It seems that the villain is targeting me.

Before that, she summoned vassals from all over the country and presided over the family's internal meeting on behalf of her father to discuss what to do next.

The news that Lucas was still alive had a certain encouraging effect on the surrounding residents, but people's hearts would not be firmly united because of a ten-year-old child. Many people were worried about the future of the family.

The news from the capital was getting worse day by day. They were worried that the Tudor family might not survive until the day when Lucas came of age and inherited the title.

"We should take revenge on the Hamilton family!"

A younger vassal said: "They betrayed us and killed our lord for no reason. We should raise the banner of rebellion and repay these people's shameless behavior with blood!"

"But we can't even pay taxes right now," someone retorted. "Pembroke Castle is losing control over our vassal states! If we can't quickly restore our military strength, not only will we not be able to exact revenge, but even our own family will fall apart!"

"Those speculators have siphoned off the most important mine revenue, and now we can't even replace the Knights' outdated and worn-out equipment—we can barely afford to pay the Knights' salaries."

It's still a matter of money. This is the root of all problems. The essence of war is to spend money. If you have money, you can spend it face to face. If you don't have money, you can be frugal and spend it. If you want to assemble an army, money is indispensable.

Gwyneth's response was decisive: she decided to mortgage and sell her ancestral property, all the farms, racecourses and vineyards except Pembroke Castle, as well as all the collections and luxury goods - which would be of interest to the two nearby lords and foreign buyers.

But this proposal was still opposed by many old people in the Tudor family.

Strong opposition: Auctioning off ancestral property is often the beginning of a family's decline, and the shame inherent in it is something that the elderly cannot accept in any way.

What's more, the person who made this suggestion was Gwyneth - Gwen was far from having the final say in the family like her father, and she was also a girl who was not supposed to be eligible for inheritance.

A large number of people felt that Gwyneth would get married sooner or later and had no right to interfere with the Tudor family's property.

These people maintained respect for Gwyneth on the surface, but they did not take what she said seriously at all.

Gwyneth's proposal failed to gain the support of the majority. Her female identity became the biggest obstacle, and Lucas was too young, so his speech would not be taken seriously by these people either.

Commanding a family is not as simple as leading an army, because everyone in the family has his or her own thoughts. She has a hard time, and the burden on her shoulders is pressing down on the girl mercilessly. It is a heavy responsibility.

Finally, she couldn't stand the endless arguing of those people anymore. As if to get a moment's respite, Gwyneth suspended the family meeting and said that she needed to think about it again.

It was at this moment that the housekeeper came over and told her that Butcher had woken up.

------

-

When Gwyneth pushed open the door and walked in, Xiao Niao had just opened the window. The cool wind from the south blew on the girl's cheeks, making her feel as if she was in another world.

Noticing the door was opened, Xiao Niao turned around to look at her and greeted her casually, saying, "You're here, Gwen," as if she was still the carefree child who was protected by her father.

Gwen could see that Xiao Niao was not actually relaxed. Her jaw was tense and her eyes moved at a frequency of 'thinking about something'. Gwyneth could already understand the meaning behind some of the other party's subconscious little movements.

She frowned, but Gwyneth began to feel relieved, as if her emotions had found a place and a destination.

Gwyneth tried to tell Xiaoniao what happened at the family meeting today. She mentioned the various difficulties the Tudor family is facing now and the invisible obstacle standing in front of them.

There were no extra tables and chairs in the room. While they were talking, Gwen sat on the chair and Xiao Niao sat on the bed.

"Your approach is wise," Xiao Niao pondered for a moment. "If you lose on the battlefield later, the victor can seize the Tudor family's property without spending a single silver coin. One is money, the other is power. Many people make this mistake and give up power for money."

Gwen felt a little comforted by the recognition of the former Prime Minister of the Empire, but she was still confused. Gwyneth didn't know how to convince other people in the family to obtain the right to dispatch the Knights of the Rose as a girl.

"You don't need to convince them."

Xiao Niao hugged his knees and rested his chin on them, looking a little bored, as if he had not fully recovered yet.

"You want to raise the flag and call on your allies to fight against the current emperor—but uprising is a suicidal act. You can't convince everyone to commit suicide with you—you have to tie everyone to your ship and convince them that following you will bring them greater benefits and is the only way out at the moment."

Gwyneth looked at the bird and couldn't help but wonder: Could this be the experience she gained from rebelling with Lawrence back then?

Gwen then asked seriously: "What should I do next?"

She saw Xiao Niao seemed to smile.

"Please, young lady, stop teasing a poor half-human like me," Xiaoniao said teasingly, putting down his legs. "I came all the way from the capital with so many people. Am I here for a picnic in Highgarden?"

Without waiting for Gwyneth's response, Xiao Niao continued, "—I have a ready amount of gold on hand that can help the Knights replace their outdated equipment and restore their combat capabilities."

"We don't have much time. We must split into two groups."

"You will stay here and suppress the rebellion of the vassal as quickly as possible and restore the Tudor family's military influence in this area. I will lend you two of my legions. You can combine these men with the Knights of the Rose in Pembroke Castle, and the rebellion of the vassal states will be quickly resolved."

