POV: Aemon Targaryen
What I did in the throne room will go down in history books. That's for damn sure.
I became even more famous, and when people found the handpumps I installed and how they worked, they started calling me blessed Aemon or blessed by the Seven. Which is ridiculous but I'm not complaining. The septons don't know what to make of it, but the smallfolk eat it up.
I also got a royal order to install more of them in King's Landing and the crown will bear the cost. Otto signed it, but I could tell Grandfather Jaehaerys pushed for it. He gets what I'm doing better than most.
After that the entire Seven Kingdoms followed suit. Orders to install in keeps of lords and their villages and towns started pouring in. Ravens every bloody day.
The biggest order came from the Lannisters, asking for 50 handpumps in Lannisport alone. Lannisters trying to show off, probably. This created a domino effect when I secretly made this order public through some well-placed gossip in the right taverns. Pride makes people stupid. The Arryns and Tyrells also asked for 50 each within days. Couldn't let the Lannisters look better, could they?
The products kept selling and gold kept coming in. When these lords realize the real benefits of a handpump on farming and animal husbandry, more orders will come. I also made sure to explain the importance of handpumps during a siege in my letters. Plant the seed, let it grow.
I played UNO reverse on the small council. Putting a leash on me turned into the best PR I could've asked for. But on the insistence of father and mother I had to take Gael and Daemon into my company. Family unity and all that shit.
Getting Daemon in was a huge challenge. He didn't like working under anyone, much less under a child, nephew or not.
"I will be a part of your company but don't expect me to run behind you," he said, arms crossed like a petulant dragon.
{ word my man word }
"Uncle you worry too much. I just want you to scare away people who think they can cheat me. When I am making a deal just bring Caraxes along and you'll get paid vacation from the company along with a hefty salary and loan if you ever want one."
He snorted. "Where will all the money come from? Just because you have money now doesn't mean you will have money forever. You promised to give work to 5000 people in the coming moon - how will you pay them? You better not tarnish the royal name. If you fail to pay them and come crying back to your father, he won't just ask for half, he'll take all of it. You should worry about yourself." The smirk on his face was particularly annoying.
"And I thought you would squire under me. You think Ser Harrold is better than me?" he asked, like he was challenging me to a duel.
"Well do you think I can have as much liberties I get from Ser Harrold from you?" I asked, raising a brow.
"No I don't want a squire who is more into copper counting than training," he answered bluntly.
"Well that gives you my answer for not being a squire under you. I won't get much freedom and you are never at one place so I can't always follow you around."
He actually laughed. "Alright fair, continue your work I won't take much of your time then."
POV: 1st
Now that the factory is set up, new ones being built and old ones expanded, I need gold to hire workers. Even though I am earning good, money is burning just as quickly. I only have 1000 gold after all the expenses. That's not enough for what I have planned.
Now I will start buying area near Flea Bottom slowly and secretly. Those people need work, and I need workers. Win-win.
To do all this I will need gold and it's time to get them from the Iron Bank. I have sent Peresten and Alister with the seal the Faceless Man gave me. Dangerous game, but necessary. The gold will be delivered to me in four installments. I have plans to invest 30k gold more into business and the rest 70k will be used for something else. Something bigger.
Now I have all the things set up, now it's time to put my entire focus on training. And that's what I did.
Perfect Diet.
I am aiming for 60% carbohydrates, 20% protein and 20% healthy fats. My family is looking at me with weird eyes that I suddenly started eating like peasants. Daemon mocked me that I am preparing for the days I go broke, the bastard. But the one that worries the most is my mother.
{ A/N : All the gym bros/sis can help me with the diet , can tell me what y'all follow }
I had to sit her down and explain why I am eating peasant food, and like all mothers she told me calories and diet are myths and I should eat my greasy meat and sweets she prepares for me. She will have none of it. Took forever to convince her.
After agreeing to her that I will eat the sweets she prepares for me and have proper family meals but let me continue my diet, she finally let me go. I also spent time with Rhaenyra, taught her values and ethics she didn't have in her last life. I do not want her to be the willful and naive girl she will become in another future. Not this time.
Back to my training.
My training drills are handled by Ser Harrold. I have decided to use my left hand for the bastard sword. Most right-handed fighters train primarily against other right-handers. The majority of their muscle memory, parries, attacks, and counters are built around that mirror match. A left-hander flips the angles: their lead foot, lead hand, and sword all come from unexpected directions. A left-handed swordsman naturally targets parts of the right-handed opponent that are usually more protected in a right-vs-right matchup. This makes defense trickier for the righty.
I am also practicing basic katana Kamae (stances) and Kiri (cuts). I know I will face an issue regarding the footwork, I will have to create one from scratch. Another huge obstacle is perfecting the Assassin Body Technique. I cannot use it yet, just parts of it. Perfecting it is a huge challenge and I have an idea where to start.
For now I am increasing my core strength and building muscle memory to simultaneously use two swords. It's hard and the progress is quite slow. Frustrating as hell.
Ser Harrold is disappointed that I am not taking my training seriously and chasing childish endeavors of using two swords simultaneously. He doesn't get it. This isn't about showing off.
Days passed like this. I have developed a kind of sync but nothing I can use in an actual fight yet. It's a start.
Hobb, Rolly and Todric have already gotten quite good - they can easily defeat an average knight. Getting here wasn't easy. They worked single-mindedly, followed my arrangements without question. They are 13 years old now but look quite strong and I am making them bulk for the first time. The food they eat is quite demanding but they are obeying me without any complaints.
After they complete their training they will start participating in tourneys. Earning a name for themselves and for me. But they won't become knights or take an oath of one. I have other things planned for them.
An order of different kind, but I have to lay the foundation for that first.
But that's a thing for the future. Now is the time to increase my strength both political and physical. And to get that I will not wait for my father to be the king. I already know the future members of the small council and among them the one closest in age to me is Tyland Lannister.
Well I hate Lannisters as much as the Hightowers but there is no problem in using them. Same goes for the Strong brothers. Sentiment is a luxury I can't afford in this game.
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Well I am back , took a long break , exited to show what I cooked up . But before that I wanted to let y'all know the I will take my time . I want this to be immersive , there will be fights BUT , I wanna be geek about kingdom building and stuff . I always wanted to do that . So yeah , happy reading.