True Dragon Enters the Nest 3

As if he had been slapped across the face, Princess Arianne's haughty behavior stung the sensitive Theon.

Humiliated and annoyed, he felt as though countless people around him were laughing at him.

"Theon."

The Lord Regent's gentle voice finally brought Theon back to his senses, and he looked over instinctively.

At that moment, the Martell princess was chatting merrily with Lady Tyrell, while Lord Regent Gryn took a few steps in his direction.

"Looks like the two of you got along rather well?"

There was obvious gloating in Lord Regent Gryn's tone, yet it unexpectedly put Theon at ease.

Still, Theon remained somewhat nervous before the Lord Regent. "She didn't much like my little... joke. Yes, that's right, my lord."

Gryn smiled soundlessly. "Arianne loves teasing people more than anything."

Tilting his head slightly, his smiling eyes flicked toward Lord Mace over there... who was stroking his beard with great dignity.

Then, lowering his voice slightly as he spoke to Theon, he said, "In truth, Hand Mace also finds Arianne's jokes quite a headache."

Theon was briefly stunned, then began to smile with equal glee, exerting considerable effort not to laugh aloud.

After a pause, Theon's eyes shifted. "Lord Gryn."

He looked around, his eyes full of furtive intent. "I hear Dorne women are especially passionate."

"Yes, Dorne's customs are somewhat distinctive compared to other places. They champion love between men and women."

Gryn first answered with a solemn expression, then patted Theon's shoulder intimately, like a close friend, and the two of them started walking in another direction.

Only after they had moved a little away from the crowd did he continue, "I've read many knights' travel journals about Dorne. They all praised it lavishly—and missed it deeply."

At that, Theon laughed so hard his shoulders shook. "For the