The maze was deep and winding.
Yew trees, boxwood, and holly trees formed dense, neat hedges, while roses, China roses, and wild roses dotted the landscape, adding a touch of spring.
The paths for walking twisted and turned endlessly.
After walking straight for a while, one would encounter intersections that were difficult to choose from.
Straight ahead was a wall covered in golden roses. If you wished to pick a favored flower, remember that beneath the layers of lush green leaves lay sharp thorns.
To the left was a curve, the view blocked by the green wall of trees. Where did it lead?
To the right were winding paths that swayed back and forth. One could only see three turns, each with an increasingly wider arc, while the area further ahead remained deeply hidden.
Tap, tap, tap.
The white horse took steps, walking on the soft green grass towards the golden rose wall.
A hand touched the most exquisite rose. Silently, the branches and leaves surged joyfully, bringing the entire wall of golden roses around this single flower.
Surrounded by countless companions, this rose broke free from the constraints of the flower wall and, carrying its companions, gently fell.
It landed in Joffrey's palm.
Then he brought it before the beautiful maiden, letting her play with it and smell it.
"It looks like a tiny seven-tiered cake."
Margaery chuckled, stroking the smooth petals on the rose's crown.
This self-constructed crown of flowers was incredibly magnificent, with a full seven layers. As far as the eye could see, it was all golden roses, with the lush green branches and leaves completely hidden within the gold. What was even more remarkable was that not a single petal or leaf was damaged.
Joffrey lifted the floral crown and placed it on the girl's head, where her original gold crown merged with it.
The girl's eyes crinkled with laughter.
"Hmph, I accept your gift. In return, feel free to make a request to the Flower Fairy, Human King."
"Oh, beautiful Flower Fairy." Joffrey smoothly slipped into character.
"The Hedge Maze of Highgarden lives up to its reputation. I am truly perplexed. Which way should I go? Please, Flower Fairy, grant me guidance."
He looked around, his face anxious.
Margaery blinked. "The Flower Fairy knows everything. Well, let's take this path."
She circled her finger and stopped at the right. "There's a fountain ahead. The water there is the sweetest, cleanest, and most refreshing."
That way was closest to the maze's exit, right by the second City Walls.
Joffrey held the girl's fair little hand and gently pulled back the mischievous finger. "Is that so? A spring that even the Flower Fairy can't forget must be worth tasting."
"Human King, now that you mention it, I am a little thirsty," Margaery licked her lips, her pink tongue circling outwards.
"Hurry up, Human King. The Flower Fairy's guidance will never disappoint you."
Margaery twisted back and forth a few times to urge him on.
A wonderful sensation came from in front of him, just enough to stir his heart, and the fragrance spread, causing Joffrey to feel a surge of restlessness.
If this current body weren't a Prosthetic Body, he would have plucked this Highgarden Rose on the spot.
"I will listen to the Flower Fairy."
He flicked the reins, and the white horse beneath him immediately took a step to the right.
The maze slowly undulated and shifted behind them.
The view was filled with lush green, as if it were a green paradise. Flowers bloomed everywhere, everything thriving with vigorous life and graceful lines. Orderly yet natural.
"Truly worthy of being the most beautiful Castle in all of Westeros," Joffrey praised leisurely.
Margaery smiled sweetly. "Do everyone in the Seven Kingdoms think so? Putting everything else aside, the Ser of The Vale have always highly praised the Arryn's Eyrie."
Joffrey insisted, "You're being too humble, too humble. Highgarden is still better."
The Eyrie, such a high place, how unfriendly to those with acrophobia, not to mention the harsh climate, completely uninhabitable even in winter. How could it compare to the comfort of living in a garden Castle?
Joffrey had once envisioned moving the capital to Highgarden.
Although King's Landing's location wasn't particularly bad, situated at the mouth of the Blackwater River, with Blackwater Bay for naval defense, and relatively convenient shipping routes across the Narrow Sea.
However, its strategic position in politics and military was not prominent enough to directly control the entire Seven Kingdoms.
In terms of resisting foreign invasion, King's Landing was too far from The Wall in the north, requiring huge expenditures to transport troops and Supplies, making it difficult to sustain.
In terms of internal suppression, The North and The Vale had rugged terrain and were self-contained, Dorne was distant, and the central cities of the Westerlands and the Reach were far on the other side of the coast. King's Landing's deterrence was limited to only half of the kingdom's area.
For Joffrey, this situation was clearly unsatisfactory.
Since the geographical location could not be changed, other Castles like Highgarden entered his consideration.
Winterfell was naturally the first to be excluded. Far from the economic and political Core of the Seven Kingdoms, with sparse population, harsh climate, and the shortest strategic safety distance, it was completely unsuitable as a central capital.
The reasons for the Eyrie's disqualification were similar.
Gulltown, the economic center of The Vale, was considered for a moment but was ultimately abandoned.
Similar to White Harbor, Storm's End, Weeping Town, Oldtown, and Casterly Rock, Gulltown was near the coast with convenient sea transport, but it was difficult to control the overall situation and was geographically even further from the center than King's Landing.
After excluding the coastal castles.
The Twins and Riverrun, which guard the Trident River, are also unsuitable. These two places can only control the Riverlands region, and the dense river network and fragmented terrain impede land transportation.
All castles in Dorne are not within the scope of consideration.
Dorne, with its widespread deserts and hot climate, not only has a backward economy and difficult transportation, but its people are also unruly, with many descendants of the Rhoynar, a weak sense of cultural identity, and have always been outside the vertical jurisdiction of the Iron Throne, let alone being the capital.
If the Long Night and Doomsday were to descend immediately, and the terrifying cold snap were to sweep across most of Westeros, making the hot Dorne a land of hope for survivors, then it might be possible to consider moving the capital there.
But at least for now, Dorne is the frontier of the Seven Kingdoms, in a similar situation to the North.
Thus.
The only two remaining candidate locations became Highgarden and Harrenhal.
Sitting in Highgarden, the Reach, Dorne, and the Westerlands are all within the scope of control, the Crownlands and Riverlands cannot protect themselves, and the Sunset Sea to the west is also completely under control.
Harrenhal's location is closer to the center of the continent, situated between the Westerlands, the Vale, the Riverlands, and the Crownlands, adjacent to the Gods Eye, close to the Crab's Claw, and controlling the Narrow Sea is also not troublesome.
How should he choose?
Joffrey had not yet made a decision. However, something like this was too late to accomplish this year. He still had plenty of time to think, and enough opportunities to observe, analyze, and take action.
Like today.
Joffrey's gaze was deep as he looked straight ahead, as if seeing everything happening within Highgarden through the layers of green walls.
"Flower Fairy, please guide me more before evening."
Margaery turned her head and asked curiously, "What about after evening?"
Joffrey smiled faintly.
"There will be serious matters then."
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