"As for me, I will go south and win allies for you. I know some dukes who can be won over."

Gwen froze in place, pondering the feasibility of this matter. Then, she subconsciously retorted, "But, but how could your people obey my orders... And you're not from Highgarden, so if you intervene, there will definitely be a lot of opposition..."

At such a sensitive time, even the slightest rumor could destroy a newly established alliance.

Trust between the leaders of both sides alone is absolutely not enough. If this alliance is not recognized by the majority of people, it will be meaningless.

The wind blowing in from the window gently ruffled Xiao Niao's hair. She seemed to be thinking about something. She hesitantly looked at Gwyneth with a dazed expression.

Gwyneth suddenly had a strange premonition in her heart, which made her feel at a loss. However, she could not deny the words that the other party had not yet said, so she could only helplessly clutch the hem of her skirt.

Like a decision

As if making up his mind, Xiao Niao turned his head and looked over.

Her eyes were quiet and calm, revealing nothing of the suffering she had endured in her childhood or the hardships she had faced along the way. They narrowed slightly as she looked at her, and the color of her eyes reminded Gwyneth of molasses with a slightly burnt brown hue.

Xiao Niao's sparkling eyes were filled with guilt that Gwyneth could hardly understand; her eyes were soft.

She was silent for a moment longer, then she said, "Gwen, let's get married."

Chapter 96 I Only Want You

After Xiao Niao said that, the atmosphere fell silent. She carefully observed Gwyneth's emotions, worried that she would show anger or shame.

But no, Gwen looked a little... dull.

Xiao Niao confirmed his description: Yes, it looks a little stupid. If I have to use a metaphor, it's like a mouse falling into a rice jar.

This silly kid has had this expression on his face since the first time he saw me. So much time has passed, why is he still the same as before, staring blankly after just a few words?

Xiao Niao was a little helpless, but he still tried to persuade her according to the words he had prepared at the beginning: "Gwen, don't rush to refuse. I know you hate political marriages, but there is no better way right now..."

It was Xiaoniao's first time to be proposed to, and although she pretended to be calm, she was actually very nervous inside - nervous and shy.

Xiao Niao was very embarrassed. If Gwen got closer, she would have found that the bird's ears, which were covered by its hair, were already red.

In fact, ever since he came up with the idea of getting married, Birdie has been hesitant to look Gwyneth in the eye.

Gwyneth remained calm on the surface, but she was internally engaged in some intense mental activity, the gist of which could be summed up as "Is there such a good thing?" and the screams of a marmot.

However, Gwen didn't even blush. She behaved like the lady that Lady Tudor expected, nodding modestly to indicate that she was listening.

She was so relaxed that Xiao Niao felt a little nervous. What should he do? Was Gwen going to reject me as soon as I finished speaking?

Wow, what should I say next?

Xiao Niao became even more nervous. She stammered, "I—well, I, I have to be honest with you, but you should have known for a long time that I'm not actually a boy..."

This matter is of great importance. Xiaoniao does not want to hide it from Gwen, but is ready to confess her identity as a girl directly to her.

But she didn't expect that after she said this, Gwyneth's perfect expression like jade would crack.

Gwen's eyes moved quickly and suspiciously between Xiao Niao and the window, but she couldn't help it and turned her gaze back to Xiao Niao's face.

Her gaze lingered briefly on the bird's petal-soft lips, then shifted uncontrollably, first to the sharply defined chin, then to the fair neck, and finally to a lovable spot hidden beneath the fabric, stained with a hazy mist...

Gwyneth began to daydream and her mind was wandering. All kinds of messy fantasies filled her head. If vision had substance, it would probably rush through the collar of Little Bird's clothes and strip her naked in the blink of an eye.

Xiao Niao didn't think much about it when she said this, but Gwen's strange look made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She shuddered and held down her upturned feathers with her right hand.

The bird suddenly realized that something was wrong: Wait, when I was in the capital, my behavior and words were always flawless. I was extremely careful in my daily life. I never had servants by my side to help me with things like changing clothes and taking a bath - how did Gwen know that I was a girl?

She asked her question doubtfully.

Gwyneth's expression looked even stranger, her eyes shifting evasively away from the bird, and she squirmed uncomfortably in her chair, as if ants were crawling all over her body.

"I just found out by accident," Gwyneth made up a story. "No, that's not right! I, I, I, I just guessed..."

This defense is too suspicious, Miss Gwen!

Xiao Niao nodded hesitantly.

"...Okay, that's all you need to know."

Gwyneth nodded hurriedly as if she had been pardoned, and her only thought was to turn the page quickly.

But Xiao Niao felt a little at a loss for words, and even felt frustrated: Gwyneth seemed to have completely missed the point. He was proposing to her—proposing to her as a girl—but why was her reaction so indifferent!

Am I too old-fashioned as an Oriental?

Xiao Niao originally thought that as long as he could explain to Gwen that he was a girl, it would be easy to reach a consensus on this matter:

A ceremony that would reassure everyone would be enough. He would not hurt her or force her to do anything. A ceremony would be enough.

