Aegor disliked people who beat around the bush, but his patience naturally varied depending on the person. The girl before him was not his subordinate, and he rather liked her... So after a slight nod, he maintained a calm demeanor. "Speak freely. Whether I adopt it, the risks, and the consequences, that is my concern."
"My idea is actually quite simple. The Queen and the Lord are... well... not very popular in the North, so this current problem cannot possibly be solved through you, the Queen, or any of her subordinates. The strategic goal lies in the South, so it's unwise to waste time entangling in the North. Therefore, the only way forward is for Stark to step in." Even after receiving permission to speak, Myrcella still seemed uneasy, but thankfully, her words were clear and unhesitating. "Your idea of ruling the North through Stark is good, but keeping them locked in the castle and sending ravens or messengers to deliver orders won't work. The Northmen will assume Stark is imprisoned and being coerced, acting under duress. In that situation, no matter whose handwriting is on the letter, what seal is used, or what message is written... no lord will respond. But if Robb himself steps forward, that's another matter entirely. If he is seen to be 'free,' his identity as Warden of the North and Lord Stark becomes legitimate and effective. Only then can he declare his stance and issue commands to the Northern lords as their liege, and only then will they consider swearing allegiance to the Queen and joining the war for her cause."
Aegor furrowed his brow. "You mean... you want me to let Robb go and have him help complete the Queen's task of 'assembling the Northern army'?"
"Yes. And not just that. You must let him take the Stark retainers and soldiers he's familiar with. If you send your own men to accompany him, not only will their lives not be guaranteed, but the Northern lords will believe Robb is being used by you to force them into submission, which will greatly weaken his authority."
So that's what this was about. No wonder Myrcella had hesitated earlier and warned that the plan required "great courage, trust, and psychological preparation for a bad outcome." There was an old saying in the Celestial Empire that suited this plan perfectly: releasing a tiger back into the mountain.
As a young, healthy, and proven fertile male heir and patriarch, it was no exaggeration to say Robb was not only the master of Winterfell, but also the top seed of House Stark. Theoretically, as long as he lived, he alone could revive the entire House. His bloodline and legitimacy would never be questioned. The greatest success of the sudden capture of Winterfell wasn't the castle itself, but the fact that during the cold season, when all were huddled indoors for warmth, the entire Stark family had been seized at once, with none escaping. This had left them without leverage at the negotiating table, helpless and vulnerable.
Letting Robb walk freely... To put it mildly, was like throwing away the biggest bargaining chip. Once he left Winterfell and returned to the Northern army, he could turn and negotiate with the Queen, humiliating Aegor in the process. To put it more severely, he could shift the entire Northern army against the Gift forces. At that point, what was Aegor supposed to do with the Stark family members still in his custody?
To not harm them would be something Daenerys would never tolerate if she felt betrayed. To kill them—even if he could bring himself to do it—would instantly brand him as a traitor, a servant of the Mad King's daughter. Word would spread across the Seven Kingdoms, and he would become a sworn enemy of the North, a villain despised by all. Robb, in grief, would surely take another Northern bride, "plant seeds" again, produce heirs, and rebuild a new "exiled Stark" line outside of Winterfell. From that moment, they would be locked in a blood feud. Then, let alone ten days or half a month, the North would likely become another Dorne, fiercely opposing the new Conqueror for three or even five years, refusing to submit.
That's right, Robb was upright and trustworthy. He loved his family, and between "justice and honor" and blood ties, he would most likely choose the latter, just as his father had in the original timeline. But one could not forget: in this primitive feudal era, the relationship between liege and vassal was not as orderly, hierarchical, and clearly defined as between emperor and subject in the imperial age. Vassals followed only if the liege was strong. If the liege suffered a defeat, lost his castle, and even surrendered to rebels and former enemies... powerful vassals might seize Robb under the excuse of "for the North," refusing to swear fealty to the Queen and forcing him to continue resisting Aegor.
...
"My lord, I understand what you're concerned about," Myrcella said again. "But after living under the same roof for so long, I believe I understand the Stark family well enough to guarantee this. With Robb's character, he would never go back on the oath he made, nor would he abandon his wife and daughter to stand against you. As long as you calmly explain the stakes and discuss the countermeasures with him, you don't need to worry about him turning on you again. Then re-equip the Winterfell guards with arms and armor from the castle stores, and let him take two or three hundred true Stark soldiers with him. The rest of the Northern lords won't dare to try anything—like detaining or forcing him. Once these two biggest problems are solved, the rest are trivial."
