Casterly Rock. Lannister's main castle. Dining room.
The meat, vegetables, and bacon soup on the table had been removed, leaving only various fruits.
"What do you need to raise a bird?" Lord Tywin asked Kevan with a keen look in his eyes.
"Water and millet." Kevan knew his brother had summoned him back because there must be something for him to do.
In front of Kefon was an exquisite little wooden box containing a pair of chopsticks wrapped in fine silk and tied together with red silk thread.
These are a pair of chopsticks that Kevon hasn't yet learned to use, but they are very precious. Because they are precious, they are noble.
"Raising wolves?"
"Give it meat."
This isn't the first time a conversation like this has taken place.
But Tywin would repeat himself, and Kevan would answer earnestly. Tywin wanted his most loyal and trusted younger brother to remember these simple truths.
The most effective way to manage complex people and things is through the simplest methods and the simplest principles.
"Are you keeping vicious dogs?"
Give him a bone.
"Yes, so for someone who is of great use to you, as long as you give them what they want, they will serve you and be loyal to you."
"Yes, sir."
What does Sandor Clegane, the Hound, need most?
"Honorable, my lord."
"So I gave him the opportunity to serve as Cersei's personal bodyguard in the palace. A Queen's Knight, there is no more glorious title than that, except for the Kingsguard."
"Yes, sir."
What are your thoughts on the changes in Gregor Clegane?
"I'm worried, sir."
What are you worried about?
"A vicious dog cannot possess human intelligence."
Tywin Lannister's expression was as hard as iron; even when he was alone with his brother, he never smiled. He possessed no human warmth whatsoever. He was truly heartless.
"Can a vicious dog, with its wisdom and knowledge, surpass the scholars in the old town's academic city?"
"Absolutely impossible!"
Will the holy light of the Seven Gods forever favor one person?
"No, sir. But it's always unsettling to think that a vicious dog has become intelligent."
What do you want to do?
"I have no idea."
"It's not scary for a vicious dog to become a little smarter, as long as it remains as obedient as before."
"I'm afraid the dog will turn into a wolf."
"Now is a time of peace, and a dog can never become a wolf. Even if he accidentally grows into a wolf, he will be a wolf that bites others. The Lannisters are forever lions."
"Yes, sir."
"Give this vicious dog what it wants, and it will always be your dog."
"Understood, sir."
"It is indeed dangerous for a vicious dog to turn into a wolf, but the real danger is losing loyalty. No matter if your subordinates are mice, cats, dogs, wolves, or anything else, loyalty is always the most important thing. Once you doubt their loyalty, there is no need to spend time figuring out if you have made a mistake; just kill them. Better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free."
"Yes, sir."
In reality, Gregor's current strength is pitifully small, and he is not worth Tywin and Kevan's serious discussion and treatment. But this is Tywin and Kevan's 'private' style, and it is also a rule-like habit that Tywin has developed since he took control of the Westerlands at the age of nineteen.
Whenever there are any "abnormal" people, events, or things in the Western Territory, no matter how big or small, the two brothers would close the door and "look ahead" to the possible future possibilities, and clarify how to deal with the situation if things worsen.
*
When Jenny Westerling and Gregor Clegane walked into the reception hall together, all the welcoming servants, family soldiers, legionary centurions, knights, sergeants and so on, were immediately impressed.
Even next to Gregor's enormous size, Jenny's beauty and radiance still attracted everyone's attention.
Earl Gavin's presence was completely overshadowed by Jenny and Gregor; no one noticed his elegant attire, even though he had entered the hall with them. He stood beside Jenny, whose arm was linked with his.
Tywin sat upright in a chair covered with lion's fur, his face as hard as iron, exuding an imposing aura. He had a golden beard, a shiny bald head, and wore a noble robe woven with gold thread, the same gold thread embellishing his boots.
There's a folk saying that even the trash that Lord Tywin Lannister excreted in the toilet was gold.
However, the knight who jokingly uttered this popular saying in front of Tywin is still imprisoned in the underground dungeon of Casterly Rock, and he will never see the sun again in his lifetime.
