Chapter 4

As Samwell made his way into the banquet hall, the afterglow of the setting sun had gradually faded. The spacious hall was now illuminated by thousands of scented candles, casting a bright glow as if it were daytime. The floor was covered in thick wool carpets, offering a soft and comfortable sensation underfoot, almost like walking on clouds.

In the center of the hall, long wooden tables were arranged uniformly, each adorned with navy blue velvet and fresh roses of various colors. The delicate scent of the flowers permeated the air, lending a refreshing atmosphere to the grand occasion.

The well-dressed waiter escorted Samwell to his seat at the table and poured him a glass of golden wine from Arbor Island. Although the banquet had not yet begun, a number of guests had already arrived, engaging in quiet conversations in small groups of two's and three's .

Among the guests were Earl Randyll and his younger brother Dickon, but their seats were not arranged beside Samwell's .

Earl Randyll acted like unaware of the arrival of his eldest son and instead lowered his head to sip his wine. While next to him, Dickon waved at his elder brother as if he wanted to go over and talk, but hesitated upon noticing his father's stern expression.

After a short while, the castle owner finally made his appearance.

The Duke of Highgarden, despite being in his fifties, still bore the signature curly brown hair of the Tyrell family, albeit now spotted with gray. Although some mockingly referred to him as "Lord Mace the Mumbling Fool," he had a rosy complexion, a booming voice, and strode confidently with powerful steps - there was no sign of discomfort in his demeanor.

Samwell found himself pondering if the Duke even bothered to pretend. Nevertheless, he rose from his seat and followed the lead of the other guests in paying homage to the Duke.

With Duke Mace seated on his throne, the banquet officially began. Young and beautiful maids flitted about the long tables like butterflies adorned with flowers, serving one delicious dish after another.

Guests were treated to a delectable spread that included salmon salad, charcoal-grilled venison leg, pan-fried lamprey, creamy chestnut soup, honey pine nut cake, freshly picked strawberries, and even a rare golden tail shrimp that was a sight to behold even on the most prestigious of noble dining tables.

This dinner was held to celebrate Samwell's promotion to pioneering knight, but Duke Mace did not hide his disdain for the useless eldest son of the Tarly family. After briefly introducing Sam, he swiftly changed the topic to other matters.

Everyone present was aware that Samwell's appointment as pioneering knight was simply Earl Randyll's attempt to replace his heir. No one believed that the renowned wastrel from River Bend could truly conquer new territories.

Some people were whispering, laughing, and spreading rumors, such as "a knight conferred by a woman". However, Samwell chose to ignore these gossips and ate in silence. As he peeled off the shell of the golden tail shrimp and savored the tender and juicy meat, Samwell was suddenly stunned to find that his strength attribute had increased by 0.01! Could it be that eating could add attributes? Was it really possible? Excited, Samwell quickly swept away the rest of the food.

However, the attributes did not continue to increase.

After taking a sip of wine and pondering for a moment, Samwell had a hunch.

He signaled to the maid behind him and asked, "May I have another golden tail shrimp, please?"

The maid looked at the chubby knight in front of her and suppressed a smile as she nodded, "Okay, please wait a moment."

When the two golden tail shrimps were presented in front of him, Samwell couldn't wait to stuff them into his mouth.

  And it worked! His strength attribute increased again by 0.01!

It seems that this golden tail shrimp is really able to increase the strength attribute.

Excitedly, Samwell turned around and called the maid once more, disregarding the disdainful looks from the people around him. He knew that this kind of golden tail shrimp was an extremely precious ingredient, and if he wanted to eat it outside of the Duke's mansion, he would have to spend a lot of money to buy it, and he might not even be able to find it.

Therefore, there was no need to worry about banquet etiquette or aristocratic demeanor at this time. Moreover, Samwell had long lost face in the aristocratic circle of the River Bend.

However, when Samwell was about to eat his third golden tail shrimp, even the Duke of Mace couldn't stand it anymore and asked, "Sam, is the golden tail shrimp really that delicious?"

