The Church hadn't completely ignored Cersei. While calling on the people to leave King's Landing, Sister Moller and two Sons of the Warrior still stood guard outside the Queen Mother's Tower. The other three sisters, having received the Mark of the Maiden, had returned to the Great Sept.
"Saint Matthew went outside the city yesterday to meet Stannis. Starting this afternoon, the Vale army outside the River Gate has withdrawn to twenty kilometers from King's Landing, and the gathering of one hundred thousand poor people has already departed ahead of them.
By this evening, they must cross the Blackwater River and enter the Kingswood.
By tomorrow, the commoners and nobles willing to follow Saint Matthew south will begin their journey one after another. Stannis has agreed not to attack King's Landing for a week."
Of the former "Four Flowers of the Church," only Sister Moller remained. In her loneliness, she opened the upper and lower panels of the wooden door and took the initiative to chat with Cersei inside.
The Queen Mother's Tower now held only the sisters and the sinner Cersei. The church knights and Red Keep guards remained outside. Without a summons from the senior sister, none were allowed inside.
Cersei was a dangerous woman with a history of adultery. Both the royal family and the Church needed to preserve appearances.
Of course, Prince Consort Euron could enter at any time to spend the night with his wife. After all, Cersei was only undergoing penance and had not truly renounced the world.
"Mesent and the others don't come to the Red Keep anymore?" Cersei asked casually, curled under her blanket with only her head showing.
"After becoming priests, they were promoted by the High Septon to White Bishops. Each now leads dozens of young, strong novice sisters in training. Coming here to act as supervising matrons would be a waste of their talents," Sister Moller said sourly.
The four of them had once shared the same background—abandoned infants taken in by the Church. They entered the convent academy together, graduated in the same class, and were assigned to the Great Sept together. They had examined Margaery's virginity together, punished her together to force a confession, and later tormented the so-called "whore queen," also forcing her to confess through punishment.
Afterward, they shaved the Queen Mother together, accompanied her through the walk of atonement, and were hated by both queen and queen mother alike.
When Cersei confined herself, the four of them again came together to supervise her penance.
They were like the version of Rong Mama in Game of Thrones, no, even more formidable. Rong Mama only dealt with a few noble ladies, while the "Four Flowers of the Church" handled queens and queen mothers.
After decades of shared trials, they had finally parted ways.
Sister Moller remained a harsh and severe instructor, while the other three achieved enlightenment through Saint Matthew's preaching, becoming kind and respected White Bishops, each taking on dozens of apprentices.
"How many people will leave?" Cersei asked casually.
"Perhaps three hundred thousand, perhaps more. It's voluntary. The journey is long, the weather is cold, and there is a lack of food and clothing. Only those who can no longer survive in King's Landing will leave," Sister Moller sighed.
"Can Storm's End even hold that many people?" Cersei doubted.
"They're not all going to Storm's End. The royal fleet from Dragonstone has arrived. Besides delivering food to the migrants, they will also transport the elderly, weak, women, and children to Driftmark."
At this point, the old sister suddenly rose from the couch by the small charcoal stove, found a hammer in the corner, opened the door, and walked to the seaward window. With a single blow, she smashed a hole the size of a bowl.
Cold wind rushed in violently, like an impatient lover on Valentine's night bursting into a room, kissing the old sister's gaunt face and sparse white hair.
Along with the biting wind came a flood of golden sunlight, instantly brightening the room.
"Saint Matthew endured the humiliation and agony of mutilation to save you. I am not as great as him, but today, even if I offend Euron, I will break this window for you," the old sister declared righteously, leaning on her hammer.
She then added, "Blackwater Bay is now filled with ships, all part of the Pope's royal fleet. There is even a small sun floating in the sky."
The Church only supervised Cersei's penance and had never intended to confine her completely. It was Euron who insisted on sealing the windows and balcony.
Two days ago, Sister Alanting and the others had cleared Cersei's bedroom and broken down the wall and window separating the balcony, but Euron had them sealed up again immediately after finding out.
Despite the sisters' repeated objections, he only left a thumb-sized hole in the wall facing the Great Sept of Baelor, even embedding a thick crystal pane in it.
"The Mother is merciful!" Cersei sprang up and rushed to the window.
After just one glance, she howled, "Isn't that my great warship? The biggest one, with eight hundred oars. That's the Tywin! And there's the Sweet Cersei and the Gallant Joffrey. Damn it, those are all my ships!"
The core of the Dragon Queen's royal navy consisted of ten massive warships that Aurane Waters had deceived from Cersei.
At this moment, however, there were over a hundred large ships in Blackwater Bay flying the "Five-Colored Dragon Banner," including the fleets of House Celtigar of Claw Isle and House Velaryon of Driftmark, along with some of the eighty ships the Dragon Queen had once borrowed for free from Braavos.
