The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 562: Turning Hostile

The next day, morning, in the Round Tower of Willas Tyrell.

“Afternoon tea?” Willas asked nonchalantly, unaware of the deeper meaning behind Cersei's invitation.

He saw Grand Maester Lomys's sinister smile, Captain Aegon's meaningful look, Steward Garth's fat face with its malicious grin, and Master-at-Arms Foryll's ambiguous gaze.

“Am I being treated as prey by the Queen Mother?” Willas realized. This was a noble's game of 'clearing people out,' perhaps for a night's fling, or maybe a long-term relationship.

“Who knows who is the prey? Everything is in the hands of the Seven Gods,” Steward Garth said with a forced smile.

This remark was somewhat presumptuous and posed a certain risk to Garth's future career.

Cersei's position was that of Queen Mother, a supreme status. If the marriage succeeded, she would also be the future mistress of Highgarden, and when Willas inherited, she would be the Duchess of Highgarden. With Cersei's strength and family background, she could very well become the new Queen of Thorns, controlling everything in the Reach. The fat steward, captain, grand maester, and master-at-arms who were now planning to deal with her would all be her vassals.

For a vassal to consider their future mistress as a hunted object was an offense, a disrespectful act of insubordination.

However, only Steward Garth could utter such words about treating Queen Mother Cersei as prey.

In terms of the Tyrell family's seniority, Garth was two generations above Willas, the uncle of Willas's father, Lord Mace Tyrell. After Cersei married Willas, she would be two generations below Garth.

Steward Garth's saying 'who knows who is the prey' didn't bother the good-tempered Willas, and he wouldn't hold it against him. Cersei herself would definitely mind, but she wasn't here and couldn't hear it, unless someone snitched to Cersei in the future.

But the people here were all core vassals of the Tyrell family, loyal and united, without such complicated 'personnel struggles'.

Captain Aegon said, “Lord Willas, the Queen Mother will definitely suggest you stay the night, but even if she doesn't, you must perform well. Staying the night is the most crucial step in the marriage alliance, the key to avoiding bloodshed. We do not wish to use force to keep Queen Mother Cersei.”

Willas snorted in response!

“Should we have the best woman from the pleasure house teach you how to please a woman, my lord? There is still time,” Garth said, not wanting any unforeseen events.

A displeased flush appeared on Willas's face: “Steward Garth, I have been to the pleasure house. I am not a little boy.”

“That's good. Afternoon tea to set the mood, and the evening's joy will follow naturally,” Garth said, relieved. “Thank the old and new gods for favoring the Tyrell family.”

Garth looked out the window, seeing the ancient and gnarled weirwood tree, the faith tree of the old gods. Not far from the giant weirwood tree stood the sept of the new gods.

As long as Cersei and Willas consummated the marriage and had an intimate relationship, this marriage problem would no longer be a problem. Perhaps Willas's flattery would make Cersei feel a long-lost joy, and she would become attached to him. Then, revealing the truth to Cersei might not even require confining Her Majesty; as long as they were in love, unnecessary and intense conflicts could be avoided.

“Lord Willas, besides preparing your body, you only need to pay attention to one small problem,” Grand Maester Lomys said, feeling that his smile resembled that of a pimp.

“What?” Willas frowned. He suddenly realized that the four great vassals around him were all loathsome, of low character, and disgusting.

“Queen Mother Cersei hopes you will bring the letter the Hand wrote to you,” Lomys said. “The Queen Mother wants to see your letter, which is a bit puzzling, as it seems somewhat impolite.”

“The letter in which Lord Kevan proposed the marriage alliance between the Lannisters and the Tyrells,” Willas said with a grim expression. “If Cersei sees it now, she will understand that the tour of the countryside to inspect the people's livelihood is actually a trap set by Hand Kevan. She has been deceived, and we are all pawns in Kevan's power plan.”

“Of course, not to show it to her now,” Steward Garth said.

“Uncle, if Cersei asks to see the letter as soon as I arrive, how should I refuse?”

“Promise her, but after the pleasure,” Garth said, not finding it a difficult problem. “Although it's not good to turn hostile after the pleasure, it doesn't matter if Cersei knows beforehand, since you have an intimate relationship as a handle on her emotions.”

