Chapter 731

Descending along Flour Street from the Rhaenys Hills in the northeast of King’s Landing led to a labyrinthine maze of unpaved alleys and tangled intersections—a sprawling slum of filth and squalor. The buildings here were low and dilapidated, pressed tightly against the narrow streets, their foul stench a heady mix of pigsties, stables, and tanneries, mingling with the sour reek of wine cellars and brothels. If one knew where to look, they could even find small shops boiling up pots of the infamous “brown stew.”

It had a name, one neither pleasant nor grand, yet one that resounded throughout the city—Flea Bottom.

The legendary Kingsguard knight, Ser Duncan the Tall. The so-called “Onion Chancellor,” Davos Seaworth, former Hand to a pretender king.

Countless tales of the lowborn rising to prominence had begun here, just as the city's overwhelming stench largely emanated from these squalid depths.

Now, Daenerys Targaryen, fresh from conquest and wielding the might of her newfound dynasty, had brought the cleansing fire of her new reign straight to the slums festering in the heart of the capital.

Acting as both Master of Coin and interim Mayor of King’s Landing, the famed “Imp,” Tyrion Lannister, spearheaded the first state-sanctioned “eviction” in Westerosi history. The Crown compensated residents at an appraised price, offering them new homes on the outskirts of the city and long-term employment contracts—or a lump-sum payout—for resettlement. The entirety of Flea Bottom was thus seized for redevelopment.

Thanks to the “low human rights advantage” of a feudal society, even the most stubborn holdouts, the extortionists demanding outrageous sums, and the opportunistic thugs hoping to profit from the chaos were swiftly and effectively dealt with—by persuasion, by force, or by a combination of both. The operation proceeded with remarkable efficiency, without sparking significant unrest.
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“That deep trench being dug over there will serve as a new sewer line. Once completed, it will connect to the drainage system first established by King Jaehaerys I, resolving the problem of stagnant water pooling in Flea Bottom’s low terrain while dramatically improving the city’s sanitation and self-purification capabilities. Alongside new policies prohibiting citizens from dumping waste and excrement onto the streets, the infamous stench of King’s Landing will see a noticeable improvement in a short span of time.”

Standing atop a slight rise in the ruins, Tyrion surveyed the bustling construction site, where no new buildings had yet begun to take shape. With a touch of self-satisfaction, he explained his plans for the area to his assistant and protégé.

“Once complete, we’ll cap the sewer with stone and iron grates, lay pedestrian walkways on either side, and extend the eastern section with a handful of residences to merge with the former noble district—these will accommodate the invited lords from the Reach. The southern portion, bordering the main thoroughfare, will be designated a commercial district, with various financial centers constructed there… As for the rest, it will all be transformed into open green space, a public park accessible to all. We’ll call it ‘King’s Landing Central Park.’ What do you think?”

“Aegor, my lord, and you devised this plan together. How could I possibly have an opinion?” Nina replied with a faint smile. “But I do have one question—Flea Bottom lies between the Dragonpit and the Red Keep, right in the heart of the city. It was only a slum because of poor sanitation, but after redevelopment… this land will become some of the most valuable real estate in the realm. Devoting nearly half of it to a public park—doesn’t that seem a bit extravagant?”

“I asked myself that very question, but I soon found the answer… It all comes down to a shift in perspective. And since we have some time, let’s walk and talk.”

Tyrion nodded and began making his way south, his short legs picking their way over the rubble.

“Let me give you an example—imagine you’re a noble, and you own a castle at the crossroads of major trade routes on a vast plain. Would you rent out your great hall as a rest stop for passing merchants? Even if it were highly profitable?”

“Of course not! That’s my home!” Nina responded instinctively, before catching herself and adding, “But… Her Majesty lives in the Red Keep, not in Central Park.”

“Exactly. But consider this—by your logic, the Queen only needs a single bedroom to live in, so why does she require an entire castle? In nature, the stronger a creature, the larger its territory. A field mouse is satisfied with a burrow, while a tiger needs thousands of acres to feel secure. Humans are no different,” Tyrion gestured with a finger. “To a beggar, a dry bridge arch is a dream home. To a peasant, a modest thatched hut is enough to shield them from wind and rain. A citizen of some means—someone in roughly your position—would naturally desire a house with separate bedrooms, a kitchen, and a proper sitting room. And for a noble lord? His entire castle is his ‘home.’”

He spread his hands. “Do you understand?”

“I think so. To the Queen, all of King’s Landing is her ‘home.’” Nina grasped the concept quickly—she was not unintelligent, but she was still two social strata removed from royalty, which made it difficult for her to intuitively arrive at such a realization.

“Precisely. For any rational person, when it comes to their living space, comfort and safety come first, followed by dignity and social standing… And last—no, not even last—is making money. Unless, of course—” Unless one were the likes of Littlefinger or Illyrio Mopatis, he thought to himself, but swallowed the words before they left his lips. “From the Red Keep, one can overlook Flea Bottom to the north. This future ‘Central Park’ will serve the same function for the Red Keep as a sitting room does for a commoner’s home. A park covered in lush greenery won’t just improve the view for those in the Keep; it will also drastically enhance the city’s air quality, making King’s Landing a far more pleasant place to live.”

“That word—‘livability’—was another invention of your man,” Tyrion added offhandedly before continuing. “King’s Landing isn’t just the Queen’s residence—it’s the face of Westeros. And in the grand strategy of dismantling regional separatism, it will also be a gilded cage to house the lords of the Reach. The Queen’s agreement with them requires their families to reside in the capital for at least two years. But what happens after those two years? The ideal outcome is that some of them return to their lands, while others… find life in King’s Landing so convenient and comfortable that they never wish to leave.”

“And as things stand, with King’s Landing a stinking, chaotic mess, that goal is utterly unattainable. The Crown must rapidly improve the city’s livability, and this Central Park—while just a small piece of a much larger puzzle—is a vital step toward that end… Does that make it clearer why we won’t be selling off this land for coin?”

“I understand.” Nina still wasn’t entirely convinced, but this level of statecraft was beyond her station. And since Tyrion clearly considered the matter settled, she would have to ponder it in her own time.

“Well then,” Tyrion said, turning serious. “I didn’t call you here just to wander about listening to me pontificate. I have an important task for you.” His expression darkened with exasperation. “I’m far too busy!” He gestured ahead. “Do you see that row of notice boards?”

Following his gaze eastward, Nina saw a newly erected structure at the southernmost edge of what was once Flea Bottom, near Flour Street.

If Tyrion hadn’t pointed them out, she wouldn’t have realized they were notice boards—because they were absurdly large, standing over twice the height of a man. Anyone wishing to post a message on them would need a ladder. They looked more like wooden walls than mere boards.

“I see them.”

“Behind those boards, we’re laying the foundations for the King’s Landing Royal Exchange. It will take some time before construction is complete, but the realm’s finances are already strained to the point that it needs to be operational as soon as possible. So for now, I’ve had this wall put up to shield the worksite while also serving as a temporary venue for financial transactions.”

Tyrion’s sharp gaze landed on her. “I want you to oversee the sale, trade, and distribution of Targaryen royal bonds. Work with me to stabilize the