~~~ Queen's Chamber, Red Keep, Kingslanding ~~~
Cersie Lanniser POV
"Father will arrive by tomorrow noon. Have the preparations for his arrival been made?" I asked my brother, who was tightly in my embrace.
One of his hands rested on my breast while the other gripped my backside.
Such a naughty boy he could be sometimes.
"Don't worry, dear. The arrangements have been made. The quarters have been cleaned, new carpets laid, whatever was needed has been done," Jaime replied, bringing his face close to mine. I knew what was coming.
He kissed me hard. Our tongues danced, and we savored and tasted each other for as long as we could until I grew breathless.
As we parted, a thin string of saliva formed between us, which made Jaime smile.
Ahh, I can't take it anymore. I need my brother inside me.
But it can wait a moment until we discuss the affairs of the realm.
After all, I am the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, mother of the future king, daughter of Tywin Lannister.
Not to mention I am the most beautiful woman in the Seven Kingdoms.
"Why do you think Father is coming?" I asked my brother.
"Really?" Jaime said, annoyed by my question. He added, "Now you want to discuss this? What excellent timing."
Looks like i spolied his mood but i had to ask.
"Yes, it is important, because I think it's that little demon who filled Father's head with some crazy lies about the Arryn situation," I guessed. It could be that he was already suggesting that after Father was displaced, he would be the one to take control.
He would have surely added some embellishments and presented the situation to Father in his own way.
"Ahhh," Jaime sighed before adding, "For the Seven's sake, Cersei. He's far away from King's Landing, in the Vale."
"No, that little wretch is something else. I could see it in his eyes. He would cause harm to Joffrey in the future. Jaime, he hates him. We must do something," I said, explaining what a threat Arryn could become.
"He is a child, Cersei. You know what I think you need some rest and a creampie." my brother said as I felt his hands on my hips.
"He is a child for now, but someday he will rule the Vale. What if he calls his banners and rises up against us?" I questioned. Not that I fear him. A Lannister can handle much more.
Still, why not kill the snake before it bares its fangs?
"If he does, I will kill him. Or the Stark. Or the Tyrells. Don't worry. No one will hurt our son. As long as I hold a sword, Joffrey and Myrcella are safe, and so will be their siblings," Jaime said reassuringly.
"Siblings? Oh dear, you don't intend to put another child in me, don't you?" I teased, gripping him tightly.
"Ouch. Be gentle, Cersei," Jaime said.
"The lion is not gentle with his prey, brother."
With that, the second round of pleasure between the lion and the lioness began, the sound of bodies clashing. The queen made sounds inappropriate for her station.
Then again, riding her own brother was never meant to be proper.
POV ends
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Artys Arryn POV
"Master, this is going to cost us a lot of money. The funds from your accounts in the Iron Bank won't be enough," Soryn said, looking at the papers where he'd estimated the cost of building the new shipyard in Gulltown.
"Then get the money from the accounts in the Bank of Volantis or Pentos. I do have accounts there, and a lot of money is lying idle," I said, focused on the shipyard designs spread before me. Besides, they don't pay much interest.
I should thank Henry Ford, because I'm about to do something similar to what he did with cars. This shipyard will be designed as an assembly line.
"My lord, I've looked into the financing. As you said earlier, with your plans for the Vale, the wineries, distilleries, paper production, and the blacksmith guild, the money will not be enough. We'd have only four thousand gold dragons left across all your bank accounts. And we need cash reserves for trade payments and emergencies," he explained patiently as he sat beside me.
I can't sell land, it belongs to my father, and in a feudal society, land sales are near impossible. I could borrow, but from the Iron Bank? That's like hammering my own fingers.
The other Free Cities' banks are too small.
The Iron Bank alone dwarfs them all.
I think I know how to arrange the money.
"Soryn, how much would it cost to build this kind of shipyard?" I asked, sliding the papers toward him. He studied them, scribbling calculations on a fresh sheet.
"At least half a million gold dragons, master. Could hit a million with wood, materials, and labor. No slaves means higher costs," Soryn said.
"Sell it."
