After the cold night came a day that was almost as freezing.
The fire in the great hall was burning brightly.
Among the hundreds of dark figures of the Night's Watch, Joffrey and his companions, who weren't wearing black, stood out particularly.
The atmosphere of the feast was slightly awkward.
Although the senior officers sitting near the main table behaved properly, the ordinary members of the Night's Watch were clearly at a loss regarding the arrival of the Crown Prince.
After all, some of them had been sent here for breaking the law and in the name of the King. Should they be happy now?
Bang~
Tyrion, who had drunk a bellyful of fine wine, jumped onto the table unrestrainedly.
As expected of a man full of humor, a few slightly self-deprecating dirty jokes, combined with his short-legged, short-armed vulgar movements, immediately caused a prolonged uproar and laughter in the hall.
The atmosphere at the dining table finally gradually warmed up.
People sat together in groups of three or five, boasting and cursing, singing off-key, vulgar little songs without any scruples, holding wooden wine cups and competing in drinking capacity, playing finger-guessing games and betting, occasionally bursting into shouts of joy or regret.
The senior officers at the main table also gradually became lively, as if they were having a normal meal.
"Your Highness, try this, it's absolutely fresh."
The Old Bear enthusiastically offered Joffrey a fresh crab that had just been transported from Eastwatch. Joffrey took it with a smile and tasted a few bites. Preserved by the perpetually unmelted ice, the crab was indeed delicious.
However, the focus of today was not on satisfying one's appetite.
Joffrey asked, "Lord Commander, I heard that Benjen is going to take that Wildling woman, Osha, to look for a possible secret passage today?"
The Old Bear nodded, "Benjen plans to set off after the feast."
Joffrey pretended to be curious, "According to the Lord Commander, is the secret passage Osha speaks of true or false? Is the place she mentioned possible?"
An old voice sounded, "That place is the long-abandoned Nightfort. I still remember a few scattered words. Perhaps the girl is talking about the 'Black Gate' hidden deep within the well."
Joffrey turned slightly and saw a blind old man with a face full of wrinkles – Maester Aemon.
Aemon Targaryen, once a noble Prince of the Dragon House dynasty, was first sent to the Citadel by the King to become a Maester, and later chose to serve in the Night's Watch because of his brother who had become King. He was exactly one hundred years old this year.
Undoubtedly, Aemon had a profound influence on the Night's Watch.
"So that's it. Thank you, Maester Aemon, for explaining it to me. You are truly knowledgeable," Joffrey said with a light chuckle.
Aemon faced Joffrey as if his eyes could still see, "Just doing the duty of a Maester. I've just lived a few more years and remembered some things, but I've forgotten even more."
"You are too modest. You are definitely a role model for Maesters," Joffrey deliberately sat next to Aemon.
"Maester Aemon, would you consider returning south to serve? It would also slightly alleviate your homesickness. To be precise, my father and I are both your blood relatives."
What Joffrey said was not false.
Regardless of the Targaryen bloodline of Orys Baratheon, the ancestor of the Baratheon family, speaking of more recent times, his great-grandmother Rhaelle Targaryen was a genuine Dragon House Princess. Although this had nothing to do with him personally, others didn't know that.
Aemon waved his hand, "Let everything of the past be in the past. My resting place is here. It's quite good to be buried under Castle Black."
Joffrey didn't say anything more and returned to the slightly nervous Old Bear.
"What is the Lord Commander thinking? Do you think I won't like Maester Aemon? We are real relatives, you know."
The Old Bear quickly denied, "Absolutely not. Of course, I believe His Highness the Crown Prince is acting out of good intentions."
"Alright, just kidding."
Joffrey looked expectant, "I really want to see what Nightfort looks like right away. Lord Commander, please inform Benjen that I will set off with them."
The Old Bear couldn't refuse.
Joffrey stood up, "Where is Osha being held now? I want to see her."
The Old Bear looked at the slightly tired First Steward.
Bowen reluctantly left his food.
...
