Under the shroud of night, Castle Cerwyn was as quiet as ever.
Don Quixote left his horse at Windsor's Lodge, changed into inconspicuous black clothes, and went out again.
Before long, trying his best to avoid the gaze of the sparse pedestrians on the road, he arrived outside a small stone and wood house.
Knock, knock, knock.
Don Quixote knocked gently on the door.
Raymond, the current steward of House Cerwyn, quietly opened the door.
"Lord Raymond, I hope you can put in a good word for me with the Earl."
Don Quixote handed a leather bag full of coins to Raymond.
A total of 50 silver stags.
Raymond quickly took the money bag, opened it for a glance, and said with satisfaction:
"If the Earl actually adopts your suggestion, I will recommend your name to him.
"But it will only be a verbal recommendation. If you don't have real capability, then the final result will stand. I won't plead for you again."
Don Quixote said understandingly:
"Naturally. Lord Raymond's recommendation is all I need."
Raymond nodded, turned around, and closed the door.
Don Quixote also left quickly.
Spreading rumors that House Bolton was secretly planning a conspiracy was intended to make House Cerwyn take the matter seriously.
Of course, even if they didn't take it seriously this time, it didn't matter.
He planned to commit some bad deeds and frame House Bolton for them until House Cerwyn realized that the trade area within the city had become an unstable factor.
In that way, perhaps House Cerwyn would move the trade area outside the city.
However, it was also possible that they would simply cancel the trade area, returning Castle Cerwyn to the mode of existence common to most lord's cities in the North:
Abandoning reliance on trade, relying on the fief for self-sufficiency, and using occasional barter to replace fixed trade.
"I hope it doesn't come to that."
Compared to searching for suitable employment quests elsewhere like looking for a needle in a haystack, he preferred to stay in Castle Cerwyn and develop secretly.
After all, he was born here, and in the eyes of House Cerwyn, he had a clean background.
He had also made some connections in Castle Cerwyn.
And Castle Cerwyn's geographical location was quite suitable.
In peacetime, it could support a certain volume of trade.
In the subsequent War of the Five Kings, it wasn't at the center of the storm, but it wasn't on the fringe either.
When the time came, he could take advantage of the chaos to rapidly develop his own power.
With his thoughts churning, Don Quixote quietly returned to Windsor's Lodge.
---
The next day.
The main keep of Castle Cerwyn, the Lord's solar.
Earl Medger Cerwyn sat at the head of the table. After looking around, he said:
"Some time ago, two knights from House Bolton caused trouble in Castle Cerwyn and were arrested by the guards.
"Considering that the conflict between House Stark and House Bolton has only recently calmed down, it is not appropriate to start another conflict now.
"So I released them. But a few days ago, someone from House Bolton came to Castle Cerwyn saying that those two knights have been missing for months.
"The last place they were seen was in Castle Cerwyn, and witnesses saw our men detain them."
Speaking of this, an angry expression appeared on Earl Medger's face:
"House Bolton doesn't believe I released those two knights. They think I imprisoned or even killed them!"
Hearing this, Earl Medger's trusted knight, Ser Kyle Condon, immediately roared:
"Those bastards dare to slander the Earl! The next time those Bolton scraps come to Castle Cerwyn, I'll chop them to pieces!"
The more rational Maester Rhodry said slowly:
"My Lord, what did the Bolton representative say in the end?"
Earl Medger restrained his anger and said calmly:
"They demanded an outrageous compensation of one hundred Gold Dragons. I had the guards throw them out."
As soon as these words came out, the core retainers of House Cerwyn in the solar cursed angrily again:
"Bastards!"
"What greedy and disgusting fellows!"
Earl Medger tapped the table lightly to silence everyone, then continued:
"Yesterday, people from the Iron Axe Tavern reported that recently, many strangers who seem to be from House Bolton have appeared in the city and are secretly planning something!"
Ser Kyle stood up immediately and shouted:
"My Lord, I will go to the outer city right now and arrest all those suspicious-looking people!"
Earl Medger shook his head:
"No. We can't distinguish which outsiders are from House Bolton, nor do we have evidence that they are plotting anything."
"Then arrest them all and interrogate them one by one!" Ser Kyle said fiercely.
Earl Medger frowned:
"Nonsense! Many people come here to trade on behalf of other noble houses.
"Arresting them is easy, but the lords behind them will certainly not let it go. That would be the real trouble."
Maester Rhodry suddenly said:
"My Lord, why not take this opportunity to close the trade area in the outer city?
"Although opening trade has earned us some extra coin, it has also brought a lot of trouble.
"Moreover, the outer city is too close to the main keep. If people with ill intentions hide among them, it could easily threaten the safety of Castle Cerwyn!"
Raymond, the current steward of House Cerwyn who had been silent until now, spoke up:
"Maester Rhodry, if we suddenly close that trade area, other lords might think we are afraid of House Bolton.
"It will affect the Earl's reputation in the hearts of the Northerners, and more likely affect the Earl's standing with Lord Stark!"
Pausing, he added:
"And without a fixed trade exchange area, those outsiders from various places who come to the Earl's territory might cause a lot of trouble for the Earl's subjects.
"This has happened before.
"In my opinion, it would be better to move the trade area outside the city. That way, even if something happens, it won't threaten Castle Cerwyn!"
Maester Rhodry narrowed his eyes and smiled:
"Steward Raymond, but in that case, we would have to send some knights and soldiers to guard the trade area outside the city long-term. That would weaken the strength of Castle Cerwyn."
"We can hire freelance knights!" Raymond smiled.
As a sworn knight, Ser Kyle looked down a bit on those wild knights. He also knew Earl Medger's attitude towards freelance knights.
He said coldly:
"Freelance knights are fellows without knightly honor. Unreliable!"
Raymond suggested:
"We can have our knights lead, and hire some freelance knights as subordinates."
"But hiring those freelance knights will cost a lot of coin," Maester Rhodry analyzed.
Raymond chuckled:
"We have to pay some price, don't we? Besides, if we move the trade area outside the city, we can relax trade restrictions. Perhaps we can earn even more."
Earl Medger, who had been quiet, suddenly said:
"My purpose in opening the trade area was not to make money, but to make life more convenient for my subjects and to keep them from being disturbed by outsiders.
"Hmm, let's do this. First, find a location outside the city to set up a temporary market and see how it goes. The trade area inside the city will not be closed for the time being."
...