The Legendary Bastard

"That Snow is incredibly rude!"

"Exactly, all illegitimate children are ill-mannered and love to spout nonsense."

A group of Maiden around Margaery's age surrounded her; these were mostly Maiden from the collateral branches of House Tyrell or House Redwyne.

They were all Margaery's maids, and the girls were all quite beautiful. The sight of them gathered together was so exquisite that only a profusion of flowers could describe it.

But no one dared to have any designs on them, because the guards who stayed close by were not far away, protecting these noble girls.

It is said that serving others is a skill, especially since only nobles often know how to serve other nobles. Those who can serve nobles are not ordinary village women brought from the countryside.

For example, Tywin's deceased wife Joanna once served as a handmaiden to the Mad King's wife Rhaella for a period of time. Margaery's handmaides or companions were also from the collateral branches of House Tyrell, or girls from House Redwyne and Hightower.

At this moment, Margaery and her girlfriends are discussing Jon is currently enjoying great popularity.

However, Jon's reputation among the noble ladies was very poor because he had rudely slandered Margaery and her brothers.

"This Jon isn't just offending me and my brothers." Margaery took a small bite of a pastry but put it down; it was red bean paste, too sweet, and not to her liking. "He's provoking my father, trying to make him do something wrong."

"Then he shouldn't have said such rude things; he has absolutely no manners." The speaker was Margaery's cousin, Lia Tyrell.

Lia is a girl who loves music and the harp. She is mostly melancholic and likes to play the tragic stories of knights.

Honor, romance, and even tragedy are what he pursues.

If Jon had gone south to avenge his father, killed Joffrey, and then been killed himself, perhaps he would have composed a song for Jon. But for now...

She couldn't stand people who would stop at nothing to achieve victory.

Lia's assessment was quickly echoed by the other Maiden, and they all joined in criticizing Jon Snow.

"I heard he's now a duke."

"It is the Lord of Harrenhal."

"He definitely won't live long, and his family will soon be wiped out. Hmph, he deserves it all!"

Seeing her female companions' complaints, Margaery forced a smile and put down the pastry in her hand again. The golden dates inside were too sweet for her.

Feeling somewhat agitated, Margaery thought about her two engagements.

The first was Renly, Renly was assassinated. The second was Joffrey, Jon was recently killed by Joffrey.

What about next time? If her fiancé were to die suddenly again, she would probably go from being famous to being infamous.

No matter how beautiful she is, or how generous her dowry, who would dare to marry her?

Of course, it's impossible for Margaret to be worried about getting married; it's just that given Margaery status, there aren't many people who are good enough for her, so her choices are naturally limited.

She could have easily chosen those less prestigious noble families, but as Margaery, she was unwilling to accept that.

When Renly and Joffrey were still alive, her ultimate goal was to become queen, but now, looking around, there is no one suitable to marry her.

Margaery felt a little empty and lost. Looking at her female companions who were joking around, she suddenly said, "I'm suddenly a little tired. I'm going to sleep."

"Would you like me to sleep with you?" asked Airo Tyrell, who was also a maid.

Maids, female companions, bed partners—as the daughter of a duke, Margaery was never short of people around her.

"No need, I'll just take a nap." With that, Margaery left alone. After all, what danger could she possibly encounter while inside Highgarden?

Margaery walked through the garden where butterflies fluttered, watching the maids come and go, bowing to her.

But she had no energy to change her expression. Having only recently come of age, she was suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness against fate.

If Renly doesn't work out, and neither does Joffrey, then who will be his final destination?

I'll be getting married in a year, or at most two years. But who will it be?

Margaery was somewhat annoyed and unknowingly found herself in a study. The guard at the door said that Olenna and the Steward of Highgarden were inside, so she decided to go and see them.

As Olenna's carefully groomed granddaughter, she has the right to attend all family meetings.

As soon as they got close, they heard an angry shout coming from inside, "How can the roses of Highgarden be planted next to a dog kennel? This Stannis has gone too far!"

"Without the Dragonstone fleet, he's nothing but a deer without its antlers. To dare make such a request, I think he's lost his sense of self." The speaker was a man, Margaery's cousin, Garth.

Garth was older and fatter than Mays, known as "Fat Garth." Uncle Garth seemed to have some stomach problems, but Margaret always seemed very gentle, and she wondered why he was so angry today.

So she slowed her pace and didn't immediately push the door open and go in.

"Stannis may not have a formidable army, but he is now the de facto king, controlling the Crownlands and the Stormlands. Moreover, the Florent have always coveted our lands, and the Dornishmen to the south are no pushovers either. Mace's refusal was too blunt." Margaery recognized her grandmother Olenna's voice.

The usually resilient Queen of Thorns showed signs of fatigue. Mace loved his children, and so did Olenna; he certainly didn't want his granddaughter to marry a bastard.

The clever Margaery had already guessed what it was about, but she still didn't go in.

"Perhaps we can choose one from among the girls from the collateral branches. Although Jon is a bastard, Stannis will still make him a duke. Apart from Margaery, it wouldn't be a disservice to marry off any of the House Tyrell girls." It was Willas who spoke.

