Chapter 158: Gillyan Lannister

"Maester... dead?"

"What...what...what exactly happened?"

The nobles below instantly burst into an uproar, not knowing what had happened, thinking that it was a despicable poisoning incident.

However, at this moment, they saw the maester bleeding from his orifices and then becoming motionless.

Clang—

A guard drew the dagger from his waist, using the gleaming sharp tip to lift the maester's chin, manipulating the now limp head to confirm that the man was thoroughly dead before finally putting his mind at ease.

Slap—

Then, he sheathed the dagger and looked towards the noisy nobles below, finally opening his mouth to explain.

"Lords and ladies."

"This 'Maester Gunther' is actually Gillyan Lannister."

The guard pointed to the limp body of 'Maester Gunther' slumped in the chair and spoke loudly, instantly silencing the confused and noisy nobles below.

Upon hearing the castle guard speak, the noisy voices below quickly subsided.

Then, everyone exchanged glances, not understanding the meaning of the guard's words.

Lannister?

They seemed to have heard this name before; it seemed to be the surname of the Lord of Casterly Rock across the Narrow Sea.

"What does it mean that Maester Gunther's real name is Gillyan Lannister?"

A noble below asked, puzzled.

The guard's gaze swept over all the nobles present, not rushing to answer. He waited until everyone was completely quiet before continuing.

"The real Maester Gunther was killed on the way to Dragonstone."

"Gillyan and the Lannister family conspired against the maester, impersonating him and coming to Dragonstone."

"He committed numerous crimes, colluding with usurpers, leaking confidential information, and even murdering the magical and mystical advisor, Miss Mirri Maz Duur."

"Your Majesty, considering past favors, granted him a cup of poison to let him end his own life."

...

Inside the great hall.

The maester took the poison himself and then fell dead.

On the other side.

Several castle servants were desperately prostrating at Viserys' feet, hoping the king would be merciful and spare their lives.

Viserys, however, seemed not to hear them, holding a diary found in 'Maester Gunther's' room, flipping through the contents, and remaining somewhat silent.

The few servants kneeling on the ground were bought by 'Maester Gunther' and participated in the conspiracy to murder Mirri Maz Duur.

Although the witch possessed extraordinary power, she was still just a slightly out-of-shape woman with no combat abilities.

That night, these servants ambushed her, tied her up with ropes, gagged her, and took her to where the three young dragons were being kept. They doused her in oil and set her ablaze.

No one knew why he had arranged for these people to do this, except for the maester himself.

Perhaps it was to eliminate a witch from the Targaryen camp and frame another witch who wanted to join in.

Because Melisandre had admitted to Rhaenys that Melisandre was a genuine witch, even more powerful than her, and at that time, the maester was also present.

Mirri was captured and burned to death, with the blame pinned on another R'hllor priest skilled in using fire.

At the same time, Rhaenys was led to believe that Balerion, the black dragon, had inexplicably burned Mirri alive with dragonfire, perhaps because Mirri had attempted to steal a dragon. After all, it was strange for her to be near the dragon pit in the dead of night.

Then, the blame was intentionally placed on Melisandre.

This way, the suspicions and motives surrounding Mirri Maz Duur would be dispelled, and Balerion would be confirmed to have a wild, untamable nature. By exploiting Rhaenys' inherent kindness, she would be persuaded to control the three dragons herself.

Once the three young dragons were restrained, it would be easier for him to carry out his subsequent actions. Otherwise, approaching the dragons could result in being burned alive by dragonfire.

Furthermore, even if Viserys returned one day, he would not blame him, as this was Rhaenys' doing.

In the ideal scenario of 'Maester Gunthor', or rather, Gillyan Lannister's plan...

Mirri Maz Duur, the witch, would be dead.

The three young dragons would be locked up.

Rhaenys would attempt to clear Balerion's name by executing Red Priestess Melisandre for murder, thus silencing her.

Three birds with one stone.

However, the final outcome may not have been entirely according to 'Maester Gunthor's' wishes.

Although Rhaenys was young and her mind not fully matured, she was not as easily manipulated as he had imagined.

Rhaenys did not lock up the three dragons out of fear that they would cause more trouble.

Nor did she kill Melisandre to silence her. Instead, she merely placed her under house arrest in a prison, receiving special treatment and being well-fed and well-cared for.

Viserys read through the diary left behind by 'Maester Gunthor', appearing calm on the surface. His fingers gently tapped on the armrest of his chair, producing a particularly clear sound in the quiet room. However, no one knew what Viserys was truly thinking.

The diary also recorded 'Maester Gunthor's' real identity – Gillyan Lannister, the third brother of Tywin Lannister.

His older brother was Tywin Lannister, the Lord of Casterly Rock, while his second brother was Kevan Lannister, and his third brother was Tygett Lannister.

Since his position in the line of succession was distant, Gillyan knew he had no claim to the family's legacy. Like Oberyn, he also attended the Citadel for a time.

However, his lively and impulsive nature meant that Jaime and Tyrion enjoyed playing with their uncle as children. As a result, Gillyan left the Citadel after only a few years.

At that time, Oberyn was still young and had not yet arrived at the Citadel, so the two never crossed paths.

At the age of eighteen, Gillyan sailed on the Laughing Lion from Lannisport to search for the lost Lannister family Valyrian steel sword, 'Brightroar', and to explore the legendary 'Smoking Sea' and the 'Cursed Lands', hoping to find treasures that had survived the Valyrian Doom.

Ten years passed, and Gillyan never returned home.

It was only after the Usurper's War ended.

He sent a fine dagger with a gilded blade, an ivory handle, and a sapphire pommel as a wedding gift to congratulate King Robert and his niece Cersei.

He also heard that his second brother Kevan Lannister had died tragically while pursuing the remaining Targaryens, with his death so gruesome that his head was nearly lost.

So, after many years away, Gillyan returned to his homeland, volunteering to avenge his second brother.

Because he had not been seen in his hometown for many years, many people no longer recognized Gillyan.

Thus, that year, he 'replaced' the real Maester Gunthor and headed to Dragonstone.