Hundreds of candles flickered in the garden, their swaying flas like stars in the night sky. Maids in white hairnets drifted through the scene like flowing clouds.
Mace had broken with tradition, holding the wedding feast outdoors instead of inside.
The climate in Highgarden was warm, so even outside, no one felt the chill. Servants used incense to drive away insects.
Guests had taken their seats early. The Tyrells had positioned three bands in different locations, all playing the sa song simultaneously to ensure everyone could hear clearly.
The banquet featured precious ingredients from all over the Seven Kingdoms—not only rare but fresh.
Sansa not only got her favorite lemon cakes but also fresh lemons. Arya tried a bite of a lemon and soured her face into a bun, making Oberyn roar with laughter.
On the other side, Jon sat among Mace, his sons, and others, discussing Euron.
The Euron at the wedding was a body double—a sailor whose build and appearance closely resembled his own.
With everyone's attention on Jon and Margaery, it was normal that no one noticed the switch.
This was sothing Jon hadn't anticipated. It seed that despite having the first-move advantage, Euron was clearly more cautious.
As for Euron's mute sailors, Willas had attempted to capture them alive, and had succeeded with so, but they all died mysteriously soon after.
Once the wedding ended, Willas ordered a city-wide search. Euron's ship was naturally the primary target. However, unexpectedly, as the soldiers left Highgarden, an east wind suddenly blew at the port. Euron's ship rode the wind, ramming through the rchant ships blocking it and escaping.
This heightened Jon's vigilance. The wind was obviously no coincidence; it likely had sothing to do with Euron's magic.
Although he still didn't know what the guy wanted, the intent of his mute sailors to set fires and poison people was all too obvious.
Upon learning this, Mace was furious and imdiately ordered the expulsion of anyone under the banner of "adventurer" from the Reach.
Willas, however, was interested in how Jon knew all this and seed to show a considerable degree of wariness from the very beginning.
"As for the source of the information, it's a bit troubleso to explain. That so-called 'Eron' is very likely Euron Greyjoy, King Balon's younger brother. This guy has been a thorough scoundrel since childhood. It is said he raped his own brother when he was young and slept with another brother's concubine, which got him exiled from the Iron Islands. I heard all this at the Wall."
"Seven Hells, how can there be such a person?" Mace's face looked extrely ugly, as if the thought of inviting such a person to his daughter's wedding made him feel as sick as swallowing a fly.
"Jon, thanks to you. If not for you, this guy would have disrupted the wedding or even kidnapped Margaery—" Willas said sincerely, personally pouring wine for Jon.
Mace, getting angrier the more he thought about it, turned back to call the Maester. "Lomys, Lomys! Write to the Iron Islands. Tell them Euron plotted misconduct at my daughter's wedding and demand they hand him over!"
"At once, my Lord."
Listening to Mace's instructions, Jon realized sothing. Since Euron had already shown himself, his next step would surely be to go to the Iron Islands to seize power.
This ant Balon should be dying soon. In the original tiline, Balon died one day, and Euron returned the next.
So there must be a signal between him and the Faceless Man he hired, stipulating that the other party kill at a ti he selected.
And for such an elusive guy, infiltrating the Iron Islands to scout the situation wouldn't be difficult.
Maybe his skill in controlling ravens was no less than Jon's own.
Additionally, Jon was worried about Theon. Theon hadn't appeared at the wedding from start to finish.
Jon ruled out a shipwreck. The only possibility was that Theon—or rather Balon—feared Jon might detain Theon, so he didn't let him co.
This ant Theon was likely still on the Iron Islands. Originally, Euron only needed to kill King Balon to seize power; now he probably had to deal with Theon too, since Theon was the first in line of succession after Balon's death.
This made Jon worry about Theon's safety. After all, raised by Ned as a ward, Theon wasn't bad at heart, and his mindset was far removed from that of the Ironborn.
Moreover, Jon planned to annex the Iron Islands. House Greyjoy's territory was Great Wyk. If Theon could submit to him, the annexation process would be much smoother.
But Jon couldn't split himself in two, nor could he run to the Iron Islands to save Theon. He could only hope for Theon's luck.
At this mont, Willas whispered to Mace, "Father, it's still too dangerous. Our family is all in Highgarden, and you let so many strangers in at once—"
"What does it matter? Isn't everything fine?" Facing Willas's reminder, Mace remained stubborn, his knife scraping loudly against his plate as he cut his steak.
"And you two." Mace put a piece of at in his mouth, chewing loudly while pointing at Jon and Willas. "Does what I say in Highgarden still count? You killed people in the castle without my permission! Hmm?"
He took a sip of wine and continued, "And you, Jon. If I go to Casterly Rock and kill people without your consent, and only tell you afterward, would you accept that?"
"It doesn't matter, Father-in-law. Even if you ca into mine and Margaery's bedroom with a sword, I would assu an assassin had infiltrated and you were there to protect us." Jon smiled and winked at Willas. No one would take offense at an old tsundere like Mace.
"More sweet talk. You're nothing like your father in this regard!" Mace mumbled, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up.
The feeling of being unconditionally trusted was very nice.
Seeing his father like this, Willas shrugged helplessly at Jon.
Fortunately, Olenna stepped in to uphold justice: "Oh, enough. The children are grown up; so things should be left to them. Besides, you were weeping into three handkerchiefs during the wedding. Are you sure you could have made any correct decisions?"
In Highgarden, Olenna had absolute authority. Whenever Mace put on airs in front of his children, soone imdiately stepped up to suppress him.
