While Linde and Fotimo were discussing matters in their room at the Golden Rose Garden, Linde was also being discussed in the Highgarden gardens.
The noblewomen had already left at the Thorn Queen's command, and only House Tyrell's own people and a few close handmaidens remained in the garden.
After lighting the candles and the bonfire in the garden, the servants retreated to a distance, and the castle guards stood watch nearby to prevent anyone from eavesdropping.
"What's going on with Bear Hunter Lind?" The Thorn Queen, Olenna Redwyne, asked Duke Mace, who had just rushed over from a meeting, with an expressionless face, "You told him to pause his mission and summoned him from Tengshi Town, but then you didn't meet him. You only sent Fotimo to relay a message, and you even arranged for him to stay in the military camp. What are you trying to do? Has something recently made you so arrogant that you've lost all sense of proportion?"
The Thorn Queen was very petite, only slightly taller than two children among the people in the garden. Her voice was not very loud, but her words were extremely clear, and everyone could hear them distinctly. Moreover, when she spoke, an invisible aura of authority emanated from her, making everyone present feel breathless, with only her granddaughter, Margaery Tyrell, unaffected.
The Thorn Queen's constant presence of authority made Duke Mace extremely nervous, and for a moment, he didn't know how to respond.
"Mother..." Duchess Allerie was about to explain for her husband.
"Shut up, Allerie, you shut up." The Thorn Queen scolded the Duchess mercilessly, saying in a deep voice, "I'm disciplining my son, this Lord Inflatable Fish who likes to swell up with a little bit of temper. I'm not talking about you. You stand quietly to the side and don't speak." Saying that, she looked at Duke Mace again and said in a deep voice, "Now answer me, Mace Tyrell, what exactly were you thinking at the time?"
Duke Mace lowered his head and mumbled softly, "Mother, he's just an ordinary knight who was just enfeoffed by the King."
The Thorn Queen stood up from her chair, walked in front of Duke Mace, glared at him, and reprimanded, "Are your ears deaf? Didn't you hear the cheers outside the wall? Didn't anyone tell you what happened in the outer city this afternoon? You still dare to say he's an ordinary knight? Has your brain been eaten by Others?"
Duke Mace lowered his head even further, and everyone around him also lowered their heads, not daring to look any further.
The Thorn Queen sat back down in her chair and said in a deep voice, "Duke, tell me, why did you summon Ser Linde Terra back to Highgarden?"
Duke Mace said softly, "Velas is going to Dorne, and I'm worried he might encounter danger, so I summoned Ser Linde to protect Velas."
"You also know that he was summoned by you to protect your son, your heir," the Thorn Queen's tone softened slightly, saying, "Shouldn't you try your best to win over such a person? Why would you neglect him? Aren't you worried that he might harbor resentment due to your neglect and not put his heart and soul into protecting Velas?"
"He wouldn't dare!" A hint of panic appeared on Duke Mace's face, and he stubbornly said, "He's just a knight. If he did that..."
The Thorn Queen couldn't help but curse again, "Why do you still think that Ser Linde Terra is just a knight? Was everything I just told you rubbish? Did those fools around you pry open your skull and constantly stuff your brain with feces? You've seen all the information about him, you know how high his prestige is in Tengshi Town. Is such a person still just a knight in your eyes?"
Duke Mace still insisted, "He's not the Earl of Tengshi Town after all..."
Before he could finish, the Thorn Queen grabbed a roll of letters from the table and threw it at Duke Mace, saying, "This is a piece of intelligence from Tengshi Town that you carelessly discarded. Now, read it carefully."
Duke Mace froze for a moment, picked up the letter, and quickly read it through. The expression on his face also became serious.
The Thorn Queen almost gritted her teeth and said, "Before returning to Highgarden, Countess Na Melilia Fudeli of Tengshi Town actively proposed marriage to him. Although he refused, as long as he expresses his willingness to marry Countess Nameria again, he can logically become the Earl of Tengshi Town. Do you still think such a person is an ordinary knight?"
Duke Mace was silent for a moment, not answering the Thorn Queen's question, but instead asked another question, saying, "Why did he refuse?"
