The royal carriage bumped along the street, its wheels running over puddles formed by last night's rain and splashing muddy spots.
The interior of the carriage was covered with soft crimson velvet, and the tip of the nose was gently sniffing Cersei's rich perfume. It was so sweet that it made people dizzy, but Marga li·Tyrell had a glint of pride in her eyes.
She is indeed an old woman, not as young and energetic as Maiden herself, and even her taste in perfume has begun to become vulgar.
"Must we go, mother?"
The great King Joffrey Baratheon I asked this question for the third time, looking a little restless.
He was wearing a brand new dark purple coat today, with the crowned stag Baratheon embroidered with gold thread on the cuffs. The material was very expensive and comfortable, but he was sitting very uncomfortable.
Her butt kept moving on the soft cushion, and her fingers tapped unconsciously.
"Last time I went to Flea Bottom, those untouchables dared to throw mud, stones, and feces at my carriage!"
"Even Marin·Tlan Ser's forehead was hit and there was a lot of blood."
"Oh, dear." Hearing this, Cersei quickly patted the back of Joffrey's hand, her voice as gentle as coaxing a child. "Last time it was because of food shortages, those untouchables went crazy with hunger, but now it's different. The war is over, and there is no shortage of food in King's Landing."
"It's true." Marga li on the side interjected.
She was sitting next to Cersei, wearing a light blue simple dress, her hair was only braided loosely and hanging on her shoulders. She looked really fresh and refined.
This is the outfit Marga Li spent two hours specially choosing because she knew she was going to Flea Bottom today, so she had to maintain the image of the "kind and kind future Queen" in the eyes of the common people.
And light blue is exactly the color between Maiden and Mother.
"I went to the orphanage last week." She continued, her voice as gentle as the spring breeze. "The streets are indeed clean, the children are playing in the open space, there is no robbery or theft, and even a little girl who is familiar with me gave me a fresh wild flower that had just been picked."
"She said her father found a job on the dock and made enough money to support a family of five or six people."
When she said these words, she looked at Joffrey sincerely, but her peripheral vision kept staring at Cersei.
Queen Mother's expression did not change at all, and his smile even became brighter, "Marga Miss Li really cares about her people."
She turned to her daughter-in-law-to-be, with a hint of admiration in her tone. "Unlike me, I rarely go to those... less respectable places."
"I think your grandmother must be very pleased. After all, the Tyrell family has always been known for being close to the people."
This sounded like a compliment, but Marga Li could hear the strangeness in it.
It was obvious that he was mocking himself for being "not noble enough" and often hanging out with common people.
But she also responded with a sweet smile and was not angry at all.
"My grandmother often said that in order for Rose to bloom brightly, its roots must be deeply rooted in the soil and to understand the humblest people, then it can become a true "Queen."
She bit the word "real" very hard to mock Cersei as no longer Queen.
Hearing this, a cold light flashed in Cersei's eyes, and her teeth immediately started to itch with hatred.
This damn woman, relying on her youth and beauty, tried to dominate her everywhere after moving into the Red Keep. Even Joffrey, who had always been disobedient, was made submissive by her.
After a while... she must pay the price!
The king seemed not to understand the secret exchange between the two women, and just looked out the window boredly.
The carriage had passed through Steel Street, and the buildings on both sides of the street began to become low and dilapidated. Although the road was indeed cleaner and less smelly than he remembered, the sour smell of poverty and the previous psychological shadow still made him feel irritable.
By the way, did that guy named Wei... what the hell did he say he wanted to clean up the flea nest?
No, no, he seems to be talking about killing all the poor people?
Not right either.
Shaking his head, the king's brain was a little overloaded. He frowned and said softly, "I still don't like it here."
"The smell is bad and the people are ugly. Why does the king want to see this?"
"Your Majesty..
Hearing this, Marga Li immediately started to use her skills again, but Cersei was one step ahead of her and comforted her, "Because a true king will not be afraid of his people, my dear."
"Fear is the emotion of the weak. You must let them see you, fear you, and know who is the master of King's Landing."
When she said this, her eyes were looking at Marga Li.
Marga Li kept smiling, but her hands holding the hem of her skirt became tighter and tighter.
Loras has been missing for several days, and rumors have spread throughout the Red Keep that the Knight of Flowers has eloped with a squire.
How romantic, how brave, how... shameful!
The Tyrell family has become a laughing stock, and she, who is about to become Queen, has to accept the false comfort and secret ridicule with a smile at the banquet.
"Speaking of people."
Thinking of this, Marga Li suddenly spoke, with a hint of just the right sadness in her voice. "I always think of my brother these days. Loras used to say that the duty of a knight is not only glory on the battlefield, but also to protect the weak."
"If he sees the changes in Flea Bottom, he will be very happy."
After saying that, he looked at Cersei without blinking.
However, Queen Mother, who has always been irritable and irritable, did not reveal any flaws. Instead, he sighed softly.
"Poor Loras, such an excellent knight, such a handsome young man, but... he was confused for a moment."
"You must be very sad, dear Marga Li."
Cersei said, and even took Highgarden Little Rose into her arms very generously, constantly comforting her.
"Oh, Queen Mother Your Majesty!" Marga Li gritted her teeth, but she still threw her whole face into Queen Mother's arms very dedicatedly, bursting into tears.
