Chapter 68 Rose Road 3
After arriving at the riverbank, the first thing everyone did was set up a pot to boil water.
The Clegane household soldiers had unconsciously picked up some of Glyn's habits.
For example, drinking boiled water.
In the words of Monton Waters, boiled water paired with meat was delicious!
...
Glyn's lunch consisted of horsemeat sausage from the Reach and white bread.
As Glyn chewed on the sausage, his mind was occupied with matters of the Reach.
Extrapolating from the small details, Glyn, based on known intelligence and his careful observations along the journey, felt that the Reach was far too powerful!
Assuming House Tyrell had no internal problems, with their resources, if war broke out, they could wear down any opponent through sheer attrition.
Glyn was merely making a rational analysis; he was not one to frighten himself.
When he finished the last bite of sausage, Glyn clapped his hands and stood up.
Crackclaw Point isn't weak either, because I'm here!
...
After a simple rest at midday, Glyn and his entourage set foot on the Rose Road once more, heading toward Highgarden.
Monton Waters, who possessed the intuition of a wild beast, sensed a change in Glyn's aura.
Glyn, who had always been reserved and modest, now seemed to exude a bit of arrogance. Was it a bit like Jaime Lannister when they had first met?
Glyn was adapting to a new persona.
In the Reach, his behavior would be somewhat different from before.
He was the young rising star among the military nobility who had defeated an allied wildling army of twenty thousand with only one thousand soldiers, reclaiming his ancestral lands in a single stroke.
Abroad, he was a favored courtier who could represent Queen Cersei.
He was arrogant and looked down on everyone.
He paid no mind to so-called famed generals like Randyll Tarly; he only admired the Lord of Highgarden!
From a young age, Glyn had most admired the military genius of Lord Mace Tyrell.
Only the brilliant Glyn could truly comprehend the profound, art-like military command of Lord Mace Tyrell.
Others might not understand, but Glyn understood Lord Mace!
Glyn nodded to himself. *This is me.*
...
...
The next day, while on the move, Glyn saw a carriage parked on the side of the road not far ahead.
As they drew closer, the golden rose sigil on the carriage came into Glyn's line of sight.
Anguy approached Glyn and said, "That's the same carriage I saw yesterday. When that brown-haired young lady was distributing food to the villagers, this carriage was parked nearby."
Glyn nodded slightly and raised a hand, signaling for his men to slow their horses.
Glyn had deliberately avoided a potential encounter yesterday, but now he was certain this was no coincidence.
...
Glyn flicked the reins and, escorted by his household soldiers, approached the "golden rose" carriage parked on the roadside.
As he got closer, Glyn raised an eyebrow. The carriage wheel was stuck in the mud?
*Alright, no need to overthink it. As long as it works.*
Now that he had seen the golden rose sigil of House Tyrell, Glyn had no reason to ignore it.
...
Four people were standing by the carriage. From their attire, Glyn deduced they were three handmaidens and one groom.
Anguy's eyes shifted, and he lowered his voice to Glyn, "Lord Glynn, I spotted at least four guards yesterday, but they're gone now."
Glyn shook his head with a smile.
Glyn dismounted first, handed the reins to his squire, Marciel, and walked toward the carriage.
...
Glyn's party, with a man for every horse, made quite a commotion. The people by the carriage had noticed them long ago and were constantly glancing in their direction.
Glyn approached the carriage and bowed, placing a hand over his chest. "Good day. I am Baron Glynn Clegane, Queen Cersei's chief steward. I have come on Her Grace's behalf to visit the Lord of Highgarden."
Seeing Glyn's formal greeting, the attendants quickly made way, bowing their heads as they stood aside.
There was a faint stir from within the carriage, and a handmaiden immediately stepped forward to open the door.
A stunningly beautiful young woman, lifting her skirts slightly, descended gracefully from the carriage.
The young woman had soft, light brown, long, curly hair. Her elegant figure and fair skin seemed to glow in the sunlight.
The young woman's gentle and clear brown eyes, like a doe's, looked at Glyn. "Good day, Baron Glynn Clegane. I am Margaery Tyrell of Highgarden."
Glyn seemed stunned by her beauty for a moment but quickly composed himself.
...
House Tyrell originated as stewards to House Gardener, the former Kings of the Reach.
Although House Tyrell's wealth was second only to House Lannister, they were looked down upon by the other great houses in terms of tradition and status. They were considered lucky upstarts who lacked noble blood.
Therefore, House Tyrell had made it their mission to elevate their family's name and position.
One of the most effective ways to raise a house's status was through marriage.
If House Tyrell could produce a queen, their family's ambition would be achieved in a single step.
Highgarden's Little Rose, Margaery Tyrell, had been meticulously groomed from birth by House Tyrell to be a queen.
Under her family's careful tutelage, the clever Margaery Tyrell grew to understand the hearts of people and was skilled in intrigue. She knew how to capture men with her beauty, how to win over the common folk with charity, and how to earn a good name.
...
Margaery Tyrell's voice was crisp and clear. "I sent my guards to purchase provisions. I didn't expect that as soon as they left, the wheel would get stuck in the mud. It's quite deep, and we've been truly struggling with it."
"Lady Margaery, it would be my honor to be of service. Allow me to handle this."
Glyn glanced back at his men and called out, "Monton, come and lift the carriage out."
Hearing this, Monton nodded sheepishly and strode toward the carriage.
Glyn stepped back and gestured with his hand. "Lady Margaery, if you would please step back a few paces."
Margaery Tyrell looked at Glyn, nodded slightly, and followed him away from the carriage's side.
Monton, with his large head, sized up the carriage wheel sunken into the mud.
After a moment's assessment, Monton had a plan. He walked directly to the back of the carriage, bent his knees slightly, and placed both hands under its frame.
Monton, with a simple-minded look on his face, let out a sudden roar, the sound like that of a wild beast.
The groom hastily pulled the reins tight, calming the agitated horses.
Margaery Tyrell's handmaidens all cried out in alarm.
On the surface, Margaery Tyrell merely looked startled and covered her mouth, but inwardly, she was so frightened her heart skipped a beat, and she almost screamed herself.
...
Monton unleashed astonishing strength, lifting the carriage wheel right off the ground.
With a thud, the carriage landed with a heavy sound on solid ground.
Having completed his task, Monton looked sheepishly toward Glyn.
Only after Glyn nodded did Monton return to the ranks.
Margaery Tyrell praised, "My lord Baron, your guard's strength is truly astonishing. He is a born warrior!"
Glyn replied nonchalantly, "Lady Margaery, thank you for your praise. He is just a new soldier and still has much to learn."
Margaery Tyrell blinked her doe-like eyes. "Baron Glynn, thank you for your help. You may call me Margaery."
(end of chapter)