iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 457: Rose in the Chapel
King's Landing, the mansion of Matus Rowan.

In the chapel, Margaery Tyrell, wearing a grey coarse robe, prayed devoutly with the old nun.

The old nun, also in a gray robe, opened her eyes and said, "Child, we can end our morning prayers now. May the gods bless you."

After a pause, Margaret slowly opened her eyes, her elk eyes glistening with water: "I want to pray for a while longer, and ask the Seven Gods to hear my confession as soon as possible."

The old nun stood up and said kindly, "Very good, but the sisters outside have already brought the food. If we make them wait too long, it will be an additional sin. Come, I will help you up, child."

After saying this, without waiting for Margaret's response, the old nun pulled her up roughly.

Margaret let the old nun drag her away. She did not show any strange expression: "Thank you for your teaching, Sister Moller."

The scrutiny in the old nun's eyes disappeared, and she nodded gently: "Although there are only water and bread, they are all gifts from the gods."

"Yes, thank the gods."

…………

Margery ate the dark bread in small bites calmly, while Sister Moller stood beside her and watched her every move without any concealment.

She picked up the wooden cup, took a sip of water, and said, "Sister Moeller, if you're sorry, has the time for my trial been set?"

The old nun's pointed face was like an axe. She looked at Margaret who was asking the question before she said, "Child, if you are tired of praying, I can reduce the time appropriately."

Margaery shook her head. "I have never felt so peaceful, nor have I ever felt so close to the Seven Gods in heaven."

There was a hint of excitement in her voice. "Even after the trial, I will pray every day like I do now. I am curious, so that I can prove my innocence to the gods in heaven as soon as possible."

The old nun pursed her thin lips into a thin line of denial: "…The Archbishop has not yet informed us of the specific time."

Hearing this, Margaery showed a regretful look on her face. She frowned slightly and said, "Please forgive my offense. Is it because my father stopped sending rose bread to King's Landing? Oh, Gods, forgive me. He loves me, so he was so impulsive."

"The gods will not blame a father for loving his daughter."

After a moment of silence, Sister Morel looked at Margaery and continued, "It is the Queen Mother Lannister who is still unwilling to confess to the Seven Gods. The High Bishop hopes that you will accept the judgment of the gods together."

Margaret's pupils couldn't help but shrink slightly. She had to admit that the lioness was unexpectedly... strong.

Margaery clasped her hands together, closed her eyes for a moment, and blessed, "Oh, may the Crone (one of the Seven) grant her guidance."

"The gods will soon hear her confession. It won't take many days. Now, finish the remaining bread and don't delay the midday prayer."

When Margery swallowed the last bite of black bread, there was a sudden noise outside the door, and then the door of the chapel was pushed open with great force.

The figure of the Minister of the Navy, Count Matus Rowan, appeared at the door. He was wearing a white tight-fitting coat with the Rowan family's tree emblem embroidered in gold thread on his chest. His left hand lightly grasped the hilt of the sword at his waist.

Behind him were a dozen tall and strong green-robed guards of the Tyrell family, two of whom were carrying two young nuns who were guarding outside the door.

Sister Moller angrily stopped Count Matus and said, "What are you doing? Let them go! They are nuns of the Seven Gods. You are blaspheming the Seven Gods!"

Count Matus glanced at the old nun coldly, nodded to Margaret behind her, and then said, "Sister Moller, please leave. I want to talk to Miss Margaret for a while."

Sister Moller's voice was harsh: "According to the order of the Archbishop, before the trial, her every word and action must be supervised by me."

Count Matus snorted contemptuously: "If the High Sparrow has any objections to this, he can express them directly to the Duke of Metz. If necessary, I can also convey it on his behalf."

Seeing that Sister Moller was still trying to protest, Count Matus made a gesture and two men in green robes stepped forward and forcibly dragged her away.

After the door of the chapel was closed, Margaret, who was sitting on a worn wooden chair, chuckled, "Count Matus, you might make the sparrows feel scared."

Count Matus shrugged: "They are madmen who like to dance on the tip of a sword."

His eyes swept over Margaery's bare feet and the old robes she was wearing. He hesitated and sighed, "Miss Margaery, although the army of the Reach is attacking Storm's End, the Duke of Mace can return to King's Landing with his troops at any time. Even if I expel all the nuns here, the High Sparrow will tolerate it. If you are worried about the trial of the Great Sept of Baelor, we can negotiate directly with the High Sparrow. After all, Queen Cersei has been imprisoned, and our purpose..."

