As expected of a great noble with mines to his name-he certainly knew how to throw his money around!
After announcing his bid, Earl Reyne could not resist giving everyone present a smug look, as though to say,
"Compared to me, you're all trash!"
The sight of Earl Reyne's insufferable expression first provoked Duke Tyrell. He sprang to his feet in a huff, raised his hand, and bid without the slightest hesitation,
"Highgarden offers three million gold dragons!"
Then he gave Earl Reyne a challenging look, his unspoken message plain:
I wanted to keep a low profile, but my wealth wouldn't let me!
Earl Reyne had barely settled back into his seat before he sprang up again. Slamming his hand on the table, he refused to back down and declared,
"House Reyne offers five million gold dragons!"
Duke Tyrell wanted to bid again, but a look from Lady Florence stopped him.
Lord Frey, who had been watching everyone's expressions all this time, rose unhurriedly from his seat. First, he straightened his clothes and made himself presentable, then raised his hand to bid,
"Riverrun offers five million and one hundred thousand gold dragons!"
Earl Reyne had not expected the old fellow to put on such a long performance only to make a bid like that. A surge of anger lodged in his chest, unable to escape or settle, and he could only curse under his breath,
"Damned weasel!"
No one had expected these few men to drive the price so high when the bidding had only just begun. Five million gold dragons was already an enormous fortune, equivalent to half the royal house's current annual revenue. Many of the Great Lords therefore gave up the fight.
The nobles from the North, in particular, felt as though those gold dragons had been