After returning to the Tyrell residence, Margaery immediately threw herself onto the bed and covered her head with the quilt.
Intermittent sounds came from beneath the quilt—not sobbing, but laughter.
"Hehehe! Lancelot, you are truly amusing. To think you told me to go farm?"
A thought suddenly struck Margaery: Could Lancelot have fallen for me?
I am so beautiful; it would be hard for him not to like me!
Telling me to go farm might be some kind of romantic talk, like 'I weave cloth while you till the fields, you carry water while I water the garden.'
As Margaery's imagination ran wild, she suddenly banged her head against the bedpost a few times, the pain nearly bringing tears to her eyes.
"Phew!"
Margaery took a deep breath, finally regaining her composure. When she opened her eyes again, her usual wisdom and cunning had returned.
"This Great Council concerns the survival and safety of all Westeros. No house can remain uninvolved. The family that gathers the most intelligence will survive the longest."
"Moreover, many great events might occur this time. Even a change in dynasty is possible. How Highgarden aligns itself has become a question."
Margaery thought to herself.
"Margaery!" Ser Loras's voice came from outside.
"What is it, brother?" She turned back with a smile.
"I heard you ran back in disarray. Did something happen?" Loras asked.
"Nothing happened at all. There is absolutely nothing to worry about, brother. Besides, I have a trophy!"
Margaery held up the statue of the Seven.
"Brother, go make preparations! Ser Lancelot may come to visit us soon!" Margaery said.
"Lancelot? He didn't mention anything about visiting us!" Loras looked confused.
"No, I say he will come, and he will come!" Margaery said with absolute confidence.
Although Ser Loras knew his sister was clever, today he felt she was speaking nonsense.
"Alright, I'll go inform Father, Mother, and Grandmother." Loras left.
In the Red Keep, rumors about Lancelot bullying Margaery continued to spread, but Lancelot showed no intention of explaining himself.
Myrcella, however, stepped up to defend him, which only fueled more gossip.
Lancelot felt his Popularity Points increasing.
"Perhaps becoming notorious is easier than becoming renowned?" Lancelot mused.
At that moment, Bronze Yohn Royce arrived with his two sons to visit Lancelot.
After the host and guests were seated, attendants served wine.
Standing behind Yohn Royce were his two sons, the elder brothers of Waymar Royce.
"Ser Lancelot, I want to know how Waymar died. What killed him?"
"It was..."
Lancelot was about to answer Bronze Yohn Royce but paused, his attention drawn to the bronze armor Royce wore. It was inscribed with mysterious runes, similar to those on the massive horn Lancelot had found in the giant ancestor's cave.
"What is it, Ser Lancelot?" Earl Royce asked.
"Is there something mysterious about your armor, my lord?" Lancelot asked.
"This armor is an heirloom of my house. We have many suits of bronze armor like this," Yohn Royce replied.
"I wonder if Lord Royce could do me a favor?" Lancelot asked.
"What favor?" he asked.
"I have a horn inscribed with runes similar to those on your bronze armor. Could you translate them for me?" Lancelot asked.
"Certainly!"
"Podrick, bring out the horn," Lancelot ordered.
Shortly after, Podrick carried out a gigantic horn.
"This horn is longer than an elephant's tusk," Robar Royce remarked.
"Please look, my lord," Lancelot said.
Yohn Royce took the horn and examined it carefully.
"These are runes of the First Men, their written language. We still have some pure-blooded First Men in the Vale."
"The Mountain Clans of the Vale?" Lancelot asked.
"Correct. The Mountain Clans still use this script. Perhaps they can decipher its meaning."
"In other words, you can't read it, my lord?" Lancelot said.
"Uh, that is essentially what I mean!" Yohn Royce admitted.
"Alright. Regardless, thank you for the information!" Lancelot said, signaling Podrick to take the horn away.
"Now, Ser Lancelot, can you tell me who killed Waymar?"
"A White Walker. A powerful White Walker!"
"It is said that Waymar fought alone against several White Walkers. The enemy's ice sword shattered Waymar's blade. In the end, he shouted, 'Long live King Robert!' He was a worthy black brother," Lancelot narrated.
"Damn it! I will kill that White Walker and avenge my son!" Yohn Royce vowed.
"Without a Valyrian steel sword, you cannot kill a White Walker. White Walkers are not wights; they are far more terrifying. They possess formidable swordsmanship and horsemanship, and can resurrect those they kill as their minions," Lancelot explained.
The White Walker that killed Waymar Royce definitely wasn't the Night King, but likely a leader among them.
"Ser Lancelot, I heard you brought back some items from the ruins of Valyria. I wonder if I could purchase a Valyrian steel weapon from you?" Yohn Royce asked.
Facing this request, Lancelot fell into deep thought.
He still had a Valyrian steel gate. If melted down, it could be forged into many Valyrian steel swords.
As for the forging process, magic, and fire—Lancelot had all three prepared.
The forging technique had come from a centenarian at the South Mountain Nursing Home.
That day, the elders of the nursing home had finished the first volume of Memories of King's Landing, and Lancelot went to review it personally.
He assured them it would be published under the name "The Elders of South Mountain."
Just as he packed up the manuscript and prepared to leave, a white-haired old man leaning on a cane called out to him.
"Ser Lancelot, please wait!"
"What is it, sir?" Lancelot asked.
"That man wearing the bull-horned helm, Gendry—he's Tobho Mott's apprentice, isn't he?" the old man asked.
"How did you know?" Lancelot asked.
"I can tell from his forging technique. But I didn't expect Tobho to withhold the most profound techniques from him."
"What do you mean? Gendry's forging skills are decent! He's young; once he accumulates more experience and age, he'll be able to forge higher-level weapons," Lancelot defended.
"I'm talking about the highest technique: the forging of Valyrian steel weapons."