"Let me state beforehand: the following are only a few superficial personal thoughts and do not constitute any formal governing advice."
Aegor offered a simple pleasantry, then spoke openly.
As the Hand of the Queen, while the other party was merely a prospective future ruler, the difference in status meant he did not need to carefully weigh how to communicate or choose his words. "Dorne was the last piece of the puzzle to be incorporated into the Seven Kingdoms. The long wars with the Reach and House Targaryen before unification, the scarce cultural and economic ties with the other six kingdoms after unification, and the geographical isolation that has always been like a chasm have all made this land seem out of place compared with the other six kingdoms, whether in its commerce, customs, culture, or religion. This is not a good thing. I hope the future Princess of Dorne can lead by example and actively break down the various barriers between her land and the rest of the Six Kingdoms."
"Uh."
Princess Arianne was startled for a moment, then slowly sat back down in the pool, submerging herself in the water again.
She had expected Aegor to set conditions or seek benefits for himself or Daenerys, perhaps by asking Dorne to buy some Targaryen Bonds or the like, but she had not expected that what he meant by "bringing benefits to the Seven Kingdoms" seemed to be exactly that.
"So, what should I do?"
"Religiously, I wonder if Your Highness has considered converting to the red god." Aegor gestured toward Melisandre, who was also soaking in the hot spring not far away. "If the Princess takes this step first, then in addition to both being women, you will have another point in common: the same faith. This will certainly be a great source of affinity and a favorable point in Queen Daenerys's eyes. Of course, since I have not studied Dornish customs deeply in this regard, the specific decision still needs to be considered in light of whether your own family supports it and whether the people of Dorne will protest."
Princess Arianne nodded. She truly had not thought of this at all. Today, she had asked the right person.
"As for culture... as far as I know, your uncle, Prince Oberyn, has already brought a printing press back to Sunspear." Aegor thought to himself that it had been bought at the price that little vixen Margaery had haggled down. Thankfully, he had already repaid that debt and no longer held a grudge. "Books cannot represent culture, but they can carry and spread it." He had not been a cultural media expert in his original world, but in Westeros, he was the boss of the Seven Kingdoms' largest newspaper, magazine, and erotic book publisher and operator, fully qualified to express his opinion. "The intricacies and secrets involved here could fill a book. It is not something that can be explained in a few words. Once I have dealt with Lys and Volantis, perhaps I will have time to discuss it with you in simple terms."
It was not that he had not thought it through. Rather, the content of this line had to be kept secret before the Religious Revolution and the formal appearance of the "scripture of truth."
"But apart from these two points, there is actually a ready-made path to follow in the rewards Daenerys gave Dorne." Aegor paused, then raised his hand and gestured around. "What is the fundamental reason Dorne cannot develop? I think it is the harsh geographical environment. It is already the hottest region in Westeros, and it is also rocky and mountainous, arid and barren, with half its plains covered by desert. The people living here have already used up almost all their arable land, water resources, and mental and physical energy just to grow enough food to feed themselves, leaving no surplus strength to dabble in cash crops or develop the other natural resources in the mountains."
Melisandre, at the far end across the pool, had her eyes closed, long used to Aegor's preamble before he began his "persuasion," but Arianne Martell and Tyene Sand were both listening intently, their ears perked up for this logical and rarely heard analysis. This was the most powerful man in the Seven Kingdoms speaking. What he said might not be the absolute truth, but it was definitely worth any lord or noble listening to and pondering carefully.
"Daenerys has allocated land to you at the three outer points of Dorne's land border. This is to ensure that Dorne can use these three fertile lands to achieve food self-sufficiency more easily, thereby freeing up the energy to calmly seek other paths to wealth and development in the Red Mountains and the desert region south of them." Aegor generously pointed out a clear path to the two women. "Open up and repair the roads connecting these three fertile lands, plant high-yield grains to ensure Dornishmen do not starve, and then use the unique Dornish lands along the Greenblood and Brimstone rivers to plant some high-value cash crops that favor heat, dryness, sunlight, and can withstand drought."
Aegor held up two fingers. "Let me give two examples. Cochineal, one of the top ingredients for lipstick produced in the King's Landing Industrial Park, needs cacti to be cultivated. Many grape varieties used for brewing high-quality wine also greatly favor a warm, sunny environment like Dorne's..."
"Food can be grown anywhere, but a place with such a special natural environment is unique to Dorne in all the Seven Kingdoms. Plant precious crops to sell elsewhere, gain wealth, then use that wealth to buy back other goods... As this exchange goes back and forth, commercial trade and circulation will form. Dorne will integrate into the greater family of the Seven Kingdoms, and the process of common prosperity throughout Westeros will naturally move forward. This is what Daenerys is most pleased to see, and what she most hopes the rulers of Dorne can achieve!"
The two ladies in the water both fell into thought. Princess Arianne, as the initiator of the conversation, was seriously thinking over and absorbing the information in Aegor's words, while Tyene, as an extra and a foil, was completely bewildered and did not dare interrupt. Aegor, sitting between them, finally gained a moment of leisure. He rested his hands behind his head and slowly sank down, letting the water reach his chin as he truly enjoyed the smooth feel of the hot spring water.
