Gryn smiled with delight and said, "Miss Margaery, you are even more charming now, praise the Gods."
Little Rose smiled slightly and said, "Welcome, Earl, who has come from afar."
As she spoke, she gently extended the back of her hand toward Gryn.
Gryn bowed slightly, lifted Little Rose's fingertip, and lightly tapped the back of her fair hand.
After the greetings were finished, Margaery's eyes flickered slightly as she looked at Brienne, the "beauty" standing behind Gryn; she was quite conspicuous.
Seeing Margaery Tyrell looking at her, Brienne glanced at Gryn first, then bowed slightly shyly again. "Good day, Queen Tyrell, no, my lady."
Margaery walked up to the tall Brienne and said earnestly, " Brienne, I'm so glad to see you're alright."
Brienne lowered her head, her voice filled with shame. "I'm sorry, I didn't protect... him."
She added, "They... many people suspect I'm the murderer."
Margaery reached out her hand, her slender hand grasping her large one. She shook her head slightly and said, " Brienne, you are not the murderer. I believe your vow and loyalty."
Brienne's thick lips moved slightly, and she said, "I will avenge him."
Margaery's face fell with sorrow. She patted the rough back of the hand and said, "You served him faithfully, and now I wish you were alive and well, Brienne."
Seeing Brienne remain silent, Gryn spoke up at the opportune moment, "Miss Margaery, please rest assured, Brienne is my squire, and I admire her greatly."
Margaery nodded slightly, seemingly unperturbed by Brienne's awkwardness, and said sincerely, " Brienne, congratulations. Lord Gryn is an excellent knight."
The garden of the Longtable Hall was filled with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers, where Gryn and Margaery strolled.
Little Rose's voice was clear and melodious. " Earl Mathis told me that my father has already set off from Highgarden, and he will gather some troops along the way."
Gryn's brown eyes flickered slightly, and he pondered for a moment before asking, "Miss Margaery, do you know the exact time?"
Margaery shook her head slightly and said, "It all happened so suddenly, I don't think I'll ever forget that night."
Her expression darkened. "The esteemed Earl Randyll has been assassinated... My Ten Blades guards (Chapter 79) sacrificed themselves to protect me..."
Little Rose raised her head slightly, paused, and took a soft breath.
After taking a few steps, Little Rose turned to look at Gryn, her eyes slightly red. She forced a smile and said, " Lord Gryn, I think you won't have to wait too long. You can wait patiently. 🐙☢ ♣☢"
The atmosphere was somewhat somber. Little Rose "sharing" her sorrows and joys with Gryn? Was that even possible?!
All I can say is... the female players in Game of Thrones are getting more and more sophisticated.
Compared to before, she's been paying a little more attention to me, cough.
Seeing this, a look of pity appeared on Gryn's face, but he quickly concealed it... However, these changes did not escape a pair of wet eyes.
Gryn looked away, cleared his throat, and said, "Miss Margaery, I've seen countless deaths since I was a child... I'm sorry, I can't truly empathize with you."
Margaery simply nodded silently.
After a moment of silence, Gryn sighed, "Miss Margaery, do you remember that incident? Last year, the Plant Maze in Highgarden... I had an unspoken suggestion (Chapter 85)."
Margaery for a moment and said, "Of course I remember. You seemed quite regretful back then?"
Gryn coughed lightly and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't have much influence back then, and it wasn't a good time."
He smiled slightly, "Even the same sentence can have different effects depending on the context."
He stopped in his tracks. "And..."
After a pause, Gryn shrugged and said, "Miss Margaery, I must admit... your beauty captivates me, making it impossible for me to deceive you. My heart compels me to be honest with you, and perhaps this temporary concealment is the limit of what I can do."
As Gryn finished speaking, Margaery's eyes welled up with tears. She turned her face to the side and said softly, "I will cherish the gift you gave me; it is so sweet, my knight."
She turned to look at Gryn and said, " Lord Gryn, you always have a way of making me happy. Thank you for your compliment."
Gryn bowed slightly and said, "May the Gods forever favor you, beautiful and charming lady."
