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Aethon glanced once more through the window before stepping away, seeing them get escorted in by his knights, then saying, “Very well.
If they’ve come personally, the least I can do is receive them, contrary to belief Im a good host, right Alfred?”
The old man only nodded in a coy smile.
Aethon then dismissed him while he disappeared into the adjoining dressing chamber, where fresh clothing had already been prepared for him.
Unlike the elaborate fashions favored by many Lyseni nobles, Aethon preferred garments that projected wealth without descending into excess.
A dark navy doublet embroidered with silver thread, tailored perfectly, thus it was simple and elegant.
While fastening the final clasp near his collar, another knock sounded saying “My lord?”
“Come.”
This time it was Ser Alester, the knight who entered carrying a sealed letter, as he said saying, “A raven arrived from Driftmark not half an hour ago.”
Aethon accepted it immediately; the familiar seal of House Velaryon stared back at him when he read the front.
He quickly broke the wax to see what awaited him.
His eyes moved swiftly across the parchment, and as he read…
His expression gradually flattened.
Corlys was assembling a campaign for the Stepstones.
Years of instability had once again disrupted trade through the region, and the Sea Snake intended to restore order before rival powers could strengthen their hold.
In fact, Aethon 3 years ago had a solution he suggested for this, like the “genius” he is, he suggested they spend resources building a fortress on the islands of the Stepstones.
He knew that taking the Stepstones, especially in the books and TV, was easy, but maintaining it and fighting off the Triarchy was not easy, especially if they kept clashing for decades.
So he proposed Corlys build a sea port Fortress with a small fleet of 100 ships as a garrison.
The fortress would also serve as a place to store food and grain and supplies like weapons, etc.
This was to solve the problem of logistics when it comes to placing a permanent army there.
Unfortunatly Corlys held off on it for the next 3 years for whatever reason, only now did he want to actually take the Stepstones seriously?
It was awfully suspicious, anyway, he kept reading, and naturally, Corlys wanted Aethon beside him in the campaign
A quiet click escaped Aethon’s tongue saying “…You’ve got to be kidding. Get faster updates on novelping.com.
This old man wishes for me to join him in the Stepstones?
At a time like this, when I’m busy!
The place is too easy to conquer, you dont need me!”
“That seems…
reasonable to request my Lord.”
“It would be.
If I weren’t drowning in work.”
His eyes drifted back toward the window overlooking the estate as random thoughts came to him in his frustration, he was already working on his warehouses to create a premuim soap better than the medieval crap they had, he also planned on making the best alchahol in the known world, these things would sell for a fortune once they become popular.
And that still wasnt the end, he still had more ideas to make himself filthy rich independent of House Velaryion so Corlys cant mess with him.
Every day spent away from Lys delayed plans that had taken years to prepare so this made him frown thoughtfully saying “…This is somewhat strange.”
Aethon stopped adjusting the cuff of his sleeve and a thought had quietly surfaced, ‘Could this be deliberate to distract me from my growing busniness?
Corlys knew I had come to Lys to expand House Velaryon’s influence.
That much was true.
But does he know how far I intended to go?
Does he suspect these investments weren’t merely temporary ventures?’
Did he somehow suspect that this was a second economic foundation entirely under Aethon’s own control.
His fingers slowly ceased moving, ‘No…That shouldn’t be possible.
My intentions cant be that obvious.
I had shared those ambitions with no one, not even Corlys or Ser Alester.
Not even the stewards overseeing my purchases knew.’
As far as everyone knew…He was simply conducting another extended trade expedition.
Then another thought followed immediately behind the first, making him say ‘I only consulted with Smaug.’
The dragon knew about his ambition because they had to be on the same page going forward; there was no room for confusion when things happened.
But if Corlys did suspect him, this was probably his way of removing him from Lys so he doesn’t continue what he’s doing, or grow any stronger.
Actually, it’s possible there’s a spy keeping tabs on Aethon for Corlys to see what his Son is plotting after calmly accepting he won’t be heir. This chapter was copied from novelping . com without permission.
Aethon’s eyes narrowed when he had another thought: What is Smaug up to anyway?
So this made him say “…I have an unpleasant feeling.”
Ser Alester looked confused asking, “My lord?”
Aethon folded the letter neatly before handing it back saying, “Send a raven to Driftmark.”
“To Lord Corlys?”
“No, the dragonkeepers.
That old man would have to force me to come to the Stepstones on his stupid campaign before I willingly go.”
Now, even Ser Alester looked surprised, hearing this, he instead asked, “What message shall I send?
I can draft it for you.”
Aethon found this suspicous, why does he want to draft it for him?
Can he copy his handwriting such that they wont suspect an imposter sent it?
But he hid his suspicious expression and walked slowly toward the window once more, staring absentmindedly into the gardens below.
“Tell them I want daily reports regarding Smaug.
I want to know where he spends his time and who visits him.
Even If he leaves the pit or he fuckin steals another cow…I want to hear about it.”
Ser Alester hesitated but he asked, “My lord…Do you believe something has happened?
Maybe you can enlighten me?”
Aethon shook his head, saying in his head, ‘As much as I don’t want to believe it, I think Ser Alester is the spy.
But I can’t say for sure, for now he’s a prime suspect because usually I tell him stuff, he never askes me for more details.’
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AN:
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