Joffrey's angry voice was tinged with panic: "Who allowed you to come in? Get out, all of you! I am the King!"
"Joffrey, stop your clowning."
Duke Tywin stared coldly at his grandson for a moment, then continued: "Joffrey, I hope to see you at breakfast tomorrow… sincerely apologize to Lord Mace for your drunken ramblings tonight and gain his forgiveness."
Joffrey's eyes widened as he looked at Duke Tywin: "You want me to apologize to Lord Mace? A King apologizing to a subject?"
Duke Tywin's eyes narrowed slightly, and he said coldly: "If you cannot understand the meaning of doing so, then you will obediently follow my command."
"You can't command me! I am the King!" Joffrey, held in Cersei's embrace, roared.
The veins on Duke Tywin's neck bulged one by one, and his hands, clasped behind his back, clenched into fists.
He gritted his teeth and said: "Joffrey, let me remind you, Robert's bloodline is not limited to you alone."
Cersei looked over in shock: "Father!"
After a moment of stunned, Joffrey visibly trembled: "W-w-what did you say?"
Cersei held her son tightly and said to Duke Tywin: "Father, please, tell Joffrey that you are just angry for a moment… Yes, you are just joking with your grandson."
Joffrey broke free from Cersei's embrace and stood up: "You want to depose the King? You dare…"
Before he could finish, he met the Old Lion's sharp gaze and instinctively cowered behind Cersei.
After closing his eyes for a moment, Duke Tywin's heaving chest slowly calmed. He opened his eyes, glanced at his daughter and grandson, then turned and waved his hand.
"Ser Adam, the King needs to wake up early tomorrow. Please escort him back to his chambers."
Seeing Adam and the others approach, Joffrey shouted: "What are you doing? This is an offense!"
His threats were useless. Joffrey was firmly held by two men in red robes. He kicked his legs and cried: "Mother, I don't want to rest! Save me!"
Cersei was about to plead, but the Old Lion's impatient voice rang out first: "Give him the sleeping draught."
"Father… Joffrey…"
"Cersei, I am being quite reasonable."
The King was forcibly led away by Ser Adam and others. Before leaving… Joffrey shot a venomous glance at the Old Lion who was turning his back to him.
In the fireplace, the fire crackled.
Only the father and daughter remained in the dining room. Cersei hesitated, then approached the Old Lion with light steps: "Father, I am very sorry. Joffrey is a bit willful. I am trying to correct him…"
Duke Tywin, standing upright, glanced at Cersei: "Willfulness and foolishness are two different things."
Cersei quietly observed the Old Lion's expression and said: "Father, Joffrey has a strong personality. He is the most suitable candidate for King."
Duke Tywin turned his head, scrutinized his daughter briefly, and said with a cold, hard voice: "Few strong Kings throughout history have come to a good end."
Cersei tried to speak again, but Duke Tywin stopped her with a raised hand.
He withdrew his gaze and stared at the flickering flames in the fireplace. After a pause, he suddenly said: "Cersei, I did not like your deceased husband… Robert."
Upon hearing this, Cersei's emerald eyes trembled. Then she looked at the Old Lion with some surprise and said: "I thought… Can you tell me why, Father?"
The hand behind his back clenched for a moment before relaxing. Duke Tywin's cold voice sounded: "He liked to pat my back."
…
The hazy night cast a light veil over the Red Keep.
After leaving Maegors Holdfast, Garlan Tyrell, though trying his best to conceal it, could not hide his heavy heart.
Due to the "stranger" being present, he could not speak directly, only occasionally glancing at his sister, who still maintained her elegant demeanor.
Margaery Tyrell, under the moonlight, was captivating. She smiled gently: "Brother Garlan, please don't worry about me. I will fulfill my duties as the King's wife."
Ser Garlan glanced at Duke Green, who was looking up at the night sky, and said: "I will return as soon as possible, Margaery."
Margaery walked a few steps silently, took a soft breath, and said: "Thank you, Garlan."
Green turned his head and saw a pair of bright, yet heartbreaking, large eyes.
…I can promise you…
…The child of Joffrey and I…
…will be betrothed to your child…
Recalling the day's conversation again, Green stopped. He sensed that the Golden Rose seemed to have made a true "judgment" about Joffrey.
He guessed… The more Margaery outwardly anticipated this marriage, or the more determined she appeared, the more it indicated something else.
Seemingly calm, yet hiding undercurrents.
Perhaps her main task was to show Duke Tywin and everyone that she would be a qualified Queen… The worse Joffrey behaved, the better the effect would be.
Perhaps Joffrey's astonishing remarks tonight were also one of the natural results of Margaery's clever "provocation."
Such courtly tactics, especially with Joffrey as the target, would be too easy for Margaery, he knew.
Since the poisoning incident at Riverrun, the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms were very vigilant about it. He heard that Ser Jaime had even arranged a special Kingsguard to "taste" King Joffrey's food (Chapter 331), so… it would be difficult to replicate.
If not poisoning, then what?
Green showed a slight smile to Little Rose. For Lord Mace's sake, he had to take some action.
"Lady Margaery, it was an honor to escort you." Green nodded slightly to Little Rose.
Margaery's doe eyes seemed to brighten even more. She came before Green, stood on tiptoe, and gave him a light, polite kiss on the cheek.
"Duke Green, I apologize for tonight. I should have made more thorough dinner preparations."
Looking at the rarely "proactive" Light of Highgarden, a suitable look of surprise flashed across Green's face, and at the same time… he silently lit a candle for Joffrey in his heart.
"You were charming enough tonight, Lady Margaery."
As Green's words fell, Ser Garlan immediately echoed: "Yes, my sister, no one would think you didn't do well. You were the light of the Red Keep tonight."
He added: "King Joffrey's drinking capacity is not… very good."
Towards the end, Ser Garlan couldn't help but grit his teeth, and then… he couldn't help but show a worried look again.
Margaery chuckled: "Garlan, he is excellent enough as he is. This… makes him feel more approachable."
Looking at his sister, completely lost in a beautiful dream of love, Ser Garlan shrugged helplessly.
Green smiled and said: "Perhaps being able to have each other is already wonderful enough, Ser Garlan."
Ser Garlan was slightly startled. It seemed Margaery's handmaidens had not exaggerated. Duke Green's tongue was indeed as "sharp" as his sword. He had indeed seen quite a bit tonight.
He scratched his head: "Yes, I will bless them."
Meeting Margaery's gaze, Lord Greene's lips curved into a smile.
…
"My Lord Greene."
After the Roses' figures disappeared, the young steward Leyton came to Green's side and whispered: "Adam Marbrand gave King Joffrey a sleeping draught."
Green shook his head slightly. It seemed Duke Tywin was truly enraged by Joffrey.
He took a step: "Where did Ser Jaime go?"
Leyton walked and said: "Jaime Lannister first took the Kingsguard to the White Sword Tower, then went to the dungeon alone."
"Very good."
…
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