When Jon entered the Green Hand Hall, all sound ceased instantly, like winter snow lting under a blazing sun, yet a greater celebration was brewing beneath the silence.
Lords and ladies paused their conversations. Noblewon stilled their fans, craning their necks to get a better look.
The n's gazes were more complex. Those of lower status looked upon the young Duke as an idol.
Historically, military rit was almost the only path for upward mobility in Westeros, and Jon had sprinted down that path faster than anyone.
Those of similar status were lost in thought, pondering what changes Jon would bring to the realm and what choices they themselves should make.
Arya hitched up her skirt and ran toward Jon like a gust of wind.
"Out of the way! Jon—!"
Not far off, Catelyn's face flushed with embarrassnt at her daughter's behavior. She couldn't help but apologize to Queen Selyse and Alerie.
Selyse remained expressionless, but Alerie was unfazed. She actually quite liked Arya's liveliness. Alerie had been a perfect lady since girlhood; coming into contact with Arya's vibrant vitality, she was imdiately chard.
Seeing Arya rushing toward him, Jon slipped his hands under her arms and spun her around in a circle.
Everyone who saw this smiled warmly.
Perhaps it was a bit improper, but no one was willing to spoil the mood of a young upstart who had just conquered the West and Casterly Rock.
"Brother Jon." Lyman called out carefully from the side as he watched Jon spin Arya.
Jon patted Lyman on the shoulder. "Not bad. You've gotten sturdy."
Receiving Jon's praise, Lyman's fair face reddened slightly, and he said sowhat bashfully, "But I'm still no match for Lady Arya."
"It doesn't matter. We have plenty of ti. I'll teach you later!" Jon said with a chuckle, drawing a protest from Arya. "Hey! Jon, you're my brother!"
"Alright, alright. I'll teach you both," Jon said, glancing at Selyse out of the corner of his eye. She was clearly on the verge of anger.
She was a woman with an excess of self-importance. In Selyse's view, Jon should have co to pay respects to her first.
Especially when she saw the placent of the banners in the hall. Putting Stannis's banner at the highest point was fine, but placing the banner of Brightwater Keep at the sa height? What was that about?
Did Brightwater Keep deserve that?!
However, now was clearly not the ti to dwell on this issue. Jon temporarily dismissed the two children and, urged by Alekyne, walked straight toward Selyse.
"Your Grace."
Selyse nodded slightly, stiff as a statue. This woman was always cold and aloof, though no one knew where her confidence ca from.
Stannis had sent her here to show favor to his "powerful minister and fierce general."
But Selyse seed intent on turning Jon's wedding into an occasion to glorify House Florent.
"Jon, by what right did you dispose of the Casterly Rock treasury without permission?" Selyse asked in a chilly voice.
Jon was perplexed. Leaving aside the fact that he had conquered Casterly Rock and the spoils should be his to dispose of...
If his army hadn't included soldiers sent by Stannis, not a single copper star would have left that vault.
And Stannis hadn't said anything beforehand. So what if he disposed of it?
Even taking a step back, this was his wedding! Wasn't she just looking for trouble?
Selyse's voice reached the ears of those nearby, instantly making the atmosphere tense. The only saving grace was that her voice wasn't particularly loud; only the imdiate circle could hear her. Those further away couldn't make out what the perpetually icy, high-and-mighty Queen was asking.
The Florents around Selyse also looked at Jon. Those treasures should have included a share for them.
When the Queen's n had suggested demanding the Lannister treasures, they likely had thoughts of lining their own pockets.
Then they heard that Jon had laid the treasures out in the square and distributed them like trash. Such behavior was simply a waste of heavenly gifts!
They even heard that Jon's betrothal gift to Margaery consisted of a full three hundred treasures! And he picked the most expensive ones! Even when Cersei married Robert, it hadn't been that extravagant.
"Jon, you know fully well that His Grace is short of money everywhere, yet you extravagantly gave away all the treasures in the vault. What exactly is your intention?" Alekyne also questioned in a low voice.
Olenna frowned slightly. Her protective instincts flared up. Selyse was one thing, but who did Alekyne think he was?
An acting castellan, without even a formal Earl's title, lecturing a Duke?!
But she knew this was the most important wedding of a person's life. A direct conflict wasn't what anyone wanted.
Just as she was about to speak up to defuse the situation for Jon, Jon showed no intention of engaging with them. He simply dropped a line: "I will explain this matter to His Grace myself," and turned to walk away.
