Chapter 448: Ascending the Iron Throne

Cersei was taken aback. She didn't understand High Valyrian, but before she could react, two Unsullied soldiers stepped forward and removed the crown from her head.

The Unsullied, with their spears and cold eyes, not only made Myrcella cry, but also frightened Prince Joffrey into tears.

The blond boy didn't understand their language and thought these emotionless foreign soldiers were going to kill him. He was almost scared enough to wet his pants.

But to his surprise, they simply removed the crown from his mother's head.

Cersei let out a gasp. With her crown removed and her hair disheveled, she stood there, stripped of the last vestiges of her dignity, reduced to a commoner.

The Targaryen army had taken control of all of King's Landing. Members of the Small Council and nobles eligible to attend the throne room were arriving one after another. The High Septon, the fat man from the Great Sept of Baelor, was naturally present.

Cersei's crown was roughly taken by the Unsullied and brought to Princess Rhaenys. Rhaenys, in her bright armor, sat on the Iron Throne without hesitation, her gaze falling on the High Septon, a fat man in splendid robes, who was among the frightened crowd below.

The High Septon immediately understood, trembling as he walked out from the crowd, up the steps to the Iron Throne, and took the queen's crown from the Unsullied.

Then, under the watchful eye of the Unsullied, who warned him not to make any sudden moves, the corpulent High Septon shakily placed the queen's crown on Rhaenys.

Seeing Rhaenys crowned, sparse applause broke out below.

These vassals, who belonged to House Baratheon a second ago, were now cheering for the Targaryen princess in the next. Only Cersei, stripped of her crown and standing disheveled, had a hint of resentment in her eyes.

Rhaenys scanned all the people standing below, including the members of the Small Council, the nobles of the king's land, the families of the conquered castles, Lady Stark and her children. Whether they were cheering or resenting, she didn't care.

Then the young girl, crowned and sitting on the Iron Throne, spoke.

"Lady Florent."

"You will be settling here for the time being."

Selyse Florent, who was holding her daughter Shireen, naturally had no complaints.

During her time with Rhaenys, she had come to realize that the girl was not as cold and ruthless as she seemed. It was just that the constant presence of dragons made her seem somewhat unapproachable.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Then Lady Florent and the families of the Shield Islands bowed slightly and followed the soldiers out. They were to settle in the Red Keep for the time being, awaiting the arrangement of their fate.

After Lady Florent and the others left, the blonde queen and her two children were still standing alone on the steps. Little Princess Myrcella was still crying uncontrollably.

Rhaenys frowned slightly, feeling a bit of pity. After all, when she fled King's Landing, she was probably about Myrcella's age. She glanced at Cersei and then spoke.

"Usurper's wife, Cersei Lannister, I am aware of the terms you proposed."

"But I cannot agree to them at this time."

Cersei's terms were to spare the lives of Joffrey, Myrcella, and Jaime, and to preserve House Lannister.

Rhaenys could not promise her these on behalf of Viserys, especially since House Lannister had not surrendered and was reportedly still besieged in Riverrun.

These matters would have to wait until Viserys returned to make a decision. Whether to kill, to spare, or to handle in some other way.

However, for now, Rhaenys could allow Cersei and her children to live temporarily in Maegor's Holdfast. After all, Cersei had surrendered King's Landing intact, and she deserved at least that much.

Cersei, with her crown removed and her hair disheveled, holding her crying daughter and her son who had almost wet his pants out of fear, stood in the throne room feeling like she was being pricked by needles. Naturally, she was eager to leave when Rhaenys allowed her to do so.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Cersei bit her lip slightly, gave Rhaenys a deep look, and managed to hold back her tears. She then bowed slightly and said in a hoarse voice.

Then she left the throne room under the escort of the Unsullied and returned to Maegor's Holdfast.

When the group of women and children had left, Rhaenys finally turned her gaze away and looked at Tyrion, who was standing on the steps of the throne room, almost unnoticed.

"Tyrion Lannister."

Tyrion had been standing on the steps all along. He didn't belong to the kneeling nobles, nor did he seem to belong to House Targaryen. He was just a hired hand, so his position was somewhat awkward.

"Your Highness."

But fortunately, Rhaenys didn't forget him. Tyrion, hearing the girl's voice, quickly stepped forward and bowed slightly.

"You fulfilled your promise to me, taking King's Landing without a single soldier, and I will not break my word."

The brown-haired girl looked at Tyrion and blinked. She never expected that he could really take King's Landing without a single soldier.

Rhaenys had sent Tyrion out just to try, but she didn't expect to be pleasantly surprised.

"From today, you are free, and you will no longer be held accountable for your crimes."

Hearing Rhaenys's words, Tyrion breathed a sigh of relief.

In his view, it was inevitable that House Targaryen would take the Seven Kingdoms, and as a Lannister, he was one of the least forgivable. His future seemed bleak.

But now, with the promise of the princess, Tyrion felt a great burden lifted.

Although he had never met Viserys, he knew from his time with Rhaenys that Viserys was very fond of her and would often listen to her opinions.

With Rhaenys's guarantee, it was basically a pardon. Viserys would not easily execute him.

However, even though he was now a free man and could go wherever he wanted, Tyrion didn't want to leave.

Because he had nowhere else to go if he left King's Landing. His father wanted to kill him, and he wouldn't be recognized if he returned to his family.

He might as well stay in King's Landing, where someone appreciated his talents, and with the bright future of House Targaryen...

Tyrion was tempted.

"Your Highness."

Then Tyrion spoke, expressing his desire to stay in King's Landing.

The nobles in the throne room laughed. Even Catelyn shook her head. Some thought Tyrion was overreaching. How could the princess keep a dwarf in the court?

However, to everyone's surprise, Rhaenys, upon hearing Tyrion's words, showed no surprise, but a pleased expression.

She indeed recognized Tyrion's talents and told him that if he wanted to stay, she would recommend him to Viserys.