Whispers, the banquet hall.
Long tables were set up in the center and on both sides of the hall.
The tables were filled with roasted meats, fresh fruits, and various drinks.
While watching the young serving girls bustling around the hall, Gallen's mind wandered elsewhere.
The serving girls wore knee-length blue round-collar dresses.
Traditionally, the dresses of Whispers' serving girls were long, causing concerns about tripping or getting stepped on, hence Gallen humorously dubbed them "floor-draggers."
Unable to bear the sight any longer, Gallen, under Karliah's name, instructed someone to shorten the serving girls' dresses to knee-length and provided each of them with brown mid-calf soft leather shoes.
Thus, the attire of maids was born.
With the modifications, Gallen finally found the serving girls pleasing to the eye.
Using Karliah's name was because Gallen feared that if he used his own name, the incident of dress modification would spread, and according to Westeros's customs, he might be dubbed something embarrassing like "Baron of Dresses."
Daenerys Targaryen : The First of Her Name, the Unburnt, Queen of Meereen, Queen of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Khalisee of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons.
Gallen: "..., Baron of Dresses!"
Refusal, absolutely not admitting it.
The credit belongs to the naturally intelligent Karliah.
.......
Amidst various laughter, people continued to raise their glasses, making the atmosphere in the hall even livelier.
.......
Gallen sat alone at the lord's table, with only Karliah, holding a wine jug, serving beside him.
According to tradition, only the lord's family members or honored guests could sit with the lord at the long table.
Gallen: "Karliah, leave the wine jug here and join the banquet. Look over there, your little sisters are at that table."
Karliah hesitated.
Gallen smiled and took the wine jug from Karliah: "Go ahead, I'll call you if needed."
"Then...I'll go and take a look. I'll be back soon!"
Not long after Karliah left, a pair of slender hands picked up the wine jug from where it was placed.
Surlana poured wine for Gallen: "My lord, you'll spoil her."
"Madam Surlana, whenever I need you, you always appear in time."
"I appreciate your recognition, my lord. If you could reduce my workload a bit, I'd be even more grateful."
During this time, Hershel and Surlana had been spinning around in a whirlwind of tasks assigned by Gallen, one after another.
"Is there a problem?"
"They call themselves witch doctors. Don't witch doctors need to trim their nails? I'm sure they've never trimmed them since birth, and there's always a lingering stench on them that never goes away, which has affected my appetite since yesterday. Several physicians in Whispers have strong opinions about them. Gathering them together is a disaster in itself. I even thought of using the sword I haven't used in a long time."
Gallen nodded knowingly: "It seems that the witch doctors lack awareness of their status as prisoners."
After a pause, Gallen continued: "Surlana, we have to admit that they have unique insights into treating wounds and using herbs. Our soldiers need more physicians, and with more physicians and good medicines, we can save many soldiers."
"The seasoned veterans are our valuable assets."
"You are farsighted, my lord. I just can't help but want to draw my sword to scare the disobedient ones."
Gallen nodded: "Yes, as I mentioned earlier, their status is that of prisoners, so you have found the right approach. Arrange for someone to do it, whether it's trimming nails or brushing them clean. Just have some soldiers place swords at their necks, and you'll find it much easier."
"Thank you for your help, my lord."
After saying that, Surlana glanced subtly to the side and furrowed her brows.
Karliah, with a flushed face, was chatting happily with her peers, holding a wine glass.
Following Surlana's gaze, Gallen also looked at Karliah: "Karliah learns quickly in everything. As a mother, she's someone you should be proud of."
"You have a kind heart."
"Saplings need the process of growth, Surlana."
Only Emer and Reyna from the Thorn Corps were qualified to attend the banquet.
Attending the lord's banquet for the first time, Emer and Reyna were initially reserved. After a few drinks, however, they began to speak loudly and drink heartily in the lively atmosphere of the banquet.
Glancing at Emer, Surlana blinked and said, "I heard you're very satisfied with her."
That Maester Ars...Gallen chuckled softly: "Emer is a straightforward warrior."
.......
.......
Somewhere in King's Landing, in a dimly lit room.
Petyr Baelish had gray-green eyes, gray-white hair, a slim figure, and wore a neatly tailored deep gray robe, resembling a monk.
Petyr Baelish lifted his head, his lips curling into an elegant smile: "Lord Gallen Crabb, a very unfamiliar name."
"Yes, my lord. Her Grace the Queen seems quite interested in him. I've checked, he's 15 years old, a Half-Wild noble from Crackclaw Point."
"An exemplary loyalist of House Targaryen..."
Petyr Baelish's mouth maintained a pleasing curve, his gaze calm: "We cannot rely on what floats on the surface. Anything unconfirmed is no longer credible. The allure of King's Landing attracts the footsteps of ambitious people every moment."
"My lord, forgive my dullness, but should we arrange for someone to investigate further?"
Petyr Baelish shook his head lightly before saying, "There's no need for a special arrangement. Since Her Grace has taken an interest, the little fellow will soon appear in King's Landing. The Red Keep has no secrets."
Petyr Baelish murmured softly, "Chaos is a ladder..."
........
........
One month later.