This was indeed a compromise, but Olenna sighed and said, "Do you think Stannis only wants a House Tyrell daughter? He wants our submission in terms of dignity!"

The atmosphere in the room was somewhat oppressive. Willas spoke again, "Then perhaps we could find an assassin?"

An assassin? Whom to assassinate? Stannis or Jon Snow?

Margaery felt as if an invisible vortex was pulling her away. At the same time, she was surprised and taken aback that her usually gentle and refined older Willas, had revealed an unusual ruthlessness when faced with this situation.

Ultimately, she chose to push the door open and enter.

"Ah, Margaery," Willas said, looking up, seemingly unsurprised.

"Sit down, my child." Olenna beckoned, and soon a chair was placed in front of her.

Olenna stroked her granddaughter's smooth, slender hand with her own somewhat dull but wrinkle-free hand, her eyes filled with both affection and resolve.

This guy is a ruthless person who would poison Joffrey if he didn't like him. What are Jon, or even Stannis?

"Grandmother, I want to go to King's Landing."

"What?!"

As soon as Margaery finished speaking, Willas, Garth, and Olenna all turned to look at her.

"Margaery, we, the House Tyrell, have never stooped to begging. We will never agree to Stannis's terms!" Willas, who was usually so pleasant, now revealed his sharp edge!

"Yes, Margaery, you still have Garlan and Loras, and so many cousins. Our House Tyrell will continue to thrive!" Garth encouraged.

However, Margaery shook her head and expressed her opinion. "Grandmother, Uncle, Eldest Brother, I can't be so selfish as to make my brothers risk their lives for my own sake. Of course, I know they are doing this for the honor of the family, but I think there must be some other way."

"Margaery, don't worry—" Willas wanted to say something more, but Olenna stopped him.

"What ideas do you have? Why don't you tell me?"

"I think I could go and see Jon. What if he were to refuse this marriage? That way, we could save face for Tyrell without bloodshed," Margaery explained to the others.

Despite Jon's dazzling military exploits, many people still considered him a bastard.

Bastards are usually treated poorly in their families. Perhaps they could use fine wine and gold to tempt Jon into giving up the marriage.

At that point, not to mention the collateral branches, the daughters of other vassal families of Highgarden would probably be enough to satisfy Jon's appetite.

Margaery's idea made the three realize that they had always regarded Jon and Stannis as a single entity, but after Margaery's analysis, they realized that they might be able to defeat them one by one.

"As expected of Margaery, she's been the smartest girl in our family since she was little!" Garth praised, and Willas smiled as he looked at his younger sister.

Olenna touched Margaery's hand and said, "Alright, I think we can give it a try. In that case, Willas, go and prepare with your uncle. I'll also be going to King's Landing."

"Grandma, are you going too?"

"Doesn't Stannis want the dignity befitting a king? Give him that, go."

Willas and Garth left the room, but Margaery remained. She knew her grandmother's habit: if she held her hand, it meant she still had something to say.

Sure enough, as soon as the two left Olenna moved closer to Margaery, looked into her bright brown eyes, and asked, "Are you feeling a little wronged?"

"Without my grandmother, what do I have to feel wronged about?" Margaery denied it outright, without even flinching in her eyes.

But Olenna smiled slightly, taking everything in. How could she not know her granddaughter whom she had raised from childhood?

Do you know the story of me and your grandfather Luthor Tyrell?

Margaery shook her head.

"I was originally betrothed to Targaryen, but I didn't like those lunatics, so one night I climbed into your grandfather's bed. The next day, he took my hand and knelt before your great-grandfather," Olenna said, a smile blooming at the corners of her wrinkled eyes, as if she had returned to forty or fifty years ago.

Margaery was surprised that her nearly seventy-year-old grandmother would say these things to her, which made her very shy and even caused a blush to rise on her cheeks.

"I've gathered more information about Jon recently. When Robb first assembled his army, the lords were all provoking him. It was Jon who stepped in and made the most troublesome Roose Bolton back down," Olenna continued, her expression changing. "Although everyone is saying it was Robb's idea, how could someone who would betray an alliance for lust have such a mind?"

"So, Grandmother, what do you mean—"

"This is very likely Jon's idea!" Olenna said astutely, revealing the truth.

"You know about the Battle of the Green Fork, but what surprised me most was his attempt to prevent Robb from becoming king. Robb had intended to remove him from the army and prevent him from commanding troops, but he directly launched a coup at Harrenhal and seized military power from Roose Bolton. Do you think someone like that would be content to be subordinate to someone else?"

As Olenna recounted her story, Margaery's eyes widened.

So, Grandmother—

"I want to go with you to see what this kid is really like. If he can really be of use to us, I'll give you anything but you! Of course, if you really want him, then I'll just have to accept it." Olenna winked at her granddaughter. "I, how could I—" Margaery was speechless, wanting to say how could she possibly want a bastard.

But recalling Olenna's analysis, the qualities displayed by that rising illegitimate son were truly dazzling.