iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 504 Bread (End)

Princess Arianne's pupils shrank slightly. Although the news that the Redwyne fleet had suffered a disastrous defeat was shocking enough, for her at this moment, Prince Doran's handwritten letter had a unique "attraction".

She never forgot that her father's heart was more inclined to let her brother inherit Dorne...

Princess Arianne subconsciously pinched the hem of her skirt. She glanced at the letter in Green's hand casually and said with a smile, "Can I read it?"

Green's eyes fell on her, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, outlining a smile, and said: "Of course, after all, we are family."

"Okay, as you command, my Lord Regent."

Princess Arianne shrugged slightly, seemingly helpless. As she spoke, she stood up from the chair and then sat lightly in Green's arms.

She turned her head and gave him an extremely charming smile, one hand wrapped around his neck like a vine, and the other hand reached out naturally to take the letter.

Princess Arianne's large, dark eyes quickly read the contents of the letter. After a pause, she turned her gaze to Green and asked suspiciously, "It seems to be a very ordinary greeting and blessing from my father?"

Green patted her on the back, moved aside to let her sit down, then he left the chair, stood in front of the small round table, and reached out to pick up the golden wine glass.

"When he wrote the letter, he should have just learned that I had become the regent of the Seven Kingdoms. Judging from the time..."

Green thought for a moment, then continued, "In the next two days, he will know the crime of Lannister defiling the Baratheon bloodline. Well, I am guessing based on the speed of the raven."

"uh-huh."

Arianne imitated Green's previous action and raised the letter in her hand, raised her eyebrows, and said, "Are you sure I must see this letter?"

Green paused while pacing, and looked at her with his brown eyes: "You should not only focus on what Prince Doran wrote, but also pay attention to what he did not say. Under the seemingly calm surface of the lake of words, there are often hidden undercurrents."

Green gently shook the wine glass in his hand, and the red wine swayed slowly inside the glass, creating ripples.

He pretended to have a headache and said, "Your father seems to prefer to use more 'euphemistic' expressions. Read it again... When Prince Doran congratulated me on becoming the regent, he also mentioned his two sons, your two younger brothers, Quentin and Trystane."

Green took a sip of wine, let Arianne think for a moment, and then continued: "The Martell family loves each other, and the children are close to each other, but your name is the only one that does not appear in the letter..."

He spread his hands: "... This makes me think more, and even doubt his extremely obscure intentions, as well as the position of you, the heir, in Prince Daolang's heart."

Looking at her, the corners of his mouth curved slightly: "Is this an unintentional omission or a deliberate hint?"

Arianne's large breasts expanded and contracted involuntarily. After a long moment, she managed to speak: "Perhaps it is because... I am already in King's Landing... I don't need to..."

Her red lips trembled slightly: "…Repeat it in the letter, don't speculate too much."

"Oh, that reason sounds good."

Tap tap tap tap.

Green came over and touched Arianne's cheek, and lifted her chin with his fingers. Their eyes met in the air and they stared at each other for a long time. Suddenly, he asked, "Are you uneasy?"

Arianne avoided Green's eyes that seemed to see through everything, turned her little face to the other side, and said, "You guessed wrong. I have to tell you that my father loves me the most, and I have always been his most satisfactory heir. From beginning to end, my position in his heart has never wavered."

The candlelight flickered, and the light and shadows swayed on the wall.

Green just looked at her quietly without saying a word. The air around them seemed to be frozen, and the silence was suffocating.

After a moment of silence, Princess Arianne said jokingly with a slightly stiff expression: "If Prince Doran is really as you said... well, I'm just making an assumption, how would you respond, Your Highness?"

"If we follow your assumption..."

Green smiled and said, "I will take this as very good news. The need between each other is even stronger, and strong need can often build a more solid foundation of trust. I will trust you even more, Arianne Nymmellos Martell."

He added: "You are the heir of Dorne. I protect your legal rights. This has nothing to do with others."

After a pause, Princess Arianne licked her lips and said, "What do you need from me, Regent Green?"

…………

In the evening, the virgin lives.

"Father."