“That's not appropriate,” Grand Maester Lomys said, narrowing his eyes in opposition. “Queen Mother Cersei has invited you for afternoon tea this afternoon and a banquet tonight. Lord Willas only needs to gladly attend. After the pleasure tonight, Lord Willas should reciprocate by inviting Queen Mother Cersei and promising to show her Hand Kevan's letter after the return banquet.”

“Good, that is indeed a very clever way to refuse,” the fat Steward Garth agreed. “We must make our return banquet for the Queen Mother very grand, inviting all the nobles who have brought troops to Highgarden to participate. At the banquet, arrange to get the two Kingsguard drunk and have soldiers get the five hundred gold cloaks drunk as well. Willas will attend to the Queen Mother until she goes to bed. If the Queen Mother still asks to see the letter when she wakes up, show her the Hand's letter. Lord Willas can then take the opportunity to ask the Queen Mother to marry him in bed. Aegon must be prepared; we need five hundred new gold cloaks to take over the Queen Mother's guard duties, and the marriage between the two great families will be accomplished.”

“Good, let's do it that way,” Grand Maester Lomys had a new idea. “Today, we can secretly spread rumors within Highgarden that Queen Mother Cersei and Lord Willas have a close relationship, so that our vassals know that Queen Mother Cersei and Lord Willas already have an unusual relationship. When we persuade Cersei to accept the marriage, the Tyrell family's announcement of the marriage will not feel abrupt and unexpected to the vassals.”

Master-at-Arms Foryll sighed and complained, “If it doesn't involve swords, I am definitely no match for the Grand Maester and the Steward.”

Captain Aegon chuckled, “Ser Foryll, if Queen Mother Cersei resists fiercely, her guard duty may require you to replace the Kingsguard.”

“I will definitely protect our future mistress of Highgarden,” Foryll said, striking his left chest with his right fist, making a loud thud.

Willas coldly watched the four great vassals talking at once, their interest high, as if they were completing a great undertaking. He felt no joy in it at all. He stood up with the help of his cane: “My lords, I need to wash up and prepare. You can slowly discuss the details here. When I go to afternoon tea, you can tell me any new ideas and suggestions you have.”

*

Afternoon tea.

The sun was shining brightly.

The garden was filled with the intoxicating fragrance of roses.

Inside the pavilion was a marble round table and smooth, cool marble stools covered with embroidered cushions.

Cersei was hosting Willas for afternoon tea in the pavilion.

Exquisite pastries, milk, black tea, red wine, salad, and a variety of shiny fruits… covered the white marble tabletop.

White was the main color of Highgarden.

From the city walls to the tower facades and the ground, everything was white stone and marble. The abundance of white, combined with the trees, artificial mountains, clear springs, flowing water, and colorful flowers and plants, made Highgarden a very beautiful city.

Cersei and Willas chatted about everything: the weather, flowers, rivers, food, warriors, dragons, legends of the Others, noble secrets… nothing was off-limits. Willas was surprised by Cersei's erudition, but in fact, Cersei was not erudite at all; Willas himself was the erudite one. Cersei was just a patient listener, and he was the one doing most of the talking.

In the sky, Willas's falcons circled low, one, two, three, four… At his feet, a hunting dog lay docilely, its eyes half-closed, its tongue sticking out to help dissipate heat, its fangs sharp, each like a small dagger.

Cersei humbly asked about Willas's falcons and hounds, his other two personal guards.

Although it was called afternoon tea, it was not just about drinking tea. As long as the host was happy, drinking wine and eating meat was fine.

Cersei was in high spirits, and Willas's alcohol tolerance was good. All kinds of wine had been prepared long ago: wheat wine, stout, and cider from the Riverlands; Arbor wine; Pentos wine from across the Narrow Sea; monkey wine from the distant East… Cersei had all the famous wines one could name.

Her Majesty the Queen Mother came to Highgarden with her own grain, fruit, wine, snow salt, Westerling noodles, Iron Guard, cooks, maids, and guards. Cersei brought everything she needed for food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. For shelter, there was the spacious carriage Cersei rode in, which was designed with a sleeping couch.

