The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 57: The Brooch

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"Who are you?" Jenny subconsciously adopted a defensive posture.

The young knight possessed an extraordinary bearing, with heroic sword-like eyebrows and a scholarly air between his eyes, clearly from a noble and aristocratic family.

However, Jenny didn't recognize him.

"Miss Jenny, please take a look at this." The knight produced a brooch, bearing the Westerling family crest.

"Are you a friend of Ser Addam Sharlett?"

"Yes, I am!"

This brooch was a token exchanged between Addam and Lord Gawen during the marriage proposal. At that time, Lord Gawen had agreed to Addam's proposal, but it was only a private promise and had not been publicly announced. Lord Gawen had not yet formally sought Jenny's opinion, and furthermore, since Lord Tywin was Jenny's adoptive father, Lord Gawen had not yet had the chance to tell Lord Tywin about it.

"I'm sorry, Ser, I am already betrothed to Gregor Clegane. Please convey my apologies to Ser Addam. I will have my father exchange the tokens back."

"Miss Jenny, Ser Addam Sharlett is waiting for you at the mountaintop watchtower."

"Are there no guards at the watchtower?"

"Please rest assured, Miss. In these times of peace, the watchtower hasn't been manned for a long time. Tonight, the Lannister soldiers are all drinking! They won't return to the barracks without drinking."

"I'm sorry, knight, I cannot go to the watchtower to meet Ser Addam."

Intimate relationships were prevalent among the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms.

King Robert Baratheon of the Seven Kingdoms had taken a fancy to Selyse Florent, a bridesmaid at his younger brother Stannis Baratheon's wedding. The two of them mingled together that very night, using the very bed Stannis had married in.

Selyse Florent was the cousin of Stannis Baratheon's newly wedded wife, while Robert's wife Cersei was also present. Robert still turned Selyse into an intimate partner, and fathered a bastard on the wedding bed: Edric Storm.

Oberyn Martell, the Red Viper of Dorne, had an affair at the age of sixteen with the mistress of Ser Ormond Yronwood, who was stationed at the most important pass on the Dornish border. The Earl therefore dueled with Oberyn.

Oberyn was of princely birth and only sixteen years old, so Earl Yronwood decided that the duel would only draw blood, and both were injured. A few days later, Earl Ormond died of a festering wound, and people believed that Oberyn had poisoned his sword with snake venom. From then on, Oberyn was known as the "Red Viper."

From kings and princes to ordinary knights, many nobles and knights were willing to duel to the death in order to compete for intimacy. This was a prevailing aristocratic trend in this world.

Addam Sharlett had asked one of his closest noble knight friends to deliver the message, wanting to make Jenny his intimate partner tonight.

He knew that Jenny liked him and had feelings for him, which was his confidence.

Jenny refused the knight's invitation and asked the young knight to leave quickly, fearing that Gregor Clegane would beat them both to death if he found out.

The knight smiled slightly, not afraid of Jenny's warning. Gregor was indeed notorious, but for young knights with great strength who had never suffered any losses or been deceived, and who didn't know the dangers of the world, they all looked down on the 'dog' Gregor.

The phrase 'not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth' perfectly described these noble youths from famous families, who had everything going their way, had not experienced war, and thought they were invincible.

"Well, Miss Jenny, can I see your Lyseni cat? I'll just take a look and leave." The young knight said with elegant manners.

Although Jenny felt it was inappropriate, she agreed to his polite request, especially since he was interested in her beloved Lyseni cat: "Knight, you'd better not touch it, it's asleep."

The young knight then walked to Jenny's side, his face full of admiration: "Oh, what a beautiful and noble Lyseni cat. Only such a lovely treasure is worthy of Miss Jenny's radiance." The young man was also eloquent, praising her endlessly, making Jenny's heart flutter.

"Miss Jenny, you haven't been to the mountaintop watchtower yet, have you? The night view from up there, the bright moon over the sea, is really beautiful and pleasant. It's a very, very short walk from here to the mountaintop."

Lord Tywin's main castle was close to the mountaintop watchtower, and the Lord's residence was also the highest point in the city, indeed very close to the mountaintop.

Miss Jenny said, "Knight, I would also love to go up and see the night view, but not tonight. Please tell Ser Addam, thank you for thinking highly of me. I am already betrothed to Gregor Clegane, and that is a fact that no one can change."

"Miss Jenny, the Mountain doesn't deserve you at all. Ser Addam is a young hero, not only is he not betrothed, but he also hasn't had any mistresses. You are the first beautiful woman he has taken a fancy to. Come with me, Gregor will be drunk tonight, and he will never know about you and Addam."

Jenny shook her head firmly: "Knight, please leave quickly. I will not go to the mountaintop with you tonight."

"Alright!" The young man squatted down and gently stroked Angela's fur, who was fast asleep. "Angela, goodbye." He slowly and reluctantly stood up, took out a snow-white handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his hands, and suddenly covered Jenny's mouth and nose with the handkerchief as she was completely unprepared.

Jenny struggled desperately, but the young knight's arms were strong and powerful. He firmly controlled Jenny with one hand, and tightly covered her mouth and nose with the other, preventing her from breathing.

Soon, Jenny lost consciousness.

The young knight entered Jenny's bedroom and found the black cloak that had been discarded near the window. He wrapped the cloak around Jenny, bent down, and carried her on his back, as if he were carrying a cloak.

He carried Jenny on his back with ease and agility, and slipped out.

Tonight, all the Lannister family's servants and soldiers were reveling in drinking, singing, and dancing, not stopping until they were drunk.

A small path led directly to the mountaintop, and it wasn't far. At the end of the path was the watchtower.