265 AC, Braavos.
After their journey at Summer Islands, they ship landed at Braavos...a city where Sirius's residence located. Braavos is one of the free cities located to the east of Westeros. It's the northern-most, the richest and arguably the most powerful of the free cities.
It's also a beautiful city with a giant statue known as the Titan of Braavos guards the harbor entrance to the city.
Sirius residence itself located in the northeastern district where most of the rich and powerful people live, in this district the Purple Harbor, the Sealord's Palace, the Iron Bank of Braavos and the Hall of Justice also located there.
Sirius's residence or more precisely his mansion was enormous. It stood on a hill near the sea, and from the mansion, you can hear the wave sound clearly. The smell of the salt in the air and the wave sound gave Hermione a calmness. It's so beautiful and peaceful that make her want to forget all of her problems and just relax then enjoy the beauty of nature around her.
Beside have 300 guards, the mansion also equipped with various spells and wards to protect its inhabitant.
Two weeks after their arrival, Hermione simply enjoys her stayed while waiting for Sirius to load and organize the goods that they brought from Summer Islands and also report about one of his merchant ship that had been seized by pirates to the Sealord, the governor, and authority of Braavos.
As a usual Dorin always accompanied Hermione when she walked around the town. The man had been assigned to be Hermione personal guard. From her observation in Summer Islands or here in Braavos, the market district doesn't have a good structure. There is no regulation or rule from the government for the merchants to set their shops. Fabric and textile merchants, food merchants, gems and jewelry merchants scattered around that place without systematic or structure order. Sometimes you can find a jewelry merchant who sold his goodies beside the waste of rotting fruits from the fruits merchant nearby.
The smell and fly that surround it, simply disgusting!
But from that situation, an idea form in her mind. Why not make her own shop then? like a Walmart or supermarket in her other world that sell everything start from fruit to jewelry, with each of the goods placed strategically and orderly. It's really an effective method for help Sirius's merchant guild and not only in Braavos or Essos, they also can build their own Walmart in Westeros which can help with her other plan.
Hermione smiled and jumped her feet a little. She almost felt esthetic with the plans that form in her head. If she must spend her time and live in here for the rest of her life, why not make it enjoyable and comfortable for her.
And for pirates problem...she thinks she also has the solution to that problem.
The canon! Hermione sure that she can find the explosive substance and make her own canon. "Sirius will be excited!" She mused.
"Hmm...but maybe we need to find a place or city to establish our headquarter first...some deserted city or place." Hermione thought.
Also for smoother her study in Citadel, She knew that be a son from a simple success merchant can't really help her condition. In this world, where someone background determines their status and position in society. She needs to be from a noble family...although from a minor house, and she certain that She and Sirius can find a perfect place or city to establish their root and started their plan.
2 years later...
267 AC, The Reach, Highgarden
Olenna Tyrell didn't know what to think about the lord that sit and easily converse with her son, Mace Tyrell...The Lord of Highgarden, himself.
Oh of course! she had been heard the rumour before about a lord from minor noble house of Mantarys, one of three cities that survived from valyrian doom who change the isolated city itself into one of rich and prosperous city in Essos...then change the city name into Gryffindor, the City of Lion they said with lion banner decorated every inch of the city.
Lots of unfounded and out of common sense rumors circulating around about The Lord of Gryffindor, Sirius Peverell.
One of the rumors said that the Lord of Gryffindor is a demigod who can read people mind and make the crudest and cruelest man become a good citizen. Another rumor claim that any kind of plant or tree planted by Lord Peverell will flourish and produce abundant of crops.
There is even a rumor circulating around that every Lord Peverell merchant ship was equipped with a kind of tool called Canon, which is believed able to sink a ship even from several meters away within a few minutes which is downright ridiculous.
But Olenna Tyrell, The Matriarch of House Tyrell was not a stupid woman. She Knew that the man who only several years older than Mace, her son is not someone she can underestimate despite being from a minor house.