After Prime Minister Mace sat down, Margaery Tyrell handed him a cup of black tea.

After taking the teacup, Prime Minister Mace took a quick look at his daughter, who looked much better, and said, "Oh, my daughter, you are more beautiful than yesterday."

Little Rose smiled shyly and helplessly: "Thanks to your praise every day."

Mace Tyrell laughed heartily, stroked his beard, and said, "Everyone knows that I am the most honest duke in the Seven Kingdoms."

His laughter echoed in the house, as if it could dispel all the gloom.

Although her father was smiling, the perceptive Margaret soon realized that he had something else on his mind.

After a pause, her elk eyes moved slightly, she sipped her tea gracefully, and opened her rosy lips slightly: "Did the afternoon ceremony go smoothly?"

Prime Minister Metz stroked his beard and said thoughtfully: "It went smoothly. Everyone is very happy..."

After a slight pause, he suddenly raised his hand to signal the others in the room to leave.

After everyone filed out and only the father and daughter were left in the room, he told his daughter everything about the "dispute" that had taken place in the throne room.

"The Martells' daughter is always a troublemaker. Green has been too lenient with her."

Speaking of Arianne, Prime Minister Mace still looked angry. Margaery smiled softly, "Perhaps this is Princess Martell's way of gaining the trust of the Regent, or perhaps it is some means for her to maneuver in the center of power. Besides, the Regent is not someone who can be easily influenced, father."

Prime Minister Mace snorted and said contemptuously, "She underestimates Tyrell's status in the Seven Kingdoms. Dornish people always like to think highly of themselves."

He leaned his upper body slightly to one side, coughed lightly, and then said, "Margaret, when I discuss the matter of Flea Bottom tomorrow, what should I propose... that is, um, what should I say then?"

His cheeks puffed up. "At tomorrow's royal meeting, I will teach that girl from the Martell family a lesson so that she will never dare to go against me again."

"In fact, I think the Regent's plan is detailed and thorough enough. If it can be successfully implemented, I think even the odor permeating King's Landing will be reduced a lot. This is undoubtedly a good policy of extraordinary significance."

Margaret smiled softly and continued to advise: "Sometimes, supporting his decision is the most wise and appropriate way to support him, especially for extremely tedious and complicated government affairs such as population migration." After hearing his daughter's words, Prime Minister Metz was slightly startled, then nodded.

Then, his gaze turned to his daughter's face. He looked at her haggard little face with heartache, his heart full of pity.

On the road to the Red Keep of the Tyrell family, Margaery endured too much...

Alas, the Queen’s Tiara…

As the Inflatable Fish Duke sat there with complicated thoughts, Margaret's voice came over.

"Also, I want to report another more important matter to you."

She flexed her fingers and said, "The raven from Highgarden brought my brother's letter. The Redwyne fleet encountered..."

…………

The moonlight was hazy, like a layer of gauze gently covering the quiet Red Castle.

After seeing her father off, Margaret took a hot bath and then dressed up carefully with the careful care of Meg and Elo.

Then, accompanied by them, Margaery left the Maiden House and walked through the night to the throne room.

In the Regent's study, a warm fire was burning in the fireplace, and the jumping flames cast flickering light and shadows throughout the room.
"Your Highness Green."

When Margery came in, Green was sitting in front of the fireplace, reading an old-looking book.

Hearing the call, Green looked over, his eyes met hers, and a gentle smile appeared on his face: "Good night, beautiful lady."

He pointed to the exquisite black walnut chair on the other side of the fireplace: "Please take a seat."

The fire crackled. Green picked up the wine jug on the small round table beside him. The wine swirled in the jug, making a pleasant "splashing" sound, and slowly poured two glasses of wine.

The wine flowing out of the pot's mouth formed a graceful arc, like a flowing ruby.

After Margaery took off her cloak and sat down, he handed her one of the cups.

"Thank you."

Margery took the wine glass, took a sip of Summer Red, and said nothing more. She seemed to be hesitating about how to start.

Green leaned back in his chair, his eyes slowly falling on the little rose who was like a delicate flower tonight, charming and fragile.

