Selyse, Who Didn't Know Her Place
When Jon entered, all the sounds in the Green Hand Hall fell silent, like winter snow melting rapidly under the blazing sun, but brewing an even greater celebration.
Men and women, masters and ladies alike, all stopped talking. Noble ladies and young women also stopped waving their fans and craned their necks to listen.
The men's perspective was far more complex; those of lower status looked up to the young duke as a role model.
Throughout history, the only path to upward social mobility in Westeros has been through military merit, and Jon has been the one who has progressed the fastest down that path.
Those of similar status were preoccupied with their own thoughts, pondering what changes Jon would bring to the country and what choices they should make.
Arya lifted her skirt and ran towards Jon like a gust of wind.
"Get out of the way, Jon!"
Seeing her daughter's state, Catelyn, who was not far away, felt somewhat embarrassed and couldn't help but apologize to Queen Selyse and Alerie.
Selyse remained expressionless, but Alerie remained calm. She quite liked Arya's liveliness; she had been a proper lady since her Maiden years, and was immediately drawn to Arya's vibrant energy upon first contact.
Jon saw Arya running towards him, reached under her armpits, and spun her around.
Everyone who witnessed this scene wore harmonious smiles.
This might be somewhat against the rules, but no one wanted to provoke a young upstart who had just conquered the Westerlands and Casterly Rock.
"Brother Jon." Lyman watched Jon carrying Arya and spinning her around, and called out cautiously from the side.
Jon patted Lyman on the shoulder and said, "Not bad, you've grown strong."
Receiving Jon's praise, Lyman's fair face flushed slightly, and she said somewhat shyly, "But I'm still no match for Miss Arya."
"It's alright, we have plenty of time. I'll teach you later!" Jon said with a smile, but this drew a disgruntled remark from Arya, "Ah~ Jon, you're my brother!"
"Alright, alright, I'll teach you all." Jon glanced at Selyse out of the corner of his eye; it was clear she was on the verge of exasperation.
She was an overly self-conscious woman, and in Selyse's opinion, Jon should be the first to meet her.
In particular, Jon noticed the placement of the flags in the hall. It was one thing for Stannis's flag to be at the highest point, but what was the point of putting Brightwater Keep's flag at the same height?
Is Brightwater Keep a good match?!
However, now was clearly not the time to dwell on this issue, so Jon dismissed the two for the time being and, urged by Aleken, went straight to Selyse.
Your Majesty.
Selyse nodded slightly, as still as a statue. This woman was always so aloof; it was unclear what gave her that aloofness.
Stannis sent her here to show his favor to this powerful and ruthless minister.
But Selyse seems to have turned Jon's wedding into an occasion to glorify the House Florent.
"Jon, what right do you have to dispose of Casterly Rock's treasury without my permission?" Selyse questioned in a cold voice.
Jon was somewhat confused. Putting aside the fact that he had conquered Casterly Rock, he was entitled to dispose of the spoils inside.
If it weren't for the soldiers Stannis had sent in his own army, not a single Copper Star would have escaped from the treasury.
Besides, Stannis didn't tell us beforehand, so what's the point of him handling it himself?
Even if we take a step back and say it's her own wedding! Isn't she just looking for trouble?
Selyse's voice reached the ears of those around her, instantly creating a tense atmosphere. The only somewhat acceptable aspect was that her voice wasn't particularly loud; only those in the immediate vicinity could hear it, while those a little further away couldn't make out what the always aloof and cold queen was asking.
The Florent around Selyse also looked at Jon, for they should have had a share of those treasures.
When the Queen's faction initially proposed demanding the Lannister jewels, they may well have had ulterior motives, such as enriching themselves.
It turns out that Jon distributed the treasures in the square like he was dumping garbage, which was a complete waste of resources!
They even heard that Jon's dowry for Margaery included a whopping three hundred pieces of jewels! And he only picked the most expensive ones! Cersei didn't have that much luxury when she married Robert.
"Jon, you know perfectly well that His Majesty is short of money everywhere, yet you've been so extravagant in giving away all the treasures from the treasury. What are you really thinking?" Aleken questioned in a low voice.
Olenna frowned slightly, a protective instinct rising within her. Selyse was one thing, but who did Aleken think he was?
An acting city lord, without even a formal Earl title, is already lecturing the duke!?
But she knew this was the most important wedding in a person's life, and no one wanted a direct conflict to break out.
Just as she was about to speak up for Jon, Jon showed no interest in getting entangled with them, simply saying, "I will explain this to His Majesty," and then turned and left.