Willas never went against Cersei's will, and their conversation became more and more harmonious. After a few drinks, Cersei took Willas's hand under the table: “My lord, I feel like I might like you a little.”

Willas was a battle-hardened 'old general' in the pleasure house. He outwardly displayed politeness and gentleness while inwardly rebelling against Cersei. He clasped Cersei's hand in return: “Your Majesty, there are two things I like about you, one more than you.”

Cersei gave a frivolous laugh, a polite, fake laugh; Willas also gave a polite laugh, also a fake laugh.

Their hands clasped together under the table, feeling more and more intimate, as if they had met too late and were deeply in love.

“My lord, in my room, there is a pair of chopsticks inlaid with gold, silver, and jade, exquisitely crafted, with two round white jades inlaid at the tips. Would you be interested in taking a look?”

“I would be delighted!” Willas smiled, elegant, polite, and full of poise.

Thus, Cersei in front and Willas behind, they walked into the tower and entered Cersei's room.

Two Kingsguard followed behind, their hands on their longswords. Behind the Iron Guard were four Westerlands knights. When Cersei and Willas entered the room, Balon Swann followed, while Osmynd Kettleblack stood guard at the door, gently closing it.

It was a small detail, and although Willas was slightly strange, he didn't pay attention to it.

Cersei sat down on a brocade stool, not reaching for the chopsticks. The smile on her face disappeared: “Lord Willas, did you bring Lord Kevan's letter?”

“Your Majesty, you have invited me for afternoon tea and arranged a banquet. Please give me the opportunity to reciprocate by inviting Your Majesty to a banquet, at which I will show Your Majesty Lord Hand's letter.”

“Hmph, I know what Kevan wrote even without looking,” Cersei's face changed, calling Kevan by name without adding a respectful title.

Willas felt a thud in his heart. Damn, Cersei knew about Kevan and the Tyrell family's 'conspiracy'?! How did she find out along the way? They had thought that Cersei had been kept in the dark all along. A look of panic flashed in Willas's eyes.

This subtle change did not escape Cersei's eyes.

She immediately understood that the Mountain's warning was true. The content of the Mountain's second letter revealed Kevan's true purpose in tricking Cersei into coming to Highgarden: to seize power! And to have Willas confine Cersei in the name of marriage.

“Your Majesty…”

“Tell the truth, Lord Willas, don't be Kevan's dog. The king of the Seven Kingdoms is Tommen Baratheon, he is my child. If you confine me in Highgarden and force me to marry you, do you think he will let you and the Tyrell family go when King Tommen grows up?”

Willas was stunned!

Kevan's plan to seize power was to seize Cersei's power, because he believed that Cersei would lead the kingdom into the abyss. But Kevan was not against King Tommen. King Tommen would of course come of age. He was nine years old this year; in seven years, at sixteen, Kevan would return power to Tommen.

At that time, would a letter from the Queen Mother cause King Tommen to order the eradication of the Tyrell family?

The probability of this happening was very high.

If they could confine Queen Mother Cersei today, would Queen Mother Cersei confine the Tyrell family many years later? Once Queen Mother Cersei returned to King's Landing, would she order the massacre of the Reach?! Willas thought she would. He suddenly felt how foolish it was to be Kevan's pawn.

Seeing that she had subdued Willas with just a few words, Cersei felt extreme contempt for Willas. This cripple probably only knew how to raise eagles and fight dogs and had no real combat experience or courage. Cersei's courage became even bolder.

“Lord Willas, if we capture you, can we use your life as a threat to get out of Highgarden?” Cersei said coldly.

“Your Majesty, Hand Kevan's plan has nothing to do with the Tyrell family.”

“But aren't you preparing to confine me?”

“Yes, Your Majesty, but that was all Hand Kevan's idea. I personally oppose this marriage.”

“Since that's the case, please show me your sincerity. Lord Willas, I want you to order Steward Garth to come here as well. Just say that you have something important to discuss with him.”

Willas never expected that while they were plotting against Cersei, Cersei had already made the most complete preparations. Was she using him as bait to capture Highgarden's four great vassals as hostages in one fell swoop?!

Thanks to [x沐浴黑暗] for the generous support, thank you, handshake!