In the light of the fire, she looked even more charming and fragile, like a flower that needed careful care.

Not long after, he broke the silence and asked directly: "Margaery, are you here for Euron Greyjoy's matter?"

Margery paused in shaking the wine glass, causing the wine in the glass to ripple slightly.

After a pause, she raised her head and gave him a faint smile: "Your Highness, I think no one can resist your charm. I mean not only women, but also men."

Seeing that Little Rose rarely joked, Green couldn't help but smile: "This is the highest compliment I have ever received. Your words are like sweet honey, nourishing my heart. Thank you, dear lady."

Margery also chuckled, a smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, and her watery eyes were full of the man in front of her, as if he was the only figure left in the whole world.

After meeting her gaze for a while, Green shifted his gaze to the flickering flames in the fireplace. After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke: "Kleber and Tyrell are an extremely reliable offensive and defensive alliance. As allies, your enemies are naturally my enemies as well."

After a pause, he took a sip of wine and continued, "In fact, ever since the Crow's Eye captured the Iron Islands, I have been sending people to secretly investigate his movements, but the sea is vast and his whereabouts are erratic."

He took another sip of wine. "My original plan was to wait until I had stabilized the situation in the Seven Kingdoms before I could find time to deal with that pirate. But I didn't expect him to be so crazy and wantonly trample on the hard-earned peace."

Margery slowly stood up and stared at the blazing fire in the fireplace, the dancing flames reflected in her eyes.

After a moment of silence, she opened her rosy lips and said, "Your Highness, my father hopes to gain the support of Crabbe's fleet and have him lead the remaining ships in the Reach to personally pursue the Greyjoy fleet. He believes that only such an action will be the most powerful response to Euron's arrogant behavior."

After saying that, she looked at Green with a hint of helplessness.

Lord Green has recently become more accustomed to the new way the Tyrells communicate with him.

Hand Mace is often in public, nodding his support to the Regent, demonstrating the strong friendship between Crabbe and Tyrell.

If there is a complex matter that is difficult to decide at the moment... Margaery will meet with the Regent in private on behalf of the Tyrell family as she is doing now to discuss the relevant matters together.

“I do not doubt the Duke of Highgarden’s combat ability, but before we formulate a combat plan, we must fully consider the strengths and weaknesses of both sides.

For example, although they have powerful firepower and solid defense, they are not as flexible and fast as the longships of the Iron Islands, which are known for their speed.

If we cannot engage in direct combat, it will be difficult to catch up with the Crow's Eye fleet during the pursuit. Once we are caught in such a situation, our fleet will appear to be very passive and fall into an extremely disadvantageous position. "

Green turned his head to look at Margaret and continued, "From what I understand, the Redwyne Fleet was attacked not only because the Fleet Commander was not vigilant enough.

The most important reason for the defeat was the sudden change in wind direction on the sea, which threw the Redwyne fleet's originally favorable voyage into chaos, giving the Crow's Eye fleet an opportunity to launch an attack."

After she finished speaking, Margaret nodded and said, "Yes, my brother did mention this in his letter..."

As she spoke, her eyes trembled slightly: "Your Highness, do you suspect that there is something... strange here?"

Green rubbed his temple and said, "Before, the Night's Watch warned us that they had discovered the legendary White Walkers. Now, something that cannot be explained by common sense has suddenly happened. I have to wonder... whether the Crow's Eye, who claims to have sailed throughout the known world, has mastered some kind of legendary evil magic."

[Known World: refers to the four continents of Westeros, Essos, Sothoryos, and Ultos that humans have set foot on, as well as many smaller islands.]

Margaret opened her eyes wide in disbelief, and Green continued, "If there is really magic to help, Prime Minister Mace's expedition will only continue to enhance the Crow's Eye's unrivaled reputation, and the consequences that follow will be unimaginable."

Green drank the rest of the wine in the glass in one gulp and said, "Let's choose a burial place for him."

Margaret turned to face him: "You mean..."

Looking at her, Green nodded slightly: "As long as the bread we prepare is sweet enough, the cunning and greedy sea monster will crawl ashore."

(End of this chapter)