Margaery shook her head slightly: "Lord Matus, thank you for your love for me, but I will not refuse to accept the trial of the Seven Gods with Queen Cersei."

She stood up from the wooden chair, slowly walked in front of Matus, and continued: "Only in this way can others not blame Tyrell, because I am also a victim."

Lord Matus's eyes moved, and he said, "Others... You are referring to Lord Green." Margaery smiled, "Lord Green is Cersei's admirer after all. Tyrell should avoid unnecessary trouble."

Lord Matus frowned and said, "In fact, I doubt whether Lord Green really loves Queen Cersei."

Margaery chuckled again: "Perhaps only the gods know whether he loves her or not."

Then, her smile faded. "Besides Lord Green, there is also His Majesty Tommen. The king will grow up sooner or later. For the future of the Reach, the 'sword' that hurt his mother can only belong to the High Sparrow."

Count Matus nodded slightly: "I understand. I will protect your safety, Miss Margaret."

"I will remember your care for me."

After a pause, Margaret continued, "You are in a hurry to see me. May I ask what happened?"

"Yes, countless black crows arrived in King's Landing early this morning, and they brought the claim of Archbishop Zari, who was comforting refugees and repairing the cathedral in the Riverlands before the High Sparrow became the High Bishop."

As he spoke, Count Matus handed over one of the letters brought by the raven.

Taking the letter, Margaret read what was written on it. After a while, her brown eyes trembled slightly.

The Great Cathedral of Heron?!

After reading the letter, Margaret paced back and forth for a few steps and asked, "What is the attitude of the High Sparrow and the sparrows towards this man who claims to be the Archbishop of the Great Sept of Harron?"

Lord Matus shrugged. "Ten thousand sparrows have gathered in the marble square of the Great Sept., axes raised, begging the High Sparrow to let them march to Harrenhal."

Margaery smiled slightly. Her voice was soft and there was no sarcasm in her tone. "It seems they have also learned the lord's game."

Count Matus seemed to be sighing: "There are many down-and-out knights who have joined the Sparrows. Perhaps they were taught by them."

Margery nodded, then paced back and forth for a while and said, "Count Matus, given Archbishop Zari's character, he would not have the courage to stand up against the High Sparrow, nor would he have the strength to build a new cathedral."

Count Matus nodded solemnly, pondered for a moment, and said, "It is no coincidence that Duke Green is gathering refugees in the Riverlands."

Margaret also nodded: "Archbishop Zari should have the support of Duke Green."

"Miss Margaery, this is a variable that often brings about uncontrollable accidents. Please forgive me for being frank, but if we want to control the 'chaos' in King's Landing, the trial in the Great Cathedral needs to end as soon as possible."

After listening to Lord Matus's advice, Margaery thought for a while and replied, "Yes, we can't let our guard down... Sister Moller told me that Queen Cersei is still unwilling to repent."

After taking a few steps, she looked up at him and said, "Find a suitable time and have a private talk with the High Sparrow on behalf of Tyrell. Lord Matus, I will write to the Duke of Highgarden this afternoon and ask him to make preparations to return to King's Landing in advance."

"Duke Green... Archbishop Zari..."

Margaret murmured for a moment and then said, "Please bother me to inform Lady Olenna of what happened here as soon as possible..."

"As ordered."

After finishing the conversation, Count Matus walked out of the chapel and signaled the green-robed nuns to release Moller and the other nuns.

By evening, Lord Matus had written a letter and handed it to his squire, asking the maester to prepare a raven to fly to Highgarden.

After finishing the affairs of the Reach, the Minister of the Navy finally had time to think about the problem of the Royal Fleet. First, the Redwyne Fleet, and then the Bastard Commander's fleet suddenly defected, leaving Blackwater Bay without any defense.

In Blackwater Bay today, apart from Crab's Mermaid Harbor Fleet and Dragonstone Fleet, there is only a dock guard fleet consisting of a small number of small boats.

Thinking of this, Count Matus's expression became strange. Would he be the first Minister of the Navy without a fleet?

Buckle buckle.

There was a sudden knock on the door, and after hearing the response, Matus's guard captain pushed the door open.

"My lord, Lord Davos Seaworth requests an audience with you. He is visiting in the name of Lord Glynn Crabbe."

"Onion Knight?"

(End of this chapter)