Septon still freed her from the resentment and anger hidden in her mind.

———-

Read my other books:

House of The Dragon:The Rise of the Emperor of the Seven Kingdoms

Game Of Thrones: The God-Emperor of Planetos

Percy Jackson: Godwyn the Golden.

Game Of Thrones: The King’s Court Wizard