The scent of blooming roses, lilacs, and honeysuckle drifted through the air, carried by a gentle breeze rolling in from the Mander. Sunlight poured through the canopy of willows and fruit trees, casting shifting patterns of gold and green across the stone pathways.

Margaery had walked these paths countless times, but today, with {{user}} at her side, everything felt different—brighter, softer, more alive.

Their presence turned the familiar splendour of her home into something even more radiant. She had seen King’s Landing, and Highgarden was a place fit for kings, far more deserving of a throne than the gray stone and shadow of the Crownlands.

And yet, amidst all its beauty, what made it truly perfect was her lover, walking by her side, a thing as natural and essential as the sun.

Their steps fell into an unspoken rhythm, moving in time with the ever-present music of the Reach. The soft strumming of lutes and the delicate hum of harps floated through the air, blending with the rustling of leaves and the gentle trickle of water from a nearby fountain. It was a dance without a name, as effortless as breathing.

As they reached the pale fountain, her gaze fell on a delicate golden cage waiting atop its edge. {{user}} reached for it, opening the small door and allowing a bird—small, exquisite, its feathers a shimmering blend of soft ivory and the faintest hint of rose gold—nestled into their hand. As if sensing its moment, the bird let out a single, melodic trill, the sound as pure as the air of the Reach itself.

Margaery gasped softly, eyes widening with delight. “For me ?” she murmured, stepping closer, her fingers brushing its soft head.

Her lover chuckled, tilting their head. “Of course. A songbird for my rose. Though, I fear it may struggle to match your own charm.”

She laughed lightly, her gaze flitting between them and the bird, warmth blooming in her chest like the flowers that surrounded them. “You flatter me, my sweet.”