Guided by Horas Redwyne, Margaery stepped into the Redwyne family castle.
The castle, built of white stone, sat atop the highest hill on The Arbor, with the sea breeze drifting through the halls, carrying a salty scent and the fragrance of the distant vineyards.
Inside the lord's hall, Margaery met Lord Paxter Redwyne, as well as her aunt, Mina Tyrell.
Lord Paxter's shoulders were slightly stooped, his orange hair had thinned, and his forehead was shiny.
Margaery stepped forward and performed an impeccable curtsy: "Lord Redwyne, it has been a long time; you look as distinguished as ever."
"Margaery, my dear child." Lord Paxter rose from his seat, a gentle smile appearing on his face, "You must be tired from your journey."
Mina Tyrell also walked over and took Margaery's hand: "The last time I saw you, you were just a little girl. I never expected that after a few years, you would have blossomed into such a lovely young woman."
After the pleasantries, Lord Paxter invited Margaery to move to the dining hall.
A white tablecloth covered the long dining table, and the silver tableware shimmered in the candlelight.
The handmaidens lifted the silver covers to reveal steaming dishes.
Roasted salmon, stuffed suckling pig, candied fruits, and the golden wine that The Arbor was most proud of.
Margaery picked up a crystal goblet, the golden wine within it appearing like liquid amber under the candlelight.
She took a gentle sip, and the fruity aroma blended with the aged scent of the oak barrel on her tongue.
Lord Paxter also took a sip from his glass, then set it down and looked at Margaery:
"Margaery, you came all the way to The Arbor, surely not just to visit an old man like me? How is your grandmother Olenna?"
Margaery set down her glass: "Grandmother is in excellent health; she asked me to convey her regards to you." She paused, "Lord Redwyne, I have indeed come to seek your counsel on a few matters."
Lord Paxter raised an eyebrow slightly, signaling her to continue.
Margaery took a deep breath: "Highgarden intends to pledge allegiance to House Targaryen."
The atmosphere in the dining hall suddenly grew tense.
Lord Paxter's fingers, which had been resting on the edge of the table, stopped moving.
Margaery immediately added: "Lord Redwyne, during the War of the Usurper, The Reach was originally a loyalist."
"You even joined my father in the naval siege of Storms End, serving House Targaryen."
"By right of law and old ties, The Reach has absolutely no reason to be in conflict with House Targaryen. It was only after the war was lost that we were forced to surrender to the Baratheon Dynasty."
She said earnestly: "Furthermore, under the Baratheon Dynasty, The Reach has never been valued. King Robert trusted his Stormlands lords and Jon Arryn more, and later, it was the Lannisters who held the power."
"The Reach provides the kingdom with the most grain and wealth, yet we have never received a status commensurate with that."
"Now that House Targaryen has returned under the leadership of Prince Aegon, this is the perfect opportunity for us to realign."
Lord Paxter was silent for a moment before speaking slowly: "The return of the Targaryens to Westeros is indisputably legitimate."
"The Reach was once one of the staunchest supporters of the Targaryens."
He shifted his tone: "However, Margaery, you must have heard. That Prince Aegon is openly defying the feudal system that has existed in Westeros for thousands of years, intending to reclaim the rights to conscription, taxation, and justice... How can this be allowed?"
Margaery was prepared: "Lord Redwyne, it is not a complete abolition of noble rights, but an adjustment to the form of those rights."
"We can still exercise those functions, but they need to be integrated into a unified royal framework. For example, the right to command troops—we can still command, but we would no longer be leading the private armies of various houses, but serving as generals for the crown."
"As for taxation, members of our families can serve as tax officials. The crown will provide corresponding salaries and stipends. Everything remains the same; only the form has changed."
Lord Paxter's brow furrowed even tighter.
Margaery made it sound easy, but in the end, wasn't that just turning from lords who were masters of their own lands into officials working for the crown?
Margaery noticed his hesitation: "Lord Redwyne, the dragon that Prince Aegon rides is truly extraordinary."