Margaery returned the bow gently and said, "May the Gods bless you with victory, valiant knight."
Gryn was taken aback. Seeing this, Margaery chuckled and said, " Lord Gryn, I think the news of the battle between Crackclaw Point and the Vale will soon be known throughout the Seven Kingdoms."
She added, "Normally, you should be in Gulltown right now, but I was actually a little surprised to see you in the Longtable Hall."
"I must admit, your wisdom also deeply fascinates me..."
After a pause, Gryn spread his hands and continued, "Miss Margaery, I have brought you a real gift, which is also the suggestion I didn't voice in the Plant Maze."
Margaery's lips curled into a sweet smile as she said, "You found the right occasion, and I... have I finally received your suggestion?"
Gryn made a gesture of respect and solemnly said, "I have brought you the crowns of the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms."
Margaery's pupils contracted sharply, and after standing still for a moment, she suddenly moved closer to Gryn.
Margaery looked up at Gryn, her long, slender hand resting on Gryn chest, her movements elegant and gentle.
She paused for a moment, then asked, "Sir Gryn, who are you representing?"
Gryn looked down at Little Rose and replied, "Miss Margaery, I represent the King and the Small Council."
Margaery's brown eyes flickered slightly as she said, " Gryn Green, Stannis's army will soon march on King's King's Landing."
"This is a rare opportunity..."
As he spoke, Gryn took a half step back, his face slightly embarrassed, and said, "I'm sorry, you're making me a little... nervous..."
Margaery laughed; her laughter was melodious.
He cleared his throat and continued, "Miss Margaery, Stannis Baratheon only appears powerful, and..."
A glint appeared in his eyes. "If Lord Mace could make him eat rat meat fifteen years ago, I believe I can make him do it again fifteen years later."
Little Rose smiled radiantly, " Lord Gryn, I think my father will be very pleased to see you."
Gryn looked up into the distance and said, "Miss Margaery, the Seven Kingdoms are in chaos, and the kingdom desperately needs a pillar like Lord Mace."
Little Rose blinked, and Lord Gryn still looked on with reverence when her father was mentioned.
Did Lord Gryn admire her? Yes, she could feel his infatuation with her.
But... Lord Gryn was just one of her many admirers, not much different.
This makes sense, because Lord Gryn is very clear-headed, and she thinks he is well aware of the difference between himself and his own status, so he would never do anything else offensive.
Just the right amount of affection... just the right distance... a sweet tongue... an honest heart... these things made her feel comfortable and happy when she was with him.
All of these are reasonable, or rather... aren't they a bit too reasonable?!
Considering Lord Gryn's deep respect for his father... although she was confident in her own beauty, she now had some doubts... Could Lord Gryn's affection for her... be a case of loving someone because of their father?
Is it possible? Margaery had to admit that the person in front of her could easily throw her thoughts into confusion.
Margaery smiled gently, then gestured before taking a step.
As she walked, she said, " Lord Gryn, I'm quite curious about you. If it's permissible... could you satisfy my curiosity?"
Gryn's eyes flickered slightly, and he gestured for them to proceed.
Margaery's doe-like eyes looked at Gryn and asked, " Lord Gryn, where do the Marigold bloom?"
The astute Lord Gryn could sense Little Rose's wariness towards him... well, it seemed to always be like that.
"It would be my pleasure to serve you..."
Gryn smiled and said, "To be honest, your question concerns Crabb's future."
He held up three fingers and continued, "One on Crackclaw Point, one in the Vale, and one in King's Landing."
"Oh?" Margaery's eyes flickered almost imperceptibly; she seemed quite interested in Gryn's answer.
Gryn withdrew his hand and slowly said, "The first Marigold I referred to was the restoration of the House Crabb's rule on Crackclaw Point, and that goal has been achieved. The second Marigold I referred to was the hatred between Crackclaw Point and the Vale. I think only a decisive victory can extinguish the flames of hatred."
He sighed softly, "I vividly remember the Red Keep's blockade of Crackclaw Point for over a decade, so Crabb wanted to have his own voice within the Red Keep, and that's how the third Marigold about."