Sooner or later, I will be gone, and Gwyneth still has a long life ahead of her.

The little bird began to hesitate. She didn't want to deceive the child's feelings, nor did she want to waste her life.

"I," Xiao Niao spoke awkwardly, her eyes fixed on her own wings, "...I'm sorry."

Gwyneth's heart skipped a beat. "Why apologize?"

Xiao Niao Chen

After a long silence, he spoke softly, "...I know my request is shameless and requires you to sacrifice your own happiness... but I really can't think of a better way."

"I didn't make any sacrifices," Gwyneth looked at her seriously without hesitation, "I want to marry you."

She likes her, and she has thought about it dozens of times, wishing they could be together.

She is not afraid of difficulties or death. She even thinks that there is nothing wrong with being the one left behind. Gwyneth hopes that all the memories of Birdie left by her side are happy. She doesn't want this person to cry for her. She wants to hold her hand.

"I want to marry you," Gwyneth repeated softly. "I only want you."

In this day and age, this is such a heretical statement.

Xiao Niao was completely panicked. She did have some soft-heartedness towards Gwen, but this soft-heartedness prevented her from saying anything cold and harsh to reject Gwen. Under pressure, Xiao Niao subconsciously wanted to escape and leave the room to hide. She stood up in a panic.

But Gwyneth approached her regardless, her knees pressed against the edge of the bed, and easily reached out and knocked the escaping bird onto the bed.

Xiaoniao is under stress and his hair is mad.

Gwen put her arms around her to stop her from moving. She could clearly feel Xiao Niao's breathing suddenly stop and her body became very stiff.

For several seconds, the two of them hugged each other awkwardly and motionlessly. Xiao Niao looked at her nervously, his eyelashes trembling slightly. After a while, his eyes became confused again, as if asking: Do you just want to hug?

Gwen found it a little funny: Who proposed first just now?

Gwyneth put her face against Xiaoniao's warm neck. She closed her eyes and whispered softly, "...your heart is beating like a little rabbit."

------

-

They chose a bright and sunny day. Xiao Niao wore a navy blue traditional dress. Her neck was rubbed red by the starched collar. The dress was newly made.

Xiao Niao stood a little stiffly outside the door of this magnificent spire building, with many strange thoughts popping up in her head. She could hear conversations, laughter, and melodious music played by the accordion coming from the other side of the door.

Xiao Niao knocked on the door silently, and a woman's voice came from inside, "The child is coming." Then the conversation stopped, and someone opened the door and stepped aside to let her in.

A young man led her into a brightly lit corridor with stained glass windows on both sides, which made the sunlight shine through beautifully.

Xiao Niao saw that there were many people standing on the platforms on both sides of the hall. Those standing on the left were all golden-haired Tudors, while on the right platform there were all kinds of people: some were half-humans and some were ordinary people. Her loyal knight stood at the front of the railing. Xiao Niao saw many familiar faces among those people.

As she walked past the stands, people threw Phalaenopsis orchids and tuberoses at her head. Xiao Niao looked up and the young girls all smiled at her.

Everything is fine, everything is just right.

Xiao Niao gently shook off the pure white petals on her shoulders and followed the young man's pace. She soon came to the front where a white-haired old man was standing. He was the most senior elder of the Tudor family.

The elder smiled kindly at the bird and motioned her to come to his right side.

Xiao Niao swallowed and felt his throat was a little dry. People were waiting. Knights in shiny armor stood quietly on both sides of the stairs. There were patterns of thorns and roses printed on their breastplates, and decorative rapiers hung on their waists.

She walked over slowly, feeling as if she had not yet woken up from a dream, while the elder of the Tudor family had already begun to greet the visitors. He praised the names of the gods and recited the teachings of the Tudor ancestors. Everyone bowed their heads and looked at their hands as a sign of respect.

In fact, whether it was according to the court etiquette of the capital or the local traditions of High Court, all these ceremonies happened a little too quickly. According to the normal process, the two people should wait at least a year after confirming that the ceremony would be held.

But everyone unanimously agreed that this intermediate process should be omitted, and everyone understood that there was not much time left to waste.

Xiao Niao woke up from her trance when the sound of applause rang out. She looked at the end of the corridor on the left and felt her throat tighten. She didn't know if she had tossed and turned in bed last night because she was imagining the details of this scene.

Gwyneth Tudor appeared at the end of the corridor. She was wearing pure white traditional clothes and a wreath of roses on her head. Lady Tudor was by her side. She put one hand on her mother's arm and slowly walked towards Xiao Niao.

The two stood face to face. Xiao Niao nervously recalled the etiquette taught to her by the maesters. She stretched out her hand toward Gwen—her right hand, but her wings also subconsciously lifted up—then the bird reacted and tried to pull back.

Gwyneth quickly grabbed the tip of her wing and pressed it firmly on the two people's clasped hands.

Xiao bird looked at its feathers in confusion.

Curled up in Gwyneth's palm, she glanced at Gwen, who looked at her reproachfully.