Garlan surveyed this so-called "Central Province."
Circle City of the Rowan family, Rising Stone Town of the Fossoway family, Smith's Dale of the Shemo family, Evergreen Hall of the Caswell family, Bitterbridge of the Caswell family, Greenvalley of House Meadow...
It almost took away a quarter of the Reach!
And that wasn't all.
Garlan continued to search the map, discovering more differences in the future kingdom planned by the King.
Ashford of House Ashford and Starfall of House Peake were assigned to Summerhall in the Marches, and the northern strongholds of Dorne were also included in the Marches.
Old Oak was stained with the red of the Westerlands, and the northern border area of the Reach was also encroached upon by red.
The Shield Islands turned gold.
The Light Screen promptly displayed a notification: The Shield Islands have been designated as a directly administered area, where a lower-level "Second-Class Governor" will be appointed, but they will not be under the jurisdiction of the First-Class Governor and will only be subject to the orders of the King and the Court.
Directly administered...
Garlan scanned the entire map and indeed saw several other prominent golden areas: Fair Isle in the Westerlands, Dragonstone in the Crownlands, Tarth in the Stormlands, Harrenhal in the Riverlands, the Three Sisters in the Vale, and Godsgrace in Dorne.
Without exception, these were all strategic locations and transportation hubs.
With just one map, Garlan clearly glimpsed King Joffrey's enormous ambition.
The entirety of the Seven Kingdoms!
Leaving aside other places for now, were the strongholds and cities of Dorne so easily taken?
A battle would be unavoidable!
But he quickly came to his senses. Perhaps King Joffrey wanted this very battle! To defeat Dorne! To flaunt his military might with an even greater victory!
And he was still not satisfied even now?!
Garlan's heart surged violently, and thinking of the huge losses Highgarden would suffer on the map, he was about to voice his questions.
But noticing that his Grandmother remained silent, Garlan had to suppress his impulse.
Calming down, Garlan also remembered the current situation.
Highgarden had no room for choice. Garlan had to face reality.
Now the lives of the entire family were at the whim of King Joffrey, how could they still care about grieving over some losses?
Moreover, the King had only asked Loras, the current "Governor" of Highgarden.
Garlan then observed silently.
His younger brother Loras's face changed uncertainly, opening his mouth several times to speak, but still no sound came out. In any case, Garlan did not blame him.
His older brother Willas closed his eyes along with their Grandmother.
His youngest sister Margaery, who was the most wronged at the moment, leaned in that person's arms, her eyes vacant, her face expressionless, as if her Soul had left her body to wander elsewhere. Garlan shifted his gaze, lost in thought.
Thus, the silence lasted for a full quarter of an hour.
King Joffrey finally smiled and broke the stalemate: "Really no objections?" The King still looked at Loras.
Loras stiffly shook his head.
The King turned towards them, his gaze like a physical presence making Garlan restless, so he could only grit his teeth and remain silent.
"As expected of the Golden Rose that has dominated Highgarden for three hundred years, with such great wisdom and leaders who understand how to make choices, how can it not prosper?" The King seemed to be genuinely praising.
Then the King reached out and tapped the map.
Garlan watched intently, and the map changed slightly: the names and descriptions of the landed families were gone from most of the existing areas of the Reach.
"Traitors cannot be punished too severely. These lands can be confiscated. Whether to grant them as fiefs, and to whom, as long as Highgarden asks, I will never refuse." The King said generously.
Garlan couldn't help but examine the map.
Even excluding the vassal Lords who had always been closely tied to the family, the land available for selection was roughly equivalent to the area of Highgarden's current fiefs.
A good opportunity!
No matter what, it could make up for some losses!
Garlan looked at his older brother Willas, who was looking at their Grandmother, and their Grandmother had also opened her eyes.
"If Highgarden offers the right to dispose of the lands of these traitors, can Your Majesty withdraw the redrawing of Bitterbridge, Horn Hill, and the Shield Islands?" Grandmother asked in a deep voice.
Garlan was immediately startled. Was Grandmother furious? How could he agree?!
The King indeed shook his head: "One thing is one thing. The plan for redrawing the kingdom's territories concerns the overall situation and cannot be easily changed. Moreover, this is not a punishment for Highgarden, so there is no question of pardon or exchange."
This isn't a punishment? Garlan thought to himself.
"Lady Olenna, why are you so fixated?" The King persuaded again: "They betrayed their Liege Lord, Highgarden is no longer obligated to protect these fellows everywhere. In comparison, Highgarden's own safety and interests are the most important."
Indeed, the land was right there.
Grandmother did not insist further: "Willas, you choose."
Grandmother closed her eyes again.
His older brother Willas thought quietly for a long time before finally reporting his opinion to the King.
Then words appeared on the map.
Garlan saw many familiar names again: Lady Bethany Redwyne of Goldengrove, Lady Alys Graves of Steward's Hall, Lord Crane of Red Lake...
Most importantly, Ser Jon Fossoway of New Barrel, his fief remained unchanged.
Garlan felt a sense of relief. At least his wife's family was preserved. As for the other lords, he could only say sorry.
He continued to observe.
There was more than one name forgotten by the new map: Lord Orton Merryweather of Longtable, Lord Appleton of Appleton, Lord Fossoway of the Red Apple Inn, Lady Webber of Coldmoat, Lord Osgrey of Standfast...
Hmm? House Webber?
Garlan still had some impression that Rohanne Webber, the Red Widow, Viscountess of Coldmoat decades ago, seemed to be King Joffrey's great-great-grandmother.
Did Grandmother and Willas forget? Or was it intentional?
Garlan glanced at King Joffrey, finding nothing unusual. Perhaps the King had forgotten this connection, or perhaps he had never remembered it.
In any case, House Webber disappeared from the map, along with many other families.
Garlan looked at the map carefully again.
The grass green representing Highgarden expanded significantly to the east and north.
House Rowan, the overlord of the northern Reach, was left with only a small piece of land near Goldengrove, while large tracts of other land were dyed with the Tyrell color.
Adding up the green areas, they finally surpassed the land of House Hightower.
Although it was achieved by annexing vassals.
For a moment, Garlan didn't know whether he felt more joy or sadness.
Highgarden had lost a lot.
But Highgarden had also gained a lot, even more than it had gained in any previous great victory.
The fief of House Rowan alone was enough to deeply tempt Highgarden and make it willing to take risks, not to mention that it could be achieved with almost no effort now.
As long as they bore some ill repute.
Garlan looked at his elder brother, then at his grandmother, and seemed to understand something.
Since resistance was impossible, he would do his best to do what he should, strive for the best outcome, and ultimately have a clear conscience.
Woo—~~
The steam whistle stopped abruptly, and the lingering sound slowly dissipated.
Garlan looked up at the shore. The Royal Guard soldiers were lined up and marching towards the military camp in order.
"Governor Garlan," Robar Royce, who had finished bidding farewell to Lord Velaryon, walked towards Garlan, "We should go ashore. Lord Tywin has ordered a military council at the main camp to determine the attack plan."
Garlan smiled with relief: "I can't wait either..."
Lord Tywin's main camp
-----------
Machine Translation by: beta.randomtranslator.com
Read 1400+ original & fanfic translations and Translate for Free at: www.randomtranslator.com