“Scheming” often carries a negative connotation, but if you call it “cleverness,” it suddenly sounds far more admirable. Everyone has desires, goals, ambitions but there is no reason to treat ambition as something sinister. It is the very force that drives people to act, the engine of society’s progress.

Altruism is indeed a noble and virtuous quality, beneficial for the survival of a group. But pure altruism? That does not exist. Creatures that lack the instinct for self-preservation, that do not know how to compete for resources, were long ago eliminated by nature.

People must have desires. They must have ambitions. The key difference lies in whether they understand what they want, why they want it, and whether they possess the ability and strength to achieve it.

Cersei is the perfect example of ambition gone astray. She is cunning, yes, but her scheming is meaningless, she wants everything yet lacks the foresight to understand why she wants it or how to obtain it properly. She seldom considers the consequences of her actions. A fool, but not a simple fool, that is what makes her truly dangerous. She turns allies into enemies with ease, yet is unpredictable as an opponent. One cannot reason with a player who refuses to follow the rules.

Aegor had always kept his distance from such chaotic personalities, and even knights like Jaime were wary of entanglements with them. But Margaery Tyrell?

Margaery was the perfect example of a competent schemer.

Her goal was clear: she sought to restore House Tyrell’s influence, diminished after backing the wrong side in Robert’s Rebellion through marriage, securing a place for her family at the very heart of power. Unlike Cersei, she had the intelligence, patience, and strategic mind to see that goal realized.

To mistake her gentleness for kindness was to invite ruin. She could bleed a man dry while smiling sweetly. But as long as one recognized her nature and made it clear they would not be easily led, she became far less dangerous.

Margaery Tyrell was not a Littlefinger, she did not need to disrupt the board to gain power. She was already among the nobility, already one of the privileged few who held a seat at the table. She was willing to share the spoils as long as her own position remained secure.

To put it simply, she was an ambitious yet pragmatic player of the Game of Thrones. As long as one possessed sufficient power and leverage, they could deal with her confidently, knowing she would not suddenly act irrationally or turn on them without reason.

—

“Lord Aegor, they say this story is based on your adventures. Did you truly experience all of it firsthand?” Margaery asked gently. Her voice was soft, pleasant to the ear.

“That’s right, though it’s been somewhat dramatized.”

Margaery’s eyes sparkled with curiosity, the picture of an eager adventurer at heart. Her performance was so flawless that Aegor felt a chill creep up his spine. Carefully choosing his words, he responded, “The experiences are real, but the dangers were exaggerated. If I had truly endured all that and barely survived, I would have locked myself indoors, never to set foot outside again, let alone return to Westeros.”

“That does make sense.” Margaery chuckled, her expression warm and innocent. Then, as if casually, she asked, “May I call you Aegor?—is the ‘Tsena’ you hail from truly west of the Sunset Sea? Where exactly is it? How far is the journey?”

What is she after? Are the Tyrells looking to establish trade with Tsena?

Aegor felt a flicker of suspicion but masked it well. He could not afford to be careless.

“I was merely a guest aboard that voyage,” he answered smoothly. “I know little of navigation, much less our exact location. I couldn’t even be certain we sailed directly east the entire time. As for the distance, I only recall that the journey lasted over a month. Considering that our vessel was far more advanced than any ship in Westeros and that we traveled with the winds, I can only estimate—Tsena should be somewhere west of the Sunset Sea, perhaps two or three thousand leagues from Westeros.”

“That far?” Margaery sighed wistfully. “What a pity, I had hoped to visit such a wondrous land.”

“I’m afraid I must disappoint you, Lady Margaery,” Aegor replied, allowing a hint of melancholy to seep into his voice. “Even if someone were to gift me a fully manned ship this very moment, I would have no way of finding my way home. I don’t even know if my family is still waiting for me across the sea… or if I will ever see them again.”

“Do not despair,” Margaery said, her voice laced with sympathy. “Fate brought you to Westeros, perhaps this land is where you were meant to be. And with your experiences and talents, Lord Aegor, I have no doubt you will find success wherever you go.”

—

She comforted him with an earnest look, and he expressed his gratitude in turn.

As the daughter of a great lord, she addressed a man of the Night’s Watch who held no title, nor could ever claim one as “lord.”

It was almost nauseating.

Aegor had a feeling that dealing with Margaery would do wonders for his ability to maintain a straight face, improve his reflexes in conversation, and sharpen his resistance to manipulation. But the sensation of his skin crawling was deeply unpleasant all the same.

Still, he kept his composure as they walked through the military camp, conversing as they went. Margaery continued to probe him about the stories in The Fantasy Adventures of the Night’s Watch. But Aegor had already prepared for such an interrogation. Without hesitation, he spun elaborate tales some based on real events, others fabricated so seamlessly that no outsider could tell truth from fiction.

Trailing behind them, Ser Buckwell remained silent, listening but offering no commentary. The man was an earl, yet in this exchange, he played the role of an observer, a mere bystander to Margaery’s charm.

—

“By the way, Lord Aegor, I’ve heard that not only is this book based on your adventures, but it was also produced in a factory you established.”

After much circling around, Margaery finally steered the conversation toward reality. “I noticed the material of this book doesn’t seem to be parchment, and the text doesn’t appear to be handwritten. How did you manage that?”

Here we go.

After so much pleasant conversation and careful flattery, she was finally getting to the point.

If a lesser man, unfamiliar with her true nature, were to be charmed by such a noble beauty, skillfully coaxed into boasting, and subtly pressed for details, he might spill everything he knew.

Fortunately, Aegor had been waiting for this moment.

So, this was what she was after, papermaking and printing. Now that he understood her objective, it would be much easier to handle.

“Yes, that’s true,” Aegor admitted with a casual nod. “The books are produced by a factory under the Night’s Watch. But I only oversee funding, set general direction, and ensure our profits support the Watch with food and supplies. The specifics are handled by the craftsmen. If you’re asking how it’s done, I’m afraid I couldn’t tell you.”

He shook his head apologetically before offering, “However, as it happens, the Night’s Watch is looking to expand and is in need of investment. If Lady Margaery is interested, I’d be happy to give you a personal tour when I return to King’s Landing.”

***

For every 100 PS = 1 extra chapter. Support me on patreon to read 30+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/Blownleaves.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep