As the handmaidens set down the wine and food and retreated one by one, Jon, whose legs were already numb from standing, finally understood why he was here.
Clearly, Robert had matters to discuss with Ned, and they were, as always, secretive and important matters.
However, recalling the "leaky" nature of the Red Keep, where walls had ears, Jon remained skeptical of this method of secrecy.
If it were him, he would rather take a walk in the gardens and whisper confidentialities than discuss state affairs loudly in a place where anyone could be eavesdropping.
But seeing that Robert was already seated and waving him over, the transmigrator naturally understood that he had no say in these matters. He simply stepped forward to fulfill his role as cupbearer.
However, this time, Robert didn't continue with their previous topics. Instead, he sought Ned's opinion in a probing tone.
"About Arryn's boy... I plan to send him to Casterly Rock as Tywin's ward. What do you think?"
Robert didn't raise his goblet as usual when he said this; instead, his face showed a rare gravity.
To an outsider, this gravity might seem related to his foster father, Lord Jon Arryn.
However, different people have different standpoints and completely opposite perspectives.
Take Ned, for instance. He could maintain absolute rationality when facing the usually absurd Robert.
But when Robert became serious, the backbone of the relationship immediately shifted to the Usurper.
Hearing Robert ask this, Ned naturally recalled the news brought by the raven a few days before they went South.
From Catelyn's retelling of the secret message, Ned understood that King's Landing was not as peaceful as he had imagined.
And his and Robert's foster father, the former Hand of the King, Jon Arryn, might really have been murdered, just as Lysa Tully claimed.
Thinking of this, the new Hand of the King didn't answer Robert's question immediately. Instead, he thoughtfully brought up another matter.
"Rather than that frail child who might die young, I am more concerned about what happened to Jon?"
Although Ned's attempt to change the subject was clumsy, it was very effective when facing a sworn brother.
Especially since they were discussing their mutual foster father. Even the absurd Usurper didn't guard against Ned. Instead, he raised his goblet, took a few large gulps, and answered impatiently.
"God knows what happened. Pycelle said it was a fever, but I think the old man probably worked himself to death... Seven Gods above, may he rest in peace."
However, hearing this answer, not only was Ned unsatisfied, but he continued to press on another matter.
"If it was just a fever, then why did Lysa Tully flee back to the Vale like a frightened bird? Don't tell me there's no connection between the two."
Facing Ned's continuous questioning, no matter how much the Usurper trusted his brother, he finally caught on.
Clearly, his Hand of the King didn't want to know the situation but wanted to answer his question through this series of doubts.
By this time, even the transmigrator squatting to the side noticed the point of divergence between the two on this matter.
As the King, Robert obviously didn't want to investigate the cause; he simply wanted to grasp everything in his hands.
Even if the Usurper couldn't do it himself, he hoped his brother could take over and handle the affairs of the realm.
On the other hand, although Ned had come South to King's Landing and seemed to have no ties with anyone, he was inextricably linked to his foster father, Lord Jon, the former Hand.
Therefore, before clarifying the cause of Lord Jon's death, no one could sit comfortably at the King's right hand.
After all, compared to high status and power, who knew if they would suddenly die of a "fever" like Lord Jon?
Of course, this was just an outsider's perspective.
Jon, who knew the future developments, understood Ned's intentions perfectly. The Warden of the North wasn't worried about his own safety or shirking responsibility; he was purely seeking truth and justice out of simple integrity.
However, in the eyes of the Usurper, Ned's questioning looked like distrust of his rule and royal authority.
Although some people had suspected the cause of Lord Jon's death before, after Grand Maester Pycelle's diagnosis, such doubts were gradually buried in the earth.
Moreover, as a qualified King, Robert knew better than anyone that even if there was something fishy about Jon Arryn's death, it wasn't the primary problem right now.
So even if it was Ned, the brother he trusted most, raising the doubts, the Usurper wouldn't allow anyone to disrupt his administration.
Thus, after downing a mouthful of wine, Robert decisively chose to change the subject.
"Ned, drop your damn honor. Listen, in the entire Seven Kingdoms, the only person I can trust is you."
As he said this, Robert slammed the goblet down, signaling Jon to refill it, and then continued to roar.
"Look at this damn Red Keep. I can't even count how many Lannisters are in here. Yes, yes, my wife is a Lannister too, but you surely don't expect me to let Joffrey's in-laws sit on the Iron Throne after I die, do you?"
At this moment, even after drinking several cups of wine, Robert's words were completely different from his usual manic image. He had clearly realized some problems.
And this was his sole purpose for dragging Ned to King's Landing.
As a King, balancing the Seven Kingdoms and keeping all of Westeros stable was his greatest political achievement, not sitting on the throne and being diligent in administrative tasks.
In view of this, appointing his most trusted Ned as the Hand was naturally Robert's best plan and choice.
Whether in terms of status, position, or background, Ned had enough confidence to handle the problems between the Seven Kingdoms and many unavoidable troubles.
After all, during the Usurper's War, as the existence second only to Robert, anyone in the Seven Kingdoms had to give face to this Hand.
Of course, these were just Jon's considerations.
However, on the other side of the long table, seeing that Robert had laid his cards on the table, the Lord of Winterfell couldn't object anymore, no matter how resistant he was.
But regarding the point Robert just mentioned, the Hand of the King was still worried.
"Your Grace, if that is the case, then why do you want to strip Jon's child from his mother and send him to the Lannisters as a ward?"
However, regarding this question, Robert didn't answer immediately, except for drinking silently.
It wasn't until the Usurper drank the nectar like a man dying of thirst that he let out a long breath, and then turned his gaze to his squire.
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