A Date with Margaery

The long tables used for banquets were moved aside, and the nobles from all sides retreated to the sides, instantly making the huge ballroom spacious and even empty.

The chandelier above the ballroom illuminated the hall brightly, making it almost like daytime.

The House Tyrell and Jon's men stood under their respective banners, and the center of the ballroom resembled a giant chessboard.

If you look closely, you'll notice that Tyrell's clothing is predominantly turquoise, while Jon's clothing is a variety of colors, with no single color scheme.

This further gives people a sense of clear distinction.

Both sides have sent out their vanguards, and a unique clash could erupt at any moment.

In the center of the ballroom, Margaery, in a long turquoise dress, lifted her skirt and greeted the Duke, who wore a blue-grey coat. With her movement, the emerald around her neck reflected light.

The emerald green gemstones complemented her fair skin perfectly, and the curves of her waist and her slender neck seemed to demonstrate why she was worthy of being called the Highgarden Rose.

The musicians around them played music as needed, but neither side was relaxed; it was less like music and more like a battle cry.

Their hands rested gently on each other's shoulders and waists, but were essentially suspended in the air, feeling no weight at all.

The music began, the dance steps were fluid and graceful. Jon smelled a fresh, sweet scent. Margaery's dance steps were light and skillful, and she quickly found an opportunity to speak, "Lord Stark, your dance steps—"

Very powerful.

"A sense of power?" Jon wasn't sure if Margaery was implying something else, whether she was referring to his somewhat awkward dance moves, or alluding to what had just happened between her and her cousin.

He answered according to his own understanding, looking into the Maiden's brown eyes and saying, "Strength and gentleness, these are all relative."

"Please enlighten me, Lord Stark."

"Where there is a front, there is a back; where there is strength, there is weakness; where there is a king, there are subjects; where there is a leader, there are those who are led. I am dancing with a beautiful Maiden; if I were dancing with Giants, I would appear rather gentle."

"Lord Stark, your insight is remarkable." Jon's slightly humorous explanation brought a smile to Margaery's face.

"Lord Stark." Hearing Margaery address him like that again, Jon felt a slight stirring in his heart. Most people addressed him as "Lord Jon," "Duke Jon," or "Duke," and very few called him "Lord Stark."

She must have put in the effort to study herself, at least considering what an illegitimate child whose fate has suddenly changed would want; she's a smart person.

She was arguably the smartest girl Jon had ever met since he came to this world. Since she was smart, many things could be simpler.

Skip the probing and haggling, just exchange cards and see if it's acceptable.

After a twirling dance step, Jon adjusted his angle and asked, "Miss Margaery, may I speak with you alone for a while? I'd like to take a stroll in the garden with you."

Margaery was taken aback by Jon's sudden increase in pace, but quickly adapted. "Heh, Duke Stark, you're being a bit too hasty. Most girls don't like being asked questions."

Margaery's eyes were bright, and her tone was playful and slightly provocative, but in any case, she was impossible to dislike.

"Then—I want to go to the garden, come with me!"

"Hmm... that's a bit too forceful."

I'm going to the garden, do you want to come with me?

"Another problem."

Jon quickly thought for a moment and said, "I'm going to the garden, but it will be so boring without you."

"Lord Stark truly lives up to his reputation as a victorious general. But how are you going to get me out of here?"

Margaery directed Jon's gaze toward the House Tyrell. Jon immediately saw Mace, her face dark with rage, looking as if she wanted to tear him apart.

Mace was not only staring at him like a brown bear at the entrance of a cave, but he was also giving instructions to his guards and his son Garlan.

It's probably to prevent Jon from abducting his daughter, and that's why they're setting up fortifications.

"This is not a difficult task for a general who has won every battle," Jon said confidently, his voice calm and without any fluctuation.

Margaery simply nodded; it was clear she was running out of energy. She could finish a dance without any problem, but talking while dancing was proving difficult for her.

When the dance ended, Jon and Margaery returned to their respective camps.

Interestingly, after stepping back, neither Margaery nor Jon looked at each other directly, but both turned their bodies to the side at a certain angle, observing each other out of the corner of their eyes to ensure they could see each other.

The two of them together have a total of eight hundred schemes.

Seeing that the time was almost up, Alester consulted Stannis and then loudly announced, "In the name of Stannis Baratheon I, the ball is now officially open!"

As soon as the Hand of the King minister finished speaking, the musicians sitting in different corners began to play together. In this world where the technology was similar to that of the Renaissance era, everyone experienced a surround sound effect.

Men and women dressed in various costumes began to dance, and Stannis even personally led the charge. Although his army was not large at the moment, this was entirely the royal family's domain.

The House Tyrell was in a state of "besieged". King's Landing was now Stannis's territory, and he had already ordered arrangements to be made for each member of the House Tyrell, in order to entangle them all and create opportunities for Jon.

Sansa was also very helpful, actually setting aside her ladylike reserve and taking the initiative to invite Garlan.

Jon seized the opportunity and circled around the dance floor to Margaery's side.

The two exchanged glances, and she placed her silk-gloved hand in Jon's, feeling the roughness and warmth of his large hand. Taking advantage of the chaos, they quickly left, about to open a second front.

Lya, who was standing nearby, naturally saw what was happening to Jon. Seeing that Jon went to Margaery instead of her, she felt relieved, but also a little jealous and disappointed.

But in any case, I feel mostly fortunate.

So what if he's a duke? He doesn't even have his own fiefdom yet, and besides, she has no intention of marrying a bastard.

However, no one cared about her thoughts.

As Jon and Margaery had said, Mace had indeed laid many obstacles in their path.

As soon as we left the hall, the light dimmed abruptly. The sun had long since set, and we relied on candlelight and streetlights for illumination.

But those streetlights weren't electric lights after all, and the visibility was still limited. They could only barely push off the darkness, which made people feel that there was some danger lurking in the shadows around them.

The two walked quickly, Jon's coat and Margaery's skirt fluttering behind them.

"Stop!" Jon tightened his grip on Margaery's hand, and the two abruptly stopped, then slipped away to hide behind a set of decorative dragon scale armor.

This armor clearly features decorations from the Targaryen era.

Margaery, hiding in the dragonscale armor beside Jon, was surprised to see a House Tyrell guard suddenly appear and look around. She couldn't understand how Jon could "foresee the future."

After the guard left, the two continued onward, but after only a few steps, Jon whispered, "Turn left!" Sure enough, as soon as they changed course, three guards arrived.

As Jon led her through the trials, Margaery felt her heart pounding faster and faster. Tension and excitement made her eyes shine brighter, and something primal within her seemed to be activated.

At the same time, because the temperature dropped sharply as she left the hall, she unconsciously leaned her body against Jon.

Along the way, Jon led Margaery through a series of dodging, evading, hiding, retreating, and circling maneuvers, as if they were playing a thrilling game. This gave her an extremely novel experience.

Before long, the two arrived at the gardens of the Red Keep.

The garden was also repaired in preparation for the arrival of the Tyrell, mainly by transplanting some fresher flowers.

"Miss Margaery, I think there are no more guards around."

Reminded by Jon, Margaery slowly distanced herself from him.

Beneath their feet was a gray cobblestone path that led deep into the garden. Jon and Margaery stood on opposite sides, the gray path resembling the border between two kingdoms.

A cool autumn breeze swept by, ruffling Margaery's hair and Jon's clothes.

The ambiguity of the ball and the excitement of conspiring to escape quickly faded, and the two became like diplomats about to begin negotiations.

We have now reached a critical juncture in defining power and interests.