"Lady Olenna, thank you and His Excellency the Duke for your help in holding back Tywin's army in the south. Otherwise, my attack on Casterly Rock would not have been so successful." Jon smiled and bowed to Olenna and Mace in thanks, leaving Selyse standing aside.
"Jon!" Aleken whispered, his tone laced with warning.
Selyse's face went from pale to bluish-white.
Jon's actions baffled almost everyone around him. What did he mean? Was he really going to leave the Queen standing there unattended? Could that really work?
However, Olenna was Olenna after all; as the head of House Tyrell, she quickly understood Jon's intentions.
Stannis invited Selyse to Jon's wedding, undoubtedly to curry favor and show his affection, but Selyse saw it as a stage to establish her family's authority.
Olenna could assert that Selyse's question at this time was undoubtedly presumptuous.
The best course of action for Jon at this point is to pretend he didn't hear it.
Go talk to Stannis about it.
"Jon, you seem to have lost a lot of weight since we last met," Olenna said, adopting the demeanor of a typical elder.
Jon and Olenna's coordinated attack completely surprised Selyse and Aleken; they hadn't expected Jon to be so arrogant.
For a moment, Selyse's chest heaved violently, and her breathing became extremely heavy. Her face alternated between pale and flushed.
However, she couldn't lose her temper, as that would only make more people see that Jon was ignoring her, the queen.
Then Jon approached the Mace. Alerie smiled at Jon, while Mace, though still keeping a straight face, was clearly on the verge of losing his composure.
Jon was truly generous, offering three hundred treasures as a betrothal gift and even more as a reward to Tyrell's army. This time, Tyrell not only didn't lose out, but actually made a considerable profit.
Of course, given Mace's personality, she certainly wouldn't take advantage of Jon. She wouldn't touch the three hundred treasures; instead, she would make sure Margaery took them back to Casterly Rock.
"Lord Mace, Lady Alerie."
"Hmm," Mace said with a serious expression, while Olenna nodded with a smile.
"Lady Catelyn" Jon greeted them one by one, and both women gave him genuine smiles.
The former is like a mother-in-law who likes her daughter more and more as she looks at her, while the latter is someone who realizes Jon's value and also feels indebted and wants to make amends.
Although Catelyn didn't bring any grand gifts this time, she did personally weave seven wreaths of the Seven for Jon, adorned with jewels and wrapped with ribbons.
That's a very thoughtful gift.
Then Jon saw Oberyn.
He was looking at Jon with a smile. Besides the flowers and grapes from Arbor, Highgarden was also full of blood oranges, a specialty of Dorne.
To express his gratitude to Dorne Jon for killing the Mountain and sending Amory to Sunspear, Doran prepared a generous gift.
He gifted Jon and Margaery each a Swan Ship from the Summer Isles, naming them the "Highgarden Rose" and the White Wolf Knight."
As for Amory, he must have suffered greatly. Oberyn was skilled in using poison, and several of his daughters possessed this ability.
They subjected Amory to all sorts of inhumane experiments every day, and yet they managed to keep him alive.
Moreover, they give him time to recover from his injuries every now and then, so it seems that the Oberyn family is going to torment him for a few more years.
Prince Oberyn.
"Lord Stark, you are the most legendary man I have ever met, no, you are a living legend." Upon seeing Jon, Oberyn showered him with praise. Coupled with the gifts of oranges and a ship, Jon offered, "Your Highness is too kind. If you are interested in collecting, I will send Tywin's head to Dorne for you later."
"Of course!" Oberyn exclaimed with delight, already thinking about how to make use of it.
After greeting the distinguished guests in turn, Jon addressed them loudly, "I am deeply grateful for your presence at my wedding. In the future, I will open the gates of Casterly Rock to all of you. Furthermore, the gold mines in the Westerlands are eagerly awaiting development, and I welcome all those interested to come to the Westerlands. We also welcome everyone to pan for gold in other parts of the Westerlands as well."
Seeing so many nobles here, Jon decided to give the Westerlands a good publicity boost.
Due to the war, the mines in the Westerlands have suffered considerable damage. It will take three to five years to restore them to pre-war production levels. However, if people from all Seven Kingdoms are attracted to pan for gold in the Westerlands, it will be a business with huge potential.
When the time comes, you can pan for gold in the Westerlands and enjoy the flowers of the Westerlands, and bring home a single one without hesitation.
Seeing Jon actually soliciting investment at his own wedding, Willas couldn't help but shake his head with a laugh.
"Jon, go and see your bride," Catelyn reminded him from the side.