Samwell wiped his mouth with a napkin without changing his expression, stood up, and said. "Yes, Your Excellency, this is the most delicious food I have ever eaten in my life. Please forgive me for losing my composure." The Duke Mace couldn't say much in response to Samwell's thick skin and praise, lest it appear that he was too stingy.

"Okay , Go ahead and eat, but be mindful not to overindulge, lest you won't be able to mount a horse tomorrow. Hahaha..." The Duke of Mace laughed .

Duke Mace seemed pleased with his joke and grinned like a pumpkin at a harvest festival. The other guests joined in the laughter, and the hall was filled with a joyous atmosphere.

Samwell appeared to be oblivious to the jibes and expressed his gratitude to the Duke before turning to the maid and requesting, "Another serving of golden tail shrimp, please. Thank you!"

'You've already laughed at me anyway, wouldn't it be a waste if I didn't eat it! ' Samwell thought with a chuckle. However, at that moment, the butler approached with a troubled expression and delivered some bad news: "I'm terribly sorry, sir, but the ingredients for the golden tail shrimp have been depleted."

Samwell couldn't help but suspect that the butler had hoarded the remaining golden tail shrimp for himself, but he simply shrugged helplessly and let it go.

Duke Mace suddenly laughed again, "Sam, there should be a lot of venison in the kitchen, do you want some?"

Samwell was about to decline, thinking who cares about venison, but then he heard the mother of Duke Mace, the "Queen of Thorns", Olenna Tyrell, saying, "I have never liked this kind of shellfish, Sam. If you don't mind, you can take this from me."

Samwell was surprised to see the silver-haired, short old lady being kind to him. He wondered why the "Queen of Thorns", who was known to be sour in rumors, would suddenly show him kindness. He knew he wasn't a young hero or had anything worthy of the other party's attention.

Samwell maintained the look of gratitude and said with a smile, "How can I despise Mrs. Olenna's gift?"

Olenna smiled in response, "Okay, okay. A good knight must have a good appetite, take it."

The maid was about to step forward, but Olenna winked at her granddaughter Margaery. Margaery understood immediately and picked up the golden tail shrimp in front of Olenna herself and walked towards Samwell.

She also wondered why her grandmother was treating Samwell so courteously, but this smart girl suppressed her doubts and tacitly cooperated with her grandmother to complete this wooing.

Samwell expressed his gratitude and stood up to thank her, acting flattered by the gesture.

Margaery responded, "You are a knight canonized by me, so you don't need to be so polite." She placed the silver plate in front of Samwell and smiled warmly, exuding an air of grace and poise.

That evening, the Duke's daughter wore a pure white satin dress that showcased her excellent body proportions. The form-fitting dress accentuated every curve of her body, creating captivating lines. Her intricate gold headdress, sapphire necklace, and flowing silk chiffon skirt all exuded the unique luxury of the highest aristocrats.

The mere sight of her exuded a sense of class so distant that it made one feel inferior.

  Yet here she was, the most beautiful flower in Highgarden, serving food to a clown like Samwell himself.

  The spectacle left everyone in the hall dumbfounded, especially the young male guests whose eyes glinted with an invisible flame, almost roasting Samwell with jealousy.

  But even as the stunning girl approached him, Samwell remained extremely cautious.

Of course, Samwell still pretended to be a nervous and panic-stricken cowardly boy on the surface, trying his best to conceal his surprise when faced with the Duke's daughter's approach.

  Olenna noticed Samwell's flustered state under the charm of her granddaughter and smiled slightly, asking, "Sam, what are your plans for the future? Do you have any goals?"

"Dear Mrs. Olenna, I haven't made up my mind yet," Samwell replied nervously.

"Since you haven't set a goal yet, I have a suggestion," Olenna said, causing Samwell to become even more wary. He had heard rumors about the cunning nature of the "Queen of Thorns," and he knew that her gift must come with a price.

However, having already accepted the golden tail shrimps, Samwell knew that he couldn't refuse. "Please tell me," he said.

Olenna shook her head and teased him, "We don't talk about business at banquets. How about this: come to see me tomorrow, and we can talk in detail then."

"Okay, ma'am," Samwell agreed.

[END]