Chapter 487: Civil War in Storm's End

The dark-haired young man in armor had a smirk on his face, but upon hearing Stannis's words, his smile vanished, replaced with anger.

Before Renly could retort, Stannis continued.

"And moreover, Renly, you know full well what you've done. It's not that I wish to kill you, but that you wish to kill me now!"

"I've received word that the Mad King's son has written you a secret letter. What's in it? If you're so guilt-free, why not reveal it for the lords to see?" Stannis said, gripping his sword's hilt, a cold smile on his face.

"What?"

"Could this be true?"

Stannis's words sent shockwaves through the room, and all the Stormland nobles and guards stared at each other and then turned their gaze to Renly.

Did Viserys write Renly a secret letter?

Why would he write to Renly?

What did the letter say?

Why had Lord Renly never mentioned it?

"Yes, Viserys did write Lord Renly a secret letter. If its contents can be shown, why not reveal it?" A noble siding with Stannis immediately echoed, while many Stormland nobles, even those loyal to Renly, nodded slightly.

Had they not gathered at Storm's End to unite against the pressure from Viserys?

Whether in war or peace, they would fight to the end to preserve the nobles' honor and dignity, or come together to negotiate with Viserys.

They would demand respect for the traditional rights of nobility and never allow the low-born to be called 'my lord.'

But now, Renly's secret communication with Viserys had betrayed them. How could they tolerate this?

Renly's face turned pale at Stannis's words, and a strong sense of shame and anger surged in him.

As the Lord of the Stormlands, Duke of Storm's End, how could they command him to reveal his private letters? Was this not a great humiliation?

Renly also had a bad feeling, sensing Viserys's treacherous intentions...

But just as he prepared to deny the letter's existence, he remembered the envelope was in his study, unopened. If caught lying, things would be even worse.

So Renly had to swallow his pride, gripping his sword's hilt, his face red with anger, and admit, "Yes, Viserys did write me a letter."

"But there's nothing in it, only a blank paper!"

Unfortunately, Renly's concession did not earn Stannis's mercy. Renly's older brother, known for holding grudges and never forgiving, stepped closer, staring coldly at his younger brother.

"You're still the same, Renly."

"What?"

Renly felt uneasy under his brother's gaze, his eyes shifting slightly.

Since childhood, he had disliked his second brother. Robert, his older brother, was hearty and often took Renly out to play.

But Stannis was stern every day, even throwing away the beautiful stones Renly collected by the sea, a childhood trauma for Renly.

"You lie with shifting eyes."

Stannis suddenly said.

"You've always been this way. Father and mother died early, they never had time for you."

"Whenever you did something wrong, Robert was busy with whores and wine, not caring for you. I was the one always disciplining you, fearing you'd go astray."

"But I didn't think a few years on Dragonstone would lead you down the wrong path."

Stannis's voice was filled with regret, his eyes piercing, as if he never knew joy. He raised his voice, shouting, "Do you think me and the lords are fools?!"

"Viserys put a blank paper in the envelope?"

Stannis's sudden rage caught Renly off guard, making him bow subconsciously.

But Renly was no longer the child under Stannis's discipline; now fifteen, he was rebellious. Stannis's scolding enraged him, and he yelled back, "I didn't lie!"

"Viserys only put a blank paper in the envelope I received, and it's still in my study. If you don't believe me, go and look!"

But sadly, no one believed Renly. His words even made the nobles loyal to him doubtful.

Viserys putting a blank paper in an envelope?

That could only fool children.

As Renly saw more and more skeptical glances, he knew things were bad.

If he let things continue, all would turn against him before he could resist, putting him in danger.

Clang—

So Renly acted decisively, drawing his sword, pointing it at his brother.

"Stannis is twisting the truth, trying to kill me and seize Storm's End. Take him down!"

At Renly's command, the nobles hesitated slightly, but the guards loyal to Renly did not.

They didn't care about letters or noble principles; they were loyal to their lord. Renly had commanded them to capture Stannis, so they charged, drawing their swords.

Stannis's side had only four or five guards, but they were fearless, drawing their swords as well.

"Kill him!"

"Kill!"

Clang, clang—

A fierce battle erupted in Storm's End.

The hesitating nobles, realizing they couldn't stand idly by, chose sides, drawing their swords and joining the fight.

Stannis's reinforcements arrived from nearby.

The Onion Knight, Davos, had been watching and, seeing the fight, led his guards into the battle.

The forces were evenly matched.