Chapter 389

As the master and apprentice playfully bantered their way through Crown's Rest, they soon found Myrcella returning from visiting her younger brother.

The young princess, ever polite and composed, immediately expressed her heartfelt gratitude upon seeing Aegor. Despite his busy schedule and impending journey to King’s Landing, Aegor had ensured that Tommen’s request for a kitten had been fulfilled. Not just any kitten—a healthy, beautiful one that was already weaned and easy to care for. Myrcella had been surprised that the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, overseeing matters of life and death, had kept a promise to a fallen princess and her brother. While the Starks had treated her well, it was clear to her that there was a stark difference between being shown incidental kindness and being treated with deliberate respect and care.

After Aegor briefly mentioned his decision to adjust room assignments so Myrcella and Arya could share a room, the conversation naturally drifted toward Aegor’s current dilemma regarding the escaped tribespeople.

“For open rebellion against your orders, there must be harsh punishment,” Myrcella said earnestly. “Otherwise, my lord, it will be difficult to maintain authority in the Gift moving forward. But if the punishment is too cruel, it may provoke resentment. I’ve read many historical accounts of kings who executed rebellious or disrespectful nobles. Their families would outwardly comply but secretly harbor hatred, biding their time to conspire against the crown. My lord, you are now the king of the Gift in all but name. Dealing with these matters requires finesse and careful planning.”

“The king comparison might not be entirely appropriate, but yes, that’s precisely my concern,” Aegor admitted, nodding. He cast a deliberate glance at Arya, his meaning clear: See? This is how someone gives thoughtful advice—take notes.

Arya noticed the glance and immediately bristled, unwilling to be outdone. She crossed her arms and countered, “Just kill the son too. Then break up the tribe and distribute its members among other groups. Problem solved from the root. You’ve done this before, haven’t you?”

Myrcella shook her head. “Rooting out the problem entirely might sound efficient and foolproof, but Lord Aegor isn’t dealing with enemies here—he’s dealing with his own people. It’s different. By establishing schools and educating the children of the New Gift, Lord Aegor isn’t merely holding them as hostages. He’s trying to influence their thinking and earn their loyalty. If a student watches their father executed for a mistake, they’ll see the Lord Commander as cruel and merciless.

"Had my lord always ruled with an iron fist, that might be expected. But your reputation as a ‘wildling-friendly’ leader is deeply ingrained in the minds of your subjects. If your actions now contradict that image, you’ll not only gain a reputation for being capricious and unstable but also invite mockery from those in the Watch who already oppose the inclusion of wildlings. That outcome would be worse than simply punishing the leader alone.”

Arya struggled to follow all of Myrcella’s arguments but could sense the logic and clarity in her words. Feeling overshadowed in front of her mentor, Arya scowled and challenged Myrcella: “Fine, then. You tell us—what should my master do?”

“Hmm...” Myrcella’s delicate features furrowed in thought, her serious expression unexpectedly adorable. After a moment, her eyes brightened with an idea. “Isn’t Lord Aegor the Commander of the Night’s Watch? He already has a solution at hand—why not use it?”

Arya’s face lit up as well. “Oh! You mean send the leader to the Wall? Make him wear black and fight on the front lines of the Gorge!”

“Exactly,” Myrcella confirmed. “If he dies fighting the White Walkers, then it’s a noble sacrifice—no one can blame Lord Aegor for a soldier’s death in battle. And if he survives, serving the Watch will render him harmless. Either way, it’s a solution without drawbacks.”

Aegor raised an eyebrow, impressed. This idea had crossed his mind before, but what truly surprised him was how quickly Myrcella—a twelve-year-old girl—had arrived at the same conclusion. Even more remarkable was her ability to discern the purpose behind his educational efforts and analyze the potential outcomes of his decisions so thoroughly.

But what stood out most was Myrcella’s social acuity. Despite having the solution, she had intentionally prompted Arya to answer first, ensuring the younger Stark wouldn’t feel left out or inferior. This subtle gesture demonstrated a level of emotional intelligence and foresight well beyond her years.

“Still feeling smart, Arya?” Aegor teased, noting her expression of mild embarrassment.

Myrcella wasn’t finished. “There’s more, my lord. You can proceed as originally planned: ask the boy what he thinks should be done with his father. If he pleads for mercy, you can feign reluctance and offer a ‘compromise’—sending the father to the Wall as a form of redemption. That way, you’ll carry out your plan while earning goodwill and loyalty. Two birds with one stone.”

Aegor stared at her, momentarily speechless. “That’s... clever. Remarkably so.”

This wasn’t just clever—it was the type of cunning associated with rulers and statesmen. Back in Aegor’s original world, there was a term for this: political craftsmanship. It was a discipline as vast and intricate as a work of art. While its principles could be taught, mastering its application in real life was a different matter entirely. How could a girl as young as Myrcella exhibit such natural talent? Was this a rare moment of brilliance, or was she always this sharp and astute, with her potential going untapped in the original timeline?

For all his skilled and loyal subordinates, Aegor lacked a true counselor—someone well-versed in Westerosi politics who could provide fresh perspectives and mitigate blind spots. Myrcella seemed to fit that role perfectly. Yet as he studied her, Aegor sighed.

No matter how brilliant Myrcella might be, she was still a girl, and, more importantly, the child of Cersei and Jaime Lannister. Just as he had no say over Arya’s future marriage, he had no justification to take Myrcella from her position as Catelyn Stark’s ward—a title that was little more than a thinly veiled hostage. He had neither the grounds nor the right to claim her as his protégé.

What a pity.
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Over the following days, Aegor resumed his duties in Crown's Rest, bringing Arya along for his inspections. This wasn’t a special concession to entertain her but rather a necessary part of reacquainting himself with the Gift’s status after his trip. With so much final preparation for the war, having Arya tag along was a minor inconvenience at worst, and it gave her the sense of being involved and valued.

Occasionally, he brought Myrcella too. After her recent display of insight, Aegor couldn’t ignore the potential benefits of earning her goodwill.