Chapter 49: The Office of Administration 2
After Glyn supplemented some details regarding the Queen's Quarter, the conversation concluded.
After Foley and Leyton departed, Glyn, accompanied by guards, returned to the Red Keep and entered the Office of Administration.
The Office of Administration, adjacent to the Hand's Tower, was where the officials serving the Small Council handled the Kingdom's daily affairs.
During the Targaryen dynasty, when the Small Council was not in session, important officials would typically handle the Kingdom's affairs in their respective offices within the Office of Administration.
After the Baratheon dynasty, King Robert, indulging in pleasure, handed over supreme authority to Lord Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, and no longer concerned himself with state affairs, spending his days living in a drunken stupor.
The Master of Ships, King Robert's second brother, Stannis Baratheon, to express his dissatisfaction with the King, directly handled state affairs at Dragonstone Castle on Dragonstone.
The Master of Laws, King Robert's third brother, Renly Baratheon, had no interest in the Kingdom's affairs. Apart from occasionally attending Small Council meetings, he was never seen in the Red Keep.
Lord Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, as he grew older, was rarely seen outside the Hand's Tower.
Therefore, in the Office of Administration—the central administrative body of the Kingdom, second only to the Small Council—the only important officials regularly seen were Petyr Baelish, the Master of Coin; Varys, the Master of Whisperers; and Grand Maester Pycelle.
Grand Maester Pycelle was an old official from the Targaryen dynasty. After Robert's Rebellion, King Robert retained him in his position.
Maester Pycelle's primary responsibility was to serve as the King's advisor. He was also responsible for compiling various texts and organizing knowledge, managing the Red Keep's raven communications, and serving as the royal family's chief physician.
Because King Robert did not concern himself with state affairs, Maester Pycelle became the advisor to Lord Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King.
...
Led by a servant from the Office of Administration, Glyn soon arrived at the office of Petyr, the Master of Coin.
Petyr's office had circular windows with golden latticework, similar to the Hand's Solar. The floor was covered with thick, plush carpets, and exquisite tapestries hung on the walls.
Glyn swept his gaze across the room's exquisite furnishings, almost catching the scent of gold dragons.
Petyr saw Glyn, put down his quill, and leaned back against his chair, a smile spreading across his face. "Oh, isn't this Baron Glinn? I've been waiting for you. Please, take a seat!"
Petyr ordered a servant to bring a chair and place it opposite his desk.
Glyn bowed with a hand over his chest. "Good day, Lord Petyr."
After paying his respects, Glyn sat down.
Petyr also returned the greeting with a smile, then waved his hand, signaling the servants to leave the room.
Once the servants had left the room and closed the door, Petyr spoke. "I heard about what happened in the study today. Lord Jon Arryn is ill again."
Glyn spread his hands. "Anyone who encounters such a thing would be furious. His Lordship's condition isn't serious, is it?"
Petyr elegantly curled his lips into a smile, relaxing into his chair. "I thank you on behalf of Lord Jon Arryn for your concern. Maester Pycelle has already provided careful treatment. It is said he will be confined to bed for at least seven days."
Petyr sat up, leaning forward and lowering his voice. "This time, it's thanks to you. Otherwise, we might never have known that the Hand's Solar was hiding a third ear."
Petyr's demeanor completely conveyed a sense of "we are on the same side."
Glyn's voice was calm. "Has His Lordship made arrangements for the follow-up?"
Petyr's tone carried a hint of mockery. "I hear that after a deeper investigation into the hidden passageway, a tunnel was discovered. Lord Jon Arryn entrusted the subsequent investigation to Lord Janos Slynt, the Commander of the Goldcloaks."
The City Watch, also known as the Goldcloaks, earned their name from the golden wool cloaks they wore over their armor.
The Goldcloaks serve as King's Landing's garrison and law enforcement, loyal only to the royal family. The City Watch maintains two barracks in King's Landing: the Eastern barracks are near the Dragon Gate, and the Western barracks are close to Cobbler's Square.
Previously, the number of Goldcloaks was always 2,000. After Lord Janos Slynt was appointed Commander of the City Watch by King Robert, he tripled the number of Goldcloaks to over 6,000. However, many of these 6,000 men were drunkards and vagrants, with low combat effectiveness.
It is rumored that almost half of the officers in the City Watch have to pay him from their own wages every month.
Lord Jon Arryn discovered this after finding two people willing to testify against him. However, these two people were found dead soon after.
Although Lord Jon Arryn still hoped to remove Janos Slynt from office, King Robert forcefully intervened and maintained Lord Janos Slynt's position as Commander of the City Watch.
...
Glyn smiled. "The old Lord has a keen eye for people."
Petyr shrugged elegantly, making no comment.
After a moment, Glyn spoke. "This morning, His Lordship's request for me to investigate the cause put me in a very difficult position. Without direct evidence, merely based on a song sung on Crackclaw Point, he insisted that I bear the blame."
Glyn's brown eyes met Petyr's grey-green ones, his tone seemingly helpless. "This makes me very troubled. If the Master of Ships were present, I would not have to be in such a difficult position. I heard he is very just."
Petyr's grey-green eyes flickered. "Lord Stannis, the Master of Ships?"
Glyn nodded. "Lord Stannis upholds the rule of law, and his reputation for being meticulous in legal matters is renowned throughout the Seven Kingdoms. Now, I fear everyone knows that the Hand's Solar holds no secrets. I am worried that if he hears of this injustice, the upright Lord Stannis would question Lord Jon Arryn, disregarding his health."
Petyr's smile deepened, and he nodded in agreement. "Your concern is justified. Lord Stannis has always been too uncompromisingly righteous. Even the seriously ill Lord Jon Arryn cannot sway his will. We can only hope that the secrets of the Hand's Solar will not spread to Dragonstone."
As he spoke, Petyr secretly reflected on himself. Why would someone as meticulous as him overlook the existence of Lord Stannis?
It seemed it wasn't just Petyr himself. As an involved party, he could confirm that no one was intentionally plotting this, yet the entire Red Keep seemed to have collectively ignored the existence of Lord Stannis.
If it weren't for Baron Glinn mentioning it to him today, he believed he would continue to unconsciously overlook Lord Stannis.
Why would this situation occur? Invisibility? Some unknown magic?
...
(end of chapter)