Chapter 711

In theory, the entirety of Oldtown—its people and its assets—belonged to House Hightower.

The citizens of this great city were little more than serfs, burdened with heavy taxes and feudal obligations. They not only endured the tithes and forced labor but also suffered under the Hightowers’ monopolization of the most lucrative trades, their imposition of exclusive rights, and their relentless exploitation by any means imaginable. To put it in modern terms, Oldtown’s "business environment" was nothing short of abysmal—an utterly inhospitable place for anyone seeking freedom or prosperity.

Yet despite this oppressive feudal order being at odds with the very nature of urban life, Oldtown’s leading merchants and guildmasters remained staunchly loyal to House Hightower. Why?

The answer lay in a complex interplay of factors—both external and internal.

Objectively, Westeros was plagued by an unpredictable and often harsh climate. Individual enterprise and small-scale private property could never provide the kind of stability needed for a predictable life. Whenever a long winter set in, most within Oldtown’s walls had no choice but to rely on the Hightowers’ vast grain stores to survive. Those who depend on others for survival cannot easily rebel—unlike the burghers of medieval Europe, Oldtown’s citizens had little room to strike, protest, or rise against their rulers.

Subjectively, the reasons were even more numerous.

The Hightowers were merchants at heart, not warriors. Their preference for trade over conquest, combined with their relatively pragmatic and lenient governance, had tempered tensions between the ruling class and the common folk.

Moreover, Westeros’ slow historical development—exacerbated by its harsh climate—meant that Oldtown’s citizens had yet to develop a collective civic consciousness. They did not see themselves as a distinct class, nor had they awakened to the need for self-governance.

And perhaps most importantly, in a world where bad rulers were the norm, House Hightower stood out as the least terrible option.

Compared to the other lords of Westeros—who could at any moment plunge their cities into war and impose emergency taxes—House Hightower’s steady and predictable taxation seemed almost benevolent. Beyond Westeros, things were even worse. The so-called Free Cities still operated under slavery, where men and women weren’t just exploited but openly bought and sold.

In short—everything is relative.

The people of Oldtown did not believe for a second that the arrival of the Queen would improve their lives. Their instinct for self-preservation drove them into an uneasy alliance with their “natural enemy”—the Hightowers.

And Aegor’s task was to shatter their illusions with a single, irresistible offer: Oldtown’s autonomy.

The Hightowers might not have been the worst exploiters, but their ability to exploit was a sword hanging over the city’s head. Autonomy was the act of taking that sword down and locking it away.

Ordinary citizens might have been too preoccupied with daily survival to recognize the threat looming above them, but the leaders of Oldtown’s various guilds and industries—those who had already amassed enough wealth to stand at the edge of power—saw those blades hanging overhead every day. And they understood, at once, what Aegor’s offer truly meant.

Aegor had no fear of revealing his intentions, because he was offering Oldtown’s citizens the Hightowers’ wealth under the guise of a gift. And as the previous owners of that wealth, the Hightowers could never hope to offer a better deal.

Thus began the long but far from dull "City Autonomy Negotiation Conference."

Thanks to meticulous preparation, and Aegor’s pre-written draft, the negotiations played out almost exactly as he had intended. Through fierce debate and careful persuasion, Oldtown’s most powerful commoners—men who stood atop the peasantry but remained below the nobility—believed they had fought hard to secure the following rights from him:Anti-monopoly laws – Breaking unjust exclusive rights and allowing a more open market.Trade freedoms – Establishing clear commercial laws to reduce feudal interference in business.Personal freedoms – Ending forced labor, replacing it with fair taxation, and granting the city the right of asylum.Protection of personal affairs and private property – The Lord of Oldtown would no longer interfere in matters of faith, marriage, ownership, inheritance, or property transactions.

Even without the yet-undetermined judicial, administrative, financial, and military powers (which Aegor had no intention of giving), these rights alone were enough to leave every delegate beaming. Under normal circumstances, any one of these privileges would have taken them decades—or even centuries—of struggle to wrest from the Hightowers. Yet here they were, handed down by the Queen, all at once, like gifts from the heavens.

In return, Oldtown would:Raise a vast sum of gold to purchase Targaryen Bonds, financing the Queen’s war against the slavers.Offer absolute loyalty and unwavering support to Aegor in his upcoming conflicts—including, but not limited to, his struggles against the nobility of the Reach.
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When the conference finally concluded, Aegor rose from his seat and strode out into the corridors of the Hightower, where the stairs spiraled between the floors.

He was, without question, the most audacious guest in the Seven Kingdoms.

The Hightowers had opened their gates in submission, welcoming him into their home. Yet, within moments of stepping inside, he had seized control, issuing orders to take over their very seat of power. By now, the lower levels of the Hightower had been fully occupied by his own men—soldiers of the Queen’s Western Expedition. Technically, this was a violation of guest rights.

But in another sense, it was also in the Hightowers' best interest—for their own safety.

As the only great Reach house to surrender without a fight, the Hightowers knew Aegor would not risk violating his Queen’s word by harming them. But with Oldtown’s autonomy undermining their very foundation, the Hightowers would never accept such a loss without resistance. Instead of waiting for them to make a desperate, foolish move—forcing him to consider their punishment—Aegor simply preempted the problem.

He had secured the Hightowers, confining them to the upper floors of their own tower, ensuring they had no opportunity to interfere.

As for the lower floors? He had claimed them, transforming them into his personal palace and command center.
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“Aegor, my lord,” said Myrcella, who had been silently recording the entire negotiation process. She finally broke her silence, speaking with hesitant caution. “Isn’t this… too much autonomy to grant them? Even half of these privileges would have been enough to secure their loyalty to the Queen. Giving it all at once—doesn’t that go against your usual principle of slowly dispensing favors?”

“An excellent question.”

Aegor appreciated Myrcella’s knack for pinpointing the heart of the matter. Sometimes, he even suspected she saw everything but deliberately fed him these questions—giving him the opportunity to fully articulate his plans.

They climbed the stairs toward the second floor, where a soldier led them to the guest quarters. The hall was bustling with activity, but all those present were his own men. Confident in his privacy, Aegor began to explain.

“The slowly dispensing favors principle works because of a simple truth: people take what they have for granted. If you want someone’s gratitude and loyalty, the best way is to give them benefits gradually, ensuring they always feel they are gaining something new.”

He glanced at Myrcella. “But that principle applies to the people—because after alienating much of the nobility, the Queen needs the people’s support to secure her reign. That’s a long-term need. But the Oldtown elite? That’s different. Think. Can you figure out why?”

“The Queen doesn’t need their support forever?” Myrcella frowned, then her expression cleared. “Ah! Because in two years, House Hightower will be restored to its lands! But wait…” Her brows furrowed again. “Wouldn’t that mean the Queen needs the guilds’ loyalty even more?”

“In theory, yes,” Aegor said, his smirk widening. “But in reality, what the Queen fears most is that House Hightower will accept the status quo—reintegrating with the new system, restoring their influence, and regaining control.”

“Ah—so you want a future conflict!” Myrcella’s eyes lit up. “When the Hightowers return, they won’t accept being beneath the council. That will divide Oldtown even further!”

“Exactly. And when that time comes…” Aegor’s smile was razor-sharp. “The Queen will play both sides, ensuring Oldtown is permanently under her rule.”