He was not talking nonsense.
If Dorne's relationship with the royal government remained harmonious and close, then all of the above was sincere and earnest governing advice and guidance. If necessary, he could even use his authority to bring Dorne the necessary commercial investments and orders.
But if one day Dorne reverted to its old habits and showed signs of isolation, division, or even opposition to the royal family, then these originally harmless suggestions would immediately become deadly traps. Without the Red Mountains as a barrier, the royal army could easily take the grain-producing lands generously given to House Martell.
It was true that food could be grown anywhere, but at the same time, it was an indispensable and irreplaceable necessity. Cash crops such as cochineal and grapes were the opposite. By occupying the grain-producing areas and cutting off sea and land transport to impose a food embargo, the royal family could easily dismantle the Dornishmen's resistance.
Once Dorne was defeated through a food war, and then attacked along the repaired grain transport roads, the attackers would easily achieve what even Aegon the Conqueror could not: truly conquering Dorne.
Of course, this was only a deeply hidden mechanism of checks and balances, not something outsiders could know. Similar arrangements had also been put in place by Aegor for the North, with the Stark and Bolton factions dividing and balancing power, and the Westerlands, through control of gold. The original intention was to prepare for contingencies, but if possible, he actually hoped they would never be needed.
...
After about a minute or two of silence, Princess Arianne recovered from pondering Aegor's suggestions and returned to her previous charming and relaxed expression.
"Prince Trystane has no right, neither emotionally nor logically, to compete with you for the position of Prince, but if the Princess truly has reservations about his existence, I can speak to Prince Doran and take him on as a squire, bringing him out of Dorne. In the future, he can be knighted or given a position in the Queen's Magister's mansion in Lys or Volantis or something of the sort. Once he is away from the reach of your opponents in Dorne proper and has a place and a future, he naturally will not think about competing or fighting with you, his sister."
Aegor said it lightly, but even someone like Tyene Sand, whose political acumen was almost nonexistent, instantly straightened her back. Being a squire sounded lowly, but in the feudal system, it was actually a form of gilding and endorsement, similar to gaining grassroots experience to build a résumé in the Celestial Empire... The value varied greatly depending on whom one served. Carrying the bag, leading the horse, or even leading the dragon for a great figure like the Hand of the Queen, King of the Gift, or Conqueror of the Reach... no matter one's background, it would not be considered shameful, but a great honor and fortune. It was something even a firstborn son destined to inherit the family business would fight tooth and nail for, let alone a younger son.
Coupled with arranging his future path and providing a clear channel for advancement...
This truly was a perfect, win-win solution that could solve the problem without needing to "eliminate" anyone!
Aegor, however, shook his head sternly. "The Night's Watch swears to take no wife and father no children. I have dedicated my life to the Wall... Although I greatly admire the Princess's charm, I am afraid I do not have the fortune to be paired with Your Highness."
Aegor did not plan to have any relationship with Princess Arianne beyond friendship. It was not that he was unmoved by beauty, but a matter of choice. Where in the world were there no beautiful women? Compared with the Princess of Dorne's body, he wanted an IOU from the Princess of Dorne more.
And besides Princess Arianne's favor, he could actually get another sum from Doran.
While Princess Arianne was worrying about how to eliminate her brother's threat to her inheritance, was her father not also trying by every means to find a good future for his beloved younger son?
Aegor would go to Doran to take Prince Trystane as a squire, but it certainly would not be a simple arrangement... Instead, it would come at the cost of Dorne buying Targaryen Bonds. He would sell the squire position and part of the future authority and interests in the Free Cities under Daenerys's rule at a high price, in the manner of reserving a governorship in advance, in exchange for cash flow to alleviate the financial crisis.
Selling one thing twice and killing two birds with one stone, would that not be wonderful?
Furthermore, that boy Trystane had been in love with Myrcella in the original timeline. Keeping them both close might just spark something between the young pair, reawakening the girl's worldly desires and making her agree to take off her red robe and return to secular life after thinking it through. That way, he could also give Tyrion an explanation... Yes, that was how it should be done!
Just as he was thinking, Myrcella's light footsteps came from behind. The girl hurried to the edge of the pool, blushing and not daring to look too closely at what the three people, almost tangled together, were doing in the water. She leaned close to Aegor's ear and whispered, "Prince Doran sent a message, asking my lord and Princess Arianne to go to the Water Gardens for dinner after you finish your hot spring bath."
"Hmm?" Aegor looked up at the sun, which had only just passed noon, and scoffed. "What time is it? What's the rush!" He was about to wave the girl away, but suddenly thought of something. Myrcella had performed bravely in that assassination attempt and almost saved his life, yet he had not given her any substantial reward yet.
There was no time like the present. Today, he would show some affection for this little darling as the first part of her encouragement and reward.
"You do not need to wait outside either. Go change into a robe and come down to enjoy the hot springs of Dorne too."
(To be continued.)