The fifth day of spring, Friday, windy, 8:30 a.m.
Daeren had risen early, only to arrive late.
By the time he reached the treasury gates, Lord Owen was once again waiting ahead of schedule.
"You came quite early."
Daeren greeted him with a joke.
Ever since he began running Dragon Tongue Farm, he had given up ordinary ingredients. He ate only one or two meals a day, ensuring every meal consisted of Special Crops.
This morning, he had eaten with Shayani and the others: tomato-braised beans with pan-seared steak.
The onions in the stew had been replaced with leeks, while the steak seasoning had been substituted with Wild Wasabi. It tasted excellent, though it had taken some time.
Lord Owen smiled warmly. "His Majesty gave the order early. I did not dare delay."
After some small talk, they got to the point.
Lord Owen looked troubled as he hesitated. "Prince, given the treasury's financial shortage, after repeated coordination by the Small Council, we can offer you two options..."
"I'm all ears," Daeren said calmly.
Lord Owen hurriedly explained, "At the suggestion of Master of Coin Chelton Costde, the first option is to provide you with materials for building a castle, then summon a group of farmers to work under corvée labor."
"The second is that if you are dissatisfied, Lord Chelton can make the decision to compensate you with 8,700 Gold Dragons, the value of a castle."
The King acted on whims, and the ministers could only adapt as best they could.
Though he had been prepared, Daeren still laughed. "Eight thousand seven hundred Gold Dragons. That's awfully precise."
Lord Owen smiled awkwardly. "To prepare for unexpected events, that is all the liquid funds the treasury can provide for now."
In terms of execution, the ministers had already shown him considerable respect.
"I don't want Gold Dragons. Take me to see these materials you mentioned."
Daeren understood that as well and decided to inspect the situation first.
By the prices of the Seven Kingdoms, 8,700 Gold Dragons would be more than enough to build a reasonably sized noble castle, but it was still far from sufficient for a prince's palace.
"I'll lead the way."
Lord Owen readily agreed and took out his key to unlock the door.
Rumble!
The dust-covered treasury gates slowly opened. A faint cloud of dust washed over them, turning into murky specks of crystal in the sunlight streaming inside.
"Cough, cough."
Daeren coughed twice and looked around the treasury.
Calling it a treasury would be less accurate than calling it Large Warehouse No. 3.
The real treasury where money was kept had always been inside the Red Keep. The other treasuries were merely warehouses scattered throughout King's Landing.
That was why this treasury was so large.
"Watch your step, Prince."
Lord Owen waved away the dust and lit a torch.
Inside the empty treasury, piles of irregular white marble slabs were stacked against the walls, enough to fill the entire space.
"What are these?"
Daeren asked curiously.
Lord Owen said, "You should have heard of the Baratheon Family of White Wall."
To make sure the prince remembered, he launched into a vivid explanation.
The Baratheon Family of White Wall had once been an ancient noble house of the Riverlands. They rose to prominence during the reign of Aegon IV the Unworthy and the early years of Daeron II.
The family head, Earl Ambrose Baratheon, was famous throughout the Seven Kingdoms for his milk business. At one point, the wealth he amassed rivaled House Lannister and House Tyrell.
After acquiring such wealth, Earl Ambrose tore down the family's old manor and built a new city from white marble.
Because it was entirely white, it was named White Wall.
The locals called it the "Milk House."
Besides being a businessman, Ambrose was also a politician and had served as Aegon IV the Unworthy's Master of Coin.
And the way he had courted the King's favor was utterly disgraceful.
On the night Aegon IV stayed at White Wall, Ambrose sent his two unmarried daughters to the King's bed to serve as his mistresses.
Aegon IV's lust was satisfied, and the next day he directly rewarded Ambrose with a Dragon Egg as thanks.
"Using a Dragon Egg as payment for whoring around? You really deserved to die!"
Remembering that piece of history, Daeren gritted his teeth.
Did they know how difficult it was for the Targaryens to obtain a Dragon Egg now?
Lord Owen kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, pretending not to hear as he continued the story.
After Aegon IV died, his eldest son Daeron II ascended the throne and promoted Earl Ambrose to Hand of the King.
But greed was a merchant's nature. Earl Ambrose was not satisfied and secretly colluded with Daemon Blackfyre of the Blackfyre Family.
To that end, he used that Dragon Egg as the prize for a White Wall Tournament.
He intended to use the tourney to connect with noble supporters of the Blackfyre Family throughout the Seven Kingdoms and plot usurpation of the Iron Throne.
But the scheme was exposed.
At the time, Daeren's great-grandfather Aegon V was traveling the Seven Kingdoms under the alias Aegon alongside Ser Duncan, and he happened to uncover the Blackfyre conspiracy after the tourney.
Aegon and Ser Duncan stalled for time while Aegon's father, Prince Maekar, led an army to attack, triggering the Second Blackfyre Rebellion.
That Dragon Egg also vanished. It was said that Bloodraven Brynden had sent men to steal it and store it somewhere absolutely secure.
Afterward, Earl Ambrose was executed, and the once-glorious Baratheon Family was destroyed.
Even White Wall was torn down by men sent by Bloodraven Brynden. Its materials were transported back to King's Landing, while lime was spread over the ruins so that no grass would grow there for a hundred years, completely erasing all traces of the Baratheon Family.
Lord Owen said, "Prince, these white marble slabs came from the demolition of White Wall."
"So there was such a story behind them."
Daeren fell into thought.
No wonder his father Aerys had once proposed building a new city entirely from white marble on the south bank of the Blackwater Rush.
