Looking at the golden crown that matched the style of the King's crown, Margaery tilted her head curiously.
"Your Majesty, what wonderful magic."
Her face full of excitement, she naturally linked her arm through Joffrey's and shook it gently.
"Teach me~"
"Transform!" Margaery stretched out her fair, tender little hand and pointed casually, pretending to cast a spell, "Transform into lots of gold. And beautiful jewels."
Joffrey was amused.
"Haha, there's no need for magic, you already have all of this, my dear Margaery."
"You are the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms."
He brought the carefully prepared Queen's Crown closer to the girl's soft brown hair.
Margaery seemed embarrassed, shaking her head to avoid it, but the crown followed closely, without any intention of slowing down.
Her eyes darted around nimbly for a few moments, then she paused, and still didn't dodge again.
The Queen's Crown was successfully placed on her head.
Only then did the Queen of Thorns speak again, "Your Majesty, if I understand correctly, Renly isn't dead yet, so his engagement to Margaery..."
The slightly ambiguous atmosphere was instantly broken.
Joffrey calmly took the golden rose garland from Margaery's hand and decorated his own golden crown with it.
Red Priest Thoros squeezed through the crowd, holding up a scroll of parchment.
"That engagement is completely invalid," Thoros said.
"Renly is a clear traitor and ambitious schemer, neither a good Lord, nor could he possibly be a good husband."
"What's more, this was just a verbal agreement, and Miss Margaery hasn't agreed yet."
Everyone was attracted by Thoros's words.
The scroll held by the Red Priest was the focus of countless eyes. A Six-Pointed Star wax seal was on the scroll. The Six-Pointed Star, the new symbol of The Faith of the Seven.
"This is the Marriage Annulment Order signed by the High Septon."
Everyone immediately understood.
A marriage that had not been consummated could be annulled by the High Septon. Furthermore, a Marriage Annulment Order signed by the High Septon did not require any witnesses, only a request from at least one of the parties to the marriage.
Had Margaery made the request?
People knew in their hearts.
Regardless, the document's validity remained.
Red Priest Thoros publicly broke the seal and presented the document to the King and others.
Margaery saw it clearly.
The document contained the articles for annulling the marriage and the High Septon's signature, sealed with the Faith's seal. An ink brush lay at the bottom of the document, with a blank line next to it.
"My dear Margaery."
Joffrey's gaze was gentle, "Just sign here, and everything will return to normal. You can freely choose your beloved, and at the same time spare my Uncle Renly, who was swallowed by ambition."
He teased, "Otherwise, your brother will be angry, you know."
Heh heh.
Everyone looked at Loras, either openly or covertly, causing him to blush with embarrassment and annoyance.
Margaery looked at her grandmother.
The Queen of Thorns tapped the ground with her cane, "Your Majesty is so thoughtful. Good granddaughter, what are you hesitating for? Hurry up and correct the foolish mistake your father made."
So she picked up the ink brush, and her delicate ink strokes danced across the paper, forming "Margaery Tyrell".
Then, she smiled brightly at Joffrey and put down the brush.
The next moment, all the Royal Guard immediately raised their arms and cheered, "Long live Queen Margaery! Long live King Joffrey..."
The sound shook the plains, echoing for a long time.
Joffrey stepped forward, clasped hands with his fiancée Margaery, turned around, and smiled and waved to his subordinates.
The Highgarden soldiers serving as the Honor Guard were stunned for a moment, and seeing the atmosphere still enthusiastic, they gradually joined the ranks of the cheering, the voices of "Long live the Queen" and "Long live the King" becoming louder and more unified.
The Queen of Thorns narrowed her eyes, seemingly dozing, or perhaps nodding in satisfaction.
And then.
Margaery waved her free left hand, greeting the crowd.
The atmosphere was festive and harmonious...
After a long while, the congratulations from the noble ladies to the engaged couple gradually subsided, and the talking crowd quieted down.
It was getting late.
Everyone realized that the King was truly about to enter Highgarden.
People made way, the Honor Guard stood on either side, and the musicians began to play beautiful music, trying their best to dilute the serious and dull atmosphere.
But the thoughts in everyone's hearts were not disturbed by the music.
After all, the new alliance had been formed for too short a time, and the conditions were too harsh, not enough to make people forget what Highgarden looked like yesterday.
Before last night, no one thought Highgarden would be threatened by war.
Lord Mace and Earl Tarly were stationed on the front lines, and the stations in Rising Stone Town, Old Oak, and Fallenwood were all safe and sound. How could Highgarden, located in the deep rear, welcome the enemy?
However, Loras appeared unexpectedly and brought even more astonishing news.
Storm's End had fallen into the hands of King Joffrey.
The rumored miracles and sorcery were all real, and there was an even larger and more magical power.
The Royal Guard, who possessed divine power, was about to arrive at Highgarden. Although their numbers were less than two thousand, they were far more powerful than twenty thousand troops.
In front of the cannons, Highgarden's sturdy city walls were like rotten mud bricks, crumbling at a touch.
Loras's words were sincere, almost pleading.
This news also completely matched the intelligence conveyed by the lazy Leo Tyrell.
Was it a lie?
If the two of them hadn't been trained into pet birds that only knew how to repeat others' words, then it was at least fifty percent credible.
And for Highgarden, a fifty percent risk of destruction was absolutely unacceptable.
Even the tough Queen of Thorns had to temporarily restrain her sharpness, hide her thorns, lest she bring disaster upon herself and face ruin.
At this time, no matter how harsh the conditions proposed by King Joffrey were, they could only be endured.
But the mood could not be changed.
Margaery's engagement was half good, half bad. Considering it from the premise of defeat, it could even be considered lucky. Only then could people greet him with smiles and a warm atmosphere.
However, the more than a thousand soldiers brought by the King would be stationed in Highgarden, and some would stay for a long time.
What would happen?
Willas Tyrell limped closer, "Your Majesty, Highgarden has specially prepared a sedan chair for you. Please follow me."
"No need." Joffrey scanned the crowd.
After half a day of personal contact, he had a preliminary understanding of the people before him.
Except for a very few.
They were fearful and arrogant, cautious yet hopeful.
They both feared the power of destruction and doubted its existence. They both resisted systemic change and craved its benefits.
A complex of contradictions, human nature dictates it.
An attendant led a white horse. Joffrey wrapped his arms around Margaery's waist and lifted her onto the mount.
"That tickles~" Margaery giggled.
Joffrey mounted the white horse, holding his fiancée in his arms, his hands on the reins.
He looked down at Willas.
"No matter how comfortable and leisurely a sedan chair is, how can it compare to enjoying the beautiful scenery with my lovely Queen? It's also a good opportunity for the two of us to have some private words."
Willas bowed, "As you wish. However, the hedge maze in the city is complex, and my sister probably can't fully navigate it. Please allow a servant to guide you."
After giving instructions in the light screen, Joffrey revealed a mysterious smile.
"No hurry, it will be simple soon."
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