-Chapter 81-
-10th day of the 5th moon of the year 299 AC-
-POV Margaery Tyrell-
It had been nearly 3 weeks since the royal wedding was celebrated, and still, I couldn't digest the fact that I wouldn't be queen, that I would remain just a Lady like so many others across the kingdom.
I had done everything right, I had even married a sword swallower, but why was fate so harsh on me?
What had I done for the gods to deem me unworthy of sitting beside the king and let that Dornish whore carry the future heir of the seven kingdoms?
What did he find so attractive about her?
A part of me already knew why.
'She has seduced so many men in her life, a 16-year-old boy wouldn't stand a chance against her.'
I wanted to prove to grandmother that she was wrong, that I could make the king desire me and want to marry me without sleeping with him, but obviously, she was right. I wasn't decisive enough, and now, every time I saw that Dornish woman, I had to kneel and bow to her, as well as to all her bastard cousins who had now taken over the court as if they were the masters of the place.
I only came back to myself when I heard a voice that broke my thoughts: "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing special," I said, not wanting to express aloud the deep depression I was in.
"You must forget the King," Loras said, grabbing my cheeks to lift my head.
"Forget him? How can I forget that I could have been queen if only I had been faster than that..." I said, clenching my teeth in frustration.
"Shut up," he said, preventing me from saying something regrettable.
"I am the King's Guard," he said after a short moment of silence.
"If ever such a discussion was reported, it would be my head that would sit at the foot of the king," he said, seeing that I had no response to his outburst and his explanation.
"Sorry, Loras," I said, although I was not sorry for what I was about to say. Arianne Martell had had lovers for a long time, and everyone at court knew it.
"I'm not asking you to simply forget everything, but at least, I beg you, Margaery, forget the obsession you have with that damned throne because our family will not win and will not fight for that throne," Willas said.
"Willas is going to marry Sansa. You will marry Robb or Harrold Arryn, and then you will become a duchess," he continued.
"Duchess, not queen," I said, emphasizing the fact that a Duchess was not a queen.
"It's still better than Cersei, who is nothing more than a lady of the court. She lost all her titles except that of Lady," Loras said, standing up and pretending to leave.
I nodded and said, "Do you ever regret it?"
"What?" he asked, standing up.
"Having pushed Renly to take the crown," I said, to his shock.
He froze for a few seconds before nodding and saying, "I have nightmares about it every day... and I apologize to you, Margaery, because without that, you would be queen."
My brother left me alone in the gardens and then headed towards the white tower, leaving me alone to carefully reflect on all my mistakes.
-POV MC-
"Lady Olenna, please take a seat," I said, placing a cup of tea in front of her.
She smiled and said, "I came as soon as I received your invitation, Your Majesty."
I smiled and then said, "I have no doubt, how are you?"
"As charming as ever, I'm not ready to pass away if that's your question."
I smiled again and said, "Far from me such a thought, I'm happy to see that you are as charming as ever."
She smiled, sipping her tea, and then I said, "How is Lady Margaery doing? I haven't had the chance to see her much lately."
She smiled bitterly and then said, "Unfortunately, my granddaughter is not doing well. She is hopelessly in love and wounded. I'm keeping her away from the public until she fully recovers and can open her heart to other suitors, although I doubt that will happen anytime soon."
I sketched a small, embarrassed smile and then said, "Well, then what I'm about to say will be a bit easier."
She frowned, and then I continued, "I would like you to block any request for Margaery's hand for the next 5 years and not accept any engagements with House Stark or Arryn, and to stop all food transactions with the North."
"I don't understand, Your Majesty," she said, confused by my demands.
"To put it simply, I want you to reserve Margaery's hand and prevent your grandson from getting engaged to Sansa Stark, and to stop feeding the North."
"Why?"
"Because I do not want you to marry or betroth Margaery, and I have a small dispute with Duke Stark."
"Your uncle?"
"Duke Stark."
She raised an eyebrow in surprise and then said, "If it's not too indiscreet, may I ask whom you plan to marry Prince Viserys to?"
"Not Margaery," I said calmly.
A small smile appeared on her aged, decrepit face, and then she said, "Are you having problems with your wife?"
"What kind of problems?"
"Dornish issues."
I smiled without playing into her little game and then said, "Are you going to comply with my requests, yes or no?"
"What will House Tyrell gain if it agrees to do you this service?" she asked.
"Instead of supplying the capital for free, we will buy the wheat we need, at a preferential price, of course."
She nodded and then said, "Very well, then it's agreed."
I nodded, and after some pleasantries, she left. A few seconds later, Arianne emerged from behind a tapestry and settled on my lap, swaying her hips, and said:
"That old witch dared to insinuate that you wanted to repudiate me."
I knew she wasn't angry but was testing me, so I said, kissing her neck:
"You know I would never do that to you, especially now, so don't worry about trivial problems."
"Whom will you grant Margaery's hand to?" she asked, placing her hand on my chest and kissing me on the lips.
"Nobody," I said, resisting her temptation between two kisses.
"Then why won't you leave her alone?" she said, lowering her hand.
"Because I want her for myself," I finally admitted.
She raised an eyebrow and said, "If I said the same thing, you'd have my head."
I smiled without saying anything, then lifted her up and with one move, I swept everything off the table to place my wife on it, whom I immediately undressed savagely.
We kissed each other passionately, and gradually, nothing remained to hide our nudity, and a loud, wild, and passionate dance began