Ned devotes himself to ruling.

A week passed, Ned sat the Iron Throne, trying to deal with the kingdoms' issues with wisdom, fairness and strength, he attended council sessions, pondering the worsening situation with Renly and Stannis. If people viewed the King of Ice as a usurper, he would at least try to be a usurper who ruled well.

Sometime into the next week, Ned was touring King's Landing. Though it rarely had much effect, part of him felt compelled to explain his actions to the common folk. Most of them viewed Robert as a liberator, a fun-loving King cut down before his time by this taciturn imposter from the North.

Eddard entered a tavern, only a couple of guards at his side. Surely, he could bring some of the citizenry onside by hoisting a flagon with them, explaining how Robert's actions had pushed him to do what he'd done?

"King Robert used to come in here a lot." A comely flame-haired serving girl, less than half his age informed him. "Will you be doing the same, King Stark?"

"Perhaps." Eddard said, giving her an attempt at a friendly smile that came out more like a grimace. Redheads weren't his thing, though the lass was undeniably attractive. So much so that he didn't quite notice the dark, murderous the innkeep and a few of his customers were passing.

"Ooh, he was a bloody good man, Robert was." She coos whorishly. "Always made even the smallest of folk part of his circle. Will you be doing the same, King Stark?"

As if to emphasise her point, the girl drew close, grinding her sex, Eddard could feel her dampening through her thin garment, against him.