Aerys's Great Wisdom

"Excellent, excellent."

Aerys trembled with excitement, as if foreseeing the utmost admiration from his noble subjects.

Pycelle and Varys exchanged glances, both speechless.

How could things have gone so smoothly? Given the King's current mental state, avoiding further trouble was paramount.

Tywin allowed the King time to revel in his self-admiration, then said, "Your Majesty, the Prince mentioned in the letter that his residence is humble. How can a Prince of the realm not have a castle in his fiefdom?"

Aerys paused, finding Tywin's words reasonable.

How could his most beloved son live in a country hovel?

Tywin raised his head. "The Crown should fund the construction of a castle befitting the Prince's status."

Aerys wholeheartedly agreed.

Unexpectedly, Tywin's tone shifted. "Castle construction takes time and effort. Why not summon the Prince back to the palace first? When the treasury is full, we can revisit this plan."

From building a castle to summoning a person back.

"Hmm?"

Aerys frowned deeply.

His mental state might be poor, but he wasn't an idiot.

After his eldest son Rhaegar's wedding, he had consistently advocated for his more loyal second son to become the new heir, replacing that ungrateful wretch.

And when the second son was in the Riverlands, he had explicitly refused to compete and revealed his intention to claim a fiefdom.

He would certainly not agree.

Yet, in the royal council, this proposal had received unanimous approval from the ministers.

In his understanding, others might be trying to avoid internal strife within the royal family, but Tywin absolutely was not.

This ambitious man must have another scheme. He must see that by supporting the more promising second son, it would hinder that ungrateful wretch's succession and shatter their joint plot.

Under pressure, Aerys had agreed.

He then enfeoffed the second son south of the Blackwater Rush, only a river's distance from King's Landing, so he could rush to King's Landing in times of crisis.

Ideally, the territory would be so poor that the boy would be forced back to King's Landing, always under his watchful eye.

Now, Tywin was suddenly negating the construction of a territory for the second son and suggesting summoning him back to King's Landing. Such abnormal behavior was likely another scheme.

"No!"

At this thought, Aerys instantly became fierce, loudly questioning, "Tywin, what kind of Hand are you? Has your Lannister family hollowed out the treasury that you can't even afford gold to build a castle for my son?"

The undisguised humiliation was like a sharp slap.

Even Tywin, with his deep cunning, had a ashen face, suppressing the rage in his heart.

"Your Majesty, Prince Rhaegar moved to Dragonstone. As the second eldest male heir, shouldn't Daeren remain in King's Landing?"

Tywin said in a deep voice.

He was indeed provoked.

The proposal to recall Daeren was not something they had discussed beforehand; it was his personal decision.

When he took Daeren as his student, he had not set any requirements.

Having no demands was the greatest demand.

The Mad King had been ungrateful, refusing Rhaegar's marriage to his daughter and insulting the Lannisters as his servants, unworthy of his master's seed.

Rhaegar was outstanding, Rhaegar was noble, Rhaegar was beloved by the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms.

Rhaegar had chosen Elia Martell.

Since both the Mad King and his son had slighted the Lannister family, he would support a new king who would obey him.

Planning a fiefdom for Daeren was to build momentum, to inform the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms that there was another Prince to choose from.

If Daeren hid in his fiefdom, he would receive no reward.

Only by summoning him back from his fiefdom could he be utilized to his fullest potential.

Aerys didn't care about all that. If you say east, he would go west, absolutely refusing to let you have your way.

He sneered, "Tywin, mind your place. My son is not for you to dictate. Now, withdraw before your King."

Tywin's eyes were as cold and venomous as a snake's. He gave the man on the Iron Throne a deep look, then turned and left with a flick of his sleeve.

His demeanor seemed to say, "Aerys, you will regret this one day."

"Ridiculous!"

Aerys scoffed dismissively.

I am the King!!

Sunset.

On the reef by the beach, Daeren slowly and quickly turned the reel of his bamboo fishing rod.

Splash!

He reeled in the line, the hook dangling a clump of wet, tender green seaweed.

"Damn it!"

Daeren's face immediately darkened. He threw the bamboo fishing rod aside and pointed at the sea, "You got guts, you better not let me catch a single fish."

After toiling for half the day, he had only caught two clumps of seaweed and a piece of driftwood.

He was a Targaryen, true, but he hadn't hatched any dragons yet to soar through the sky.

Did they really think he was an air force?

He tidied up his mood and, before it got dark, Daeren picked up the bamboo fishing rod and headed back.

The fishing rod was free, obtained from a blue box, much like a beginner's gift box, when he arrived on the East Coast.

He had been full of confidence, thinking he could be as relaxed as in the game.

Unexpectedly, reality had taught him a lesson. He hurried home that evening.

"King's Landing should be bustling by now, right?"

Halfway there, Daeren looked towards King's Landing.

Separated only by the Blackwater Rush, he could easily see the red city protected by its tall walls.

"I'll know tomorrow."

Daeren didn't overthink it, not caring how much impact a single letter could cause.

He hoped it would stir things up, to muddy the stagnant waters.

Only then could he, the coveted prize in everyone's eyes, seize an opportunity to profit.

Night fell. The Small Council chamber.

Tywin, in his nightclothes, still maintained his dignified demeanor as he wrote a letter with a quill.

Soon, the letter was finished.

Knock, knock, knock!

The door was knocked. Tywin said in a deep voice, "Enter."

Ser Jon, fully armed, pushed the door open, his expression puzzled.

Tywin rose and handed him the letter, saying indifferently, "Tell that boy I will apply to the treasury to build him a castle. King's Landing needs him, and I will arrange a significant position for him."

Ser Jon frowned deeply.

He was delivering a letter for the Prince because the Prince had helped him and treated him with equal respect. It didn't mean he would be a political tool.

"Take it. We are doing this for his own good."

Tywin's tone was firm. "You should know the predicament that boy is in. Only I can offer him help."

Ser Jon lowered his head and tucked the letter into his chest.

"Go."

Tywin didn't see the complex expression hidden beneath the helmet and didn't pay it any mind.

A mere Kingsguard, not Barristan or the White Bull, was not worthy of his equal respect.

Ser Jon left the Red Keep without a word, disappearing into the night.

The next day.

Day three of spring, Wednesday. Rain all day. 7:30 AM.

Daeren woke up early. After finishing his farm chores, he sat by the fireplace, savoring a fragrant roasted potato.

At 2 AM last night, the payment for the sold potatoes had arrived.

Potato Sale Prices:

Common Quality: 80 gold Silver Star Quality: 100 gold Gold Star Quality: 120 gold Iridium Star Quality: 160 gold

His farming level was too low to easily grow Gold Star and Iridium Star quality crops. However, seven common quality potatoes still sold for a high price of 540 gold.

Adding the 10 Gold Dragons he had left from last time, Daeren used his 550 gold to go all-in on 11 potato seeds.

Including the Green Beans, which could be harvested multiple times after maturing, his farm now had 12 crops.

With fewer than 15 crops, the scarecrow unlocked at Farming Level 2 was temporarily useless.

Daeren planted the Potatoes, added grass for the chicks, petted them, and then returned to eat breakfast.

A reminder: on rainy days, animals don't go out to graze, so the farmer needs to manually add dry grass.

RUMBLE!

A flash of lightning struck, and the heavy rain intensified.

Daeren checked the time and mused, "Ser Jon should be back by now. I need to go pick him up."

Without further ado, he donned his straw cape and went out into the rain.