The charisma and confidence that he exuded were unusual from someone who comes from a lowly noble house. And from the clothes, he and his heir used also from the carriage, guards and rarer gems he gave them as an gift.
Sirius Peverell not a simple minor lord!
"...pray tell me, Lord Tyrell, what your opinion if I make Highgarden into the biggest trading hub in the Reach...?" Sirius asked.
Mace Tyrell widened his eyes and give a confused glance to her mother. "I don't know Lord Peverell, but Highgarden is exceptionally large and to accommodate a large number of merchants and set shops here...it would take much money and time." He answered.
" and if my house helps you in that regard, what do you think?" Sirius asked carefully.
Olenna narrow her eyes and put down her glass. "I don't know how rich is your house boy. But remember that House Tyrell isn't poor as well." She interjected.
Hermione who eating and listening calmly to how Sirius propose their plan, give his adopted father a smug grin. In accordance with her earlier prediction, the true head and decision maker in House of Reach is not the new appointed Lord but her mother, The Queen of Thorns.
Sirius raised his eyebrow and calmly said. " I am sorry Lady Olenna if my suggestion offends you, I never assume that House Tyrell is a poor house, from how beautiful and how well this castle groomed...nobody will think that House Tyrell have financial problem."
"I just noticed from my journey to here that even though Highgarden stood in an important crossing, with heavy trade and traffic where a large swath of southern Westeros ultimately passes through Highgarden, I think Highgarden should become one of the largest cities in the realm instead of Oldtown. The amount of tax and money that this beautiful city loss makes my merchant's soul sad " He explained.
"forgive me for my merchant's soul and boldness, my lord...my ladies." Added Sirius and dip his head a bit to Olenna Tyrell, Mace, and his wife, Alerie Tyrell nee Hightower.
Mace chuckled and raised his glass to Sirius. "ease Lord Peverell, no harm done." He said.
Olenna glared at Mace. His oaf son, of course, can't detect how skill and smooth talker Lord Peverell is.
"and how do you will help us, Lord Peverell?" Olenna asked, too intrigued to know what a plan that this abroad lord suggest.
Sirius sip his wine and try to control his facial expression to not grin at the Matriarch.
"if you agree, my lady. I would like to open a trading center here as well to encourage trade here instead of Oldtown and ships can dock and transport their goods down the Mander through Highgarden and all the way to King's Landing."
She studied Sirius for several minutes before answered. "and what do you- pardon me your house benefit from all of this."
"faster and better trade in the Reach for my ships in the Sunset Sea, and if your house agrees, I'm ready to build them all for a 15% cut until the cost is repaid and from then on a measly 3% tax on the profits." He replied.
She knew that young man in front of her, is planning something else but the plan itself is a good one and benefit to the Reach.
"are you plan to place your spies here through your trading center, Lord Peverell?" Olenna asked calmly.
"mother!" gasped Mace Loudly.
Hermione blink her eyes and Sirius chuckled loudly. "pardon me, Lord Tyrell...my Ladies.." He said to the Tyrells.
"I will never do that to one of my ally, it's just simply a suggestion, Lady Olenna..." Sirius said with a smile. Still quite amused with the famous paranoid lady.
"you can refuse it if you want, and I will accept it gracefully without hard feeling."
Olenna glared a bit at the young lord. Before sighed and nodded her head. "forgive me Lord Peverell, I just want to be sure that nothing will harm my family. Nothing its free in this world." Quoted her.
"no need to asked for my forgiveness my lady" smiled Sirius.
"I knew your feeling, I also think that nothing more important than your own family, and if this will ease your heart a bit, how about you help me too then..?" he suggested try to not sound so eager.
"of course we will help you if we can, Lord Peverell" Mace interjected. He gives her mother a sharp glance, hopes that her mother did not let out another jape or snarky remark.
Sirius pat Hermione head lightly. " you see my son here, Hermes" he chuckled. Still amused to alias name of Hermione male disguised.
"he wants to study and learn in Citadel, I know that normally only Westeros people can learn and study at Citadel...but back home we don't have a maester who can teach him and with how curious boy he is, I can't answer every question he asks. Which is many, mind you" added Sirius with a good laugh.
