Whispers Town, banquet hall.
Long tables were arranged down the center of the hall and along both sides.
The tables were laden with glistening roasted meats, fresh fruit, and all kinds of wine.
As the young, inexperienced maids bustled back and forth through the hall, Glyn was thinking about something else entirely.
The maids wore blue, round-necked dresses that fell below the knee.
Traditionally, the maids of the Whispers Castle wore very long skirts—so long that one constantly worried about stepping on them or having them stepped on, tripping at any moment. They also kicked up dust easily. Glyn secretly nicknamed them "floor-mopping skirts."
Watching them sway back and forth in front of him every day became too much for Glyn to tolerate. Using Kaleya's name, and amid countless other busy affairs, he deliberately arranged for someone to alter the maids' uniforms. The skirts were shortened to just below the knee, and each maid was given a pair of brown, mid-calf soft leather boots.
With the addition of a headscarf, the "Crabb maid outfit" was born.
After the change, Glyn finally found the maids pleasing to look at.
He borrowed Kaleya's name because he feared that if the change were made under his own authority and the matter spread, Westerosi custom would saddle him with some mortifying title like "Lord of Skirts."
Daenerys Targaryen: "Descendant of Old Valyria, Queen of the First Men and the Andals, Ruler of Westeros and Protector of the Realm, Khaleesi of the great Dothraki Sea, the Unburnt, Queen of Meereen, Breaker of Chains, Mother of Dragons!"
Glyn: "...Lord of Skirts!"
No. Absolutely not. He refused to acknowledge it.
The credit belonged entirely to the naturally clever Kaleya.
–
Amid peals of laughter, everyone kept raising their cups, and the atmosphere in the hall grew ever more exuberant.
Glyn sat alone at the lord's long table, with only Kaleya beside him, holding a wine jug and attending him.
By custom, the lord's table could be shared only by the lord's family or honored guests.
Glyn said, "Kaleya, put the jug here. You should go enjoy the feast yourself. Look—your friends are all at that table over there."
Kaleya's small face was full of hesitation.
Glyn smiled and reached out to take the wine jug from her. "Go on. If I need you, I'll call."
"Then… I'll go have a look. I'll be right back!"
Not long after Kaleya left, a pair of slender, soft hands entered Glyn's view and picked up the wine jug.
Housekeeper Surana poured wine for him. "My lord, you're going to spoil Kaleya."
"Lady Surana, whenever I need you, you always appear at just the right moment."
"I'm grateful for your recognition. But if you could reduce my workload a little, I'd be even more grateful."
During this period, both Steward Herschel and Surana had been kept running in circles by the endless stream of tasks handed down by Glyn.
"Have you run into a problem?"
"They call themselves witch doctors—do witch doctors not need to trim their nails? I'm certain they've never clipped them since birth. And there's that permanently lingering stench on them. Ever since yesterday, I've had no appetite. Several of Whispers Castle's physicians already have very strong objections to them. Putting them together is a disaster in itself—I even found myself thinking about a dagger I haven't used in a long time."
Glyn understood immediately. "It seems these witch doctors lack the awareness that they are prisoners."
After a brief pause, he continued, "Surana, we must admit that they possess unique skills in treating external injuries and using herbs. The Crabb soldiers need more healers. With more physicians and proper medicines, we can save many soldiers."
"Veterans who have survived a hundred battles are our most precious assets."
"You think far ahead. I understand, my lord. I simply couldn't help wanting to draw my sword to frighten some disobedient people."
Glyn nodded. "Mm. I just mentioned that they are prisoners, so you've already found the right line of thinking. Arrange for it to be done. Whether it's trimming their nails or scrubbing them clean with brushes—first have soldiers hold swords to their necks. You'll find things much easier then."
"Thank you for your guidance, my lord."
After speaking, Surana glanced to the side and subtly frowned.
Kaleya's slender hands held a wine cup as she chatted happily with the maids her age.
Following Surana's gaze, Glyn also looked at Kaleya, her little face flushed with color. "Kaleya learns things very quickly. As her mother, she's something you can be proud of."
"You possess a compassionate heart, my lord."
"Seedlings need time to grow, Lady Surana."
Within the Thorn Corps, only Emparo and Lena were qualified to attend the banquet.
At their first lord-hosted banquet, both Emparo and Lena were rather reserved at the start. After a few drinks, swept up by the banquet's intense atmosphere, they began speaking loudly and drinking deeply.
Glancing at Emparo, Surana blinked and said, "I hear you're quite pleased with her figure."
Maester Al… Glyn let out a low chuckle. "Emparo is a straightforward warrior."
–
Somewhere in King's Landing, in a dimly lit room.
Littlefinger, Petyr Baelish, had gray-green eyes, hair streaked with gray, a slight build, and wore a meticulously neat dark-gray robe, resembling a monk.
Petyr Baelish raised his head, an elegant smile spreading across his lips. "Glyn Crabb, Lord Crabb—an unfamiliar name."
"Yes, my lord. The queen seems quite interested in him. I've looked into it—fifteen years old, a half-wild noble from Crackclaw Point."
"A model loyalist of House Targaryen…"
The curve of Petyr Baelish's smile remained graceful, his gaze calm. "One must not rely on appearances. Anything unverified cannot be trusted. The allure of King's Landing draws ambitious men with every passing moment."
"My lord, forgive my ignorance. Should we arrange for someone to investigate him more closely?"
Petyr Baelish gently shook his head, then said, "No need for special arrangements. Since our queen has taken an interest, the little fellow will soon appear in King's Landing and The Red Keep has no secrets."
In a low voice, Petyr Baelish said, "Chaos is the ladder."
(End of Chapter)
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