Sir Bert Kevan, Grand Master, stood on either side of Tywin's chair.
There were many knights and nobles in the hall, but none of them had a seat.
Tywin sat down, while everyone else had to stand.
"Earl Gavin!" Tywin said.
"Yes, sir."
Earl Gavin hurried forward and knelt on one knee to perform the rites of a vassal.
Jenny also stepped forward gracefully and, in full view of everyone, knelt on one knee beside her father to perform the vassal's ceremony.
Tywin remained motionless, accepting the salutes from Gavin and Jenny.
Tywin's stern demeanor made everyone feel oppressed.
Gregor, sword at his side, stood to Tywin's right.
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"Is the journey smooth, Lord Gavin?"
"It went very smoothly, Your Grace."
The conversation between the Duke of Tywin and the Earl of Gavin came to an end.
"Jenny, you are so beautiful."
"Thank you for your praise, sir." Jenny bowed slightly, smiled, and curtsied.
"Maester, tomorrow release ravens to announce throughout the Westerlands that I am taking Jenny Westerling as my adopted daughter. Order all nobles to come to Casterly Rock within three days. To celebrate, Casterly Rock will be in a three-day festivities. After that, all nobles and sergeants of the Westerlands shall come to the Seven Holy Shrines to be anointed with holy oil and participate in my adoption ceremony."
"Yes, sir."
Earl Gavin was incredulous, his face flushed with excitement.
He knew that the gifts from all the nobles in the Westerlands alone would be enough to make the Westerling family rich, and there was no need to sell their land to Earl Marbran at a low price.
Lord Gavin never imagined that Duke Tywin would value adopting Jenny so much. This was a powerful signal of the Westerling family's rise and the highest honor the family had ever received.
Jenny Westerling could not hide her surprise.
The people in the hall were equally incredulous. Tywin Lannister had simply adopted a daughter; there was no need for such a commotion throughout the Westerlands. It was neither logical nor reasonable.
Jenny and her family are not that important in the Westerlands.
Gregor knew perfectly well that Lord Tywin was going to use this opportunity to do several important things: salt, chopsticks, and military whistles.
Gregor looked at Kevan and the Grand Secretary and saw that they were calm and not surprised.
He knew he had guessed correctly!
Tywin's adoption of his daughter and the summons of all his vassals to celebrate was a truly momentous event in the Westerlands. There were many people in the hall, but no one cheered, no one flattered, and there was no applause.
Simply because Tywin disliked these actions.
The huge hall was very quiet. If someone were standing outside the hall, they would think there was no one inside at all.
Tywin looked at Gregor.
He made a bet with Gregor: if Gregor could get Jenny to accept his gift, he would do everything in his power to make their marriage happen. Of course, there was a condition: Gregor couldn't force Jenny to accept his gift.
Choosing a gift is a problem. How to give it is a problem. How to make Jenny accept it with joy is an even bigger problem. It's not simple at all. In fact, given Gregor's bad reputation, giving gifts is very difficult.
Tywin wanted to test whether Gregor's mind would actually work better after his enlightenment. Whether it's cleverness or wisdom, it's all about strategy.
A brave general is merely a warrior; a general who is both brave and resourceful is a true military talent.
Tywin hoped that Gregor, the dog, could be transformed into a capable general rather than a mere brute under the Seven's blessing.
Gregor said, "Lord Tywin, Miss Jenny loved the gifts I sent and has accepted them all."
"How did you deliver it?"
"Ten miles north of the official road, we met Earl Gavin and Miss Jenny. I asked my youngest daughter, Julie, to help Miss Jenny with her hair and makeup, and then I did her makeup inside the carriage. After the makeup was finished, Julie asked Miss Jenny to accept the silver mirror, rouge, face powder, and makeup brush. Miss Jenny accepted the gifts with great joy!"
"Jenny, is that so?"
"…Yes, Your Grace…" Jenny smiled, her demeanor elegant, but a bitter taste rose in her mouth.