Hear me Roar - English version

CHAPTER 13 - You reminded him of her

"Long live the Queen," Joffrey whispers to me as we both exit the Throne Room.

               I turn my head toward him to see a new kind of smile. He isn't just proud; he is simply happy. Happy to have me by his side.

"Long live the Queen," I repeat, still in shock.

♐︎

               Seated beside my new husband, I smile at each of the lords coming to congratulate us. I don't know half of them, so you can imagine my boredom. After what I believe to be two hours, I rise from the table. I plant a kiss on Joffrey's lips to excuse myself.

               This is one of the few things I will keep from Baelish: his advice. I must ensure that Joffrey loves me, by any means possible. And, secondly, public opinion must be in my favour. In this case, for now, they must be touched by our idyll.

               This is what my life will look like from now on: a pure masquerade aimed at keeping Joffrey in my pocket, so he doesn't throw us into the dungeons.

               Sansa hasn't spoken to anyone since the start of the banquet; she is tormented by seeing the man she considers "the only love of her life" marry her sister. I sit down next to her after apologizing to yet another lord whose name I've preferred to forget.

"What do you want?" she snaps.

"What do you want, Your Majesty," I correct her with a small, mocking smile.

"Did you come only to torment me?"

"I came to make sure you were alright..."

"Do I look like I'm alright?"

               I try to take her hands, but she pushes me away.

"Do you think I'm doing this for pleasure?" I ask her, somewhat exasperated.

"Of course you are. You love seeing me in this state."

"I would never seek to hurt you..."

"Yet that is exactly what you are doing," she says sharply. "You have always done exactly as you pleased, even when it hurt others. You have always been selfish."

"Do you truly think I am acting in my own interests? I didn't accept this marriage because it would make me more powerful, more beautiful, or more important. I accepted because if it wasn't me, it was you."

"I wanted it to be me!"

               Fearful that someone might overhear us, I place my hand over my sister's mouth and whisper, looking her straight in the eyes: "Do you think the Lannisters protect us out of the goodness of their hearts? Do you think they keep us close because they have affection for us? Cersei has never felt affection for anyone but herself. We are only here because we secure the North for them and because as long as we are in the city, Robb cannot besiege it."

               Once I am sure she won't say anything stupider than what she has already said, I remove my hand.

"The Queen wants what's best for me," she murmurs. "She promised that Father would be released on the condition that he confesses to his crimes."

               I cannot believe she could hide such important information from me. I saw Father last night; I could have informed him, and perhaps he would be with us today. Sansa is hanging on Cersei's every word; she has lost all critical judgment.

♐︎

               The celebration is in full swing. After my discussion with Sansa, deciding it was late enough - and that she had done enough - I sent her to her room. I spent the rest of the evening dancing with my husband. I'm concluding that Joffrey isn't so unpleasant when he is being himself. Or, at least, when he wants to please his wife.