"I also want to know why." The Thorn Queen's face also showed a rare look of confusion.
A wife from a collateral branch of House Tyrell suddenly spoke up, "Perhaps Countess Nameria is too ugly, so..."
The Thorn Queen gave the noblewoman an exasperated glare, saying, "Is there anyone in the world uglier than your family member? Your family member still has people vying to marry them. What if Countess Nameria, with her status, is ugly?"
The noblewoman immediately lowered her head, not daring to retort.
The Thorn Queen looked at Duke Mace again and said, "Do you think I'm angry that you despise Ser Linde Terra merely because of his influence in Tengshi Town?"
"Isn't it?" Duke Mace asked, puzzled.
The Thorn Queen asked in a deep voice, "I ask you, how long has Ser Linde Terra been a part of House Tyrell?"
Duke Mace paused for a moment and replied, "A few months, I suppose?"
"Hmm, a few months, less than half a year." The Thorn Queen nodded and continued to ask, "So, what was his status before joining House Tyrell?"
"A hunter," Duke Mace quickly gave the answer, saying, "It's even sung about in the hunter of bears song."
The Thorn Queen asked, "Then tell me, since the Seven Kingdoms appeared, how many people from a hunter background have achieved what Ser Linde Terra has achieved in just a few months?"
As the Thorn Queen's question was asked, everyone present fell silent. Each of them recalled the legendary figures recorded in the books they had read, and after much contemplation, they all realized that Linde seemed to be unique.
"I have lived for a long time and seen many legendary figures, but I have never seen anyone like Linde Terra." The Thorn Queen said in a deep voice, "Such a person, even if they cannot become a friend, should not become an enemy. Moreover, he is a knight of House Tyrell. Is this not worth your active efforts to win him over? Remember, arrogance has never been a characteristic of House Tyrell. Often looking down can help you see your own shortcomings."
Duke Mace didn't know if he had taken it to heart. After a moment of silence, he said, "I'll go see him tomorrow."
"No need, I've already arranged for Velas to go tomorrow." The Thorn Queen shook her head and said.
"I want to go too!" Margaery Tyrell stood on the stone chair and said, "I want to see the big cat."
"I want to go too." Loras also spoke.
"Good, it's fine for you to go." The Thorn Queen nodded.
Seeing that the matter was over, Duke Mace found an excuse to leave, and the Duchess walked with him.
After the couple left the garden, they did not immediately return to their room but instead walked leisurely to the Godswood of Highgarden.
This Godswood was located on the western slope of Highgarden's inner ring, with dense, tall weirwood trees blocking more than half of the front of the High Seat Church behind it. Within the forest, three heart trees personally planted by Qing Shou Jialesi were more lush and taller than the other surrounding trees. Their fiery red leaves resembled a ball of flame, and even people outside the city walls could see the crowns of these three heart trees through the walls.
"Allerie, how did you feel when you saw Ser Linde Terra just now?" Duke Mace suddenly asked his wife beside him.
The Duchess carefully recalled her encounter with Linde and said, "He's a very steady young man. I heard he's only fifteen or sixteen, but he doesn't look like it; he seems to be in his twenties or thirties."
"He certainly looks very mature," Duke Mace nodded and said, "Do you know? He didn't give me the feeling of maturity, but rather a lack of reverence. When I saw him at the camp outside King's Landing, I didn't feel any reverence from him. The way he looked at me was not much different from how he looked at a servant. I am the Duke of Highgarden, his liege. Shouldn't he feel reverence for me?"
"So that's why you don't like him, right?" The Duchess said.
"It has something to do with that," Duke Mace admitted the Duchess's guess and added, "But it's not the most important reason. The real reason I dislike him is that he reminds me a lot of that Randyll Tarly fellow."
"Lord Randyll Tarly?" The Duchess was stunned, then recalled the scene when she saw Linde again, shook her head, and said, "No, they don't look alike at all, do they?"
Duke Mace explained, "I'm not talking about his appearance, but the temperament about him."
"Temperament?" The Duchess thought about it again, nodded, and said, "Indeed, there's some resemblance."
