hotmtlnovel Chapter 41: The King is Going to the North
Chapter 41: The King is Going to the North
"Seven levels of hell! That damned, stupid woman, has she gone mad?!"
"Gods, today is the most troubling day of my life," King Robert thought angrily as he slammed his wine glass on the table during the royal council.
Just now, he had attended a royal council meeting, which was unusual for him, after all, his King's Hand had just passed away, but he still had to preside over the meeting. As soon as he sat down, his intelligence minister reported bad news to him.
Lysa Tully, the former Prime Minister and wife of Jon Arryn, ran away with her and Jon's child, Arryn Jr.
What was she worried about? Was someone in the palace trying to harm her?
Varys sat in his seat with his eyes drooping. Since reporting the news, he had remained silent, waiting for the king to finish venting his anger.
After the king finally calmed down and ordered his men to bring back Lysa Tully and her son, Varys finally raised his head.
"I propose that I take over as Hand of the King," said Stannis Baratheon, the King's brother and Lord Master of the Sea, looking at the King with an air of self-assurance.
"Hmph," Robert chuckled aloud upon hearing his brother's words, his worries far too numerous.
"I refuse. You just focus on being your Lord Naval Secretary, Stannis!"
Stannis remained silent as he looked at his brother, who was as fat as a mountain of flesh.
After glancing at the Kingsguard standing behind the King with a constant smile, Jaime Lannister, whose character was as hard as stone, fell silent, just like Varys had been moments before.
"A country cannot be without a prime minister for a single day, but as everyone knows, my brother is unfit for this important position!" The king's words left the assembled courtiers speechless.
Fortunately, the king did not force them to nod in agreement; he simply continued speaking to himself:
"Prepare yourselves, I will be taking all the members of the royal family to the North to see the Duke of Stark."
Upon hearing this, those present immediately understood the king's preferred candidate for the new prime minister.
Eddard Stark, who once fought alongside the king and was raised by the same foster father, is now the Duke of East Coast and Warden of the North!
"Leave the preparations to Lord Petyr." Royal travel naturally requires pomp and circumstance, and pomp and circumstance naturally cost money.
Littlefinger bowed to the king, leaving everything to him.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
"It's true, it's all true!"
The moment Xia Zhang put on the virtual reality headset, his pupils dilated suddenly.
Watching the incredibly realistic cutscenes, Xia Zhang was so excited he almost cried.
Are you willing to pledge allegiance to your king, Viserys III? Are you willing to use your sword to expand the Targaryen's territory?
"I'm willing! As long as I can be a normal person and not be half-human anymore, I'll call him Dad!" Xia Zhang shouted anxiously.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
It's still that same courtyard, which veteran players have jokingly called the "Resurrection Fountain" or "Newbie Village".
Xia Zhang, whose game ID was Iron Legs Floating on Water, looked at the player not far away who was even more excited than himself, prostrating on the ground, thanking everything from the heavens to the Western gods, and couldn't help but shake his head.
He was alright at the moment; after all, no matter how excited he was, ten minutes was enough for him to calm down.
The player jumped off the train halfway through the journey, slowly stood up, pounded his chest, and smiled with satisfaction.
Viserys remained unchanged, still wearing his flamboyant armor, standing in front of the one hundred newly joined players.
His Kingsguard, Sir Bear, stood behind him, and he couldn't understand how these people had moved into the courtyard.
They seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.
He was preparing to deliver a passionate speech unlike anything veteran gamers had ever heard.
A player with reddened eyes slowly approached.
"Um?"
Upon noticing that this person's emotions were not quite right, Viserys immediately prepared to bestow a title upon him. It wasn't that he was being paranoid; rather, the person's emotions gave the impression of someone about to have a mad outburst.
puff.
The next second, Viserys stared blankly at the player kneeling before him, like a knight being knighted, completely bewildered.
"I don't play games often, and I don't understand these things like young people. I also don't know if you're intelligent, but this game tells me to be loyal to you."
I don't know if the person controlling you can see this, whether in reality or in a game. Just give the order, and there's nothing I can't do.
The train player's death-defying appearance stunned not only Viserys, but also a group of new players and the Brotherhood and Grenadier veterans who were watching the commotion.
Dude, it's just a game. You can't take it seriously just because it's real.
"You..." Viserys wanted to say something more.
But then four or five more players emerged from the crowd.
They all knelt before Viserys, drawing their initial longswords from their waists and holding them horizontally in front of them:
"I, Lancelot/Roland/Bose... hereby stand as the witness of the gods and the kingdom, and swear allegiance to you, King Viserys III of House Targaryen."
I will defend your throne and glory with the sword in my hand, and protect your people and land with the blood in my heart.
Your enemy is also my enemy; our hatred runs deeper than blood ties and can never be forgiven.
I will obey your lawful commands, without fear of danger or slander from treacherous officials....
Looking at the players in front of him with burning eyes, swearing allegiance to him, Viserys was initially a little confused, but now he understood.
That's it! I wondered who it was, but it turns out to be the reinforcements I invited from the West!
"I accept your loyalty. With your swords and your courage, prove the truth of your oath. When you achieve great deeds, I will appoint you as my knights of oath."
So said His Majesty Viserys.
The people who were kneeling on the ground stood up with great joy at Viserys's command.
When you get back, be sure to tell everyone in your circle.
This is what those deeply afflicted with the chivalrous spirit think.
The player Train glanced curiously at the group of people huddled together, so excited they were crying. Were they also suffering from illness in real life?
He shook his head and left. He wanted to find a secluded place to bask in the sun and maybe even have a drink. He wondered if the alcohol in the game had any taste, or if it was simply undrinkable.
"Wow, were those guys Western players?"
"I think they're rednecks, what's with all this backing up? What do they like?"
"That's right. When I was studying in the West, they played Steel IV, and they all had to go through the reverse lane."
"Ah, that's different. The reverse lane is a specialty of Steel No. 4, you can't miss it..."
Looking at those "knights," both new and veteran players discussed among themselves, mostly just taking it as a joke.
Of course, some people secretly wondered if this was a hidden quest that could increase Viserys's favorability. But what exactly is the use of this favorability?
Of course, Viserys' passionate speech quickly answered the questions of these players.
The remaining players didn't care about Viserys's hierarchical system of rulers and subjects at all, but when they heard that they could get rewards for completing system tasks...
When players with high favorability ratings had a chance to obtain fiefdoms by completing Viserys's orders, many players cheered.
Everything else is just nonsense, but if you let these players be the landlords in the game, they'll be willing to listen.
"In reality, I scorn the nobility; in the game, I'll be a noble! Commoners, work for your master!"