Bab 304: Chapter 305: Cold Blood
After parting ways with Lord Peake, Samwell walked back alone.
By now, the banquet had ended, and the guests had dispersed to their quarters.
When Samwell returned to his chambers, he found Lord Randyll Tarly waiting at the door.
The father and son exchanged a glance but said nothing.
Once inside, with the door shut, Randyll broke the silence:
"You're not actually planning to support Peake as a replacement for the Tyrells, are you?"
"Of course not." Samwell sneered. "I just wanted to gauge the Horse Faction's attitude toward the Tyrells. I didn't expect such an idiot to jump out voluntarily. Titus Peake—he's truly eager to self-destruct."
"The Peake family has always been unruly," Randyll said sharply. "Their blood is restless, which is why they've risen to power several times only to fall just as quickly."
This was undeniably true.
In the days of the Gardener kings, the Peakes had once sought to claim the throne, sparking a decade of civil war in the Reach.
After the Targaryen Conquest unified the Seven Kingdoms, a Peake lord served as Hand of the King to Aegon III. This lord famously murdered the queen in a bid to marry his daughter to the king.
Later, during the Blackfyre Rebellion, the Peakes threw their weight behind Daemon Blackfyre. When the rebellion was crushed, the family paid the price. Their lands and influence dwindled, leaving them with only Starpike, one of their three original strongholds.
Yet, despite their diminished status, the Peakes remained as restless and ambitious as ever. With the Tyrells now in decline, they were stirring again.
"Since Peake is so eager, I'll let them act as the blade," Samwell said, his tone frosty. "That way, my hands stay clean."
"That's acceptable," Randyll agreed. Then, after a pause, he asked, "But what exactly do you plan to do about the Tyrells?"
"Lady Olenna must die," Samwell said coldly.
"And the rest?"
"I don't intend to remove the Blimp," Samwell said, referring to Mace Tyrell. "I'm not ready to take over the Reach. Better to leave him as a puppet. If the Tyrells fall entirely, every opportunist in the Reach will rise up, and the region will descend into chaos."
"Leaving Mace in place makes sense," Randyll acknowledged. "It keeps the Horse Faction from gaining too much power. You don't yet have the strength or authority to command their full loyalty. But beyond Olenna, there's someone else you must eliminate."
"Are you talking about Paxter Redwyne?" Samwell frowned. "Of course I want to kill him, but the Arbor is isolated overseas, and we don't have a strong fleet, so we can't do anything to him for the time being."
"Paxter can't do anything to affect the overall situation, so we can ignore him for now."
"Then, Who?"
"Loras Tyrell."
"Loras?" Samwell frowned. "He's not much of a threat compared to Olenna."
"Don't underestimate him," Randyll warned. "He's Mace's last surviving son. As long as he lives, the Tyrell bloodline persists at Highgarden."
"But Loras prefers men, doesn't he?"
Randyll scoffed. "That doesn't matter. His preferences won't stop him from continuing the family line.
"If you let him return, the Tyrells will arrange a marriage for him. Soon enough, his wife will be paraded around with a swollen belly. Whether or not the child is biologically his is irrelevant. It will be claimed as his heir.
"With a legitimate heir, the Tyrells remain a rallying point for the Reach. And as long as that hope exists, you'll never fully control this region.
"But if Loras dies, the Tyrell line ends with him. Highgarden's legitimacy transfers to your wife, Margaery. That is crucial.
"When the Reach lords realize the Tyrell legacy has no future, they'll abandon Mace entirely. He'll become the puppet you need, and once he dies, your children with Margaery will inherit Highgarden."
Samwell rubbed his chin, realizing he'd fallen into a mental trap.
Randyll was right: Loras would likely agree to let someone else father a child for the sake of preserving the family line. One couldn't overestimate the scruples of noble families.
Seeing Samwell's silence, Randyll misinterpreted it as hesitation. He pressed on:
"Do you know your biggest weakness?"
"What?"
"You're not ruthless enough," Randyll said bluntly. "You have the brains and the means—you proved that in your conquest of Eagle's Nest, the chaos in King's Landing, and the Dornish war.
"But back then, you weren't fully involved in the Game of Thrones. Now, with your rise to power, you can't afford to show weakness.
"Take the Tyrell betrayal at Bloodstone Island. For the sake of a woman, you risked everything. And how did they repay you? Olenna plotted to kill you.
"You treated them like family, but they never saw you the same way.
"Now that you're a king, you can't afford such foolishness. A king has no family—only subjects and enemies.
"Submit or be destroyed. If you don't understand this, you'll pay dearly for it."
Samwell nodded. "I've died once before. I won't make the same mistakes again. When the time comes, I'll act decisively.
"If Loras is a threat, I'll eliminate him. I was just thinking of a way to do it without dirtying my hands."
Satisfied, Randyll gave an approving nod. "As long as you understand."
Samwell smiled faintly and said, "But Father, if I were truly as cold-blooded as you suggest, the man standing before you might not even be me."
Randyll stared at him, uncomprehending.
Samwell didn't elaborate, instead adding with a measured tone:
"Mistrusting everyone is just as foolish as trusting everyone. A king can have more than subjects and enemies. He can also have a father, a brother, a wife, and children.
"Absolute ruthlessness only leads to isolation. Even you, for all your talk, are not as cold as you claim. You cast me out, yet when Eagle's Nest was under threat, you brought all of Horn Hill's forces to my aid."
Randyll studied his son, his gaze softening. "I only want to ensure you don't fall into the same traps again. Margaery Tyrell is both an asset and a risk. Be cautious with her."
"I understand," Samwell said. "I promised Margaery a crown, but I never said it would be hers alone."
"You're planning to follow Aegon the Conqueror's example and take a second wife?" Randyll asked, stroking his chin. "That's not a bad idea. Another marriage could help counterbalance Margaery and the Tyrell influence.
"But don't act too soon. Until your power is absolute, marrying again could harm your reputation with the other lords of Westeros."
"Don't worry," Samwell assured him. "I'm in no rush."
(End of Chapter)
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
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