I didn't really like venison that much to be entirely honest. It was always a bit too gamey for my tastes, especially with how little spice was typically involved.
Then again, I was quite used to Westeros and it's largely disappointing food at this point. The only place I had really enjoyed my food particularly was at the Arbor, and there mostly because of the butter and cheese. The meat was, as a rule, less tasty and in smaller portions than it had been in my old life, lacking a few centuries of selective breeding and any sort of standardized feeding programs.
You never knew how much you missed factory-farmed beef until you stopped having access to factory-farmed beef.
Honestly half the time I would kill for a hotdog, no matter what it was made of. Not that there wasn't a good dish here and there, fish especially could sometimes be perfectly fine, but on the whole, I found that Martin's multi-page descriptions of feasts were largely unwarranted. Though perhaps I wasn't going to the right feasts.
Still, I ate my deer and waited for my mother in law to-be to start the conversation.
It mercifully didn't take long for her to start my interrogation.
"So, Prince Arthur, you intend to marry my daughter?"
"Yes," I answered quickly, nodding "And given that you are her mother you are certainly welcome to call me Arthur in Private."
If she was at all surprised by the statement of familiarity, it didn't show on her face. "I see, well, I won't insist that you call me mother just yet, but I would like to ask you a few questions, I'm sure you've already heard them from Doran, but please be patient, I care a great deal for Arianne's wellbeing."
I nodded at that, "As do I." I assured her, though it didn't seem to do much.
"Well then, tell me more about this Kingdom of the Stepstones you've made here, I don't want her marrying into a pauper or someone about to be killed by unruly subjects."
"It's the Kingdom of the Narrow Sea, actually, and I may end up changing its name before I'm done, it depends how big it gets." I smiled, of all the things to ask me, this was one of the safest. There was not another eligible man in the seven kingdoms who could even hold a candle to what I had done here, especially at my age. "The Kingdom is founded on several basic principles but is essentially rooted in the idea of bringing an end to slavery and piracy in the region. It will likely not stop at the borders of the Stepstones, however. Once the situation here has stabilized a bit I intend to expand further. The Basilisk Island's pirates will no doubt continue to be a nuisance to trade routes with the Summer Islands and beyond, and further opportunities for economic expansion come in the form of the newly headless disputed lands."
"You think you can lay claim to the disputed lands? They have their name for a reason."
I smirked at the question, that was one I was well prepared to answer. Even if my answer might come off as a bit arrogant. Well, one didn't build an empire by being humble, at least not all the time.
"Without Myr there they likely won't be disputed for long. Tyrosh and Lys lack strong navies, Demon of Qohor has retreated for now, and Pentos has a tight leash from Braavos. Volantis would be the biggest challenge, but they are currently engaged in a civil war. As much as it may make me a vulture I believe I could reasonably hold the disputed lands, especially with how depopulated they are now. There is a lack of power there now, and I can provide the protection the population there want without much in the way of significant risks."
Mellario looked at me, her eyes sharpening for a moment before a small smile came and played across her face. I felt a little suspicion form in my gut as the look was a tad too feline for my tastes.
"I'm sure then that you will have no issues finding a home for my people there?" Mellario's eyes were bright and playful. "I have taken on something of a... Leadership role, amongst those who fled Norvos, Trueborn and commoner alike. I would consider it a personal favor if you were to take them-take us, under your protection, since you are so supremely confident."
"How many?" I asked, smiling. I wasn't sure if she thought this some great yoke to hang over my head or not, but I wasn't going to be swayed from my course. The Norvosi would be more citizens, and thus more workers for my cause.
"Fifteen-thousand, at least, more might come in time." She smiled. "They'll be made full citizens of course."
"I…"
"Oh come now, can't you do this for me? I want to be sure I can expose Arianne to her family culture on my own side you know. She never made it to Norvos before the cursed Qohori took it."
'So that was her game.' The woman was hard to read, but I could understand where she was coming from. Even if what she was asking was a tad extreme.
It would be utterly unthinkable in Essos, letting foreigners join as citizens in large numbers, and even in my own territory, it was a hard sell since it devalued the franchise of the citizens already present. Though then again, she might just be misinterpreting exactly what Citizenship in my kingdom meant… Well, I was sure she'd have time to find out.
Though as far as Norvosi upper class went they would likely get less out of it than she thought. I wasn't exactly interested in creating much of a noble class for myself, no reason to when my councils could do their jobs without being as much of a direct competitor for power, at least in the near future.
"Very well." I nodded, at last, taking effort to portray it as a much harder decision then it was. "Under one condition,"
"Name it."
"The Norvosi exile population will be granted citizenship in the Kingdom of the Narrow Sea, when and if they relocate to Storm-Sky, that is this Island's new name mind. They will take up residence in my new capital along with many of the exiles from the disputed lands and Myr, and serve as part of the basis for future expansion." A thought occurred as Mellario nodded, and I decided to make a quick addendum. "Also, obviously, their slaves are forfeit if they still have any and will be granted citizenship under the same terms. Even citizens won't hold their fellow men as property under my name."
Mellario's face fell, but in the end, she still nodded. "That will be… Contentious, but I believe it can be done. What of my own status?"
"You're my future wife's mother, so you'll obviously have status in that regard, but if you want political status, well, earn it, you've already proven yourself leading the refugees. I don't know if you've read my constitution in the making, but the people elect their representatives like magisters here. I have no doubt you'll win if you try for it. Especially with such a population of Norvosi coming with you."
Mellario stared at me for a long moment, before finally speaking, "Arianne could do worse."
Saying that she got up and left without a further word, and left me flabbergasted behind.
'Was that whole thing still about me marrying Arianne?'
My future mother in law was a bit too difficult to read for my tastes.
At least she seemed to approve of me.
'I, uh, think.'