Chapter 181: I Am Yours
Join the Night's Watch Logistics Department? Aside from mocking others and possessing a modicum of swordsmanship, what else was Alliser Thorne capable of? Egger feared that assisting in the work was a pretense, and monitoring his every move was the true objective. But that wasn't the worst of it. Egger's only real fear was a sudden letter summoning him back to the Wall, only to have someone else installed as the Chief Logistics Officer. If that happened, at this stage, he truly had no countermeasure other than to flip the table and go down fighting.
Never be without a mind to guard against others—the proverb was a sobering truth. He had only taken small precautions out of subconscious vigilance; he hadn't expected them to actually block a major conspiracy. In this matter, did Mormont have designs on the industries, or did he simply want to drive the old porcupine Alliser away from the Wall to make room for his protege, Jon Snow? When Eddard Stark had locked him up for all those days, was it possible he was coordinating with Alliser after receiving a secret letter from Mormont, only to release Egger out of necessity when he realized the old knight couldn't subdue the industries?
After calming his mind and thinking for a while, Egger felt it was more likely that Alliser Thorne was brandishing a chicken feather as a command arrow. He had used the same trick himself on Eddard Stark when he first arrived in King's Landing; from the principle to the execution, he understood exactly how it worked. It was highly feasible, depending entirely on the target's alertness.
What was Mormont thinking when he transferred Alliser to the Logistics Department? Did Eddard have plans to help the old porcupine control the industries? How it all tied together... guessing would never clear it up. He couldn't prepare a separate countermeasure for every possibility. The most appropriate course of action now was to remain still if the enemy didn't move, continue wearing the mask of a loyal man of the Watch, and then decisively push any outsiders or mysterious figures away from the core of the industries, giving no ill-intentioned person a chance to steal the fruits of his labor.
Fortunately, Alliser Thorne was no Janos Slynt. In terms of rank, Egger was higher; in terms of influence, he was greater; and thanks to Nina's warning, he had learned of Alliser's intentions early. In any potential conflict, he held the absolute upper hand.
As a transmigrator, Egger's vision was often unconsciously set too high. In his subconscious, he always assumed threats would come from the schemes or blunders of major players like Littlefinger, Varys, or Cersei. But time and again, accidents and dangers had served as a wake-up call: threats didn't just come from the main plot or VIPs; they could come from minor characters like Janos Slynt, or even one of our own within the Watch!
Compared to constantly thinking about how to fight the White Walkers, how to preserve the peace of Westeros, how to deal with great conspirators, or how to keep the industries expanding explosively... perhaps internal affairs—securing the achievements already won and ensuring the victory wasn't snatched away—should be put on the agenda, and with high priority.
Suppressing his thousand thoughts, Egger turned to ask Nina: "After you saw the document, how did you respond?"
"I said: 'I am sorry, but I am not a member of the Night's Watch and do not accept orders from Lord Commander Mormont.' Then I suggested Ser Alliser discuss it with you once you returned." Nina continued to carefully apply the medicine to Egger, her fingertips gliding over the skin of the man's shoulder, feeling the clear lines of muscle beneath. She wished the wound were longer so she wouldn't finish applying it tonight. She asked cautiously: "My lord, was that a proper answer?"
"Quite right. You did very well." Egger secretly clenched his fist and praised her with feigned ease. "Tyrion said you were a clever person. Looking at it now, that evaluation was still too low."
"You flatter me, my lord. I only did exactly as you said." Nina's sweet voice couldn't hide her joy, but she still lowered her head shyly. "No matter what Ser Alliser or anyone else says or does, I only keep one sentence firmly in mind—I am yours, and everything I do is for your sake."
...
I am yours?
The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the room shifted from the tense and heavy discussion of strategy to something strange, lingering, and flirtatious. Egger arched an eyebrow, turning to look at Nina with some surprise: Was this girl simply expressing her loyalty, or was she hitting on him?
Through their daily interactions and growing familiarity, Nina was no longer the girl who would get nervous just by being near him or blush at a single word. In their day-to-day life, she had gradually found the courage to stare at him boldly with eyes full of admiration; even if caught, she would merely avert her gaze rather than show embarrassment.
Being quietly stared at by such a young and beautiful girl full of affection was undoubtedly a wonderful experience, but truthfully, it was also quite exhausting. He had to be mindful of his image at all times; yawning, stretching, swearing, picking his ears or nose—none of it could be done as freely as when he was alone.
