The Temptation of the Rose 4

King Gryn and Hand Mace sat in the seats of honor. Seated beside them were the close-branch roses, while the lesser roses served wine to the guests.

The Rose Lord's several crucial "choices" had not only allowed House Tyrell and the Reach to safely weather the Usurper's reign, but had also enabled the rose to bloom under the new order of the Targaryen-Crabb dynasty.

Everyone had to admit that he was one of the most outstanding lords in House Tyrell's history.

Thus, the military arts preached by Mace Tyrell drew ever greater admiration.

Seated somewhat farther away, Ser Theodore Tyrell—Elo's father, who had once followed Mace in besieging Storm's End—echoed, "Indeed. If Direwolf's reinforcements had arrived a few days later, Stannis's head would surely have been mounted above Storm's End's gates!"

"The Seven Gods are far too merciful," someone sighed softly, their silver goblet striking the table with a crisp ring.

"Hmph, Stannis even threatened to hold the Reach accountable!" another close-branch rose sneered.

"Heh heh, if you had eaten dead rats for a year, you'd be angry too!"

"At least the Tyrells would not be so hypocritical as to use the law as a pretext for venting private resentment."

The tent was filled with the mingled scents of wine, fine food, and perfumed powder. Other than several Kingsguard led by Gryn and Ser Brienne, everyone present bore Tyrell blood.

Gryn, temporarily shouldering the dual fate of family and kingdom, nodded to himself. Whether it was the elegant speech of the lesser roses or their proper manners, all displayed the refinement passed down through House Tyrell.

He felt that... the humble Crabb ought to learn well from House Tyrell's enduring prosperity.

[Family Motto +1]

Hand Mace laughed heartily once more, though a trace of regret was impossible to conceal