Gryn shrugged. "I hope I can achieve that soon, and... thank you for listening, Miss Margaery."
Margaery shook her head slightly, and said with a smile, " Lord Gryn, thank you for satisfying my curiosity, and thank you for your honesty."
"It would be my pleasure to serve you."
After walking silently for a while, Margaery slowly stopped.
She turned to Gryn and said, " Lord Gryn, I will convey your goodwill to Lord of Highgarden as soon as possible."
Stormlands, Stannis Camp.
At night, Davos Seaworth sat alone by the campfire.
His "god" easily reclaimed the inheritance left by his brother, and the camp was filled with laughter. But the Onion Knight could not laugh like the others; his brow was furrowed.
Before their raid on the Bitterbridge camp, the Reach army commander, Randyll House Tarly, died under mysterious circumstances, forcing him to recall the Shadow Magic he had witnessed that night, though he didn't want to remember it.
Most importantly, Stannis had aged considerably, which greatly worried him.
Sir Davos gazed at Kingsroad and murmured to himself: Everything has a price.
Suddenly, Davos felt a strange blush creeping over him. He turned his head warily and saw Melisandre dressed in red.
Melisandre's voice was low and hoarse. " Onion Knight, are you alright?"
When did she arrive there? He found the Red Priestess's behavior increasingly frightening.
Sir Davos said, trying to keep his voice as calm as possible, "I'm fine."
Melisandre moved her feet and slowly sat down by the campfire, neither too close nor too far from the Onion Knight.
Her red eyes gleamed in the firelight. "Sir, everyone is celebrating the victory."
Sir Davos picked up the leather wine bag, took a swig, and said, " Red Priestess, I might prefer to celebrate alone."
Melisandre's lips curled upwards into a smile as she said, "I hope I haven't bothered you, Onion Knight."
Sir Davos simply shrugged.
Melisandre also looked towards Kingsroad and said, " King Stannis is about to ascend to the pinnacle of glory. This is the guidance of the Lord of Light, and you will witness it with your own eyes."
Davos withdrew his gaze, and couldn't help but say, "I only witnessed the aging King Stannis."
Melisandre chuckled softly, pointed to the campfire, and said, "Sir Davos, I am like it. I am the tool of the Lord of Light, and also the tool the Lord of Light assigned to the Son of Flame. My purpose in existence is singular... and that is to block the darkness. Do you understand?"
Davos's character wouldn't allow him to lie, so he said directly, "Lady Melisandre, you are the mother of darkness."
Melisandre laughed again, "The valiant Onion Knight is afraid of a shadow?"
Her tone softened. "The shadow is the servant of light, the child of flame, yet the king's flame burns too weakly to draw even a fraction more, lest it cost him his life."
Her voice held a certain allure. "I told you there was a burning fire within you (Chapter 214), yet you haven't visited my room... As King Stannis's Onion Knight, I promise to bring you unprecedented pleasure, and I will use the flame of your life to bring your king..."
"A terrifying monster."
With a cold reply, Sir Davos frowned and said, "Lady Melisandre, I have no desire to have anything to do with you or your god."
Melisandre sighed and said, "Sir Davos, you are an upright and kind knight, yet you cannot see the truth of the world."
Smugglers need more courage to face the Red Priestess, so Sir Davos took another swig of wine, which helped to lessen his fear.
He raised a question, "The truth? Aren't the things I saw with my own eyes the truth?"
"Clearly perceive the true nature of the world, truth surrounds you, and all things become clear at a glance."
Melisandre looked up at the night sky and continued, " The Long Night is dark and treacherous, the day is bright and prosperous. Black and white. Ice and fire. Hate and love, bitterness and sweetness, woman and man, pain and joy, winter and summer, evil and justice."
The large ruby around her neck seemed to pulsate rhythmically. "Death or life, the opposition has existed since ancient times, war is everywhere."
Davos raised an eyebrow and asked, "War?"
Melisandre's gaze shifted to Davos, and she nodded slightly, replying, "Yes, war."