Chapter 763: Changes in the Small Council

As a declining noble house in need of revival, House Westerling was a perfect match with the newly risen Toyne family ruling the Westerlands. Meanwhile, House Toyne required a bloodline of sufficient prestige with an enduring legacy to aid their governance.

Thus, this chestnut-haired, shy yet beautiful girl married Myles Toyne - the Warden of the West and Hand of the King. Two years ago, she bore him a son named Jon, after Toyne's longtime friend Jon Connington who had perished from a cold arrow leading troops to quell rebels in Dorne.

Jon Connington's posthumous son had already been born by now, a four year old child who inherited lordship of House Connington as the Earl of Griffin's Roost. But he did not inherit the position of Warden of the Stormlands - after all, appointing a toddler as governor would make the new policies a laughingstock.

Jon Connington's son was named Aegon - Aegon Connington.

That had been Jon's own wish, but as a soul without tangible form, he could not express it directly. Thus, the name was bestowed on the child through imperial decree instead, by Viserys.

As for the post of Warden of the Stormlands, it now belonged to Ser Davos the Onion Knight.

He presently held the highest authority among Stormlands nobles. And as the saying went - revenge could wait ten years. Davos had avenged Stannis previously by killing the three nobles who had humiliated Stannis' corpse at Griffin's Roost, thereby establishing his might in the Stormlands and winning the respect of its nobles too.

In truth, Myles Toyne had only considered resigning without formally proposing it to Viserys yet. This was information Ramsay somehow caught wind of from unknown sources.

Toyne was still hesitating. In private, he had discussed it with his confidantes because even if he relinquished his Handship, he would have to remain in King's Landing to recuperate given his frail condition.

He had left Casterly Rock in his family steward's hands to manage and brought his wife, child Jenny Westerling, and little Jon Toyne with him to the capital.

King's Landing had the sole public hospital across the empire's territory presently, with the best doctors around owing to imperial favor. Toyne's treatments came from none other than Grand Measter Ambrose - director of the Imperial College of Medicine since the Citadel's dismantling, marked by the silver collar around his neck.

Feeling too weak to keep working despite resigning as Hand, Toyne had no thoughts of leaving King's Landing.

Indeed, many imperial nobles lived out their golden years in the capital now thanks to the Imperial Medical College.

"If Toyne submits his resignation, approve it and summon Willas Tyrell, the Governor of Gulltown to King's Landing."

Inside his study at Highgarden, Viserys stood on the open marble terrace with one hand on the splendid golden railing, gazing at the endless golden floral sea in the distance as he spoke without turning back:

Viserys had known of Toyne's health issues all along, yet he never considered intervening, though he certainly had the means to prolong Toyne's life. But after his last chat with the Children about progressing civilization too quickly per Leaf's advice, he had dismissed the notion for now.

He did not want to overly interfere with this world's natural development. Things should evolve by their innate principles. Forcing rapid advancement risked unforeseen consequences.

As an ancient species that had lived for countless millennia, the Children of the Forest saw deeper than short-lived humans.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Kneeling on the ground, Ramsay promptly nodded at Viserys' words.

Others might be unaware, but as a loyal hound Ramsay naturally knew Willas Tyrell enjoyed imperial favor.

Some years ago Willas had been assigned as the Governor of Gulltown, leaving the imperial capital to sharpen his skills independently as a test.

And he had not disappointed Viserys' trust - already shedding the ostentatious trappings of his heritage as the Highgarden heir during his tenure as Imperial Tax Collector. Willas had walked a completely different path from his grandmother, becoming a highly pragmatic and capable imperial official instead.

In his years governing Gulltown, Willas had fully exercised his scholarly talents, also benefiting from lessons and experience as the tax collector. He aggressively developed commerce, constructed harbors, expanded urban scale.

He had even applied to the Small Council to establish a hospital, making contact with the Imperial Medical College to construct an imposing building in downtown Gulltown, designating it the second city after King's Landing with a public hospital.

The imperial Small Council had also chosen Gulltown to pioneer broader education.

Presently, entry to the Imperial Academy still required social connections and recommendations. Commoners could not easily attend unless nobly-born.

But the trial reforms at Gulltown involved schooling eligibility for children of appropriate age upon paying certain fees.

While commoners might not always afford the fees, those able to enroll remained nobles and wealthy merchants for now. Still, the path ahead lay in gradual progress - oversized steps risked falls.

Overall, Willas Tyrell had performed remarkably governing Gulltown over the years. The city thrived under his lead as a pillar of agriculture and economy for the Riverlands.

Thus, when Toyne fell ill, recalling Willas Tyrell back to King's Landing as a successor made perfect sense now.

Kneeling on the ground, Ramsay secretly guessed at the emperor's thoughts. But just then, Viserys seemed to recall something else and continued:

"I heard the Master of Coin Illyrio took a fall some time ago?"

On a recent inspection of Blackwater Bay's harbor, Illyrio had slipped off his mount before many onlookers - reportedly falling hard.

Thus, when Viserys returned to King's Landing, Illyrio hid home pretending injury instead of meeting him.

Viserys did not bring up the matter, only summoning Aegon over for a chat.

Unsure why the emperor suddenly mentioned this, Ramsay blinked in surprise.

"Indeed, Your Majesty. Lord Illyrio fell off his horse unfortunately, witnessed by many."

"Though Lord Illyrio does not ride often, always traveling by carriage or palanquin. Unknown why he whimsically chose to mount a horse that day before his fall."

"I see."

"Quite unlucky."

Standing on the white marble terrace gazing at the setting sun in the distance, Viserys nodded slightly.

Without connecting the fragments, it would be difficult to suspect anything amiss about this incident. But then a breezy remark drifted down...

"Very well."

"When Toyne hands over his resignation, have Illyrio keep him company at home on sick leave too."

Viserys' voice was calm. Kneeling opposite him, Ramsay stiffened at those words, his expression shifting subtly.