"Thank you, Maester!" Ed took the letter, glanced at the intact seal on it, and thanked Maester, who was standing opposite the desk, facing the window.
Hearing the words of the former Prime Minister, Maester Pycelle bowed his head slightly, his back seeming even more hunched. "This is what I should do, Lord Ed. If you have no further orders, then I shall take my leave."
Ed nodded, indicating that he could go.
Maester Pycelle turned around with slow dignity, looking aged and frail, and gradually walked out of the Prime Minister's office.
Ed watched him leave with a thoughtful expression, then withdrew his gaze and opened the letter sent from Winterfell.
In the letter, his wife, Catelyn, briefly stated that Robb had performed well during his tenure as acting city lord.
Then she mentioned that Lord Jason had paid her more than 6,700 golden dragons for the first month of selling trees.
Reading this, Ed's usually tense and serious face couldn't help showing surprise. He hadn't expected that in the very first month, they would earn so much from selling trees in Winterfell!
This both surprised and delighted Eddard Stark.
After all, the North was too barren, and the population too sparse. The income of Winterfell had always been limited. Now, with profits from selling lumber, it was truly beneficial for House Stark.
Reading further, he saw Catelyn had shared her thoughts about leasing the wasteland near Lake Saylor to build a commercial port, allowing trade with merchants from across the realm by water.
Even Lord Jason East was willing to give one-twentieth of his annual income to Winterfell as tax. That offer was exceptionally generous.
Of course, as Warden of the North, Ed Stark didn't focus on the annual tax first. His initial thought was: if the port by Lake Saylor developed into a prosperous town like White Harbor, what benefits would it bring to the North and the Stark family?
The first would be increased tax revenue.
The second benefit would be retaining Jason East—a brilliant businessman and wealthy noble—in the North. He could even eventually grant the wasteland around Lake Saylor to House East.
This way, the Stark family could have another powerful vassal.
That would also greatly benefit Robb's future rule, once he succeeded Ed as Warden of the North.
Yes, Ed's plan was to have Robb officially grant Jason East a title after inheriting his lordship, ensuring Robb gained the loyalty of a powerful subordinate.
And what if Jason East refused to accept the canonization of the Northern Lord?
Ed smiled faintly. As long as Lord Jason continued to invest in the North, he wouldn't abandon the port city he had painstakingly built. He wouldn't leave the North to seek opportunities elsewhere in Westeros.
After all, Jason was a businessman—and a businessman wouldn't let his investment go to waste.
The door to the office was suddenly opened, interrupting Ed's thoughts.
Bran, Sansa, and Arya ran in excitedly.
"Father, come on! We're going to the tournament outside the city! It's being held for you by His Majesty the King—" Bran took Ed's hand and urged him repeatedly.
Arya grabbed Ed's other arm and kept shaking it. "Come on, Father! The tournament's about to start! I saw the king and the others already setting off!"
Sansa wanted to go with Prince Joffrey, but out of a noble lady's restraint, she could only contain her excitement.
Ed hugged Bran and Arya, a rare smile softening his usually cold expression. "Alright, I understand. Go back to your rooms and get your things. We'll take the carriage out of the city shortly. Now go get ready, children."
"Hahaha! I'm going to get my toy sword—" Bran rushed to his room.
Arya and Sansa also turned and ran out of Ed's office to fetch their beautiful clothes, since the tournament would last several days, and they might be staying in tents outside the city.
Thinking of the tournament, where many young heroes would compete and many noble ladies would be watching, Sansa wanted to wear the most beautiful dress that Mr. Jason had gifted her. She was sure she would outshine everyone there.
In a cheerful mood, Sansa instructed her maid, Jenny, to help her change.
Seeing the children so happy, Ed felt momentarily relieved that the king had hosted such an extravagant tournament in his honor as Prime Minister.
At least the children love it, don't they?
The corners of his mouth curved slightly before Ed composed himself and called out sternly, "Jory!"
His captain of the guard, Ser Jory Cassel, dressed in leather armor with his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, quickly entered. "My lord, what are your orders?"
"Have the carriage prepared. We'll head to the tournament outside the city. When Sansa and the others come out, tell them to wait for me inside the carriage," Ed instructed.
"Yes, my lord!" Jory immediately turned to inform Chief to prepare the carriage.
After giving the order, Ed took out a piece of white A4 paper, cut it into a long strip with a knife, picked up a gel pen, and began writing a letter to Catelyn.
In the letter, Ed informed his wife that he wanted to keep Jason East in the North, and that he intended for Robb to formally grant Jason East a title once Robb inherited his own.
Therefore, Ed agreed to lease the land at Lake Saylor to Jason.
After finishing the letter, Ed sealed it with wax, stamped it with the direwolf crest, and had another guard, Tom, deliver it to Maester Pycelle at the Maester's Tower.
Once that was done, Ed returned to his room, changed into clean clothes, and joined the children in the carriage. Accompanied by Stark guards, they departed for the tournament grounds outside the city.
By then, outside the wooden tournament arena, tens of thousands of King's Landing civilians had already gathered. The scene was bustling with excitement.
Clever hawkers moved through the crowd selling goods, while some merchants had brought carts of low-quality ale, selling it cup by cup straight from their wagons. Business was booming.
Outside the wooden fencing of the tournament grounds, gold-cloaked guards stood watch, while the common folk of King's Landing could only watch the competition from a distance.
Inside the fence, noble lords and ladies sat on specially constructed wooden stands, enjoying the matches below.
As the king and prime minister took their seats, the energy of the crowd surged.
King Robert sat on a high platform reserved for the royal family, an excited expression on his round face. "Next comes the tournament for Lord Eddard Stark, in celebration of his appointment as our new Hand of the King!"
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