iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 540 Peace of Mind and Stability

The candlelight flickered, Green placed his hands firmly on the edge of the polished table, his eyes slowly moving across the spread-out map.

Time seemed to freeze for a moment, and he slowly raised his head and looked at Prime Minister Metz standing opposite him.

The corners of his lips curled up: "Want to attack Winterfell?"

When Prime Minister Metz heard this, he suddenly stopped stroking his beard and a trace of barely perceptible embarrassment flashed across his face.

He coughed softly to cover up his embarrassment, and then said, "Green... Your Highness, I am mainly... um... worried that Stark may be dissatisfied and hostile to us. After all, everyone in the Seven Kingdoms knows that the Lord of Winterfell and Robert the Usurper are as close as brothers."

Green nodded slightly, his expression unchanged, and said calmly: "This is a reasonable warning."

As he spoke, he turned his gaze to the person standing on the other side: "Count Matus, I want to hear your advice."

The feudal lord winked at him secretly, but Earl Matus pretended not to notice. He thought seriously for a while before speaking slowly: "Regent Lord Green, after the invasion of Greyjoy and the defeat in the Riverlands, the North is now very weak. They can no longer influence the situation in the Seven Kingdoms. At least for the next ten years, they will not be able to extend their hands to the South."

Under Mays's gaze, Matus spoke in a steady tone, and every word seemed to be carefully considered.

Green nodded again, then raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, "So, your conclusion is that there is no need to send troops to Winterfell?"

From the corner of his eye, Matus saw that the Prime Minister of Metz, the Duke of Metz, had blushed, looking very much like the nickname "Inflatable Fish" that Lady Olenna, the Duke of Metz's mother, had personally given her son.

His eyes remained still, and he maintained a serious expression as he responded, "Yes, Your Highness. The peace you have brought to the kingdom was not easy to come by."

Their eyes met. After Green and Count Matus looked at each other for a moment, he said gently, "You are a good knight."

After saying that, without waiting for their reaction, he stretched out his finger and lightly tapped a spot on the map.

"We still need to wait for a while for things to happen in the north..."

After a slight pause, Green asked Prime Minister Mace: "...I have a more important matter now. I hope you can go here on behalf of the Red Castle."

Prime Minister Mace withdrew his gaze from Matus, looked at where Green pointed, and asked in confusion: "Dragonstone?"

Green's eyes swept over the two of them in turn: "I have received reliable information, Euron Greyjoy..."

He first explained his "fishing plan" to the two of them in detail, describing every detail in great detail, as if the plan had been rehearsed in his mind countless times.

He finally said, "So, I hope the Hand will go to Dragonstone to complete the 'bait' I have arranged."

Prime Minister Mace was finally able to look Count Matus in the eye. He asked Green: "Uh... well... I'm not suspicious of anything, I'm just worried... does he really dare to come over?"

There was a hint of worry in his tone. If he really took the bait, he couldn't imagine how crazy the new leader of the Iron Islands would be.

Maybe he is really a madman, otherwise how could the Iron Islands dare to challenge the powerful Reach? !

Green's eyes seemed to be able to see through people's hearts: "One of the baits is the dragon horn that is said to be able to command dragons, and the other is his brother's legitimate heir. In addition, there is the 'Targaryen Princess' who is the only one with the legal right to inherit the Iron Throne. This is enough to drive a normal person crazy, not to mention that he is a pirate who likes to dance on the edge of a knife."

Seeing Prime Minister Metz's gaze shifting towards him again, Count Matus nodded, agreeing with the Regent's analysis.

Then he saluted solemnly towards Green and said, "I, the Earl of Golden Tree City in the River Reach, please allow me to thank you, Your Highness the Regent."

Green smiled and simply waved his hand: "It is my responsibility to protect every lord of the Seven Kingdoms, good knight."

His eyes moved. "Prince Mace, if we put the head of the Crow's Eye on the gate of King's Landing, it will be enough to restore the prestige of the Red Keep."

If he succeeds, it will be enough to make him famous in the Seven Kingdoms... When Prime Minister Mace thought of this, he couldn't suppress the upturned corners of his mouth, and his face was full of gratitude and excitement.

"This will be my greatest honor, Your Highness." He responded quickly, and Count Matus beside him also nodded. Green smiled and nodded, and then continued to instruct: "Prime Minister Mace, danger cannot be completely avoided. In order to prevent scaring away prey, the defense force of Dragonstone Island and your own guards can only slightly exceed the normal range..."

…………

After seeing off Prime Minister Mace and Earl Matus, Green had just rested for a while when Brienne came to report that Princess Arianne requested an audience.

"Your Highness Green."

Green motioned for Princess Arianne to sit down, then reached out and picked up the golden wine jug.

Hala---dark red wine slowly pours into the wine glass.

Green pushed the golden wine glass to Arianne, who was sitting opposite him with her legs crossed. After sitting down, she took a sip of the summer red.

Seeing that she had been frowning and silent, he said, "What's wrong, Arianne?"

Arianne seemed to come back to her senses from her deep thoughts. She blinked her bright eyes and said, "My father loves to play chess. I always see him staring at the chessboard in deep thought."

After a pause, she continued, "I was just thinking that when the news here reaches Yangji City, he might still stay there and study how to play chess as usual."

Green raised his glass to Arianne and took a sip of wine. He seemed to be joking: "Perhaps you can write a letter and ask Prince Doran to take good care of your Dorne for you."

Arianne couldn't help but chuckle at this. "Yes, it is his duty alone."

Her smile soon faded, and her pair of black and white eyes began to look Green up and down wantonly, as if exploring something.

After a while, she suddenly said, "My father is the player on the chessboard, and you are the chess player of the Seven Kingdoms, right?"

Green raised an eyebrow. "What did you want to say, Arianne?"

Arianne lowered her legs, leaning forward, her dark eyes fixed on him. "You are naturally trustworthy, and you are so generous and kind..."

Green muttered to himself: But.

She leaned forward again. "Your notoriety is known throughout the Seven Kingdoms, but... it was not until today that I felt truly afraid of you, Your Highness Green Crabbe."

Green stared at her. "So?"

The two stared at each other for a long moment, and Arianne lowered her hoarse voice slightly: "I was thinking that perhaps a closer relationship between you and me... maybe it would help me to serve you with more peace of mind."

Using the pleasure of the bed to build further trust than before? That's very Westeros.

Green shook his head slightly, his eyes showing a hint of gentleness. "Arianne, I value not only your status as the heir of Dorne, but also your ability and knight-like integrity. This kind of relationship of mutual need is more reassuring and solid."

He raised his glass to her: "To our blood-related friendship."

Seeing this, Princess Arianne's mouth twitched slightly. She glared at Green fiercely, then shrank back and sat down again.

She paused as she picked up the wine glass, then suddenly raised the corners of her mouth: "You are also very upright, my Regent Prince."

Green shrugged: "Well, what do you want to tell me?"

This man was too perceptive. She felt like she was naked in front of him... Princess Arianne couldn't help but curl her lips.

(End of this chapter)