Ronnet Connington SI

-Chapter 54-

I nodded, then said:

"Even though I know you still hold onto your little superiority complex, these days you don't show it anymore, or at least, you don't show it in front of strangers or members of the court who could use it against us. You keep it for me, and most importantly, you take into account the opinions of others, especially those with more experience or skill than you."

She smiled, then said, "It's true that before, I was… naïve."

"That's a very mild way to describe the illusion you were living in... Ouch!" I said, pretending that her elbow jab in my ribs had actually hurt.

I smiled, then said, trying to change the subject while slightly flattering her in the process:

"What matters is your improvement. So, to test you a little, I'd like you to advise me."

"What should I do next? I have plenty of options. I was thinking of gathering the royal fleet, the Redwyne fleet, the Velaryon fleet, and mine to attack the Ironborn from behind, destroy them, and make my brother the lord of the Iron Islands, while continuing to fund the mountain clans so they can wear down the forces of the Lords of the Vale in case they decide to help Robb out of a sense of honor," I said.

"What I could improve in this plan is obvious. Why not simply let them fight each other to the death? We continue to wait. Balon Greyjoy is a stubborn man; he'll want to prove he's worthy of the crown to his people, and Robb Stark will want to avenge his brothers' deaths and the betrayal of his former friend Theon Greyjoy," she said.

I smiled because that was the answer I was expecting, and I said, "What else?"

"But we could also provide intelligence to Balon Greyjoy, as well as a bounty for any Lannisters they might want to free, including my brother."

My smile shrank, but I said nothing, because marriage is a matter of compromise.

I nodded more neutrally, and she added:

"And we could also offer our help to the Starks."

I smiled, then said:

"You're absolutely right, but there's one thing you forgot: the Ironborn didn't set out to raid the North with their entire fleet; they went to conquer it. There are five obvious targets where Robb Stark could wait for them: Winterfell, Dreadfort, Ramsgate, Widow's Watch, Hornwood, and Karhold."

"Even though these Starks disgust me, I must admit that regardless of this boy's age, anyone who can challenge my father is someone well-versed in the arts of war."

I nodded and added:

"He'll defeat them, I'm sure of it. However, I don't want us to push things too far. The North is the shield against all our headaches. I want us to have dealt with all our enemies in the south by the time they've finished facing theirs in the north."

"Who are our enemies?" she asked, perplexed.

"Everyone who isn't us," I said, smiling.

"I see you've learned your lessons well," she said, kissing me.

I smiled, enjoying the kiss, then said, "Now, what do we do about our enemies in the South?"

"We get the Dornish Marcher Lords on our side. We have the money and the manpower to build small forts in the mountains as well as outposts in case they try to attack us," she said.

"And…?" I said, waiting for her to say more.

"And we weaken the Tyrells and the Reach in general. We need to pass small laws that will break their obvious food monopoly. We tax their products more heavily and reduce trade with them," she said confidently.

"I agree overall, but we mustn't forget that the queen is a Tyrell. We'll need to go about it more gently, without hostility, but acting as if we're working together, which is why I made Mace Tyrell the Master of Laws," I said, nodding, pleased with her analysis so far.

"Why make that fool the Master of Laws?" Cersei asked, somewhat annoyed, as I imagine she would have preferred a more malleable idiot, and more… cough Lannister cough, in that position.

"Because he's an idiot. He'll do whatever it takes to elevate himself to the rank of the greatest lord, like me and your father, even if it means becoming our puppet. Anyway, he won't feel anything, and neither will his coffers. Maybe his bannermen will feel it, but it's for the good of the realm, so they won't have anything to say if their liege lord doesn't," I said.

"And the already shaky hold on their territory will become even shakier, despite the old witch who's holding it all together," Cersei said, completing my thoughts.

"Yes, but you mustn't forget that we're a bloc with them. We're not seeking their downfall, so our little wars are limited to occasional verbal jousts and small holes in their coffers to fill ours. So if they ever anger you, don't go burning them all in a Wildfire explosion," I said with a smile, recalling what she had done in the original story.

"Don't talk to me like I'm a child. I'd never do something so stupid. Without the Tyrells, we'd lose our hold on a loyal army, as well as our granary and backup treasury," she said indignantly.

I smiled, thinking of the mad Cersei who had burned almost the entire Reach, and she gave me a light punch on the chest, her eyes boring holes into me, and I kissed her while congratulating myself on having truly educated her in the art of war, disinformation, and real cunning.

Cersei was a woman, and that was the reason for her lack of judgment in the series.

Not because of her gender, but because in a world like this and at such a time, women weren't versed in politics, because the mentality here was that anything men do will always be better than what a woman can do… pure misogyny.

Girls weren't educated, they couldn't ride horses or handle weapons… They were only allowed needles, dresses, and expensive perfumes, but for that, they had to be fortunate enough to be born into a wealthy or noble family.

Otherwise, there were only two options: work as a prostitute in a brothel or become a housewife and wait to die in childbirth.

There's also likely a superiority complex and Lannister arrogance to top it all off, but I managed to break through her shell by simply telling her the truth at a time when she could accept any advice to improve her situation.

Our peace was broken when the guard outside the door said:

"My lord, Maester Qyburn is here for the transfusion."