Chapter 516: Night Talk

Cersei, along with her son and daughter, is now stationed in the Maiden's Keep within the Red Keep.

Located inside the Red Keep, behind the royal chapel, it's a long slate-roofed fortress, renowned because of its connection to the 'blessed' Baelor I.

Saint Baelor I, in his quest to purge himself of carnal desires and serve the gods, had confined his three sisters (who were also his wives) here. Back then, the Maiden's Keep was also dubbed the 'Chamber of Beauties'.

Viserys and Cersei entered the room, finding the blonde Queen's children, Joffrey and Myrcella, already inside.

The once-glorious queen of the Baratheon dynasty, her prince, and princess are now confined here, without even the company of servants.

Prince Joffrey, despite his young age, used to be imperious within the Red Keep. Relying on his father's negligence and his mother's indulgence, he mistreated attendants and humiliated handmaidens.

Joffrey had once lined up the handmaidens, lifting their skirts to kick them as if playing a ball game.

He had also caught a pregnant cat, slit its belly to see the kittens inside, and proudly showed one to his father.

However, Joffrey hadn't expected his father to be enraged instead of praising him.

Robert immediately slapped Joffrey so hard he lost two milk teeth and almost killed the boy on the spot, but Cersei frantically intervened.

But now, without the power of Robert backing him, Joffrey realized he was nothing.

"Your Grace."

Upon seeing his mother leading Viserys into the room, Joffrey trembled, his blue eyes filled with barely concealed fear. He quickly got off the bed.

Myrcella, still innocent, sat on the bed, oblivious to the adult world's treacheries or that her father had been defeated by the man before her.

She gazed curiously at Viserys with her bright eyes.

"Addressing me so formally is unnecessary, Joffrey," said Cersei, pulling her wavy golden hair behind her ears and forcing a congenial smile. "Call him uncle."

"King Uncle," Joffrey replied, looking nervously at Viserys.

He had fallen from being a superior prince to an outcast within the Red Keep. Along with the odd looks from others, the extreme shift had not only stripped him of his position but also made him severely insecure and psychologically twisted.

Viserys, seeing the boy who would later be notorious as Joffrey the Great, felt indifferent.

The boy wasn't the infamous 'Emperor Joffrey' yet and had no chance to ascend the Iron Throne to commit his atrocities.

Viserys simply patted Joffrey's shoulder, nodding in a neutral tone, "Alright, Joffrey."

"Take Myrcella to another room to play. I have matters to discuss with your uncle. No eavesdropping."

The beautiful blonde queen maintained a strained smile.

She gently instructed her son and daughter to leave the room. Once they had left, she wanted a private discussion with Viserys.

Eager to escape Viserys's piercing gaze, Joffrey quickly carried Myrcella out, leaving the room to Cersei and Viserys.

Once the door closed behind the children, silence enveloped the room.

"Please, sit, Your Grace," Cersei began, taking a deep breath, her beautiful face forcing a smile, revealing the strain of recent events.

"I'll prepare some pastries and fruits for you."

Losing her regal status had been hard on Cersei. She no longer had servants, and the everyday luxuries were gone. For her children's sake, she had learned to cook and clean.

The servants and guards in the Red Keep didn't trouble them, acknowledging their noble status. Still, their deliberate ignorance pained Cersei more. She was once the center of attention.

Therefore, after enduring months in the Red Keep, Cersei seized the opportunity to approach Viserys.

"There's no need," Viserys replied, sitting opposite her. "Speak your mind."

The beautiful blonde woman hadn't expected such impatience. She adjusted her collar and said, "I request you pardon Jaime, Joffrey, and Myrcella. Princess Rhaenys had already promised this when I surrendered King's Landing."

Viserys calmly replied, "Kingslayers are meant to be executed. As for Joffrey and Myrcella, I never pursued charges against them, else they wouldn't be here."

"But we've been confined here for months, Your Grace," Cersei interjected, describing their limited freedom within the Red Keep.

She mentioned a previous conversation with Robert where she had asked if he ever loved her, and he had nodded in agreement, breaking her heart. She had not visited him since.

Viserys concluded, "Decisions will be made soon."