"How could someone act like this!" Arya fumed after hearing the informant's exaggerated report, which had been carefully coached by Aegor. "Just because Nina didn't have dinner with him, he held a grudge and arrested her brother?"
"This is abuse of power, plain and simple," Margaery chimed in, feigning innocence and indignation while casting a meaningful glance at Aegor. She didn't believe this was all coincidence, but she couldn't tell what exactly the Night's Watchman was scheming. "You should ask your father, Lord Eddard, to give that man a proper beating."
"I'll tell Father as soon as I get home!" Arya said, grabbing Nina's hand. "Don't be afraid. I'll get your brother out tomorrow!"
"Thank you, Miss Stark…"
"Don't! The Hand is very busy, don't trouble him with such small matters." Aegor quickly waved it off. Eddard Stark was a bit rigid, but he wasn't stupid. Blatantly using Arya in this way could easily earn his disapproval. Such a powerful backer and trump card should be saved for when one was in real trouble. It was too extravagant to use it now—for Neil, who wasn't even in danger. "Let's handle this ourselves. Oh… trouble… Lady Margaery, may I ask when you plan to leave King's Landing?"
"Perhaps in three or four days. I don't have much keeping me here," the girl replied with a tinge of sadness. That part wasn't an act. Though the Tyrells ruled the Reach, they were under pressure from the alliance of five great houses—Baratheon, Stark, Arryn, Tully, and Lannister. No one with true influence was willing to openly associate with her. Among all her recent contacts, Arya Stark held the highest status.
"Tsk, that's troublesome." Aegor slapped his thigh with a look of irritation. "Neil, he's the one I arranged to train the technical backbone. He's in charge of teaching workers the papermaking and printing processes in the Riverlands and Dorne, and leading the team back to Highgarden with you, Lady Margaery… If I can't get him out in the next few days, that'll be a major setback!"
Nina looked at Aegor in surprise. He clearly hadn't planned this… Could it be—
…
So that's what this was about. Margaery narrowed her eyes. She stared at Aegor for a moment and said, "In that case, please assign someone else quickly, Master Aegor. We can't let clients who've paid handsomely for technology be kept waiting just because you can't get your man out."
"Exactly. Lady Margaery and Ser Oberyn were our very first customers to purchase the technology and paid generously. I dare not show any negligence. That's why I specially selected the inventor of the papermaking process—the developer, the one who improved the technique, and the only one who fully understands the principles and methodology to lead the team. I have only two such people. One is Neil. The other is his sister, the young lady beside me—Nina."
Aegor put on a troubled expression. "Aside from these two, sending anyone else might not suffice. If any issues arise on-site, they wouldn't be able to resolve them. But now Neil has been detained by Slynt, and Nina is assisting me here… I really don't have anyone suitable."
"Then what are we supposed to do?" Margaery asked, sounding innocent but inwardly, she was fuming. She should have paid only half the deposit. This petty Night's Watchman was clearly holding a grudge over the bargaining match from two days prior and wanted to get back at her.
"Perhaps we could delay the mission a bit," Aegor suggested, looking helpless. "Lady Margaery can return to Highgarden first. I'll work on securing his release and preparing everything else. Once it's ready, I'll send the team to find you.
"Or… we could go ahead without the full staff. But if problems arise, resolving them will take time, messages sent back and forth, delays…"
Margaery glared at Aegor in frustration.
(How can he be like this? Just because I came to his office for two meals and asked a few questions of his apprentice, he refuses to let me go unless I use the Tyrell family's connections?)
She rarely let her emotions show, but for some reason, this man in black seemed able to see right through her.
In that case—well, at least she didn't have to pretend anymore.
Aegor feigned ignorance to her expression and stepped forward, speaking half to himself: "Lady Margaery, perhaps you could speak to your brother, ask Ser Loras to have a word with the City Watch. Surely Slynt wouldn't dare ignore the honor of the Knight of Flowers?"
Arya jumped in immediately. "Yes, Margaery! My master is just a Night's Watchman. He's strong, but he can't just rush over and chop that bad guy down. That guy's really brave. We need someone even stronger to scare him!"
Aegor was pleased. At last, the little girl was saying something sensible.
Margaery rolled her eyes. Just like her, Loras was only somewhat well-known in King's Landing and didn't hold much real influence. Janos Slynt could easily ignore him. Aegor wasn't counting on Loras Tyrell, he was counting on Renly Baratheon behind him.
The King's brother, the Lord of Storm's End, and a powerful member of the Small Council, getting someone released from the City Watch was a trivial matter for him. One word would suffice—no trouble at all.
For the Tyrells, it truly was a small matter. What annoyed Margaery was the feeling of being used.
Had Aegor brought this up to her face-to-face, she would've rejected him outright. But now that Arya had gotten involved, the situation became messy.
To maintain her image in Arya's eyes, she couldn't use any of her usual tricks and had walked straight into Aegor's trap.
Though annoyed, it wasn't worth fighting over. She cast a warning glare at Aegor… then, just as quickly, it faded. She returned to her usual role as the sweet, naive young lady from Highgarden who loved swordplay but lacked any true talent.
She hesitated, then said in a soft, uncertain voice, "Then… I'll go back and try talking to Loras."
---
Though Margaery had reluctantly taken over the matter, she wouldn't turn on Aegor over something this small not when they were business partners.
Once the Tyrells had secured Neil's release and Janos Slynt saw just how deep their connections ran, Margaery would send a few gifts to his house to apologize. The carrot and the stick there was no need to be afraid that Slynt wouldn't yield.
And if he didn't accept the olive branch? So be it. As long as Aegor wasn't caught, with the connections he had and his unique identity as a Night's Watchman, what could Slynt really do to him?
After office matters were handled, including the production and upcoming release of new products like solid lipsticks and soaps, two unexpected visitors arrived.
"Ser, two strange old men have come to call. They claim to be wise men."
"Oh?" Aegor smiled. The pyromancers had arrived.
Word must've gotten out about the reward Robert had promised him.
"Invite them in."
(To be continued.)
***
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