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It is important to note that if a champion bestows the crown of honor upon a lady who already belongs to a noble family, or if the champion is married but does not award the crown to his wife, it would become a scandal.
Prince Rhaegar's decision to give the crown to Lyanna Stark sparked significant controversy and led to a series of subsequent events.
Thanks to his exceptional jousting skills, Gavin surged forward like a storm, easily advancing to the finals and becoming one of the most surprising dark horses of the joust competition.
Interestingly, in the very first match, he faced off against Garth Hightower, known by his nickname "Greysteel." Garth, perhaps in an attempt to restore the Hightower family's honor, aimed his spear at Gavin's vital areas.
However, Gavin easily dodged the attack. After both of them broke two lances, Gavin landed a strike under Garth's arm, dislocating his entire arm. It was likely that Garth would need months of recovery to heal completely.
In the finals, Gavin encountered another dark horse, a first-time competitor in the joust, Garlan Tyrell, the older brother of Margaery.
Although Gavin took the challenge seriously, the two were evenly matched in Spearmanship. After breaking five lances in a row, Gavin finally managed to knock Garlan off his horse.
Even after falling, Garlan refused to concede. Instead, he took the sword and shield handed to him by his squire and signaled that he wished to continue the fight.
Gavin also dismounted and took up his sword, and in an instant, the two were locked in combat. However, Garlan was no match for Gavin's masterful swordsmanship, and he was defeated after just five exchanges. Gavin, unsurprisingly, claimed the championship.
As Gavin gazed at the rose-woven crown in his hands, he could not help but think of the late Prince Rhaegar, whose own victory in the joust had led to the fall of his kingdom.
He wondered if Rhaegar had ever regretted his actions before his death. Shaking off the thought, Gavin pushed the distraction aside and walked straight to the stands. There, he bestowed the honor of "Queen of Love and Beauty" upon Margaery Tyrell, who was seated on the stage.
Upon receiving the crown, Margaery's heart raced with excitement, and a blush appeared on her cheeks. Although she had seen countless jousting tournaments and had been through many similar scenes, this was the first time she had been granted this honor. As she looked at Gavin below, a sense of sorrow filled her heart. 'If only he were truly a prince...' she thought.
With the conclusion of the jousting tournament, the entire tourney in the Reach came to an end. The nobles began making preparations to leave, while the merchants who had gathered for the event also slowly began to disperse in various directions.
After bidding farewell to Sir Edmund, Gavin made his way to Highgarden Castle, intending to say his goodbyes to Margaery.
In the familiar, vibrant courtyard, the gentle breeze swept through the air, causing the colorful petals to drift lazily to the ground.
Gavin found Margaery waiting for him, her eyes reflecting both surprise and sorrow. Gavin bowed slightly, and Margaery elegantly swept her skirt in return, both of them exchanging polite greetings.
"I must leave Highgarden soon," Gavin said softly, looking at Margaery. "I came here to bid you farewell, Lady Margaery."
A fleeting expression of sadness passed over Margaery's delicate face, and she hurriedly asked, "Gavin, you truly don't plan to take up a position here in Highgarden?"
Gavin shook his head slightly. "I have some matters I must attend to. When I return, I will visit you again."
Margaery gently bit her lip and smiled. "Then I wish you a pleasant journey. Take good care of yourself while you're away. I look forward to your return." Her gaze remained fixed on Gavin, as if she wanted to imprint his image deeply into her memory.
Around them, the flowers swayed gently in the breeze, as if whispering the sorrow of parting. When Gavin had first arrived, he had traveled with little, carrying only a sword, but after the tournament, he had gained much.
A carriage, laden with his spoils, was pulled by horses, the three large crates stacked high atop it making the journey slow and difficult. The Blood Dragon Guard in the front tightly held the reins, controlling the pace of the carriage.
Looking at the crates, Gavin furrowed his brow, thinking to himself, "Fortunately, I exchanged the gold dragons for gold notes in advance, or this carriage wouldn't have been able to carry it all. I'll need to process and prepare those materials soon to save space and weight."
Along the way, the sound of hooves and the creaking of the wheels filled the air. After more than ten days of travel, he had encountered no trouble, which he found somewhat disappointing.
Upon returning to the Oldtown, he decided to prepare for his next journey and also planned to gather some magical knowledge from Maester Qyburn before heading out again.
The streets of Oldtown were as bustling as ever. Gavin weaved through the crowds and soon arrived at the inn where he had stayed before.
After renting a room and storing his belongings there, he instructed the Blood Dragon Guard to stand watch and then made his way to the Citadel.
"Maester Qyburn was expelled from the Citadel? When did that happen?" Gavin was surprised by the news. He hadn't expected Qyburn to be exposed so soon, especially not less than a month after his departure.
He wondered if this was the same moment from the original timeline when Qyburn had been expelled from the Citadel, or if it was a result of the butterfly effect caused by his arrival in this world.
"Just ten days ago. The Citadel discovered he had been conducting inhumane experiments, so they stripped him of his Maester's chain and expelled him. You were fortunate to have left when you did. If you had still been studying under him, you would have been investigated too, and the creation of your chain might have been delayed," said Maester Myche, lamenting Gavin's good fortune.
Gavin pulled several gold dragons from his pouch and handed them to Maester Myche. "Do you know where Qyburn went after being expelled?"
Maester Myche skillfully tucked the gold dragons into his pocket and thought for a moment before replying, "I heard he has been seen around the port district, treating the wounds of mercenaries passing by and making a living." Thinking that Gavin was hesitant to part with Qyburn's knowledge, Myche quickly added, "But don't worry, I can arrange for another Maester for you. If you have any preferences, just let me know."
Gavin shook his head. "No need, maester Myche. In fact, I came here to resign from my position as an assistant maester. I plan to go out and travel for a while."
"That's truly a pity, Gavin. Your skills in medicine are quite impressive. But this is something that happens every year. If you've made up your mind, I'll help you with the formalities."
"Thank you, Maester Myche." Gavin replied politely.
After leaving the Citadel, Gavin made his way straight to the port district. After paying a little money and asking around for information, he learned that Qyburn had left the area three days ago.
It was said that he had boarded a ship with a group of mercenaries, but no one knew where they had gone.
Unable to find Qyburn, Gavin was left with no choice but to return to the inn to prepare his medicines. As he passed the Old John's Tavern, he encountered a familiar face—Luca, the person he had once treated.
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[Chapter End's]
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