Still, none of them were as large as Cersei's warships, so she recognized them immediately.
"I understand now. This is all Daenerys' plot. I always knew that woman was hypocritical. She looks noble on the surface, but uses despicable methods behind the scenes. I never imagined even my admiral was her spy," she said through gritted teeth.
Sister Moller looked down at the heavy hammer in her hand, struggling internally over whether to knock out that chattering head.
"Huh? Didn't the sun disappear? Why is there another one, and so low?" Cersei's attention shifted to the small sun floating about three hundred meters above the sea.
It was about the size of a washbasin, radiating warm and gentle light. Everything within several kilometers was clearly visible, reminding Cersei of a summer morning years ago.
"That is the light sprite granted to the Pope by the Maiden," Sister Moller said reverently. "Only the Seven can dispel darkness and bring light to the world. The Maiden of Light is the true Lord of Light. R'hllor is a false god."
Cersei cried out in shock, "You're even taking the title of the Lord of Light? Is the Church going to war with the Red God?"
Moller shook her head and laughed at herself. "I'm just an old matron speaking casually. If R'hllor takes offense at that, then he's far too temperamental."
Cersei snatched the hammer and struck the window several more times, widening the hole enough to stick her head through.
Ignoring the cold, she leaned out and closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of the light. Though it was quickly stolen away by the icy northern wind, she genuinely felt the sun's warmth.
After a while, she began to observe the ships in the bay.
From her angle, she couldn't see the Blackwater docks, but ships occasionally entered the river out of sight, while others returned from the river to the bay and continued eastward.
Even from afar, she could see the decks packed with people, thousands of them. She couldn't distinguish their ages or genders, only that they looked filthy and disheveled, likely poor refugees.
"How strange. Why would Stannis agree to let these people leave? The more people in King's Landing, the more defenders there will be when the Others come. Doesn't he understand such a simple truth?" Cersei wondered.
"Only the living can defend a city. Those who starve to death in alleyways will only become companions of the wights.
The king and nobles fight endlessly for power, ignoring the lives of the common people.
King's Landing has not collapsed yet only because the High Sparrow used the Church Bank as collateral to purchase hundreds of thousands of tons of grain," the old sister said coldly.
"What kind of attitude is that?" Cersei glared. "If you're going to blame someone, blame those traitors. If they hadn't rebelled against me, there wouldn't have been so many wars."
"If you hadn't committed incest with the Kingslayer and murdered King Robert, why would they rebel?"
"What does a nun like you know? The reasons for rebellion don't matter. For the Iron Throne, they can always find countless excuses."
"I may not understand much, but I know you and those so-called traitors are the same," the old sister said.
Cersei sighed helplessly and changed the subject. "When Saint Matthew met the Red Demon, did he convert him?"
"Of course. The Mother is merciful and saves all beings. Saint Matthew not only tried to convert the Red Demon, but also attempted to persuade the Red Sorceress to turn back and embrace the true path."
"The Red Sorceress? The red priestess beside Stannis?" Cersei grew excited. "How many times did they stab the High Septon? I heard red priests can summon shadow assassins. Was it a spectacular battle? Did the Maiden's divine power clash with shadow puppets? Did the golden divine form of the Maiden appear?"
"No. None of that happened." Sister Moller shook her head and criticized her sternly. "You treat Saint Matthew and the Maiden like performers in a troupe. It seems your penance has had no effect. You're beyond saving."
Cersei quickly replied, "The Mother is merciful. I have sinned, and I repent. But my concern comes from devotion. Think about it. If someone is indifferent to the Church's affairs and future, how can they be a devout believer? The more excited I am, the more it proves my devotion!"
The old sister thought it over and found some truth in her words. Her expression softened.
"The last time the High Sparrow fought Euron, it was because Euron insulted the Maiden.
This time, when Saint Matthew advised them to turn back, Stannis and the red priestess were furious, but they only had him beaten.
Those Flaming Heart knights punched and kicked the High Septon, but none drew their swords."
"A group of knights beating an old man?" Cersei exclaimed.
Moller nodded awkwardly.
"Did Saint Matthew fight back?" Cersei asked.
"No. Even when he was knocked to the ground, he remained compassionate, reciting scripture and trying to move those heretics with words and mercy," the old sister said, lowering her head.
"What about the Church knights? The Sons of the Warrior? The Poor Fellows? No one stepped in while the High Septon was beaten like a dog?" Cersei could hardly imagine it.
"The Faith of the Seven has lost all dignity," she muttered, feeling a trace of shame herself.
"Saint Matthew forbade us from helping him."
"Then how badly was he beaten? Didn't he learn anything from failing to convert Euron last time?" Cersei grimaced.
The old sister's expression grew even stranger. "In fact, his experience converting Euron the other day only strengthened his resolve to convert demons."
"Why?"
(End of chapter)
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