The banquet in King's Landing continued, a scene of great splendor.
The ballroom was filled with laughter and joy, and everyone felt relaxed and happy.
Many noble ladies looked at the King and Queen, Sir Stephen and his wife, Princess Rhaela, Princess Dorn, and Prince Rhaegar standing on the stage. A touch of envy lingered in their hearts; they were all nobles, but some were more dazzling and wielded greater influence.
Unfortunately, King Jaeheris and Prince Rhaegar are both too old and too young. The royal family is facing a generational gap, and many have already set their sights on Crown Prince Iris, who has yet to return.
Even though the Targaryen family has lost its dragons, a romance with a descendant of a dragon king is still a romantic affair. Even the slightest tremor of power can be delightful. Moreover, dragon kings are generally handsome, with silver hair and purple eyes that make them seem like gods; no one would object to a little friendship with one of them.
Unfortunately, with the tragedy of the Summer Palace, the Dragon King's bloodline dwindled, leaving only a handful of cats and kittens, and very few suitable lovers.
Westeros is a continent that values monogamy, but the great nobles are still subject to lust, desire, and passion. They still seek out different lovers.
The most famous example is King Aegon, who was plagued by lust throughout his life, and even indulged in it. King Aegon constantly sought lovers, possessing an insatiable passion for women and sex. This continued until he gifted Blackfyre to Daemon Blackfyre, plunging the kingdom into a curse of war.
However, King Yong's lust was not entirely a side effect; his lust also left the country with loyal ministers like Duke Blood Raven.
Regina noticed the gazes of many noble ladies, eyes filled with ambition and desire. They saw the palace as a gateway, single-mindedly seeking greater benefits for themselves and their families within the court.
These nobles and ladies will likely widen the rift in the lives of Crown Prince Iris and Princess Iris.
However, Lei Jie doesn't have any good suggestions on how to solve this problem.
The fighting continues on the front lines, and men use their swords and spears to create a peaceful environment for their wives and children. Turning swords into plowshares is merely a beautiful hope. Achieving lasting peace is indeed extremely difficult.
The war on the Steppes continued even after Maris Blackfire's death.
Although Maris Blackfire is dead, the embers of war still burn fiercely. The Golden Company taxi drivers have not given up easily and remain steadfast in their fighting posts. The blood and fire on the island continue.
With the tragic loss of Ser Jason of House Lannister, commander of the Westerlands army, the leadership of the entire Westerlands army has shifted to Lord Roger the Red Lion.
Tywin and his brother Kevan had no objections to this decision. In terms of age and experience, they were indeed far inferior to Earl Roger, and besides, this was a decision their uncle had made before his sacrifice. There was nothing they could do; Tytos the Laughing Lion wasn't a born warrior, nor did he possess the boldness and courage to lead a group of heroes.
However, after accepting the appointment, Lord Roger became even more arrogant. He treated the Lannister Charioteers with disdain, showing no regard for Tywin and Kevan. Lord Roger believed that the affairs of the Westerlands were entirely his responsibility, and that he might even covet the Lannister crown.
Tywin and Kevan had noticed the increasingly arrogant Earl Roger, fueling their growing resentment and anger. Kevan, as Earl Roger's sommelier, still carried Lannister blood and obeyed his brother's orders. Tywin instructed his brother to keep an eye on Earl Roger's movements and to exercise restraint for the time being.
Meanwhile, Lord Horst of the Riverlands also encountered a dangerous situation on the battlefield.
On this day, Duke Horst was sweeping through the battlefield on Bloodstone Island when he inadvertently found himself surrounded by the enemy.
Duke Horst, tall and with striking red hair, was truly eye-catching. The Golden Company's taxi drivers feigned a rout, leading Duke Horst to a secluded hill. Duke Horst charged off in a rage, his squires unable to keep up with his shouts, and he plunged himself into despair.
The Golden Regiment taxi driver, his face contorted in a ferocious grimace, leaped high into the air with his spear.
Duke Horst raised his longsword. His martial skills were not particularly proficient, even inferior to his younger brother, Ser Blackfish. Moreover, he was known for his sharp tongue and lacked any real friendship with his warriors. He was older than Ser Tywin Lannister, Prince Aerys, and others, and on the battlefields of the Stone Steps, he was a loner.
Although Duke Horst was struggling to defend himself, the Golden Company's soldiers were numerous, and their attacks were like a relentless tide, one wave after another. The encirclement grew tighter and tighter, and the Golden Company's chariot soldiers had Duke Horst surrounded in a small circle. Fortunately, these soldiers were not armed with bows and crossbows, so Duke Horst was able to hold out for a while longer.
Duke Horst's life was hanging by a thread. He tried desperately to escape the Golden Company's encirclement, but failed time and again.
"Could it be that my good fortune has come to an end, and I am about to die here?" Duke Horst thought.
Just then, the Duke heard the sound of a horse neighing.
Sir Blackfish and a plain-looking knight in worn armor arrived from different directions.
The knight, whose name was unknown, raised his longbow and began to fire, "whoosh!" "whoosh!"
The Golden Company soldiers closest to the Duke fell to the ground. They hadn't expected such a sudden savior.
Sir Blackfish Brynden drew his sword and charged into the encirclement.
His sword flashed like a swimming fish. His elder brother always called him Black Fish, and now it was time to show him Black Fish's martial arts and courage.
The three men charged in together and quickly wiped out the remaining members of the Golden Company. The Duke's squires also rushed over. They raised the Tully family banner, and the trout on it swayed lifelike in the wind.
The unknown knight gaped, as if he had helped a giant fish. He had initially thought the knight was just an ordinary warrior, but now he seemed to be of noble birth.
"Stranger knight, you have saved Horst Tully's life. Tell me your name," Duke Horst asked.
The knight blushed and whispered his name, "Pecker Baelish of the Fingers Peninsula. It's not a famous place, sir." He hadn't expected the person he'd saved to be a powerful lord; it was a truly unexpected delight. And the Pecker family was merely the smallest lord on the Fingers Peninsula.
Duke Horst understood from Knight Baker's shabby attire that the knight was penniless; numerous details about the knight revealed his poverty. The Finger Peninsula itself was not a wealthy place; the land was barren, the winds howled—a place that simply couldn't support a person.
The Knight of the Peake's armor was devoid of any flamboyant embellishments; the glitter of jewels and gold seemed out of place on him.
"But you saved Horst's life; you are a true knight." Duke Horst's expression was serene, revealing a look of gratitude.
If it weren't for Knight Beck's selfless rescue, he would probably be dead by now.
"Sir, you're too kind." Peck was also flattered.
"This is not just politeness; you have also received Duke Horst's gratitude," Duke Horst said.
Blackfish pursed his lips, a hint of impatience in his eyes. "I've given so much, and you still resent me for refusing the marriage you arranged."