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He gently placed the letter on the table, trying his best to calm his emotions. Gilbert had never seen such a gloomy expression on Cole's face.
'What exactly was written in that letter?' Gilbert couldn't help but wonder.
"Black wings, black message, ser."
The content of the letter didn't cause Cole much distress. The news of a stranger's death didn't stir much sadness in his heart. Instead, it was a profound sense of frustration and loneliness that settled deep within him.
"Leave me alone for a while," Cole said.
Before sunset, Gilbert didn't see the Prince of Storm's End in the castle again. Some claimed to have seen him walking alone towards the coast, while others said the prince stayed in his study all day and never emerged.
The next day, as dawn broke over the coastline, Gilbert saw Cole again, and he seemed to have transformed back into the vibrant warrior he once was. At dawn, His Excellency the Prince was already swinging his unusual iron spear in the training yard.
Though Cole's iron spear displayed great power, it ultimately lacked the finesse of true combat. His swordsmanship, however, had improved significantly through constant fighting and training.
After his training, he had lunch and then began to attend to castle affairs.
The continent of Westeros is vast, nearly the size of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Stormlands alone has at least two or three provinces, each with a population of no less than a million. Governing such a territory is no easy feat, especially with the need to keep the lords in check. Cole had established nearly six tiers of troops throughout the realm. With nobles and highborns gathered around Storm's End Castle, matters became even more complicated.
The newly implemented legion farming system, hastily put in place based on a rough plan, was now revealing numerous problems. The most serious issue at the moment was the high number of deserters. The corrupted military discipline desperately needed his attention and rectification.
But what weighed most heavily on Cole's mind was how to heal the land from the wounds of war and how to guide the people of the Stormlands through the long winter that might last for decades.
"Your Highness!" Cole ran into the Onion Knight the moment he stepped out of the bathroom; Davos seemed to have been waiting for a long time.
"Whose complaint is it today, Prime Minister?" Cole offered him a peach and took one for himself.
"A merchant is suing Lord Heywood Fell for violating and killing his daughter," Davos said, producing a petition. "At the same time, Ser Criston Hope wishes for you to seek justice for him. He claims savages are raiding his territory."
"Do you know who I think of every time I eat a peach?" Cole asked, reading the lawsuit as he ate.
"Renly," he murmured to himself. "I remember serving as King Stannis's standard-bearer then. I met Renly in a clearing in the woods. It was an unpleasant meeting between brothers. All the ministers advised the late king not to fall into Renly's trap, but he said, 'If I don't go to see Renly, the world will think I am afraid of my brother.'"
"His Majesty the King never lacked courage."
Cole nodded. "But sometimes he could be terribly stubborn." He wiped the juice from his mouth and continued, "I was always vigilant of every move the opposing knight made, even Renly's. If he drew his sword, I would rush forward immediately. When the meeting was about to break up, Renly pulled a peach from his arms. He seemed to view this as a noble banquet, not a war."
"Lord Renly has always been the favorite at banquets and is deeply loved by the nobles," Davos remarked, while Stannis was the opposite.
"What do you think they would do if the late king and his brother were to preside over this trial separately?" Cole handed him back the pleadings concerning Earl Heywood Fell.
Davos had no idea how Renly would conduct a trial, but if Stannis found Ser Heywood guilty, he would surely be sent to the Wall for the rest of his life.
"Let's go and hear what Master Heywood has to say," Cole said, leading the way directly towards the hall.
The castle hall was already filled with all sorts of people—merchants, nobles, and knights creating a din.
"His Royal Highness the Prince has arrived! Be quiet!" Jose shouted loudly. He was wearing a suit of armor and stood with the castle guards on both sides of the hall corridor.
Cole took the main seat, with Maester Pyros and Davos seated to his left and right.
Heywood Fell stood before two family knights, placed his hands on his chest, and saluted slightly. "Greetings to you, Your Majesty the Prince."
Cole nodded coldly in response.
"Ser Heywood, you are accused of assaulting and killing Ms. Meera. What is your defense?"
"Sir, I swear on my honor that this never happened." Heywood glanced at the plump merchant standing on the other side. He seemed overwhelmed by the scene, and his face turned slightly pale.
"In your opinion, this is a false accusation?" Cole asked.
"Yes, sir. If Master Genero believes I had something to do with his daughter's death, then I am willing to pay ten gold dragons to comfort him in his grief for losing his loved one. But I will never admit to any slanderous words or charges against me." He turned and announced to the entire hall.
"So, Master Genero, what is your testimony regarding this?" Cole asked the merchant.
Sweat beaded on the merchant's forehead, and his demeanor was very reserved. "Your Majesty, I am a leather merchant, running a business in town."
"Don't be nervous. At Storm's End, I will provide you with justice and protection. Of course, if you are slandering a noble of the kingdom, then I also have the right to judge you. Please continue, sir."
"Yes, yes," he nodded repeatedly, then hesitantly said, "Ser Heywood ordered a batch of cashmere from me before. Yesterday, I asked Meera to deliver the goods, but she didn't come back for a day and a night until someone found her body outside the alley on the city street."
His words gradually dissolved into sobs.
"Then how did you determine that Ser Heywood Fell was the murderer?"
"The tavern where he stayed is owned by my relative, 'Perry,'" the merchant explained. "Perry saw Meera enter Heywood's room."
"I heard that Perry in the tavern is a well-known liar," Heywood suddenly interrupted.
"Now is not the time for your testimony, sir," Cole reminded him.
"Excuse me, sir, why don't you let Perry come here in person and see what he says?"
"If he is your witness, he will have that opportunity. Now, continue your statement, Genero."
"Before the Silent Sisters collected her body, I saw marks on her neck, and her chest and body were also bruised, and her breeches were stained with blood. My lord, she has never had sex, I promise you." The merchant was now openly weeping.
"Besides this, do you have any other testimony or witnesses?"
"No, sir."
"Then go and find Perry," Cole ordered the guards.