From the day Littlefinger arrived there, he had been housed in a tent, treated to good food and drink. The attendants serving him would grant almost all his requests, even finding him prostitutes, but they would not deliver a single word from him to Duke Mace.
Littlefinger was not in a hurry. Although Little Devil Tyrion Lannister had promised him Harrenhal if he could persuade House Tyrell to forgive the Queen Regent's previous rudeness and agree to restore the marriage contract, he did not have only this one path. He had prepared several fallback options, so even if he was left waiting by Highgarden, he could still appear calm and composed.
It was Lord Garlan Tyrell, who was secretly observing Littlefinger, who felt somewhat curious about this Master of Coin. In his opinion, Littlefinger should have tried every possible way to see him or his father, Duke Mace, from the day he arrived. Yet, the other party merely made a routine request for an audience each day, and then leisurely wandered around the camp or rested in his tent, appearing not to be in any hurry at all.
Even after he sent someone to deliver the war intelligence from King's Landing to Littlefinger, Littlefinger still showed no signs of anxiety, which left Garlan unable to grasp the other party's true intentions and, inevitably, led him to consider speaking with Littlefinger.
"Lord Garlan, I am deeply grateful for your audience!" At Garlan's instruction, Littlefinger was led into his tent. Upon seeing Garlan for the first time, Littlefinger respectfully bowed to Garlan.
Looking at the Master of Coin, whose face always maintained a smile, Garlan found it difficult to feel any ill will. He also stood up and returned the bow to Littlefinger, saying, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lord Petyr."
"I believe Lord Garlan already knows my purpose," Littlefinger said with a smile.
"Yes," Garlan nodded and said, "The previous envoy had already met my father. My father was very angry, believing that the Iron Throne was insulting our House Tyrell, and directly killed that envoy. If not for the intervention of a vassal, my father might have already sent that envoy's head back to King's Landing, completely breaking ties with the Iron Throne." As he spoke, he suddenly remembered something and said, "Oh, right, I had you arranged in the military camp and didn't let you meet my father. I wouldn't want the Master of Coin to have his head chopped off by my father as well."
Littlefinger gave a wry smile and said with a sincere expression, "I can understand Duke Mace's anger. If it were me, I would also be furious." Then he sighed again and said, "Unfortunately, as the Master of Coin on the Small Council, I must obey the Acting Hand's orders and come here as an envoy."
"Acting Hand? Is that Lord Tyrion Lannister?" Garlan looked at Petyr Baelish and said, "The one who truly wants to restore the marriage contract with our House Tyrell is Lord Tyrion. Queen Regent Cersei and King Joffrey actually don't want to ally with our family through marriage, do they?"
Littlefinger could only offer an awkward smile. Although he didn't answer, his expression was already a reply.
Garlan showed no unusual emotions, but spoke unhurriedly, "Since Lord Petyr, you are the negotiator sent by Lord Tyrion, and Lord Tyrion must also recognize your ability, then Lord Petyr, how will you persuade us?"
Petyr said, "The offspring born to Lady Margaery and King Joffrey will become the next Lord of the Iron Throne."
"Is that supposed to be a condition for persuasion?" Garlan was stunned, then laughed, "If Margaery truly marries King Joffrey, then Margaery will be the Queen, and her offspring will naturally be the next Lord of the Iron Throne. Lord Tyrion is trying to trade something that already belongs to us, isn't he?"
Petyr did not refute, but continued to smile and said, "If Lady Margaery and King Joffrey have more than one child, then the second child, regardless of gender, will become the Duke of Storm's End and the Defender of the Stormlands."
Garlan sat up slightly upon hearing this, clearly moved by the condition.
Petyr then added, "Before that child comes of age, the Stormlands will be entrusted to Highgarden's supervision."
"I must say, I am truly tempted," Garlan's fingers tapped lightly on the table, and he looked at Petyr thoughtfully, saying, "The terms are generous, but Lord Petyr, you seem to have overlooked one thing. That is, the effective controller of the Stormlands has not belonged to Baratheon since the time of Duke Renly. Prince Linde of Summerhall is the true master of the Stormlands. Can a decree from the Iron Throne make Prince Linde relinquish all his rights in the Stormlands? Will the Stormlands lords be willing to obey the decree and cut ties with Prince Linde?"
Littlefinger gave a wry smile, unsure how to answer for a moment.
Just as Garlan said, the Stormlands had effectively been controlled by Lynd, with its economy, politics, and military thoroughly infiltrated by him. Baratheon was merely the nominal liege lord of the Stormlands.
Therefore, some also believed that Stannis's ability to subdue the Stormlands forces this time was entirely due to Linde Terra's tacit approval. Otherwise, after Renly's death, Stannis could not have taken a single soldier from the Stormlands.
As for why Lynd would do this, some speculated it might be related to Joffrey's execution of Lord Eddard. Although Lynd still stated at the time that Joffrey was Robert's designated heir in his will, he was already dissatisfied with Joffrey. However, he could not violate his oath and act against King's Landing himself, which is why he handed the Stormlands forces over to Stannis, allowing Stannis to teach Joffrey I on the Iron Throne a lesson.
At this moment, Garlan spoke again, "I remember that Lord Tyrion is only the Acting Hand, not the official Hand. I doubt whether the promises he makes can be enforced."
Petyr's face also showed a hint of an unpleasant smile. In fact, not only Garlan doubted, but he also doubted whether Harrenhal, which Tyrion had promised him, would actually come into his possession.
Garlan suddenly changed the subject and said, "Lord Petyr, I personally very much hope to restore the marriage contract with King Joffrey, and I am willing to serve as your advocate to persuade my father, Duke Mace."
Petyr immediately asked, "What are your conditions?"
"My conditions are simple, only two," Garlan said with a smile. "One is that King Joffrey marries my cousin, and the second is that Queen Regent Cersei must take off her crown and go to the Redemption Sanctuary at Summerhall to join the nunnery, becoming a Redemption Sister. Oh, and both of these demands must be personally agreed to by Duke Tywin, with Prince Linde as a witness. I imagine this shouldn't be difficult for you to achieve, right?"
Littlefinger listened, his face full of wry smiles. These were not simple conditions at all; achieving them would be even more difficult than defeating Stannis's army.
The first condition was clearly intended to deliberately humiliate Joffrey and Cersei, telling Cersei and Joffrey that they were only fit to marry a woman from a collateral branch of House Tyrell, thereby retaliating against Cersei for arbitrarily canceling the marriage contract with Margaery and completely trampling on House Tyrell's dignity.
If Cersei had not canceled the marriage, then there would have been no Renly incident, and Little Rose would not have been slandered by so many rumors. House Tyrell had long harbored a burning anger with nowhere to vent, and now that they had found an opportunity, they naturally would not let it go.
As for the second condition, it was both to pave the way for the future queen to gain power and also for revenge. Forcing Cersei, who had always been obsessed with power, into a nunnery would absolutely be more painful than killing Cersei. Moreover, the nunnery she was to enter was not an ordinary nunnery, but the nunnery of the Redemption Sanctuary, which was the strictest nunnery in the Seven Gods Church.
As Littlefinger left the tent, Garlan suddenly emphasized, "Lord Petyr, I must remind you that time is running out for you. If Stannis breaks through King's Landing, then even if Duke Tywin agrees to our terms, we may not be able to uphold them. So please, act quickly."
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