North of Kaiyan City, there is a ten-mile-long official road.
Julie Clegane helped the weary Jenny Westerling wash up, and then sat with Rafed Clegane in the driver's seat of Jenny's carriage. Gregor Clegane rode alongside the carriage, while Clegane's cavalry followed behind. At Gregor's command, the carriage slowly moved forward.
As the sun sets, its rays shine down from the horizon of the Sunset Sea, casting long shadows on the people along the official road.
Earl Gavin and his eight guards watched helplessly as the carriage was forcibly 'hijacked' by the Mountain.
Gavin swallowed his anger and had no choice but to follow behind the Mountain's cavalry, keeping a distance.
You can't reason with a madman!
The Mountain is that madman.
Earl Gavin knew perfectly well that even if he intervened, along with his eight guards, they wouldn't be a match for the Mountain alone. The most important thing now wasn't protecting the carriage himself, and ensuring Jenny's safety, but rather avoiding provoking the Mountain.
Once he meets Lord Tywin, Earl Gavin will seek justice and make the Mountain apologize to him.
For his daughter's safety and honor, Earl Gavin decided to yield.
Once Jenny becomes Lord Tywin's daughter, her status rises with her father's, and the Mountain is nothing more than a dog forced to serve her; similarly, the Westerling family gains power through their sons, making other noble families in the Westerlands no longer dare to underestimate them.
Earl Gavin gradually sorted out his inner turmoil, making himself feel less embarrassed and uncomfortable.
On the official road north of the city, the sound of horses' hooves clattered.
Pedestrians passing by saw the Demon Mountain from afar and quickly moved aside to avoid it.
In the Westerlands, don't mess with the Mountain!
*
"Miss Jenny, I am Gregor Clegane," Gregor said through the curtain.
Jenny was too frightened to speak inside the carriage.
But if I don't answer the Mountain, will he get angry? Will he fly into a rage? If he can't resist lifting the curtain and sees my beauty, will he do something that would dishonor my honor, even something like... teasing... or uttering vulgarities...?
Behind the carriage, the filthy language of the Clegane family cavalry kept forcing its way into Jenny's ears, making her feel ashamed, blushing, and embarrassed. Some of the words were simply... unbearable to hear.
"…The Mountain… Lord…" Jenny knew she had made a mistake as soon as she opened her mouth. The Mountain wasn't Gregor Clegane's name, nor was it a title; it was a malicious nickname people used in private out of fear of Gregor. For example, you can call someone a dog, a pig, or an animal in private, and you can discuss someone's animalistic traits and bad reputation in a group of people, but you can't say it to their face—that's an insult.
Jenny was too nervous and flustered. For someone who values etiquette and good manners, such rude and despicable behavior was unacceptable.
But as soon as she opened her mouth, she stammered.
Many people, including Miss Julie, the deceased Sir Alan Salloot, and Gregor's loyal followers, have called him by his derogatory name, "The Mountain," to his face. Gregor doesn't mind; he's completely indifferent to it. Now, Gregor doesn't consider it an insult if anyone calls him "The Mountain" to his face. This might be one aspect of his wicked nature.
Jenny was terrified when she realized she had said "The Mountain" instead of "Sir Gregor."
Jenny was only a fifteen-year-old girl. She had studied literature, knitting, etiquette, music, painting, medicine, poetry, and the history of the Seven Kingdoms since elementary school, but she had never had the courage to practice martial arts. In front of a notorious villain like Gregor, she had lost all her courage.
"Uh, miss, I'm listening!" Gregor spoke again, unusually, showing no anger at being called the Mountain to his face. His tone was calm and his voice gentle.
Jenny took a deep breath, trying to calm her fearful heart.
"…Sir Gregor…hello, thank you and your soldiers for coming to greet us. The Westerling family is very grateful, and I am also very grateful for your…care." Jenny heard her heart pounding. She finally managed to finish speaking, beads of sweat forming on her forehead and nose, and her two small, snow-white hands felt hot.
"Miss Jenny, it was Duke Tywin who ordered me to come and greet you."
"Oh! Thank you for your kindness, Duke Tywin. Jenny and the Westerling family are deeply ashamed."
"Miss Jenny, I am deeply honored. I want to thank you."
"…Sir Gregor…it is I and the Westerling family who should thank you first…Thank you for coming to welcome and escort us. Jenny is deeply humbled and unworthy of such praise."
"Miss Jenny, the copper plate, spring water, and towel were prepared privately by Gregor for you. The silver mirror, rouge, face powder, and brush were the finest items Gregor purchased in Casterly Rock as a special gift for you. I am deeply honored that you accepted all the little gifts I had carefully prepared. Thank you, Miss."
Jenny felt a chill run down her spine halfway through the conversation, and by the end, she was covered in cold sweat. What did the Mountain mean by speaking like that?
If Jenny had known it was from him, she definitely wouldn't have accepted it. No matter what it was or how expensive it was, she would have refused it all.
But now she had accepted it. She used the copper plate, spring water, and towel from the Magic Mountain, as well as the silver mirror, rouge, face powder, and drawing brush. When Julie happily packed all these things away and said they were gifts carefully selected for her by the adults, she politely accepted them all.
She had assumed that all these things were gifts from Duke Tywin!
She never imagined that the exquisite items that only noble ladies would be familiar with and understand were actually gifts that the Mountain had bought for her.
Jenny felt a chill run down her spine at the thought of the rumors about the Mountain's defilement of women.
She wanted to shout for her father, but she knew it was no use.
Furthermore, from a etiquette standpoint, the Mountain did not fail in any way.
She accepted it because she thought it was a gift from Lord Tywin!
If she were to refuse now, it would be her fault, not the Mountain's.
Furthermore, she feared angering the Demon Mountain.
Even if the Mountain dared not do anything to her because of Lord Tywin, it was still unacceptable for him to lift the curtain and verbally humiliate her.
"What's wrong, Miss Jenny? Are you feeling unwell? Do you need me to take a look?" The Mountain's voice rang out again. Through the curtain, Jenny felt the Mountain's large hand stroking the curtain, as if he was about to lift it. This terrified Jenny, as if the Mountain was about to get into the car.
"...No...no, I'm fine...The Mountain...Sir Gregor, I'm fine, thank you for your...gift!"
"Are you happy to accept my gift?" the Mountain asked again.
For the first time in her life, Jenny felt that speaking could be so incredibly frustrating!
She felt helpless.
She needs her father by her side.
But even Father couldn't afford to offend the Demon Mountain; Father was far behind the carriage.
"...Yes, I'm happy to receive the gift from the adults…" Jenny said something against her will that would make her feel disgusted for a long time.
"Oh, that's good. That way, I can report back to Lord Tywin." The Mountain said easily.
This is a very nonsensical statement.
The Mountain's private delivery of the item to Jenny was not on Lord Tywin's orders, so why would the Mountain need to report back to Lord Tywin? The Mountain only needs to report back to Lord Tywin when he is given a task by Lord Tywin himself!
Jenny had a vague feeling that there might be something between The Mountain and Tywin Lannister... but she didn't know what it was, and she couldn't figure it out!