The Wildling woman, Osha, was tied up in a dark room next to the barracks.
The room, without a stove, was very cold and damp, reminding her of the harsh days Beyond the Wall.
Creak~
The door opened, and light and cold air rushed in together. She squinted and turned her back, waiting to be grabbed.
The door closed again, and a fire was lit in the room.
"Osha."
A clear male voice echoed in the room.
Osha raised her head, and a delicate face appeared before her eyes, "Your Highness, why are you here?"
Joffrey smiled slightly, "To see if you've thought things through."
Osha didn't understand.
Joffrey hadn't paid much attention to this minor character originally, thinking it would be fine to leave her to the Night's Watch.
After sorting through the gains from last night, he realized he needed an experiment subject. Not too strong, not too weak, and preferably someone without support.
He thought through everyone at Castle Black and concluded that Osha was the most suitable.
"Osha, is the secret passage you mentioned a Weirwood door with a moving face on it?"
"Your Highness knows it?!"
Joffrey pressed on, "After you help the Night's Watch find it, what do you plan to do?"
Osha shook her head blankly.
"You know the Others have appeared, right?"
Osha instantly recalled those terrifying white shadows. The North wasn't safe! She had to escape to the warm South!
"I can accept your loyalty."
Osha blinked, then immediately knelt before the Crown Prince with a thud. "Your Highness, my sword is yours! I am willing to serve you. I can..."
Joffrey crouched down and whispered, "Thank fate. You will gain unimaginable power."
"Don't move. It might hurt a little. Bear with it."
Osha saw the Crown Prince slowly draw a frightening dagger. The hilt seemed to be black crystal, and the dark blade seemed full of magic, definitely surpassing any steel.
What was he doing? Osha thought of all sorts of tragic possibilities in panic.
The blade slowly approached her forehead. The sharp chill seemed to have penetrated her soul, making her tremble uncontrollably.
The Crown Prince's other hand pressed down on her shoulder. "It's going in. Stop moving."
How could she not move? Osha struggled wildly, but the Crown Prince just glared at her, and her entire body quieted down on its own.
Strange! Even the white ghosts weren't as terrifying as him!
She could only watch in horror as the blade got closer and closer, finally disappearing from her sight.
Clang~ Hiss~
The sound of fresh leather being torn made her scalp instantly tingle.
No, that was my scalp!
This swollen piece of skin, stained with blood on the inner layer, was casually thrown on the table. Blood flowed from the opening, seeping into her familiar brown hair.
This image was her last clear memory.
Warm drops continuously fell from above her head. Her vision was quickly filled with red—blood.
Then came various horrifying pains, like being pricked by a thousand steel needles at her fingertips, like countless beetles gnawing at her brain matter and flesh, and countless sensations of itching, nausea, dizziness, noise, flashes, and other strange feelings.
After two shadows took something from her, she completely fell into desperate darkness...
Ergh ah~~~~
Ghostly wails and shrieks emanated from the cabin. Bowen Marsh, waiting outside, shivered, his hair practically standing on end.
What kind of game was this Crown Prince playing? It was too perverted!
Joffrey placed the experiment subject into the brain, closed the last piece of forehead bone, and healed all the wounds with Recovery Magic Energy, finally letting out a long sigh of relief.
This surgery wasn't easy.
As soon as he pushed open the door to get some air, he saw Bowen stumble back several meters in one leap.
"Your Highness, your hands..."
Joffrey subconsciously looked down, seeing two blood-red arms.
"Medical surgery, just got a little blood on them."
Bowen tentatively peeked into the cabin. The Wildling woman seemed mostly intact, so where did all that blood come from?
Bowen hesitated for a moment but couldn't help but remind him, "Your Highness, for medical treatment, Castle Black actually has quite a few herbs that can alleviate pain. There's no need to be so, uh, simple."
Joffrey slapped his thigh. Right, how could he forget about that!
But looking at the doubtful Bowen, Joffrey just explained confidently, "Let me tell you, anesthetic isn't suitable for all surgeries."
Bowen chuckled.
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