"Sell what?" Soryn asked, confused.
"Sell all the mansions I have in Volantis and Pentos. I don't need them. I won't use them anyway. Keep the warehouses and shops, but the mansions, sell" I said with a smile.
His expression shifted from unreadable to annoyed.
"My lord, those are your family's history. Your ancestors built them with blood and sweat," he said angrily, his voice low.
More like blood and sweat of slaves.
Nevermind, I'll still need to travel to those Free Cities for deals someday.
"Keep the main house. Sell the rest, except the warehouses and essential properties. Sell everything else," I ordered. "We need money to invest. Luxury can wait."
"Soryn, how much do you think selling them will generate?"
"Roughly four hundred thousand gold dragons, my lord. But please reconsider."
"The decision is made. Your advice is noted. I'm ignoring it. Send word to your men in Essos. Sell and transfer the gold to the Vale. I'll speak to Lord Grafton about security for transporting it from Gulltown. The hill tribes are a constant nuisance." I declared.
"Yes, master," Soryn said in defeted tone, before making his way out of the room.
Knock, knock.
What now? Can't a man get a moment alone?
"What is it?" I called.
"Lord Royce is here to see you, my lord," Ser Jasper's voice came from the door.
What does he want now?
"Let him in," I ordered.
The door opened. Yohn Royce entered in his bronze armor, gave a small bow, and sat.
"Are you still working on the ship designs?" he asked.
"Yes, my lord. Drafting a few, nothing more," I said with a smile. He looked worried.
"You can say it, Lord Royce. What weighs on your mind?"
"What happened to the singers, my lord?" Yohn asked with concern.
So it's about them.
"Don't worry, my lord. The singers were spies and we have got all the information needed. They were dealt with, as spies are," I said ambiguously. He understood immediately.
"The Lannisters are overstepping. Does Tywin think he's king of the Seven Kingdoms?" Yohn said angrily. The anger didn't surprise me, only the hypocrisy.
Everyone has spies. It only becomes a problem when they're caught.
"It wasn't Tywin. It was the queen. Not just that. She--" I stopped. Best not reveal they were assassins too.
"She what? My lord, please tell me. Your father entrusted you to my care. I cannot allow harm to come to you," he said, genuine worry on his face.
"She wanted them to join us to the Eyrie, enter as stable boys or cooks, whatever they could manage, to act as her ears inside the castle and keep an eye on us," I said plainly.
I can't tell him the foolish woman meant to kill me. Death doesn't worry me. What does is how someone like her could be so reckless.
One leak, and swords would draw across the realm. No wonder the Lannisters fell when Tywin died.
"Don't worry, Lord Royce. It's handled," I assured him.
"No, my lord. Respectfully, you're intelligent, but you're still young and inexperinced. Everything you do goes under my supervision, your father's orders. From now on, seek my counsel first. I have no issue with how you use your inheritance," he said, standing.
"I'll take my leave now. Get some rest. Tomorrow we depart for the Eyrie," Yohn declared, then left.
Being a child heir is a burden. As long as Father lives, I'm just an heir with no real authority. The power I have is drawn form my father.
Don't worry. There'll be a solution soon. I will find a way to deal with this old man.
I turned back to the ship designs.
It's ready.
~~~ The next morning, at the Gates of Gulltown ~~~
"Lord Royce, are such preparations really needed?" Soryn asked.
I looked around at the group. House Arryn knights and guards, Royce's men, and now Grafton's fifty, all riding with us.
"This isn't the streets of Volantis," Lord Royce said, patting his horse. "The hill tribes are ferocious beasts, always hiding in the valleys. Better to be prepared than a lamb among wolves."
I almost forgot the two maps the Celestial gave me amid all this chaos.
"Lord Royce, how many days to the Eyrie?" I asked.
"Five days, my lord," he replied respectfully.
It looks like his mood is calm now. Last night's meeting didn't go well. My fault too.
I went overboard yesterday. I tortured the spies before killing them. He was Father's trusted man, assigned to watch over me.
"Well then, we should leave as soon as possible," I said, mounting my horse.
POV ends