King Robert's warhammer was indeed intimidating.
Queen Cersei's plan was to make Robert Baratheon unable to stay sober, unable to stand steadily, so how could he hold a warhammer firmly?
Jaime's repeated admonitions still had an effect on Cersei.
This time, Queen Cersei was willing to have more patience; this kind of waiting was like a gamble, it could make her heart race, and perhaps one day it would suddenly bring her an unexpected surprise.
Queen Cersei was very pleased inwardly; in Lannister, besides Tywin Lannister, only she could come up with such a brilliant and flawless scheme.
...
Queen Cersei stepped towards Lancel, who couldn't help but face Cersei, continuously backing away.
Soon, Lancel's back hit the wall; he had nowhere left to retreat.
Queen Cersei and Lancel were only a fist's distance apart, and Lancel wished he could melt into the wall.
Queen Cersei first lowered her gaze, then raised her eyes to look directly at Lancel: "Lancel, what you need to do is very simple: replace what I've prepared for Robert to drink. That drunkard might even praise you."
Lancel's pupils constricted, and his teeth chattered: "Cersei, are you going to poison him?"
Queen Cersei frowned slightly, her voice rising: "Lancel, are you scared silly? Are you still worthy of being a Lannister Lion?"
Lancel paused; the family's honor seemed to bring him back to his senses: "Cousin Cersei, what is it you want me to switch?"
Only then did Queen Cersei nod slightly with satisfaction, a smile playing on her lips: "I specifically prepared a large quantity of high-proof red wine. You need to make him fall in love with it. Perhaps you won't even need to do anything; he'll get addicted himself, because he's already a filthy drunkard."
Just switching to high-proof alcohol would be enough?
Queen Cersei's words made Lancel breathe a sigh of relief; he had been terrified by Cousin Cersei's joke earlier.
Lancel had been sweating profusely earlier; he ignored the beads of sweat trickling down his face, smiling innocently: "Cousin Cersei, your joke almost scared me to death! Leave the high-proof alcohol switch to me. I think King Robert might even really like it. If he's happy, he might scold me less. Thank you for your trouble, how could I not have thought of..."
Lancel couldn't continue.
Queen Cersei was smiling, but in Lancel's vision, this smile felt increasingly strange, making him feel like an idiot.
Queen Cersei patted Lancel, saying softly: "Truly adorably foolish."
Lancel's body stiffened; he felt a pair of unfamiliar yet soft hands moving below him.
"There are two kinds of wine: one is twice the usual strength, and the other is three times the usual strength..."
"Cou- ...sin, your... ...hands..."
Queen Cersei lowered her gaze, her voice cold: "Lancel, don't move... Tell me, how should this wine be arranged?"
Lancel's breathing was heavy, but he maintained a sliver of clarity: "I... think... the double-strength is for His Majesty's usual drink, but I can't think of a use for the triple-strength."
"Besides drinking, what else does Robert like to do?"
Go to prostitutes!
Lancel, whose brain was active, suppressed the answer that almost escaped his lips: "Hunting?"
Queen Cersei raised her eyes, staring at Lancel, and said: "Do you know what to do now?"
Lancel swallowed, nodding silently.
"So, my future meritorious Lancel, do you want to receive the Queen's reward now? Or after you succeed? I see you are overly active; your cousin can make an exception for you this once."
Lancel's Adam's apple bobbed; his gaze involuntarily dropped, and after seeing clearly, he immediately looked away, whispering: "Cersei, I am your cousin."
Queen Cersei just looked at Lancel with a hooked lip, not replying.
No, Cousin Cersei might be drunk. I need to leave immediately!
Everyone in the Red Keep knew that Queen Cersei's goblet was never out of her hand.
Lancel took a deep breath, escaping Cersei's grasp, and tidied his clothes, saying: "Cousin Cersei, rest assured!"
With that, Lancel didn't even bid farewell to Queen Cersei, and fled the room as if escaping.
After Lancel left, Queen Cersei hummed a tune, picked up her goblet, and took a sip of summer red.
Queen Cersei had achieved her goal through her methods, and she was in a very pleasant mood.
...
...
Night, Kleber's tent.
"Good evening, Miss Margaery."
"Good evening, Baron Green."
Green, who had just finished dinner, received a direct visit from the Little Rose of Highgarden.
After Green invited Margaery Tyrell to sit, the generous Green instructed his attendants to light a few more candles in the tent.
Green looked at Margaery, whose eyes held a smile, and thought to himself, the Little Rose looks much more pleasing than that deceptively kind Velas.
Compared to the understated luxury of their last meeting, Margaery Tyrell's attire tonight was much more splendid.
Margaery Tyrell's light brown hair was gathered to one side, falling languidly over her beautiful collarbone.
Margaery Tyrell sat upright, her hands clasped, her posture very graceful.
From the moment Margaery Tyrell entered the tent, whether it was her attire, her posture, or her expression, it was clear that the Margaery Tyrell visiting tonight was the Duke of Highgarden's daughter, not the approachable noble lady from their first meeting.
Daughter of a Duke... Thinking of this, the image of Littlefinger Petyr suddenly popped into Green's mind.
It seemed Littlefinger Petyr only fell in love with daughters of Dukes.
...
A hint of a smile flashed in Margaery Tyrell's eyes: "I heard in Highgarden that Baron Green was injured, and I was truly worried, so I came overnight to visit."
Most people might feel a bit awkward at this point, but Lord Green was not most people.
Green frowned slightly, placing one hand on his chest, his voice a feigned weakness: "Thank you for your concern, Miss Margaery, I am fine."
The air in the tent froze for a second.
Margaery Tyrell covered her mouth with a light laugh, her beautiful eyes curving into crescents: "Baron Green, I somewhat admire your... swordsmanship."
Green spread his hand and said: "I must thank Miss Margaery for her thoughtfulness once again."
After a pause, Green continued: "Miss Margaery, I am a swordsman, not good at subtlety. If there is anything you need my help with, please speak directly. I am very happy to serve you."
Margaery Tyrell's delicate hand subtly flexed, then immediately relaxed: "Baron Green, after hearing of your injury, I was indeed very worried. You are, after all, our guest, and House Tyrell must ensure your safety in the Riverlands. This concerns the honor of House Tyrell."
Green's eyes moved slightly, and he politely bowed with a hand to his chest.
Margaery Tyrell smiled: "To show Tyrell's oversight, and so that Baron Green can return to recuperate with peace of mind, Grandmother specifically asked me to bring you some gold dragons."
The Little Rose's grandmother? Olenna Redwyne, known as the Queen of Thorns?
The mother of Duke "Inflatable Fish"... Green's expression became a little strange: "If I may be so bold, Miss Margaery, may I ask how much your grandmother asked you to bring?"
Margaery Tyrell blinked, paused, her tone still gentle: "Three thousand gold dragons."
Indeed!
Green looked up at the ceiling.
In his mind, it was: I'll give you 5 million, leave my son!