Chapter 181

After joining the Night's Watch logistics division? Other than sneering and wielding a sword with some degree of competence, what exactly could Alliser Thorne do? It seemed more likely he was there not to assist in expanding my efforts, but to monitor my actions instead. Still, this wasn’t the worst outcome. My real fear was receiving a sudden summons back to the Wall, followed by someone else being appointed as the chief logistics officer of the Night's Watch. If that happened, I’d have no way to respond other than with desperate measures.

Trust is a fragile thing. As the saying goes, "One must always guard against others"—an age-old piece of wisdom that had become a lifeline in this world. What I didn’t expect, however, was that my instinctive caution would end up exposing a major conspiracy. Was Jeor Mormont eyeing the Night’s Watch enterprises for himself, or was this simply an attempt to replace Alliser, that old porcupine, and pave the way for his protégé, Jon Snow? And what about Eddard Stark? He had locked me up for days. Was it possible he had received a secret missive from Mormont and acted in concert with Alliser’s schemes, only to release me when it became clear he couldn’t take control of the Night’s Watch enterprises?

After some quiet contemplation, I decided it was most likely Alliser Thorne was simply making a mountain out of a molehill, taking liberties with Mormont’s vague orders. I’d used similar tactics when I first arrived in King’s Landing to maneuver against Eddard Stark, so I understood this game quite well. It was a tried-and-true approach that relied on exploiting the other party’s vigilance.

What exactly was Mormont thinking when he assigned Alliser to logistics? Was Eddard collaborating with him to control the Night’s Watch’s enterprises? There was no way to be certain through speculation alone, and I couldn’t prepare for every possible scenario. The best course of action for now was to maintain my guise as a loyal member of the Watch and decisively shut out any outsiders or questionable figures from the inner workings of the organization. I couldn’t afford to let anyone take away what I’d built.

Fortunately, Alliser Thorne was no Janos Slynt. My rank was higher, my influence broader, and thanks to Nina’s early warning, I already knew his intentions. In any potential conflict, I had the upper hand.

...

As a transmigrator, I couldn’t help but view things from a higher perspective. Subconsciously, I always assumed that threats would come from figures like Littlefinger, Varys, or Cersei—major players and their elaborate schemes or foolish missteps. Yet time and time again, reality had hammered home a bitter truth: threats didn’t always come from the so-called main plot or important characters. They could just as easily emerge from minor figures like Janos Slynt or even within the Night’s Watch itself.

Instead of constantly focusing on how to fight the White Walkers, maintain the peace in Westeros, counter the schemes of great conspirators, or ensure the explosive growth of the Night’s Watch enterprises, perhaps it was time to prioritize internal consolidation. Protecting the achievements I’d already secured and preventing others from stealing the fruits of my labor needed to be elevated to a high-priority task.

Suppressing the swirl of thoughts in my mind, I turned to Nina and asked, “What did you say after reading the documents?”

“I said, ‘Sorry, I’m not a member of the Night’s Watch and therefore do not take orders from Commander Mormont.’ Then I suggested to Ser Alliser that he wait for your return to discuss it with you directly.” Nina continued applying medicine to the wound on my shoulder, her fingers brushing over the muscles beneath my skin. I could tell she was deliberately taking her time, perhaps wishing the wound were larger so she could stretch this moment into the entire evening. She hesitated before asking carefully, “Did I handle that properly?”

“You did. Exceptionally well,” I replied, clenching my fist and forcing a casual tone. “Tyrion once called you a clever woman, and now I see that he might have underestimated you.”

“You’re too kind, my lord. I only did exactly as you instructed,” she said, her voice sweet and slightly shy. “No matter what Ser Alliser or anyone else says or does, I’ll always remember one thing—I belong to you, my lord. Everything I do is for your sake.”

...

“I belong to you?” Her words turned the tense, serious atmosphere in the room into something unexpectedly ambiguous and charged. I raised an eyebrow and looked at Nina with a hint of surprise. Was this just a declaration of loyalty, or was she trying to tease me?

Over time, our relationship had grown closer and more familiar. She was no longer the shy girl who would turn red just from being near me or stammer out a few words in embarrassment. These days, she dared to meet my gaze with bold admiration, and even if I caught her staring, she would only look away calmly without blushing.

Being quietly admired by such a young and beautiful woman was certainly a unique experience, though it came with its own pressures. I had to be mindful of my image at all times—no yawning, stretching, swearing, or indulging in other unrefined habits when she was around.

I was used to her gaze, but this verbal boldness was new.

...

“You belong to me?” I echoed her words with a grin, momentarily forgetting my strategy for dealing with Alliser. A thought crossed my mind: wasn’t making Nina truly “mine” part of my long-term plan to secure control over the Night’s Watch enterprises? This task had been delayed for far too long by other pressing matters. Perhaps now was the time to act.

“What do you think that phrase means?” I asked her with a mischievous smile. “In your mouth, it could have many interpretations. Which one do you mean?”

Her cheeks turned crimson, and she bit her lip before giving an unexpectedly cheeky reply: “Whatever my lord thinks it means, that’s what it means.”

This was the very response I’d taught her, now cleverly turned back on me. It was both playful and provocative—a surprising counterattack from someone who used to be so timid. For a moment, I was at a loss, caught off guard by her boldness.

...

“Whatever I think it means, that’s what it means?” I stared at her, feeling a spark of heat rise within me. Fine—this was her own invitation. If I backed down now, would I still be a man?

Letting Alliser and other troubles fade from my mind, I stood, baring my half-dressed form, and stepped closer to her. “Well then, can you guess what I think it means right now?”

Nina, holding the medicine jar, took an instinctive step back. Her wide eyes shimmered with a mix of panic and excitement. “My lord... your wound hasn’t been fully treated yet.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

...

For nearly two years in this world, I had managed to suppress every impulse, but at that moment, reason gave way to desire. Nina had unknowingly ignited a fire I could no longer ignore.