Tears of Lys, said to have been invented by the alchemists of Lys, are sweet as water and can be dissolved in wine without being smelled or tasted.
It can disrupt the digestive system and cause death within a day or two, but the symptoms appear to be those of a normal intestinal illness.
Some people therefore use it as poison.
But it just sits there quietly, letting people do with it as they please.
Is that its fault?
Petyr came and took it, giving it to a lovesick woman.
Tears of Lys, now a seemingly ordinary jug of red wine, sat silently in the Lord Hand's study.
It was late at night, and the Hand of the King, Jon Arryn, was still staring intently at the book by candlelight.
The Lineages and Histories of the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms (with descriptions of many lords, ladies, and their children), written by Maester Mellion a hundred years ago, was full of trivial and complex details, seemingly without practical value.
Yet the Hand had found the most crucial evidence within it.
Evidence was important.
In the legends of the Age of Heroes, the ancestor of the Lannister family, Lann the Clever, stole sunlight from the sun to dye his hair gold.
The Lannister family's golden hair, inherited for thousands of years, was renowned throughout the world, and no one questioned why the three princes and princesses did not have black hair. King Robert was no exception.
But this book clearly recorded the unions between the Stag and the Lion.
The most recent was over ninety years ago, when the lioness's short-lived male infant had black hair. Thirty years before that, the four children born to a doe and a mighty lion all had black hair.
He continued to trace back through the yellowed pages; gold always yielded to charcoal black.
"Seed is Strong."
Jon's thoughts were in turmoil. He finally had irrefutable evidence, but how should he handle the aftermath?
He couldn't help but notice that Cersei had left King's Landing with her three children that day, and the Kingslayer had also left. Was it a coincidence?
In this situation, could it still be resolved peacefully?
Jon knew the answer.
"Seed is Strong," he murmured.
He knew Robert's temper best. If he were to rashly learn the truth, the fate of the Seven Kingdoms would irrevocably plummet into the abyss.
His wife, Lysa, walked over. "Jon, get some rest."
Seeing his wife's evasive, fragile eyes, the Hand was as amiable as ever. "I still have things to do. Don't wait up for me. Is Robin asleep?"
No matter what, he had to wait until Lysa and Robin returned to the Eyrie before making any plans.
With seventy years of life experience, Jon would no longer act impulsively. Only by arranging his family affairs properly could he fully deal with the crisis in the Seven Kingdoms.
As long as Robin returned to the Vale, the Falcon's vassals would protect him. My little Robin will become the proud and honorable new King of the Eyrie, inheriting the glory of House Arryn.
High as Honor.
If I could witness this scene with my own eyes, I would die without regret.
"The Mother blesses us, little Robin is sleeping soundly, not crying or fussing." Lysa proactively refilled her husband's wine glass. "It's cold at night, it's best to drink some wine to warm yourself up before continuing to work."
The Hand smiled with relief.
He didn't demand much from his young wife, only her motherly love for Robin was enough. It seemed their marriage was also developing in a good direction.
His wife went to rest, leaving Jon in a quiet, dim space once more.
His thoughts couldn't help but return to the troublesome matter.
"Seed is Strong."
Jon picked up the wine glass and took a large gulp.
...
The next morning.
After several trips to the privy, the Hand collapsed onto the bed, unable to get up again.
The severe pain in his abdomen relentlessly ravaged his thoughts and reason, showing no signs of easing or improving.
Lysa Tully and the child Robert Arryn (nicknamed Robin) were not in the room.
There was nothing to be done. As Lady Lysa said, little Robin was already in poor health. If Jon's illness was contagious, or if it stimulated little Robin's spirit, it would be disastrous.
The servants continuously wiped the Hand's body and massaged his limbs, trying their best to make the Lord Hand more comfortable.
"Grand Maester, have you found anything? I originally thought Lord Jon had eaten too much ice and caught a chill in his stomach, but now the illness is getting worse..."
Maester Coomon, Duke Arryn's maester, asked worriedly.
Pycelle shook his head and sighed. "Alas, child, you are too young. You don't know how fragile old people are. Even a small ailment can take the life of someone our age."
Maester Coomon did not give up. "Perhaps we can give Lord Jon some more purgative and pepper liquid? We can't just do nothing, can we?"
Pycelle patted his shoulder.
"Good child, you are very clever and capable, but let me tell you another piece of old man's wisdom."
"For weak patients, you must never use medicine indiscriminately, otherwise you will only harm them."
Pycelle stroked his long white beard and sighed.
"Sometimes, doing nothing is much better than acting rashly."
Coomon still didn't quite understand, "But..."
Pycelle waved his hand to stop him, "Child, Maester Coomon, you are too nervous, go down. Let me handle this."
The Grand Maester sent away the young Maester Coomon, then sat quietly by the Lord Hand's sickbed.
The attendants waited for the Grand Maester's instructions, but Pycelle only told them to continue.
The room became busy again, but no one knew what good it did, perhaps just to make themselves look less useless.
Grand Maester Pycelle sat motionless as if asleep.
He had served four kings.
Robert Baratheon, the last king of the previous dynasty, the "Mad King" Aerys Targaryen, Aerys's father Jaehaerys II, and Jaehaerys's father, 'the Fortunate' Aegon V.
But he felt that the one in the Seven Kingdoms who had the most kingly demeanor and truly ought to rule the country was Duke Tywin Lannister, who had never worn a crown.
Pycelle understood that he cared too much about the Lannister family.
But what was the reason for an eighty-year-old man to live? The fear of death and worldly desires certainly could not be ruled out.
But the most important reason was probably wanting to change something and leave something behind.
The King of the Seven Kingdoms should be good at and willing to govern the country, should not indulge himself or others, and should not be as cruel as the Mad King, but should be more like Duke Tywin.
The unconscious Lord Hand made a muffled sound.
Pycelle leaned in to listen, and it sounded like he was calling "Robert," perhaps calling the King or the frail young Robin (Robert).
The atmosphere in the Red Keep had been very strange these past few days.
Pycelle knew that the Queen wanted Duke Arryn dead!
Although she never said it aloud, Pycelle understood the meaning just by looking into her eyes.
Would now be a good opportunity?
Was Lord Hand Jon sick, or was it some rare poison?
Pycelle wasn't quite sure, he just chose to wait and see, time would tell everything.
Hopefully, everything would go well.
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