"I don't understand. Although Loras values feelings, he always values family honor more than life. I really don't understand why he would do such... desperate things!"
She continued to test, waiting for Cersei's reaction.
"That's how love works sometimes, my dear."
But today Queen Mother seems to be a different person, patting her head and talking softly, as if she really treats this prospective daughter-in-law as a daughter to comfort her.
"Love is a thing that sometimes makes people forget their responsibilities, their honor, and who they are."
"Especially young people, it's easy to get carried away."
Damn...
Listening to Cersei's impeccable answer, Marga Li cursed in her heart, then raised her head and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes;
"You're right."
"I heard that when you were young, you also had a great love for Rhaegar Targaryen Prince, but now you have become more stable and much older."
As soon as these words came out, Cersei was ready to kill Marga.
Doesn't this make it obvious that she is old?
"But then again."
She did not continue, but brought the topic back as if nothing had happened. "It may be a good thing for you that Loras is gone, Marga Miss Li."
"After all, a brother who eloped with his attendant is an embarrassing topic for the sister who is about to become Queen."
"People will sympathize with you."
This is too vicious.
Marga Li felt blood rushing to her head, but she immediately controlled it.
"You're right."
She took a deep breath and even made her smile softer, "But I have been thinking, why did Loras suddenly make such a risky decision, and the timing was so coincidental, on the day of his engagement?"
This is almost intended to make the words clear.
Hearing this, Cersei's green eyes looked directly at Marga li, a little coldly. "Are you hinting at something, my dear?"
"Of course not." Little Rose immediately denied it, and even touched Cersei's arm lightly, like a spoiled daughter-in-law. "I'm just... just thinking wildly."
"The Prime Minister specially arranged such a perfect marriage, why doesn't he know how to cherish it?"
The two looked at each other tit for tat, neither of them willing to give in.
After a while, Cersei looked away and looked at Joffrey: "Look, Your Majesty, Marga Miss Li is so sensible."
"Even though such a scandal happened in her family, she remained strong and generous. She is truly a perfect example of Queen."
As soon as these words came out, Joffrey, who was picking at a piece of gold leaf on the armrest in boredom, raised his head, feeling a little confused.
"Huh? Oh!"
"Yes, Marga Miss Li is indeed very good."
Obviously, he didn't know what kind of war the two women had just fought.
Seeing the king's reaction, Cersei and Marga li couldn't help but roll their eyes at the same time.
The two of them were fighting so fiercely, and the boy wasn't even listening, so he was wasting his efforts.
Marga Li lowered her head, pretended to adjust her skirt, and kept thinking.
Cersei didn't reveal any flaws, but this only made her more convinced that this woman must know something.
Loras's disappearance was too clean and sudden, as if it was gently wiped away by an invisible hand.
Cersei, who has always hated the slums, enthusiastically proposed an inspection today and even convinced Joffrey.
This is really abnormal.
"Get out of the way! Pariah!"
At this moment, Marin·Tran's roar sounded.
The carriage suddenly stopped, and Joffrey was caught off guard. He threw himself forward and hit his forehead on the front wall of the carriage, making him grimace in pain.
The sudden movement made the king stunned for a moment, and then he didn't even care about the pain. He hurriedly curled back and trembled all over, as if he was suffering from some kind of stress reaction.
Instead, Cersei raised the corners of her mouth slightly and directly opened the curtain of the carriage.
"What happened, Marin Ser."
"He is a pariah who doesn't understand the rules, Your Majesty."
Marin Tran, who had already drawn Longsword, stopped, turned around and bowed and replied, "That guy suddenly rushed out of the crowd and was kicked out by me."
"I was just going to deal with him."
Hearing this, Joffrey, who was originally frightened, immediately became nervous and stuck his head out to check.
I saw a man lying in the middle of the road, less than ten feet away from the front wheel of the carriage.
He was holding his left leg, rolling and groaning in pain on the ground. Under his body, dark red blood was spreading between the cracks in the stone slabs.
Joffrey's heart beat wildly.
This damn pariah almost got him hurt!
Bad memories came one after another, and he remembered the stones, Wooden Club, and feces that the mob had thrown at him last time...
"Kill him!"
The wise king immediately made an extremely correct judgment, and his voice was high-pitched and passionate. "This untouchable wants to assassinate the king, Marin Ser, kill him!"
Hearing this, Marin·Knight of Justice Tran immediately grinned and strode towards the man moaning on the ground with Longsword in hand.
"No! My lord!"
At this moment, an old woman rushed out of the crowd and threw herself next to the man. "Please!"
"He is my son, he didn't mean it!"
"His child has a fever. He is in a hurry to get some medicine. Please spare his life!"
"Get out of here, bitch!" Marin showed no sympathy at all and kicked the old woman away. Longsword held it up high. "Crashing into the king's motorcade is a capital crime!"
His face flushed, as if he remembered something exciting.
The last time Vito·Corleone was in the court, he was also present when there was a debate about James' execution of Swen.
Since there is a precedent, as a member of the Kingsguard, he, Jaime Lannister, can do it, and I, Marin Tran, can do it!
Maybe, by then, I will be able to leave the same heroic evaluation as the "tall" Duncan Ser in "The Book of the White Knight" and become a model of the seven the Seven Kingdoms knights!