Chapter 85

The setting sun cast deep patches of orange and crimson light over the cobbled streets of King's Landing. Aegor, Tyrion, and Arya, along with the red-cloaked and grey-cloaked guards representing the Lannister and Stark families, walked out of the workshop, chatting and laughing as they led their horses back toward the inn.

After more than a month together, these individuals hailing from different corners of the world and unlikely to have crossed paths otherwise had become surprisingly familiar with one another. Even Tyrion's two servants could now exchange friendly nods and light-hearted greetings with the Stark "nanny" who came to pick Arya up from time to time, sometimes lingering for a casual chat.

…

Aegor walked at ease. He had now spent over a month in King's Landing, and under Tyrion's diligent efforts, nearly 2,000 gold dragons' worth of Night's Watch bonds had been sold. Without the allure of extraordinary returns typical of Ponzi schemes, the sales had been slow. Furthermore, Westeros had no established concept of "investment" or "financial management," so not a single bond purchase had come from someone who approached them on their own initiative.

Even among Tyrion's connections, with the slight exception of Jaime Lannister, most had only purchased the minimum bond amount of 100 gold dragons, more as a favor than anything else.

However, this slow and steady pace did have its advantages. Most buyers viewed their purchase as a gesture of goodwill toward Tyrion, believing that the Lannisters would ultimately ensure the return of their investment, however small. Under such circumstances, Aegor had little reason to fear a sudden, large-scale demand for repayment.

Two thousand gold dragons might not seem like a fortune, but with Tyrion's own wealth added to the mix and in the absence of rebellion or costly public works it was a significant sum, capable of achieving much.

For instance, they had already purchased a large piece of land outside the city, acquired equipment, and hired workers to construct a substantial workshop for papermaking and printing. Or perhaps "factory" would be a more accurate term. With this in place, they had secured dominance over the production and trade of Bibles, calendars, and novels within King's Landing and the surrounding Crownlands.

If Tyrion could attract additional investment, the business could expand further while still maintaining a solid financial cushion for emergencies.

The initial goal of establishing a foothold in King's Landing had been achieved. From here, it was a question of how much profit could be made and how far this partnership with Tyrion could go.

---

As Arya's nominal "master," Aegor had made several attempts to civilize the girl, to have her dress more like a proper young lady, refrain from swearing or acting rudely, and understand the importance of decorum. Unfortunately, he hadn't managed to curb her habit of interrupting conversations to share her own opinions. At this moment, Aegor wasn't sure what she had said to Tyrion, but the two of them were laughing and exchanging jokes again.

The sight was strangely harmonious: an older man and a young girl, one a Lannister and the other a Stark, both roughly the same height, unexpectedly hitting it off. In the original course of events, they would have met only briefly, before diverging onto vastly different paths. Yet, thanks to the disruption caused by Aegor's arrival, they had encountered each other at the Night's Watch office and somehow formed a rare bond between two rival families.

If not for the significant age gap, and if Aegor didn't see them every day to know otherwise, he might have suspected that these two were trying to act out a melodramatic tale of "love bridging a family feud."

He turned his head slightly, remembering another person trailing behind him—Nina. She followed quietly, head bowed, looking a little shy.

…

Having spent his days with individuals like Tyrion and Arya one of whom treated him as a partner, while the other called him "master". Aegor was aware that outsiders might see him as someone important. This naturally left an impression on others, who often reacted with awe or nervousness. It was human nature.

Nina was no exception. The girl was intelligent, literate, and resourceful. Aegor decided to break the awkward atmosphere and draw her into conversation.

"Nina, tell me," he asked casually, "do you or your brother have any ideas on how we could reduce costs?"

"Ah," she exclaimed softly, startled by the sudden question. She glanced up briefly before lowering her eyes again. "I have some thoughts… but I haven't tested them yet. I'm not sure if they'll work."

Aegor was certain he hadn't imagined it, her cheeks seemed to flush red.

He was no stranger to women. If not for his unexpected journey to this world, he might have already become a father. In that moment, it clicked: this wasn't just the nervousness of speaking to someone important. No, this was the kind of flustered panic that came from being near someone she secretly admired. Could Tyrion's teasing have been right? Was this girl truly interested in him?

It wasn't impossible. While Aegor himself was a common soldier, his time in King's Landing had been spent in meetings with powerful individuals: the Hand of the King, noble knights introduced by Tyrion, and even members of the royal court. His efforts to cultivate a polished image had paid off. Apart from his insistence on wearing black, his clothing, manners, and overall demeanor were likely more refined than those of many impoverished nobles. And in Nina's eyes, he wasn't just a benefactor, he was her employer, a man of means and influence.

In a society like Westeros, where life was harsh and ambition often came second to survival, it wasn't surprising that a young girl might develop feelings for someone like him.

Aegor let out a faint, self-deprecating smile. Before arriving here, his life had been modest. While he had no trouble finding a partner, he had never experienced the sensation of being openly admired. "Well," he said gently, "ideas don't have to be perfect. Share them with me, and I'll help refine them."

As Nina explained her thoughts on improving papermaking efficiency, Aegor listened intently, though some of her suggestions went beyond his understanding. He took the opportunity to study her more closely.

The bright eyes that had first caught his attention needed no further praise. But even setting those aside, her features had a quiet beauty: soft, rosy skin; delicate dimples that appeared when she spoke; long lashes; and a slender figure hidden beneath her modest clothing. She was like a newly blossomed lotus flower—pure, untainted, and full of potential.

Nina wasn't just pretty; she was capable, literate, and inventive. A rarity in the harsh world of Westeros. While noblewomen often possessed beauty, they rarely combined it with intelligence and practicality.

For a fleeting moment, Aegor considered the possibility of keeping her close, not just as an employee, but as something more. The thought was quickly dismissed. He wasn't foolish enough to jeopardize his work or her future over fleeting temptation.

Still, it didn't hurt to maintain a friendly rapport. Smiling, he encouraged her, "Don't worry about costs. Try what you think will work. Don't be afraid of failure."

Gradually, Nina's shyness faded. As they chatted, she began to relax, even sneaking glances at Aegor when she thought he wasn't looking.

…

By the time they arrived at the Night's Watch office, Nina was in much higher spirits. Though she wasn't a financial investor, Aegor and Tyrion intended to sign a formal "investment certificate" with her, as they would with future partners. If they wanted to retain capable people, they needed to show sincerity.

But before they could proceed, a staff member approached. "Sir, a letter has arrived from the Lord Commander."

…

That was fast. It had only been a dozen days since they'd sent the last letter.

Taking the envelope, Aegor noted that the seal had already been broken. Was it the work of Maester Pycelle, responsible for handling letters in King's Landing? Or had Jaqen opened it, ever the silent spy lurking in the shadows?

Aegor's gaze briefly flicked to the Braavosi man, who sat nearby feigning innocence, before he unfolded the letter.

As long as it didn't summon him back to the Wall, he could handle whatever it said.

…

After reading for a few seconds, Aegor raised his head, a knowing smile spreading across his face.

"What news is so delightful?" Tyrion asked, unimpressed. Having written the original letter himself, he had a good idea of the response. "Did Mormont postpone the northern expedition and explain why?"

Aegor nodded, still grinning.

"Did they confirm your position as Chief Logistics Officer?"

Another nod, the grin widening.

"Did they finally capture one of those Wights?"

"Not quite. But they're trying," Aegor replied, setting the letter aside. Though it contained a minor piece of troubling news, he already had a plan to address it.

"Enough about that. Let's head inside and sign the investment certificate!"

***

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