Chapter 362: Royal-Grade Massage
That was the reality: everything was arranged. In an ideal situation, the Gift's army, facing the onslaught of the Others, should operate like a pre-set program according to the contingency plans—delaying, resisting, and eventually defeating the army of the dead to protect the Seven Kingdoms. But an army is made of people, not machines, and the residents of the Gift, hailing from the mountains and beyond the Wall, harbored no noble sentiments like serving the people or offering their hearts for humanity. In this era, let alone a Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, even a King often had to take the field personally.
Egger was the supreme military and civil governor of the Gift. Relying on his genuine office and a mountain of legends spread both intentionally and accidentally, he possessed supreme reputation and prestige. This made his daily management smooth and effortless. However, the price was this: as the hero, he could not shrink back into the role of a strategist. The armies of the Gift could only maintain sufficient morale to exert their maximum combat effectiveness under his direct command.
As for King's Landing... even if Egger wanted to strategize from a thousand miles away, the distance from Queenscrown was far more than just a thousand miles.
Daenerys was a Queen—at least, she believed herself to be. As Lord Commander, Egger was technically a rank below her in the social hierarchy; he couldn't simply send a random subordinate to negotiate with her. So, should he leave his assets, his wife, and his child (well, he didn't have a child yet) in the south to fend for themselves and focus entirely on the looming war—facing the final battle without the trump card of dragonglass grenades? Or should he risk the potential infamy of being labeled a deserter to make this journey?
Egger was caught between a rock and a hard place, falling into a deep state of conflict. His silence placed Myrcella, standing across the desk, in an equally awkward position. She had come to express her gratitude; if the Lord Commander were busy, she would have simply said her thanks and left. If he were free, she would have stayed a while to chat, lest she leave the negative impression that she was only currying favor to improve her brothers' lives and had no genuine interest in the man himself.
But now—the Lord Commander sat behind his desk, clearly not doing anything specific. He had spoken with her for a moment, but after a few words, he had drifted back into his thoughts. This left Myrcella unsure whether to stay or go.
As she stood there feeling restless, Egger let out a long sigh. Frustrated by his inability to make a decision, he leaned back into his chair and began rubbing his temples to ease a headache.
Myrcella saw a perfect opportunity to break the tension and seized it: "Lord Egger must be overworked from guarding the Wall and protecting the North. May I massage them for you?"
Though phrased as a question, she didn't wait for an answer. She quickly rounded the desk and moved behind him. The little princess's hands pressed against the sides of his head like a pair of headphones, replacing the man's own hands to gently knead his temples.
"Eh?"
Egger's mind had drifted, and suddenly a little beauty had taken charge of his head. After a moment of being caught off guard, a sense of sudden realization dawned on him: Aha! No wonder Catelyn was willing to bring her along. This girl, despite her young age, was so perceptive and sophisticated that even an obvious act of flattery was done with such grace it was hard to find it offensive. No wonder that in any timeline, wherever she went... she was loved by all.
It was a gift.
After some thought, he figured the girl likely felt troubled by having no way to repay his kindness, so he let her continue for her own peace of mind. Since his chaotic thoughts couldn't be untangled for the moment, he would take his time. Egger wasn't shy; he leaned back into the chair and, while organizing his thoughts, enjoyed this Royal Luxury Edition health massage provided by the little princess of the Ice and Fire world.
The room was warm, and the girl's small hands were warm and soft. Her frame was delicate and her strength was not great; her movements were as gentle as water, and her fingertips as smooth as silk... While not professional, she had grasped the essentials, and even a simple rub felt wonderful. In his languid state, Egger felt a faint, delicate scent—almost like milk—drifting to his nose. At first, it piqued his appetite, but after a few breaths, it made his entire body feel relaxed and comfortable. After enjoying the attention on his head, those soft hands naturally slid down his neck to his shoulders, applying a bit more pressure to knead the man's tense muscles.
Was this also a gift? Egger even felt goosebumps. Before his transmigration, he had been to professional massages, but he found for the first time that simple kneading could be this comfortable. At this moment, a strange thought popped into his head: Good thing I sent Jaime to Westwatch-by-the-Bridge. If the Kingslayer knew his daughter was here kneading the head and shoulders of the Lord Commander, he'd likely draw his sword in an impulsive rage.
"Mmm—" Feeling the relief of the massage, Egger couldn't help but let out a low moan from his throat. Realizing it might sound improper, he took the opportunity to say something to mask the awkwardness. "What did Joffrey and Tommen chat with you about? Did they mention... any difficulties in their lives, or anything they wanted? Feel free to ask; as long as it's not excessive, I can satisfy them."
Anything they wanted? Joffrey wanted plenty, but Myrcella knew her brother; if he were satisfied, he'd only want more. As for her sweet-natured younger brother... she turned it over in her mind and shook her head. "No. Joffrey—My Lord, you must have people keep a close eye on him. It would be best to give him something to do, to keep him from idling and letting his mind wander into trouble. As for Tommen, well—did you know, My Lord? There are many cats in the Red Keep..."
Then, Myrcella began to whisper in Egger's ear stories of Tommen and the cats of the Red Keep: which cat was closest to Tommen and liked to rub against his legs, the one he fed every day but never managed to pet once, and the day Joffrey lunged to catch a cat that was eating meat Tommen had provided, only to get scratched...
The princess's voice was soft and moist without being cloying. Though Egger wasn't particularly interested in the subject matter, the combination of the pleasant voice and the physical comfort of the shoulder massage had a surprisingly strong hypnotic effect. In his dazed state, Egger only wished he had a folding chair that could recline; otherwise, he would have surely taken the chance to nap and only think about his headache once he was rested.
After speaking for a while, she finally ran out of cat stories. As she continued the massage, Myrcella said, "Tommen didn't mention it himself, but he is a child who fears loneliness most. Since Joffrey is an inadequate older brother, if My Lord could find a kitten or two to keep him company, he would be very happy."
So all that talk about the cats in the Red Keep was a roundabout way to reach this request.
This girl not only has high EQ, but her IQ is quite impressive as well. Robert and Cersei—one a drunkard and the other a fool—plus Jaime, the biological father whose emotional and intellectual intelligence were both average... how on earth did they raise such a daughter? Egger couldn't help but chuckle, though he immediately felt a pang of pity. The former little princess of the Baratheon dynasty now had to beg in such a convoluted way just to get a kitten for her brother. What a tragedy.
"Mmm. I'll have someone keep an eye out. I'll see if any household in the Gift has just-weaned kittens and get two for him."
"Thank you, Lord Egger!" Myrcella couldn't hide her joy, her voice jumping with excitement. "Stop crossing your arms; put them down and let me rub your arms as well."
"No need, my arms aren't sore. Just that spot on my shoulder is still a bit stiff. Give it one more firm press, and then you should go back and rest."
"Alright."
Having received another favor from Egger, the little princess raised her thin arms and worked with even more effort. Just then—the door was suddenly pushed open without warning. A cold wind carrying a few snowflakes swept into the room. Egger opened his eyes to see who dared barge in without announcement, only to see Arya standing at the door, her eyes wide and her face full of shock as she stared at Myrcella, who was standing behind Egger in a peculiar position.
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