"You're going to duel Samwell Caesar tomorrow?"
Stafford stared at his son in astonishment.
"Yes, Father." Daven's anger had yet to subside. "That brat insulted House Lannister. Of course I have to teach him a lesson!"
"I think you're trying to win Lady Desmera's favor, aren't you?" Stafford exposed his son's true motive.
Daven answered bluntly, "That's right."
Stafford sighed and shook his head.
"I was just about to speak to you about this. We've been on Arbor for so many days, yet Lord Paxter has refused to give us a direct answer. I've already seen through him—he simply doesn't want to marry his daughter to you."
"Why?" Daven's eyes widened, and his voice suddenly rose. "Am I not good enough for his daughter? Or does he have someone better..."
He abruptly stopped there. The next moment, the young Lannister sprang from his seat, his booming voice making the doors and windows rattle.
"It's that frontier knight from The Reach, isn't it? He wants to marry his daughter to that damned frontier knight, doesn't he?"
Stafford nodded helplessly. "I suppose that's the case..."
"Why!" Daven stormed around the room, as though he wanted to draw his sword and hack someone apart at once. "How am I inferior to him? How am I inferior to him? No! I won't accept this! Tomorrow, I'll defeat him in the tourney grounds! I'll show Lord Paxter and Lady Desmera who the real knight is!"
"And what if you win?" Stafford snapped irritably. "Do you think Lady Desmera is some floral crown? Whoever wins gets to claim her?"
Daven stiffened at once, but he was still furious, standing there and breathing heavily.
Stafford sighed helplessly and consoled him. "Enough. The key to this isn't you. Lord Paxter must have had plans all along. I made