Egger was used to the gazes, but verbal flirting was a first.
(Little girl, it's just a man and a woman alone in this room, and I'm half-undressed with a bare chest. Aren't you afraid of getting 'eaten' by flirting like that?)
...
"Heh, you are mine?" Egger felt a surge of amusement at this suspected provocation. He wasn't sure if he was overthinking it, but for a moment, he forgot all about his plans for Alliser. He suddenly remembered something: making Nina 'his' completely had originally been a part of his plan to solidify control over the industries, but it had been delayed repeatedly by various distractions. Now that the complicated affairs were settled... perhaps it was time to proceed? He stared at Nina and asked with a mischievous grin: "I remember telling you that such a phrase can be interpreted in many ways. Right now... which meaning does it have coming from your lips?"
It was a casual tease, and Egger kept it from being too explicit... thinking to deepen their bond and close the distance between them. If Nina blushed and stayed silent, or stuttered through a vague response, the matter would pass as mere teasing.
But to his surprise, a shallow flush quickly spread from the girl's neck to her ears. She bit her lip and actually gave an unexpected, playful answer: "Whatever meaning my lord thinks it has, that is what it means."
Hey, wasn't that what I taught her back then? How had it been turned around and used to answer his own question? Egger had only intended to tease her, but he hadn't expected this deathly shy girl to launch such an evocative counterattack!
"Whatever meaning I think it has, that is what it means?" Egger stared at her, his blood heating up at her bold and playful retort. You said it yourself! If I play dumb now, am I even a man? Casting Ser Alliser and all other "monsters and ghosts" to the back of his mind, and disregarding the fact that the girl was still lingering over his shoulder with the medicine, he stood up with his torso half-exposed. He took a step toward Nina, looming over her. "Then guess what I think it means right now?"
"Lord... Egger." Nina was a young girl, after all; how could she compete in boldness with a veteran of the world? Still holding the medicine jar, she took a step back as if startled by his sudden movement. Her eyes darted about, filled with infinite alarm and bashfulness, the skin of her cheeks and neck growing even redder. "The medicine... isn't finished yet!"
"No more medicine."
Today, Egger had successfully "killed without drawing blood" by manipulating Renly into doing his dirty work, sending his enemy to his doom. This satisfaction of seeing a powerful foe vanish amidst a few laughs, mixed with the thrill of victory and the relief of surviving a disaster, had kept his hormone levels at a peak. Nina's clever, witty response finally became the spark that lit the kindling—the straw that broke the camel's back.
After Tyrion's mentorship and the tests of managing the industries independently through major events, Nina was no longer the wide-eyed country girl Egger had first met as one of the paper-making siblings. Her entire being radiated a unique charm that ordinary women simply lacked. Egger wanted her. There was no day like today. Instead of dragging it out, slowly laying the groundwork, and searching for the right moment, why not today? Why not right now?
He snatched the medicine jar from the girl's hand and tossed it onto the desk. The jar rumbled across the surface and shattered on the floor with a crisp sound. Egger didn't even notice. He continued to press toward her; he took a step forward, and the girl instinctively took a step back. After a few paces, he finally pinned her against the wall, her back touching the cold surface... a textbook!
"My lord... you..." Nina had only summoned the courage for a sudden display of affection; she was already dying of embarrassment the moment the words left her mouth. She hadn't expected such a strong reaction from Egger. In her panic, her mind went blank. How could she keep up the wit? The little iron lady of the industries was instantly reduced to her original form, stuttering and unable to finish a sentence.
"Nina, since the first time we met, I've especially liked your eyes... I know you're always staring at me, though you always hide the moment I turn around." Egger didn't want to make it as crude and direct as venting animal lust. He decided to offer some sweet words on the fly. He took the girl's soft, slightly cool hands, squeezing them and tracing the light calluses on her palms—marks from working for her family and researching paper-making improvements. Then he moved to her slender wrists, her arms, her shoulders, and up the smooth neck to her chin. Applying gentle pressure, he hooked her face upward. In a soft but undeniable voice, he said: "This time you can't run—look up and let me have a good look at you."
As if hypnotized, Nina obediently raised her head. Her clear, star-bright eyes fluttered, wet enough to drip. She watched as Egger lowered his head, his face drawing closer to hers. Amidst the unbelievable surprise and joy, one last ridiculous thought popped into her head before she closed her eyes: "I'm going to die! If I'd known... I should have taken a proper bath today!"
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