Queen Dowager Cersei drained her cup of summer red, her cheeks gradually flushed, and her golden hair was beautifully disheveled, utterly enchanting.
Osney's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
Queen Dowager Cersei extended her empty wine glass towards Osney: "Come, pour."
Ser Osney quickly averted his gaze and respectfully said, "As you command."
Cup after cup, after downing the fifth, Queen Dowager Cersei suddenly laughed, the proud Lioness using laughter to vent her long-suppressed emotions and the humiliation she had endured.
The laughter didn't last long; she extended her wine glass: "Come, pour me some wine."
Osney quickly picked up the wine jug. The reward of that night captivated him, but the hot and cold treatment after that night made him feel anxious and uncertain; he even suspected... that night might have just been a beautiful dream he had.
Queen Dowager Cersei, in a joyous mood, was as beautiful as a summer maiden. Osney's gaze was infatuated; he was willing to do anything for her to relive her reward.
Queen Dowager Cersei took a light sip of summer red, her lips curved as she said, "Father, Old Lion, Tywin, I'm truly sorry, but you will have to learn to respect me from now on."
Slightly tipsy, she leaned gracefully against the back of the chair, looking at Osney and saying, "I heard a song when I was in Casterly Rock..."
She gently swirled her wine glass: "Hmm... I can't remember how it goes now, but I remember it was about a poor boy and a lady from a prominent family falling in love... No one blessed the two... and they escaped together from that place..."
First a sneer, then Queen Dowager Cersei trembled and laughed for a while, saying in a mocking tone, "What a fool!"
Her beautiful eyes fixed on Osney, Cersei smiled slightly and asked, "Ser Osney, you are also a poor boy. Would you also choose to elope with that foolish and Stupid Miss, like him?"
Cersei's jewel-like emerald eyes were hazy and alluring, making one unconsciously fall for them.
As long as you wish! Osney was about to speak, but Cersei didn't wait for his response, or... she seemed to be just talking to herself.
"Why do I say she's foolish? Because she forgot that her prominent background is a part of her; discarding that is like betraying herself. Truly, utterly foolish."
Queen Dowager Cersei asked Osney: "Did the poor boy love her beauty or her noble status?"
"....." Ser Osney silently acted as a good listener.
His choice was correct; Queen Dowager Cersei didn't wait for another person's answer this time either. She continued, "If he were smart enough, he should choose to love both, to love them all."
Queen Dowager Cersei asked again: "Right, Osney?"
"....." Ser Osney remained silent.
Queen Dowager Cersei said impatiently, "Answer me, Ser."
Ser Osney was slightly startled. He blinked, and after confirming that Queen Dowager Cersei was indeed asking him, he immediately said as if taking an oath, "Your Grace, Queen Dowager, as long as you command, I will take you anywhere you wish to go."
"You are so sweet, My Osney." Although Queen Dowager Cersei's voice was gentle, an imperceptible hint of disdain flashed in her eyes.
Ser Osney, however, only felt immense encouragement. He patted his chest and said, "I will always protect you!"
Cersei's response was a charming laugh.
After a pause, Queen Dowager Cersei gently kicked off her gold-trimmed sandals, stepping barefoot onto the Myr carpet, and moved gracefully to stand before Osney.
"Come, dance with me."
Queen Dowager Cersei danced with Osney, constantly repeating the motion of spinning into an embrace, she was as wild as a little girl.
After an unknown amount of time, when Osney was dizzy from spinning, Queen Dowager Cersei finally let go of him.
"The celebration is over."
Her skirt swirling, Queen Dowager Cersei casually picked up a wine glass and turned to walk towards the window sill.
Osney was stunned, the warmth suddenly vanished, leaving only a cold voice and a receding back. Was it an illusion again just now...? He felt like he was going to go crazy soon.
Rubbing his face, Osney approached Queen Dowager Cersei, holding the wine jug. She extended her wine glass to him, and he poured for her.
Queen Dowager Cersei's gold and green long dress shimmered with golden light in the afterglow, reflecting the setting sun outside the window.
Her gaze pierced through the window, staring into the distance, where... the sunset was like a burning flame, dyeing the clouds orange-red.
The warm light spilled onto Queen Dowager Cersei's face, her beautiful eyes slightly narrowed.
Taking a light sip of summer red, she murmured, "They... are also a part of me."
After a while, Queen Dowager Cersei, in a pleasant mood, instructed: "Ser Osney, please tell Joffrey that I invite him to dinner."
....
Throne Room.
On the steps below the Iron Throne, King Joffrey fiddled with the golden crossbow in his hand and said, "Are you finished?"
Ser Osney opened his mouth and said, "Yes... yes, My King."
The one who loudly proclaims "I am King" cannot be a true monarch... The one who loudly says he is King is not a monarch... You are not yet a true King...
If you don't want to be looked down upon by House Tyrell, you should at least look like an adult... The Queen's family will look down on you because you are still a child... You are a child...
Child... child... child... King Joffrey's mind was filled with Duke Tywin's mocking voice.
King Joffrey's face twisted for a moment, and he said, "Tell the Queen Dowager I am busy."
He paused, then coldly added, "And tell her again that I've grown up and don't want to listen to her boring nagging."
Seeing Ser Osney standing there in a daze, King Joffrey raised his crossbow and said, "If you don't want to deliver the message, I can find someone else."
He aimed the crossbow in his hand at Ser Osney, a smirk on his lips, and continued, "As for you, stay here."
Ser Osney slightly raised his hands, took a step back, and hurriedly said, "I will go back immediately, My King."
He turned and walked away. Joffrey aimed at his back for a while longer, then uninterestingly lowered the crossbow.
....
....
Duskendale is a large town located in the Crownlands. Built beside a harbor, it is the seat of House Rykker. Their family castle, known as the Dyre Den, features a square keep and a massive round tower, overlooking Duskendale and the harbor.
When Greene and his party entered Duskendale, the Earl of Duskendale, Rykker, entertained them warmly and thoughtfully.
As dusk settled.
Greene Crabb swung onto his horse, and surrounded by Brienne, Monton, Anguy, and more than a dozen guards, he left Duskendale.
On the cobblestone road leading towards the harbor, Greene encountered Tyrion, Bronn, and the young squire walking back.
As they drew closer, Greene pulled the reins, stopping his horse, and said, "Tyrion, any luck?"
Tyrion was a good rider; he also stopped his horse deftly.
He sighed, "Indeed, there are small fishing villages everywhere nearby, but my luck is terrible; I haven't seen any beautiful fisherman's daughters."
He grinned: "Or fishermen's wives."
Greene smiled and quipped, "Perhaps they knew the terrifying Little Devil was coming and hid."
Tyrion burst out laughing and said, "Little Devil and Blood Earl are the nightmares of beauties in the Seven Kingdoms."
Greene shrugged, and after Tyrion finished laughing, he eyed him suspiciously and said, "Greene, are you... also planning to look for a beautiful fisherman's daughter?"
Greene's lips curved slightly: "You're only half right."
Tyrion asked with a grin, "A beauty?"
Greene lightly kicked his horse's flank, and the horse beneath him ambled forward. He waved his hand and said, "A terrifying beauty."
"I hope you have good luck!" Tyrion and the others set off in the opposite direction.
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