Ha. Gods, this little girl had even thought out follow-up measures for the problems he hadn't yet mentioned? Not only was he to release the tiger... no, release the wolf back into the wild, but he also had to give him back his pack? The boldness of this plan even made Aegor, a self-proclaimed veteran traveler between worlds, feel slightly hesitant.
If the girl before him hadn't been the one who set fire to the stables in Winterfell days ago, Aegor might have suspected she was secretly working for Robb, pretending to serve him while misleading him on Stark's behalf.
"Hmm... I'm afraid I'll have to think about this."
This wasn't just an excuse. Aegor truly intended to give it careful thought. The proposal sounded promising, but in this world, there were too many things that looked good on paper. Events often followed objective laws, not human imagination. He had made many errors in judgment based on assumptions and had learned his lesson more than once... Furthermore, with the Queen currently in Winterfell, even if he decided to follow Myrcella's suggestion, releasing Robb Stark was not something he could decide alone.
Just as he was about to delve deeper into thought, Aegor realized that now was not the best time to do so. The two of them had been walking and talking since leaving the great hall, and by now they had arrived near the guest chamber where he was temporarily staying. If they continued the discussion, Aegor would have to invite Myrcella into his room for dinner, and they might end up talking by candlelight late into the night. After all, the little princess was now considered part of the Stark household. It was already improper for her to come seek him out voluntarily while Winterfell was under his control. If she were seen with him in the same room after dark, the rumors that might arise could make her continued stay here untenable.
He coughed lightly, then smiled and said, intending to end the conversation, "In any case, I thank Lady Meave for your thoughtful input. It's getting dark, and there are many eyes and ears in this castle. You should return now."
"Wait, there's still more." Likely realizing why Aegor was trying to dismiss her, Myrcella quickly rushed through her words. "You were Lord Commander of the Night's Watch for years, you can't possibly have no acquaintances in the North, can you? The North is vast, and the nobles differ greatly in temperament, personality, and how they handle matters... I divide them roughly into three categories: the first are flexible and adaptable, who you're already familiar with and have good relationships with. You can win them over without much help. The second are rigid and stubborn, single-minded people who no one can sway. The third are in between, not easy to win over, but not impossible either."
"For the first group, just maintain good communication. The second can be given up on, and other strategies used. But it's the third group, the largest, that requires your attention and is the most worth winning over. And as it happens, most of them are now camped near Seven City, confronting you. If you throw Robb into the mix... and things go well, you might catch them all in one go."
This "three-part method" of simplifying the political landscape was quite an interesting perspective. At least at first glance, it seemed well-reasoned and clear. Aegor's eyes lit up slightly. He stopped at the entrance to his room, stood still, and frowned in contemplation.
He instinctively disliked this plan, not because of any flaws or traps, but because it meant surrendering control of the situation's outcome to someone else—Robb Stark. This directly contradicted the belief he had clung to all along: "Never give up the initiative to anyone but myself." But deep down, he had to admit... No one could truly control everything from beginning to end without relying on anyone else.
Perhaps this truly was a brilliant plan, one that could break through the current impasse. The only problem, as the girl said, was that it required great courage, trust, and the psychological preparation for a bad outcome.
Aegor was surprised to realize that he was actually... genuinely... somewhat moved by the plan of a thirteen-year-old girl.
"I'm still young, and there are surely things I haven't considered thoroughly. No matter how hard I think, they're just wild guesses. I only hope to offer you some reference, or at least a few new ideas to consider." Myrcella also stood at the door for a few seconds. In the howling wind, she quickly realized she shouldn't stay longer. Her face flushed slightly as she bowed. "My lord, you surely have much to think about these days. I won't disturb you further. Please get some rest tonight. No matter how important military or state matters are, your health comes first."
Aegor remained where he was, not exchanging more pleasantries, simply nodding. As he watched Myrcella leave, he rolled his eyes in thought. He stood outside the door, just a wall away from his chamber, for another half a minute under the curious stares of his guards and attendants. Finally, to everyone's surprise, he didn't push the door open and enter.
Instead, he turned around.
"Go find Lords Baelish and Stark. Invite them to dinner. Tell them I have something important to discuss."
(To be continued.)
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