Duke Mace said with a helpless expression, "One Randyll Tarly is already enough for me. I don't want another Randyll Tarly to torment me."
Seeing Duke Mace in such a state, the Duchess couldn't help but smile, reaching out to hold her husband's hand and saying, "Although Lord Tarly's personality is a bit rigid, his advice to you has never been wrong. You should be fortunate to have such a diligent vassal."
Duke Mace pouted, clearly not agreeing with the Duchess's words.
At this moment, the two had arrived in front of the three heart trees. They stood before the trees and prayed according to ancient rituals, facing the heart trees.
Although House Tyrell worshipped the Seven Gods, they did not reject the Old Gods. They still practiced some ancient rituals and ceremonies related to the Old Gods.
After completing their prayers to the heart trees, Duke Mace suddenly spoke, saying, "Do you think he and Jenna are a good match?"
"Jenna?" The Duchess couldn't help but be stunned, saying, "Didn't Mother already find a marriage alliance for Jenna? I remember it was Ser Jon Fossoway of New Barrel City."
Duke Mace explained, "Mother only had this idea; she hasn't officially contacted New Barrel City yet."
"No." The Duchess shook her head and said, "The marriage alliance with New Barrel City concerns the stability of The Reach and whether you can suppress the Red Apple House Fossoway. There can be no mistakes. Moreover, although New Barrel City hasn't been contacted yet, Mother has deliberately spread this matter among the noblewomen, just waiting for New Barrel City to hear the rumors and send Ser Jon Fossoway to propose. If you marry Jenna to someone else now, House Green Apple will consider it an insult to them, leading them to unite with the main Red Apple family, which would not be a good thing for you."
"Hmm, you're right, it certainly cannot be changed." Duke Mace nodded in agreement with the Duchess's analysis and asked, "Are there any other marriageable women in the family..."
The Duchess interrupted him, saying, "Wait, why are you so eager to form a marriage alliance with Ser Linde? Don't you dislike him?"
Duke Mace mumbled, "Didn't you see Mother's attitude just now? She highly praises that Linde Terra. I'm worried that at some point, she might get confused and give Margaery..."
"Are you crazy? How old is Margaery?" The Duchess looked at her husband with a strange expression, and with a slightly hurtful tone, said, "And even if you get confused, Mother won't. Don't worry about Ser Linde's matter; leave it to Velas!"
Duke Mace pouted and said nothing more.
Looking at her somewhat mediocre husband, the Duchess sighed softly, then casually changed the subject and asked, "Have you decided which manor and village to choose as Ser Linde's reward after he completes the bandit suppression mission north of Bitterbridge?"
Duke Mace shook his head indifferently, saying, "Why think so much now? He hasn't finished it yet, has he? And he might not even finish it."
The Duchess retorted, "You've seen so much intelligence from Tengshi Town. Do you think Ser Linde is likely to fail?"
Although he was unwilling to admit it, Duke Mace knew very well that Linde's eventual completion of the mission was only a matter of time. Even if those jealous of Linde around him secretly caused trouble, it would only delay the completion of the mission and could not prevent the final outcome.
So, after a moment of consideration, Duke Mace said, "How about finding a manor and village nearby? Having someone like him close by can also make one feel more at ease."
The Duchess sighed, no longer holding out hope for her husband's judgment, and directly stated, "Have you forgotten what happened in the outer city this afternoon? Mother just said that he had such a great influence the first time he came to Highgarden. If he continues to live here for a long time..."
There was no need to say any more. Even with Duke Mace's understanding, he could grasp what would come next. His expression also became serious. After thinking carefully for a moment, he suddenly seemed to have thought of something and smiled, "Do you remember that our family has an exclave on the other side of the Red Mountains?"
"Opposite the Red Mountains?" The Duchess thought for a moment and said, "You mean the land opposite Weil City?"
"Yes." Duke Mace felt he had thought of a good idea and said, "I can give that land as a reward. That piece of land is much larger than a manor and a village."
"You are truly clever, Lord." The Duchess did not seem to think Linde would accept such a reward, so she said the opposite, but Duke Mace did not seem to hear that it was sarcasm, and he began to ponder the feasibility of this matter in his heart.
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