Chapter 629

Myrcella quickly moved back to the other side of the table, poured herself a cup of water, and pulled her chair a little closer. She studied Aegor’s expression for a moment, licked her lips, and organized her thoughts before continuing.

"My lord, the Gift has been operating under a wartime administration. During the war against the wildlings and the White Walkers, concentrating all power in your hands was undoubtedly the most efficient system—it maximized effectiveness. But now that the war is over, and the North has sworn fealty to the Queen, the Gift no longer requires large-scale resource and manpower mobilization. And since you will be permanently based in the South…

With no enemies and no you to personally oversee and regulate everything, keeping all authority centralized in Crown’s End will naturally create problems."

“Oh?”

Aegor feigned curiosity.

Before, he had been entirely focused on big-picture goals—preparing for the southern campaign. He had never taken the time to fully plan for the Gift’s future.

Now that he had the chance to fix that oversight, he might as well listen.

"First, it will reduce governance efficiency.

Commanding soldiers in war requires centralized leadership.

But governing a population is different.

Petty disputes between farmers and herders, neighborly quarrels—these do not require high-ranking officials to intervene. And, frankly, soldiers and officers aren’t particularly good at farming or animal husbandry either. If Crown’s End insists on managing everything, at best it will be a laughingstock. At worst, it will create real conflicts."

Myrcella wasn’t drinking her water. She simply held the cup in her hands as she spoke.

"Second, corruption.

People change.

Your subordinates may act obedient and loyal before you.

They may have been devoted to duty under the threat of the White Walkers.

But with peace?

Without your constant oversight?

Who can guarantee they won’t be tempted?"

Aegor resisted the urge to smirk.

She really knows how to flatter a man.

"Third, rigidity and lack of adaptability.

Take the current situation with Arya.

Why are the officials you left in Crown’s End so flustered?

Because they know that every single one of their actions represents you.

They only have two choices—

Either they oppose Arya and risk damaging your relationship with her, or they ignore her and allow House Stark to expand its influence unchecked.

There is no middle ground.

Because your administration is too centralized, they can’t make nuanced decisions like:

‘Resist Arya’s expansion while maintaining a personal truce with her.’

It’s impossible."

Aegor exhaled slowly.

She’s talking about the limits of centralization.

Was she implying that this flaw would extend to his Grand Crownlands Plan? To monarchal centralization itself?

She had clearly been thinking about this for a long time.

"Go on," he said.

"You already agreed to Arya’s ‘Women’s Night’s Watch’ proposal.

You can’t backtrack—it would be dishonorable.

But consider this—

If opposition arose naturally within the Gift?

If rival factions challenged her expansion for their own interests?"

Myrcella licked her lips, finally taking a small sip of water before continuing.

"When I was young, my tutor told me—

‘A prosperous kingdom always has internal checks and balances.’

Aegor’s eyes narrowed.

"If one person controls everything, or nobody controls anything, it will eventually collapse.

The Gift is like a small kingdom.

And you are its king.

Instead of holding all power, why not cultivate competing factions?"

"Such as?"

"The wildling tribes. The old Night’s Watch officers, like Cotter Pyke. The new Night’s Watch recruits, like my uncle Jaime and Lord Tywin. The northern pioneers in the lands beyond the Wall…

Separate them.

Give them different responsibilities, budgets, and authority.

Encourage competition.

Make them struggle against each other for influence, instead of allowing House Stark to expand unchecked."

Well, well.

Aegor leaned back slightly.

He had started his rise to power as part of a factional struggle within the Night’s Watch.

And now?

He would be manipulating one himself.

It was an elegant plan.

And it was certainly feasible.

The only issue?

Timing.

Until the Reach was fully subdued, the Gift would remain a military administration.

But once peace was secure, then yes—

He could begin experimenting with court politics on a smaller scale.

"Not bad," he admitted.

He was about to praise her—

But Myrcella hurriedly continued.

"Also! Long-term decentralization is good, but it won’t fix the immediate problem.

There’s something else you should consider:

What is the purpose of the Women’s Night’s Watch? What is its role?"

Aegor smirked.

This is a setup.

"Solving the gender imbalance caused by war.

Alleviating the male population shortage in the Gift.

And, of course, defending the Wall, just like the male Night’s Watch."

Myrcella’s face lit up.

"Exactly!

Or rather—

Exactly wrong.

If the Women’s Watch has the same role as the men—

How do you assign them tasks?

Did the Watch need them to win the war against the Others?

Did the workload suddenly increase after victory?

No.

Right now, the only thing these women have to do—

Is follow Arya.

They’re aimless.

And that makes them pawns for House Stark."

…Fuck.

Aegor hadn’t thought of that.

He leaned forward.

"Alright. How do we fix that?"

"You need to define their mission.

You need to put a leash on them."

Myrcella pondered for a moment, then smiled.

"I have an idea—

In the North, men believe themselves superior.

Wife-beating is common.

Even lords turn a blind eye.

You should give the Women’s Watch a new duty—

Protect women’s rights. Combat domestic abuse."

Aegor froze.

What the fuck?

Myrcella continued.

"Then, have Daenerys issue a royal decree—

Their jurisdiction?

Not just the North.

All of Westeros."

The fuck is this—

—the feminist movement?

Aegor’s first reaction was disbelief.

His second was understanding.

His third was admiration.

This wasn’t just policy.

This was a weapon.

The Women’s Watch would become publicly supported—but widely hated.

House Stark would be unable to use them without making enemies out of every noble family in Westeros.

And all Aegor had to do…

Was let society itself reject them.

"Interesting," he said. "Draft a proposal. Fill in the details."

Myrcella nodded eagerly.

Then, hesitated.

"Still… The best solution is not policy.

The best solution is reconciliation.

Arya is angry.

You should visit the Gift yourself and settle things directly."

Reconciliation?

Or…

A permanent political weapon in the capital?

Aegor grinned.

Before he could reply, a guard knocked on the door.

"Lord Hand, the Queen summons you."

"Why?"

"A ship from Pentos has arrived.

With an envoy from the Magisters and the Prince."

…Oh?