So that was where it came from!
His father Aerys would never let ready-made materials go unused.
Lord Owen explained with a bitter smile, "It is not that simple."
All the materials from White Wall had indeed been hauled back to King's Landing. They would certainly be enough to build a tall castle, but for a large city with towering walls and a complete sewage system, there would still be a massive shortfall.
It was like carrying money in your pocket while shopping. At first, you had a budget of ten Gold Dragons and planned to buy an eight-Gold-Dragon item. Then you compared it to an eleven-Gold-Dragon item that was better, and after that, a fifteen-Gold-Dragon item that was simply perfect.
After going back and forth, you ended up choosing goods worth thirty Gold Dragons with only ten Gold Dragons in hand.
A minor noble could take out a loan. The Iron Throne could not.
This works out nicely for me, Daeren thought with delight.
Lord Owen cautiously said, "Prince, if you do not mind, I can send people to transport these materials to your lands today."
"My lord, true dragons have nothing to fear."
Daeren laughed heartily.
Lord Owen's face brightened. "Good. Then it is settled."
This had been a joint decision of the Small Council, yet he alone had been sent to negotiate, bearing the risk of the prince's displeasure and a complaint brought before the King.
It could not have gone better if the matter was resolved smoothly.
"Prince, let me show you these materials in detail."
Lord Owen immediately became enthusiastic.
Daeren had been thinking the same thing.
Though the Small Council was full of his father Aerys's flatterers, they did not lack competence where it mattered.
White Wall had been built a hundred and ten years ago. The materials selected had all been the finest white Gold Veined Marble, sturdy and durable as well as beautiful.
Having been stored in the treasury for many years without exposure to wind or rain, its quality had not declined in the slightest.
Use it to build a castle, and it would look absolutely brand-new.
"This truly is excellent."
Daeren ran his hand across a cold, smooth slab of marble, thoroughly satisfied.
A castle made of white marble would surpass the Red Keep, the Stone Drum Tower on Dragonstone, and the burned Summerhall in terms of materials.
If he got picky, he would most likely be fobbed off with a shoddily built castle. It was far better to accept these high-grade materials already in hand.
After carefully inspecting everything, both sides left the treasury in high spirits.
The instant he stepped outside, Daeren casually looked back and spotted a wooden stump in the corner by the entrance.
"That is a Golden Nanmu beam frame. I heard craftsmen from Essos treated it with mortise-and-tenon construction."
Lord Owen thoughtfully explained.
Daeren turned away without paying much attention.
That glance back had been entirely instinctive.
It was like walking down the road and not knowing whether someone behind you was watching or calling for you. You might turn around by chance and find someone giving you a glance.
"Send it to my farm. I'll use it as a stool."
Daeren thought for a moment. He found it rather pleasing to the eye.
Even a Golden Nanmu stump was quite valuable.
"A trivial matter." Lord Owen patted his chest and promised to see it done.
With everything arranged, they were about to lock the doors and leave.
Daeren walked over to Ser Jon to discuss the site selection for the prince's palace.
"Wait!"
Suddenly, a lean young man with shoulder-length golden hair strode over, followed by a squad of heavily armed Lannister soldiers.
Council Hall.
Aerys unexpectedly attended the meeting and passionately argued for restarting the New City Plan, Version 2.0.
The Grand Ministers were miserable beyond words, all hanging their heads.
"It should be about time."
Tywin sat alone on one side of the council table, facing King Aerys as Hand of the King.
By his calculations, his fourth brother Gillian Lannister should be appearing about now to cause trouble for the good student.
Aerys, you fool.
Tywin glanced at his tireless old friend, his mind constantly calculating.
Since Daeren had returned to King's Landing yesterday without showing himself to meet him, Tywin had guessed that his student's wings had grown strong enough that he wanted to abandon his teacher.
The only thing worth anticipating was Cersei's encounter with Daeren.
Tywin still remembered his daughter's excited expression at dinner last night. She had said Daeren had held her by the waist, shown concern for her injured ankle, presented flowers with gentlemanly grace, and invited her to meet again.
"Not bad. He has good taste."
Tywin approved.
Under his diligent governance, House Lannister had already become the strongest family in the Seven Kingdoms in overall power.
As his daughter, Cersei naturally possessed enormous value for a marriage alliance.
Not to mention that the girl herself was exceptionally beautiful.
"However, if he thinks that little show of goodwill is enough to escape my supervision, he is underestimating me."
The construction of the prince's palace was already a foregone conclusion.
It could not be stopped, nor should it be stopped.
That would completely estrange him from Daeren.
But with just a few small tricks, Tywin could make him experience the hardships he would face without the support of his teacher.
"He is a clever kid. A little warning will be enough to let him taste the consequences."
Tywin sat back contentedly, already picturing Daeren's furious yet helpless expression.
But would things really unfold that way?
"Kid, the Lord Hand personally approved the requisition of materials to repair Mud Gate Port."
Gillian waved the authorization order in his hand, putting on an overbearing air.
He intended to sail out and recover Bright-Roar, the family's lost ancestral sword. He needed funds to recruit a crew, and once he completed this venture, his brother Tywin would provide financial backing.
"Do you know who I am?"
Daeren sized up the arrogant youth who looked eighteen or nineteen. It was his first time seeing someone provoke him so brazenly.
Gillian sneered. "Sorry, I only follow the Lord Hand's orders."
Seeing the situation for what it was, Daeren did not waste words. "I'm too lazy to reason with you. You are not worthy of hearing it."
"Ser Jon, act!"
Before you continue