However, to Jon's surprise, Mace seed to enjoy this and didn't mind.
At this ti, Olenna turned to Jon and said, "Jon, you are no longer alone. We entrust Margaery to your care. In the future, you will have children. Being careful is a good thing."
"Understood, Grandmother," Jon said with a cheerful smile.
Actually, Jon knew this "Queen of Thorns" wouldn't be soft-hearted when taking action. In the original tiline, she thought Joffrey was useless and his cruel nature might hurt her granddaughter, so she acted decisively, even managing to keep herself out of it.
But now it seed he had gained Olenna's approval because she ntioned his and Margaery's children. This showed that the Queen of Thorns herself looked forward to their future and would definitely help in many matters later on.
In that case, Jon was happy to call her "Grandmother."
Such a harmonious scene was rare. Toasts were exchanged, and laughter and joy decorated the place like heaven on earth.
At this mont, Jon suddenly noticed Alerie had left the table early. Out of politeness, he asked about it. Mace said Alerie had been too tired these days and needed rest.
Considering this was Highgarden and Euron had already fled, Jon didn't pay much attention.
"The bride is coming!"
Soon, the banquet reached its climax. Margaery had changed into a light blue dress and appeared surrounded by a group of maids.
Her arrival seed to brighten the light at the banquet; almost everyone felt their eyes light up. Even the painter in the corner involuntarily widened his eyes, his hands moving faster as if to record this rare beauty.
Sansa clasped her hands over her chest, her eyes glued to Margaery.
This was the wedding of her dreams.
"I wonder what my wedding will be like in the future?" Sansa whispered, leaning her head on Jeyne Poole's shoulder.
"Your two brothers, one is a Prince and the other a Duke; of course, it won't be bad," Jeyne Poole whispered back.
Although Jeyne's father died in King's Landing, because of this, the Poole family beca closer to and more trusted by the Stark family.
In the future, for Jeyne's wedding, Winterfell would also show its appreciation.
Arya, who was playing with Lyman nearby, didn't have such complex thoughts. Seeing the beautifully dressed and elegant Margaery, she let out a "Wow."
Hearing this simplest but most sincere praise, Margaery naturally felt very proud. She gave Sansa and Arya a friendly look.
From today on, she was Margaery Stark.
Margaery's gaze swept through the crowd—Grandmother Olenna, Father Mace, three brothers—and finally rested on Jon's eyes. Jon was also looking at her with a smile.
The corners of her mouth curled up; she seed satisfied with Jon's reaction.
However—
"I will confess every detail to you, but now is not the ti."
Margaery rembered what Jon told her not long ago. She had already learned about Roslin. She thought Jon was indeed very restrained, just feeling a bit tricked by fate. If only he had t her first.
But it didn't matter. In the future, Jon belonged to her, and his promise to her was solid.
Thinking of this, Margaery returned a smile to Jon.
"Jon, go quickly," Willas reminded him.
Jon ca to Margaery's side, and everyone let out appropriate cheers.
The surrounding music also stopped just right.
At this ti, Margaery's companion, Alla Tyrell, ca to Jon holding a harp and said, "Lord Duke, according to our Highgarden custom, you should sing a song for the bride."
"I don't know how to play the harp."
Hearing him say this, people inevitably felt a little regretful.
"It doesn't matter, Jon. Being able to spend the rest of my life with you is enough for ," Margaery stepped forward to comfort him, leaning into Jon's arms.
"But I can sing," Jon said, looking into Margaery's bright eyes. Regardless of her attitude towards his inability to play the harp, saying such words showed she was a smart girl.
Jon cleared his throat, and the surrounding sounds quieted down, leaving only the breeze blowing through the flowers and the gentle clinking of wine glasses and plates.
Soon, a fast-paced and novel tune rang from his mouth: "Rose City." (Note: implying a localized version of "La Vie en Rose" or similar romantic song adapted)
"Do you bloom only for ."
"Rose City."
"There are too many corners of the world I don't know."
"Who knows?"
"..."
"Now our dreams finally co true."
Jon sang the adapted song. At first, everyone thought he was singing nonsense, but found it more flavorful the more they listened.
And the singers Mace hired were indeed highly skilled; they actually figured out how to accompany him after listening to half the song.
With the music, the atmosphere of the banquet went up another level. Oberyn actually held his Ellaria and kissed her directly.
Jon also acted on impulse and added another song—
"Should I, should I, stop this thought~"
"I want you, want your beauty~" (Note: Likely "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" or similar upbeat love song adapted)
The rhythm of the second song was more cheerful. Jon held Margaery's hand, using her hand as a pivot to spin her around, pushing the atmosphere of the banquet to a climax again.
Soon after, the atmosphere slowly settled, and it was ti for the bedding.
Under the gaze of the Tyrells, Jon took Margaery to the bridal chamber they had prepared in advance.
Surrounded by maids and servants, the two walked through the path, seemingly surrounded by pink bubbles.
Just as they saw the small building not far away, a group of guys who had been "ambushing" for a long ti suddenly sward up.
Martin jumped out first, but Arya was smaller and more agile. Behind her were Robert Frey, Lyman, and a large group of people. Their target was the hem of Margaery's dress trailing on the ground.
Jon was quick-witted and quick-handed. He picked Margaery up horizontally and rushed towards their bridal chamber.
To maintain the atmosphere, Jon didn't run too fast, deliberately letting Arya and the others think they were just a bit away from tearing the dress before pulling away.
Just as everyone was tearing at the hem of Margaery's dress on the ground, Loras suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs: "Jon! My mother, my mother is missing!"
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