"Lady Olenna, thank you and the Duke for your help in pinning down Tywin's army in the South. Otherwise, my attack on Casterly Rock would never have gone so smoothly." Jon smiled, bowing and thanking Olenna and Mace, leaving Selyse completely out in the cold.
"Jon!" Alekyne hissed, a warning in his tone.
Selyse's face alternated between green and white.
Jon's actions stunned almost everyone around him. What did this an? Leaving the Queen hanging? Was that allowed?
But Olenna was Olenna. As the helm of House Tyrell, she quickly understood Jon's intent.
Stannis had sent Selyse to attend Jon's wedding to show solidarity and favor, but Selyse was treating it as a platform to establish her family's prestige.
Olenna could assert that Selyse asking such a question at this ti was definitely her own initiative.
The best thing for Jon to do right now was pretend he didn't hear it.
If she had sothing to say, she could go say it to Stannis.
"Jon, compared to the last ti we t, you seem to have lost a lot of weight," Olenna said, adopting the standard posture of an elder.
Jon and Olenna's back-and-forth completely caught Selyse and Alekyne off guard. They hadn't expected Jon to dare be so "domineering."
For a mont, Selyse's chest heaved violently, her breathing heavy. Her face changed colors rapidly.
But she couldn't lose her composure and throw a fit; that would only let more people see that Jon was ignoring her, the Queen.
Next, Jon went to Mace and his wife. Alerie smiled at Jon. Mace still held a stern face, but it was clear he was about to crack.
Jon was indeed generous. Three hundred treasures as a betrothal gift, and even more treasures as a reward for the Tyrell army. This ti, the Tyrells not only didn't lose out, they made a significant profit.
Of course, with Mace's character, he certainly wouldn't take advantage of Jon. He wouldn't touch those three hundred treasures; instead, he would double them and have Margaery take them back to Casterly Rock.
"Duke Mace, Lady Alerie."
"Mm." Mace put on a serious expression, while Alerie nodded with a smile.
"Lady Catelyn," Jon greeted in turn. Both won gave him sincere smiles.
The forr was a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law, liking him more the more she looked. The latter realized Jon's value and also harbored feelings of guilt, wanting to make ands.
Although Catelyn hadn't brought any heavy gifts this ti, she had personally woven seven seven-colored garlands for Jon, inlaid with gems and wrapped in ribbons.
Such a gift was thoughtful enough.
After that, Jon saw Oberyn.
He was looking at Jon with a smile on his face. Besides the ubiquitous flowers and Arbor grapes, blood oranges—a specialty of Dorne—were everywhere in Highgarden this ti.
To express gratitude for Jon killing the Mountain and sending Amory Lorch to Sunspear, Doran had also prepared generous gifts.
He directly gave Jon and Margaery each a "Swan Ship" from the Sumr Islands, naming them the Highgarden Rose and the White Wolf Knight.
As for Amory Lorch, he was definitely suffering. Oberyn was an expert in poisons, and his daughters shared that skill.
Every day, they perford various inhumane experints on Amory, yet managed to keep him alive.
They even healed him periodically. It seed Oberyn's family intended to torture him for a few more years.
"Prince Oberyn."
"Duke Stark, you are simply the most legendary person I have ever t. No, you are a living legend." Upon seeing Jon, Oberyn heaped praise upon him. Since the other party had sent oranges and ships, Jon proactively offered: "You flatter , Prince. If you are interested in collecting them, I will send Tywin's head to Dorne for you later."
"Of course!" Oberyn exclaid in surprise, his mind already racing with ways to utilize it.
After greeting the distinguished guests who ca to congratulate him one by one, Jon announced loudly to the crowd: "I am truly grateful that you lords could co to my wedding. In the future, I will open the gates of Casterly Rock and welco you all as guests. In addition, the gold mines of the West are urgently waiting to be restarted. I think if any of you are interested, you can all co to the West. Furthermore, other places in the West also welco everyone to co and 'pan for gold'."
Seeing so many nobles here, Jon decided to give the West a wave of publicity.
Due to the war, the mines in the West had suffered considerable damage. It would take three to five years to restore them to pre-war production levels. But if he could attract people from all over the Seven Kingdoms to co to the West to pan for gold, this would be a business with huge potential.
Then, gold panned in the West would be spent in the West; don't even think about taking a copper back ho.
Seeing Jon actually "attracting investnt" at his own wedding, Willas couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.
"Jon, go et your bride quickly," Catelyn reminded him from the side.
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