Alerie, Mace wife who had just been quiet and busy feeding his one years old son, Wilas lift her head. "He looks too young for me to study and learn in Citadel." She said after observed Hermione for several minutes.
"aye, he is only six name-days, but I assured you that my boy here already can read and write" He grinned.
Alerie, Mace, and Olenna look at Sirius with disbelieving eyes.
"growing strong," Hermione said startled the three Tyrell.
"that's the word written there right, father?" pointed her at the banner house in the wall.
"right" Sirius answered and give the Tyrells his proud smirk.
"for the seven!" Mace exclaimed.
"the boy really can read." He added.
"indeed he is.." confirmed Sirius happily.
Olenna glanced at Hermione and called one of her maids. "bring maester Gormon here.." she commanded.
Sirius and Hermione gaze at each other and smirk.
After a few minutes an old man with grey robe and a yellow chains in his neck came."my ladies...my lords..." greeted the old maester.
Hermione observes the old man who stood calmly. She knew from information that had been Sirius spies collect about the Tyrells, the old man still have a blood relation to the Tyrells. An uncle if their informant was corrected.
The old man looked at Olenna Tyrell with questioning eyes before letting his gaze back to Mace.
"what can I do for you, my lord?" he asked.
"ah...maester Gormon, Hermy..."
"Hermes" corrected Sirius automatically.
"...ah yes Hermes here..." she pointed at Hermione.
"...want to learn at Citadel and the lad already can read and write" Mace exclaimed excitedly.
Maester Gormon raised his eyebrow and gaze at Hermione and then Sirius.
"forgive me my lord, but my old mind can't believe such..."
"then test me" Hermione interjected.
"pardon..."
"from your chain, I know you are a maester of math and astronomy...test me with those subject and you can judge me yourself then if I worthy enough to studying at Citadel." She added calmly.
The maester reach the yellow chains in her neck and stroking it.
"alright," he said after he caught a nod from the Matriach of House Tyrell.
Hermione leaned her back and relaxed. She answered easily every question that the maester asked her. She even wrote down her answer after she caught the maester disbelieve eyes, suspicious that Sirius told her the answer.
She enjoys the confused and astonished look that the Tyrells or the maester gave to her. And for the final effect, she recited perfectly a multiplication table that she learned in her grade school.
"amazing!" the old maester exclaimed.
"your son is really a bright boy, my lord." He said to Sirius.
"...genius even...if he..."
"then there is no problem for my son here to study in your Citadel, right?" Sirius asked, stopping the old maester rumble.
"ah yeah..." Maester Gormon responded thoughtfully.
"I will gladly write a letter to the Senechal, the governance of Citadel about your son, my lord...but I am afraid some of the maester will refuse because of your son origin is not from Westeros." He explained carefully.
Sirius nodded his head and looked at Mace. "my lord..." he inquired.
"ah...yeah...of course.." Mace stammered slightly finally caught what Sirius gaze means.
"nothing to worry about Maester Gormon, tell the Senechal that Hermes Peverell is a ward from the Reach will study at Citadel." He announced.
"and I also have some rarer books as a gift to the grandmaester and Senechal that I know will they enjoy greatly." Grinned Sirius.
"ah..of course, my lord.." the old maester answered with a bow and then turn his back to written his letter.
Sirius smile widely and glanced at the Tyrells. "I can't say how grateful I am, my lord for your help." He said.
"it's my pleasure, lord Peverell," Mace answered.
"nobody will say that House Tyrell don't know how to thank their friend." He winked at Sirius.
"ah yes..." Sirius said and then raised his glass toward the Tyrells.
"for the beginning of a friendship between House Tyrell and Peverell.." he declared and gulped down his wine.
Anyone have been waiting for this story?
Haha...I don't know if I can upload a new chapter for some days ahead. I have an exam and maybe I will upload again in Thrusday, but if the review is more than 30 I will upload it faster...let's say Wednesday? hahaha..bye-bye^^