Chapter 238: The Curse
Regalis Port City, Bolton Lands
POV of Domeric Bolton
Domeric sat on the wall of Regalis Port and gazed out at the bustling city below.
Under Tyrion's administration, it was growing at a significantly faster rate than before.
Beside him, Tyrion sniffed the wine and swirled it for a moment before he brought it to his lips and took another gulp from the glass he was holding.
"Ahh… That hits the spot."
"You act as if it's your first time drinking the Arbor Gold."
"It might as well be." Tyrion said in a content tone, "A week ago, Tysha snatched and hid all my stash. I can't drink so freely anymore. She says it's a bad influence on the boy."
"It is a bad influence on young boys," Domeric said as he sipped his own lemon juice. The lemon was taken from a lemon tree growing in one of the glasshouses in Lundenhold. "Boys often pick up the habits of their parents." He said.
To this day, it still surprises him that Tyrion had taken the bastard boy of Tysha, who was born to her after her gang rape, as his own son. And it was not just a show either. Tyrion didn't resent the boy even a little bit for how he was born and was genuinely trying to be a good father to him.
Maybe this was why Tysha forgave him in the first place.
"Huh!" Tyrion scoffed, "What do you know about being a father. Well… aside from the 'my people are my children' thing."
"Not much." He said, "But I do know that it's a bad influence for children. And it's bad for your health as well."
"Yeah, yeah. Stop it. You're sounding more and more like my wife now." Tyrion chuckled to himself.
"She cares for you."
"Gods know why," Tyrion said, slumping his shoulders and taking another sip from the Arbor Gold.
He let out a sigh and turned to face the little man, "Tyrion. Stop pitying yourself. You have a good life. Don't squander it by living in the past."
Tyrion turned to stare at him for a long moment before he chuckled once again, "Okay, okay. I'll stop pitying myself. It doesn't suit someone as good-looking as me anyway."
Domeric smiled as he thought about it.
Tyrion might not be conventionally good-looking, but he possessed a prodigious talent in administration.
In the few months since Tyrion took over the administration of Regalis Port City, he has increased the volume of trade by 40%. A number which he was sure would only continue to grow in the coming future.
He also used the additional gold to buy 30 more trading brig-type ships from a Braavosi merchant who was down on his luck.
He himself would never have found an opportunity like this, but Tyrion had a nose for these things.
By now, his fleet had increased to almost 350 ships in size and will continue to grow even without his presence.
"King Robert has arrived in Winterfell," Domeric said after a long silence as he put his empty cup down.
"And you've been called to meet them." Tyrion nodded. "Makes me wonder why you're here instead of on your way to Winterfell."
"Your brother, nephews, and niece are there as well." He said, "You have anything you want me to send them?"
The glass in Tyrion's hand shook for a moment before he controlled himself and shook his head. "Jamie Lannister is not my brother. Not after he betrayed my trust and…" he looked at the horizon in the distance and continued, "Joffrey is a little shit. But Myrcella and Tommen are sweet and innocent kids. I'll prepare some gifts for them if you won't mind taking those gifts to them."
"I won't mind."
Tyrion nodded.
"Is Tysha… is your relationship with Tysha okay now?" Domeric asked after a few moments.
Tyrion chuckled once again and then shook his head sadly. "The… the past will always remain with her. And I doubt she'll ever truly forgive me for it… But we're working things out." He smiled, "She has already allowed me to her bed. We're hoping for a child by the end of the year."
He smiled back at Tyrion. "Don't take this the wrong way, Tyrion, but how would you feel if one day you discovered a way to transform yourself from a dwarf into someone normal?
Tyrion laughed and said, "I'd probably declare that day my new nameday. A man can never understand the curse of being a dwarf until he's experienced it. There are very few things in this world I wouldn't give up to get rid of this curse."
"Hmm…" Domeric merely hummed in agreement at Tyrion's answer.
But when Tyrion turned his head and looked at the serious expression on Domeric's face, he realized that he was serious, not just talking hypothetically.
"My... my lord. Do you really have a way to free me from this curse? I'll do whatever you ask. Just say the word." Tyrion said desperately. The glass in his hand was now shaking violently, spilling its wine everywhere.
"Don't get your hopes up, Tyrion. I don't have a definitive cure for your dwarfism right now. But if I work on it, I might find a way. But it will be a method that hasn't been tried before, and so the consequences are impossible to predict. Therefore, it does carry a certain level of risk." Domeric said in a serious tone.
"Still, I'm willing to take any risk. As long as..." Tyrion began to speak, but was interrupted by Domeric.
"Don't let your emotions cloud your reason, Tyrion. I want you to establish a permanent circus, performing in the cities of Lundenhold and Regalis. Make sure it includes dwarves. When the time comes, we will make this offer to other dwarves first and test the method on those who accept. There is no need to take unnecessary risks. You are now a man with a wife and children. Remember that."
Tyrion stood frozen for a moment, and then his helpless and feeble mood turned more serious and determined. "You are right, my lord. Thank you for your advice… and your help."
"Don't thank me yet. I haven't done anything yet. You must understand that this isn't something that will happen overnight. So, you have to be patient." Domeric said.
"I understand, my lord. And thank you for your help anyway." Tyrion said sincerely.
He smiled back at Tyrion again. "You are welcome. Prepare the gifts by tomorrow morning and leave them at 'that' place."
"As you wish, my Lord Wizard," Tyrion said with a mock bow. He chuckled and then smiled, "See you later, Tyrion."
"Safe journey, my lord." Tyrion nodded, and then he apparated back to his room in Dreadfort.
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Next Chapters' Name:
Ch.239: The Change of Bolton Lands
Ch.240: Winterfell After a Long Time (Canon Starts)
Ch.241: Lord Stark's Apology