It had already been more than a month since I had settled in the capital, and I had already organized several parties to entertain nobles and wealthy merchants from all horizons, I had easily burned through quantities of vodka and whisky equivalent to 5,000 gold dragons in just one week, but that wasn't a real problem when you know the capacity and production speed of my distilleries.
What really bothered me was that no one could manage the supply and sale of my products, at full capacity I could sell 100,000 bottles of each spirit I produced and I could produce 100 tons of sugar each year, but either these nobles didn't have enough money and wanted to take the merchandise first and pay later, or the merchants I invited didn't have enough influence in the free cities to sell that much, there were even some who were simply afraid of House Baratheon.
Yes…the rumor that I had 'willingly' offered 200,000 gold dragons to come back into the 'good graces' of Renly Baratheon had spread throughout the city, I am sure and certain that it was him and his squire Tyrell who spread the rumor to increase their prestige through my 'humiliation'.
It was a blatant insult, but I could do nothing but grit my teeth and wait for that dog to die from a magical shadow born of his brother's seed.
I gradually crossed off the names of each noble I had invited and then I resigned myself the only person in this kingdom that neither the king nor Renly would try to offend now…was the queen.
Initially, I didn't want to contact her right away, I didn't even want to contact her because I was waiting for the mother of dragons and my uncle but thinking back I don't know how Jon Connington will accept the fact that his former seat was in my hands nor how the queen of dragons will agree to forgive the 'traitor' blood running through my veins.
From the Targaryen point of view, the only Connington who remained loyal to the throne was Jon because my father fought against Rhaegar at the Battle of the Trident and knelt before the throne just like me.
The only one I could help and who could 'potentially appreciate' my services at their true value was none other than the current queen Cersei Lannister.
I didn't want to show my loyalty right away because the future had changed since I entered this world and the effect I had created was not that of a butterfly but of a fucking elephant.
I rang the bell and a servant entered I handed him a letter and said: 'This letter is sealed deliver it in person to the queen if you ever open it you will lose your head bring the gifts I have carefully prepared for the royal family at the same time'
'Yes, My Lord,' he said, taking the letter and hiding it inside his doublet.
I nodded and let him leave my solar before exhaling loudly, I had entered a dangerous game and I really hope I wouldn't get burned alive by the queen of dragons once she lands there is only her that really scares me.
I laughed and then shook my head: 'All this is in a future too distant, for now, I will ease my worries with a well-deserved little glass,' I thought, opening a bottle of vodka.
-2 months later-
It had been 3 months since I was in the capital and it was finally now that I was going to pass through the gates of the Red Keep, I received a response from Cersei 3 days after sending my 4th letter but she didn't immediately agree to meet me.
She probably wanted to test me to see if I was really sincere in my plea or just another one of those sycophants looking to profit from a 'friendship' with the queen, after several letters indicating my discontent regarding the castellan of Storm End Cortnay Penrose she finally lowered her guard and agreed to meet me.
'Rodrik, you come with me,' I said, seeing him guiding the new recruits in the courtyard of the manor.
I had decided that each of my Knights should take 3 squires and in 3 years today's recruits would be more than capable fighters, I would then have a force of about 1,600 knights which was really a huge force since each of my knights owned a complete set of equipment from helmet to horse.
I couldn't raise an army at least not now so what I absolutely had to do was to make up for the quantity of soldiers from other houses by the quality of my knights.
All of my knights had no days off, they must train every day regardless of the weather outside, this Spartan training unfortunately already killed some of my men but each of them was aware of the risks before engaging in the training to become and remain a knight of the Order of the Bloody Griffin.
In reward for the time, efforts, and sacrifices they made for me I made sure to pay for all their equipment, as well as their maintenance, their food, their lodging and of course their wages which amounted to 10 gold dragons per year in total I kept this unit in shape by injecting less than 10,000 gold dragons each year.
It was high because no land knight could gather this sum but the current house Connington could easily afford it we have recovered our lands as well as our mines in the mountains and we could earn 30,000 to 50,000 gold dragons each year.
On the way to the red keep, I found a sensation I had lost a long time ago...fear or at least a hint of fear, it was refreshing because since I had received my 'superpower' I began to feel a bit of apathy and this apathy continued to increase every time I plunged my sword into the throat of an enemy.
At the gates of the red keep a group of gold cloaks escorted us to meet the queen.