"He has been in Westeros for less than half a year, yet he has conquered the Stormlands, The Crownlands, and now, he has even reclaimed the entire Riverlands. His momentum is unstoppable."
"We must make a decision in advance. If we wait until the Targaryen forces arrive in The Reach, it will be too late to make plans."
She paused: "My father sent me here to seek the opinions of the lords."
"If everyone agrees, my father will represent you all in submitting a joint petition to surrender to Prince Aegon. Surrendering proactively might secure us more favorable treatment in the new order."
Lord Paxter was silent for a long time, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.
Finally, he spoke slowly: "This matter is of great importance, and I cannot give an immediate answer. I need time to consider, and I need to see the movements of other lords."
Margaery's heart sank, but she maintained a smile: "That is only natural. I understand your caution."
For the rest of the banquet, although the dishes remained sumptuous and the golden wine rich, the atmosphere had clearly become stiff.
Margaery cited the example of House Caron from the Stormlands.
After House Caron surrendered, they were not weakened; instead, they were appointed as Marcher Lords, able to assemble an army of nearly ten thousand, with their power increasing several times over.
But Lord Paxter's answers remained vague; he refused to give a definitive response.
Margaery stayed on The Arbor for another two days.
The brothers Horas and Hobber were very attentive, taking her to visit the vineyards, wine cellars, and coastal scenery.
But it was of no use.
The one who truly held the power was still Lord Paxter, sitting in the high seat of the lord's hall, and he never wavered.
Margaery decided not to stay any longer.
Her next stop was House Peake at Starpike.
On the dock, Horas and Hobber stood side by side, watching Margaery's ship slowly pull away from the shore.
The white sails billowed in the sea breeze, gradually moving into the distance.
Even after the ship's silhouette had vanished on the horizon, the two brothers remained there, gazing for a long time.
Behind the high window of the castle tower, Paxter Redwyne withdrew his gaze from his two sons and turned back to sit at his desk.
Mina Tyrell walked over to his side and finally couldn't help but ask:
"Why won't you give Margaery a clear answer? Haven't we always acted in concert with Highgarden?"
Lord Paxter glanced at her: "What do you women know? This is not something one can easily take sides on."
He leaned back in his chair, his expression grave: "If the Targaryens' return was just like Aegon the Conqueror—merely changing a king—our lords in The Reach would naturally surrender."
"But the new policies he is pushing touch upon the interests of us all... the rights to conscription, taxation, and justice—these are the foundations of our standing."
"If we rashly take sides now to support the Tyrells in pledging allegiance to the Targaryens without knowing the specific reactions of other lords, do you know what the consequences will be?"
Mina opened her mouth, but in the end, she said nothing.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
A maester in grey robes walked in quickly, holding a letter in his hand, looking somewhat anxious: "My Lord, a raven letter has just arrived."
"Where is it from?"
"The mark on the raven is from the Westerlands."
Paxter's brow furrowed tightly. He did not have any friends in the Westerlands. He took the letter, his eyes falling on the wax seal.
It was a golden lion sigil, roaring with its head held high.
Lannister.
He crushed the wax seal, took out the letter, and unfolded it.
His gaze swept across the text line by line, his expression shifting uncertainly.
Watching her husband's face, Mina asked in a low voice: "What is it? What does the letter say?"
Paxter put down the letter, his voice somewhat dry:
"Tywin Lannister, in the name of the Regent of the Seven Kingdoms and King Tommen Baratheon I, has issued a proclamation to the Seven Kingdoms."
"The letter states that House Tyrell is openly supporting Aegon Targaryen with grain and supplies, which is an act of open treason against the Baratheon royal family."
"By the order of the Regent, he is stripping House Tyrell of their titles as Warden of the South and Lord Paramount of The Reach."
"The vacant position of Warden of the South will be temporarily held by House Hightower."
Mina's face turned instantly pale: "How could this happen..."
Paxter stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the blue strait outside.
The sea breeze howled, whipping up white spray that crashed against the reefs on the shore, shattering into millions of water droplets.
"The Reach," he said in a low voice, "is about to be in chaos."
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