The Horned Lion that Could 5 - (ASoIaF, Tommen!SI)

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After a proper lengthy nap, I think I could look back at my most recent actions and agree I did some risky shit for little reward.

Sure, it all went well to some extent, but I sure shat bricks when I was told by one of the guards at my bedroom's door that I had been asked by the Hand to join the current session of the Small Council. Just had enough time to convince Myrcella to not force-cuddle me into submission and get some decent non-sleepwear clothing on before getting almost yanked around by the guard.

Upon arrival, I was greeted by a relatively quiet council.

I noticed several eyes turning to me, but it was my father's snorting that took my full attention.

"Here he is, Ned. Now you can be at ease!"

Lord Stark appeared displeased by the dismissive tone adopted by the king, but he nodded and turned to me with a serious look.

"Prince Tommen. If you could please take a seat... we wish to interrogate you regarding the proposal you introduced to your father, the King."

I nodded, complying with the request as I sat down and looked around at the rest of the people present. I was slightly surprised that Uncle Stannis the Mannis was there too, but I could see how the lack of hints implying my bastardish origin may have influenced the man to not get too upset to leave King's Landing.

"Sure, Lord Hand."

"Prince Tommen, your proposal seems to argue that you wish to... drain King's Landing of a fairly large slice of its population, mostly those residing in Flea Bottom. In this case, you wish to... create new settlements?"

I slowly nodded at this. "That's one of the points, yes."

"New settlements can be expensive," Baelish quipped, the cunning man eyeing me with interest. "But I was told you have secured a loan from Lord Tywin in recent days in that regard."

"That's the case, yes."

"Then I have to protest on this matter. The kingdom is severely indebted as it is," Ned jumped in, sounding alarmed by the careless use of loans to this degree, but dad jumped back in that regard.

"Oh shush, Ned. Money comes and goes."

That response horrified the Lord Hand within good reasons as, like many others that had a basic/modern understanding of loans, this sounded like a fiscally irresponsible behavior. But-

"While I wouldn't use the same words as the King, I have to agree with the sentiment. The loans may sound monumentally scary, but they are not truly a threat- at least, not those issued by House Lannister."

"Why not?" Stannis finally asked, eyes narrowing at me. "Tywin has been giving out those loans with ease, it is clear he will need to gain something from those."

"He already is, Uncle," I argued back, and I saw his confusion turning in dread. "Tax breaks, reduced fees' payments, favors, corruption-related deals, and, most important of it all, supporting his family," I fully listed out and then sighed. "My grandfather has been getting something in return from the loans, it's just not a monetary retribution as... actually, I understand that everyone here is aware to some degree that the loans are unsolvable by nature, but is everyone aware on why those can't be paid off? Like, one day we suddenly have enough coins to pay off the debts, how would that end for the kingdom as a whole?"

My question gained a degree of surprise, confusion and-

"It would collapse," Stannis answered first, looking away for a moment.

"Would it?" Renly quipped, shifting in his chair. "I mean, I understand that would be a lot of coins circulating but-"

"It would be a complete collapse because there is a 'lot' of coins. Too many coins around means that the prices would drop, same for the wages. The services would be cheap, the people would be paid very little- and some would even quit their jobs because of that," Baelish quipped rapidly, eyes unfocused as he tinkered around the idea. "It would pretty much kill the kingdom."

...

"So, the loans are... best left untouched?" Uncle Ned asked and the rest of the council nodded.

"While my understanding of economics is limited, Lord Hand, I have to agree with the rest of the council," Varys actually spoke up, appearing thoughtful as the rest. "Too many coins in the market would destroy what little peace exists there."

"I see..."

"Which is why I have argued for a way to turn this hole into an opportunity," I pointed out with a resolute voice and drawing eyes back to me. "The creation of new settlements in the crownlands would allow for taxation to be eased upon the citizens as new work opportunities would be created. Heck, if things go as intended, we will have a doubled agricultural base from which we could reduce the weight of paying for supplies of wheat from the Reach. The less dependant we are on trading of essential resources, the better."

"I agree with my nephew in this regard," Stannis nodded in a supportive yet stoic manner. "But I have to inquire over the way you will conduct the 'selection' of those joining the settlements. You highlighted only two planned for this first year. And I doubt that allowing everyone to those would do any good."

Ah yes, the possibility of a rabid depopulation was the biggest spectre remaining from that situation.

"I will set up an agency from which families can petition to be assigned to houses of the new settlements upon the 'skeleton' perimeter for the settlements is finished. The bigger families will have precedence over those with few members to it, thus favoring those in desperate need of work and space rather than those that can still handle their current situations."

There were people nodding at this, but Baelish had a single question left through the process.

"If I may, Prince Tommen, there is also something quite puzzling for me - you have requested the formation of a new seat by the council, the 'Master of Infrastructure'. I wish to understand why the project couldn't be assigned under my direction."

I knew this wasn't an attempt to draw drama, but I could sense the trap, so I was very honest on the situation.

"That's because I wish to eventually expand the Small Council when it will be my time to rule. Right now, I understand the various seats are overburdened with chores, and I wish to decentralize the council to have a more efficient model rather than one that has been running untouched and unreformed for centuries now."

"It would be due time to change something from the Targaryen," Robert muttered and nodded. "Yes, I still support this idea."

And if the King said 'yes' to something or someone, then it was final. It helped that Ned saw my point too and agreed on the proposal, and while I could tell that Baelish was not that pleased, he seemed convinced enough to not sabotage my project too much.

Alas, the day was saved...

And it wasn't over yet.

I mean, yes, today I had my big boy moment and took part to the Small Council, but it wasn't like it was the only relevant thing. Cersei was still grieving (with Uncle Jaime's help), so it was just me, Myrcella, Arya and Sansa doing things. The last of the quartet was hella depressed, but she seemed to warm up to spend time with 'the kids'. Admittedly, she was still butthurt she not only lost her golden ticket to be a queen, but she also had her betrothed die a dumb death - which was sad enough to be a bit of a bitch but...

I guess she could be feasibly handled with that moody attitude of her.

Arya and I had some fun swinging wooden swords without getting caught by the guards, Cella actually got Sansa to teach her how to do more 'lady stuff' that I had no interest in getting my attention onto and...

Life is well for now. And I have yet to start working on my projects.

AN

Next time, a change of POV. Let's see what's Sansa really up to. After all, going back home sounds like the ideal plan but... ideas come up, and things get interesting in regard to Arya and Myrcella. Sadly for her, they ain't having any of that.