In her idle moments, she often quietly tucked her longing for Viserys into the fragrance of the golden rose at her breast. Even as she helped her grandmother and brother refine their plans, she silently looked forward to the day she would see Viserys again.
Viserys had only recently secured his hold on the Iron Throne and was eager to establish his authority. Most of the nobles of the Reach paid little heed to Highgarden's commands, and they had never witnessed a dragon's power firsthand.
They might not think much of Viserys at all, just as they had treated Aerys, the Mad King. They bent the knee to the Iron Throne in name, but when danger truly came, they would not bleed and die for the Targaryens.
Asha was now leading the Ironborn in threatening the Reach along the coast of the Sunset Sea. This both gave Viserys a blade with which to establish his authority and left Highgarden an opening to reap the benefits.
They could use Viserys's might to raise House Tyrell's standing in the Reach. They could even draw directly on his power, using the threat of the Others he had raised this time to help weaken the Reach's ancient houses.
Once they saw dragonfire effortlessly burn the Ironborn's longships to ashes, some of the wavering lords of the Reach would naturally recognize which new king could lead them back onto firm ground.
As for the houses scheming behind their backs, if they wanted to preserve their families, they would have no choice but to bow their heads and seek Highgarden's help. House Tyrell could then rightfully take command of all the Reach's troops.
Lady Olenna glanced at the somewhat distracted Margaery beside her, seeming to notice something amiss. After all, Margaery would not ordinarily lose her