“It’s all over the city?” Aegor raised his eyebrows, working hard to keep his tone neutral. He realized he might have underestimated the destructive power of high-level gossip, especially one centered on an affair between the Master of Coin and the former Hand of the King’s wife. However, his intention in spreading the rumor wasn’t just to disgust Littlefinger. He needed to know if it had caused enough damage to disrupt Littlefinger’s plans moving forward. “Well… what did the person involved say?”

“It’s none of my business.” Tyrion sneered, his expression one of mockery. “That ‘Hugh’ was just some insignificant servant. Those notes are likely not even his last words. But the person who started this rumor was quite cunning. The content is either unverifiable or exaggerated to distort the truth. There aren’t any real loopholes in the story… Still, Baelish is the Master of Coin a ‘pillar of the realm.’ How could a rumor bring him down? That said…” Tyrion paused, a sardonic grin curling his lips. “I haven’t seen him around these past few days. His brothel is still open, though.”

“Really?” Aegor concealed his unease. It was true that clever people like Tyrion generally didn’t involve themselves in gossip, which fit perfectly with his character. But since the rumor had clearly spread far and wide, it meant Aegor could safely investigate its effects without raising suspicion. The only question now was: Who could I ask to find out if the rumors achieved their intended effect?

…

After some thought, Aegor decided to talk to the Stark guard who escorted Arya to and from her “classes” every day. His immediate goal was to prevent Littlefinger from gaining Eddard’s trust, and who better to provide insight into Eddard’s thoughts than one of his subordinates?

Or perhaps…

“The rumor…” Arya sniffled, suddenly perking up as the conversation finally shifted to something she recognized. For once, she wasn’t being ignored. Taking the opportunity to jump in, she proudly shared the information she had overheard: “My father said the king sent a letter to Lady Arryn, asking her to come to King’s Landing to explain the rumor and clear her name.”

Ah, of course. Aegor mentally kicked himself. Eddard’s daughter was right in front of him, why bother going through the guard outside? He had been treating Arya like a child who wouldn’t understand anything. But in truth, ten-year-olds, especially smart ones, could grasp much more than adults often gave them credit for. Arya was not only Eddard’s daughter but also his apprentice. She had daily access to the Hand of the Seven Kingdoms and trusted Aegor enough to speak freely around him. If handled carefully, Arya could be the perfect “ears.”

The realization delighted Aegor more than he expected. Building a relationship with a Stark was turning out to be far more advantageous than he had initially imagined.

But he couldn’t let his excitement show. Arya might be eager to share information with him, but she was just as likely to relay everything he said back to her father. While she could provide key insights, Aegor needed to tread carefully, any careless words could lead Eddard to grow suspicious, which would ruin everything.

…

Tyrion smirked at Arya. “Lady Arryn? If I recall correctly, she’s your aunt.”

“Oh, yes, she’s my aunt.” Arya nodded, blinking in slight embarrassment. “But I don’t even know what she looks like… I didn’t expect her to be this kind of person!”

“It’s just a rumor,” Tyrion replied, adopting a lecturing tone. “It’s the nature of common folk to believe every bit of gossip they hear. As for the king’s letter, it’s meaningless. Lysa Arryn will never come to King’s Landing. If the rumor is true, she wouldn’t leave her fortress to walk into a trap. And if it’s false, she would still assume it’s a ploy to harm her and stay in the safety of the Eyrie.”

“Exactly,” Aegor agreed. “In the Vale of Arryn, Lady Arryn rules as a queen. But if she came to King’s Landing, she’d be nothing more than the widow of the former Hand. I wouldn’t come either.”

He paused, pretending to think for a moment, then asked nonchalantly, “Well, Arya, what has your father been up to these past few days? What does he think of the rumor? Or has he been spending his time with Lord Baelish?”

Arya answered without hesitation. “No, Jory said Littlefinger’s been ordered not to leave the Red Keep, and my father… seems to be investigating where the rumor came from.”

Ordered not to leave the Red Keep? That sounded a lot like a noble version of “house arrest.” As for Eddard investigating the source of the rumor, Aegor’s mind raced as he reviewed every step he had taken: the ink was common, the parchment was high-quality but widely available, and the purchases had been made by Tyrion’s servants for legitimate purposes. No one else had been involved, and no one else knew about it. Unless Eddard had some way of analyzing fingerprints on the notes, it should be impossible for him to trace the rumor back to Aegor.

I probably should have worn gloves, Aegor thought with mild regret, though he quickly dismissed the idea. Westeros doesn’t have that kind of forensic technology anyway.

Letting out a breath of relief, he suddenly felt a strong sense of disbelief. Could it be that Littlefinger, the master manipulator of King’s Landing and one of the most dangerous players in the Game of Thrones, was being outmaneuvered by a simple rumor?

—

Nothing is impossible. This is the real world. Littlefinger’s power was built on conspiracy and the trust of those in power. It had no real foundation. When left unnoticed, he was the most dangerous. But the moment someone who knows his schemes forces him into the light, exposing him to scrutiny, his so-called “power” dissolves like spring snow under the midday sun.

Once he loses the trust of Eddard and King Robert, and becomes a suspect in the murder of the former Hand of the King, Petyr Baelish’s grand ambitions are over. Of course, Eddard might suspect that these rumors are a Lannister plot designed to divert his attention, and Petyr could still find ways to manipulate Eddard into discovering Cersei and Jaime’s secret. However, Aegor’s interference had already disrupted the original trajectory of events. Even if the plot were to continue as before, the ending would inevitably shift, for better or worse.

Regardless, the current situation was far less bleak than the disaster that unfolded in the original story.

…

Aegor didn’t let himself bask in the satisfaction of outmaneuvering Littlefinger too long. Petyr might be finished, but he wasn’t dead. And even if he were, that wouldn’t mean victory. Aegor’s true enemy wasn’t just a master schemer, it was war itself.

Since the death of the Targaryens’ last dragon, Westeros had lost its most powerful symbol of unity. The Seven Kingdoms had stayed together only out of inertia, bound by the lingering echoes of conquest and fear. But the unity was fragile. The realm was too vast, the lords too ambitious, and the nobles of Highgarden and the Westerlands had long grown dissatisfied with the status quo. Both regions were quietly or not so quietly preparing for conflict. War was inevitable. The only questions were when it would begin, what would spark it, and who would emerge victorious.

Littlefinger’s schemes may have been thwarted for now, but Varys was still weaving his webs of intrigue. The “Spider” was working tirelessly behind the scenes, advancing his own plans. Still, Aegor’s moves had earned him precious time. Time to push forward the money game he had built with Tyrion. Now, he needed to focus on growing his influence before the inevitable war arrived. To survive and perhaps thrive, he would have to remove other potential threats while expanding his power base.

—

“Arya performed well today. It’s my fault for staying up late doing other things and delaying your sword training,” Aegor said warmly, rubbing the young girl’s head. He had noticed over time that Arya seemed to enjoy this small, affectionate gesture, and it was an effective way to show his appreciation.

The little she-wolf had helped him a great deal today, whether she realized it or not. He decided to give her a proper reward.

“As compensation and as a reward, I’ll spend all of tomorrow with you. Whatever you want, sword practice, more adventure stories, or even a trip to the paper mill—it’s entirely up to you. Does that sound good?”

(2/3)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep