46 The negotiation II

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POV of Wilhelm

''Make an empty promise, if we don't manage to control the reach we will return some territories, in case we don't we will simply do nothing'' said Maximilian looking how Robert was bored listening to the conversation.

''Lord Arryn, if it should happen that we cannot restore order in the Reach, I promise you that we will return some territories to the noble houses'' I said looking at the couple of politicians.

Lord Arryn sighed in relief and looked at Varys and they both nodded.

''Well we accept, we wait patiently for your progress in the reach'' said lord Arryn.

"Oh lord Arryn there is still one more thing to discuss and that will be my position within the seven kingdoms" I said smiling.

Lord Arryn had relaxed quite a bit by the time the negotiations were over, but again he was once more on the defensive.

''What.... do you wish to propose lord Hohenzollern'' said lord Arryn as he slowly returned to his earlier nervousness.

''Well, it is only to point out the obvious, our cultural and religious differences that we have been able to perceive, which could result in rather complex relations with respect to the Prussians and the Westerosi and I consider it entirely necessary that these points be accepted'' I said while I steady my wrist with my other free hand

''we would like to request our religious freedom as the North men and the men of the iron islands enjoy, but at the same time we will see to it that the faithful of the faith of the seven are not persecuted for their religion, since the relationship of the Protestant church of Prussia is incompatible with the faith of the seven, due to this reason I decided to make oldtown a city of special administration to avoid future religious problems'' I said with a calm tone observing attentively the reactions of lord Arryn and Varys

''There should be no problems with that.... although what will happen with the Septs in the reach'' said lord Arryn

''Their special status will be respected and they will not be harmed, if you have spoken to the supreme septon the problems in tumbleton were just a misunderstanding which unfortunately has been made worse by some fanatical and power hungry septon who wish to take advantage of the situation which unfortunately should never have happened'' I said while giving slight smiles.

''I understand, if so there should be no problem in us giving in on this point, what else do you wish to propose Lord Hohenzollern'' said Lord Arryn as he looked at Robert, he put his fist to his already very bored face

''Considering our cultural differences, we consider it entirely necessary to have judicial independence from the seven kingdoms.... it is not my pleasure to say it, but you..... are quite backward regarding laws and we consider it could be very harmful to all Prussians if we were to submit to your laws which we consider archaic''I said with a kind tone

''The laws of the seven kingdoms have held the realm together for several years'' lord Arryn said.

''Oh, I suppose civil wars and rebellions by Targaryen bastards are not in your consideration, but we do not believe that a trial is settled with swords, we prefer facts, due process of law and we are willing to negotiate that judicial independence'' I said smiling

''What can lord Hohenzollern offer us for us to consider his proposal'' said lord Arryn calmer and smiling

''Oh well this is also linked to controlling our tax policy, obviously we will respect the current taxes, but the creation of new taxes will be totally bound to me, as well as the acceptance of new taxes established by the crown because you will understand that I will need to fiscally incentivize the area to attract again the trade that was scared away by the war'' I said while I kept my posture upright and smiled at the Arryn and Varys.

''You ask too much Lord Hohenzollern, but I suppose you have something of equal value to offer us'' said Lord Arryn with a smile.

I gave a signal to one of my knights and he began to place a map of the capital on the table.

''This is my offer, in exchange for what I have requested I am willing to offer you one of my most valuable possessions'' I said as I placed my finger on the map tapping the name of the city several times.

Lord Arryn's face quickly lost the smile it had, and Varys began to grimace with his lips.

''Lord Hohenzollern.... is the capital of the seven kingdoms, it is not yours to trade'' lord Arryn said with a serious tone.

Slowly, I moved my hand and this time I tapped the contract with my finger on the part that said ''all conquered properties''.

''Under the criteria we established to determine what would be my reward for helping you in this war, we established all the properties and the capital is one of them, it is my property, considering my proposal it would be equivalent to about 11 million golden dragons because the capital produces almost two million golden dragons a year for ten years I would have a difference of 9 million that I could pay myself later'' I said keeping a serious face without taking my eyes off lord Arryn.

''Lord Hohenzollern.... please don't you have enough already... how can you possibly want even more'' said lord Arryn with an almost defeated tone.

''But what does it matter Jon, let's move the capital to storm end, anyway, I never liked it here'' said Robert looking at Jon Arryn.

''Be careful with your next words, my king, it would mean whether we will have the Arryns as friends or enemies in the future'' said Maximilian.

'I suppose after the war they must be ruined'.

''Oh come on lord Arryn how can you think that of me?, but I truly consider it necessary, I cannot wait days to implement reforms, it is necessary to have that independence to be able to stabilize the reach, if we do not encourage trade soon with lower taxes in specific areas it will be difficult for merchants to return and make the grain route run in the seven kingdoms, all this seeks an end and that is the stability of the seven kingdoms'' I said trying to give a good reason to lord Arryn for my plans.

''But I would like to ask you a question lord Arryn, how are the coffers of the new royal house?'', I asked interested.

''Lord Arryn would be unwise to share that information because it could be ....'' Varys tried to intervene.

''badly, Robert's lands were never the richest nor the most populated and now, with the destruction and the exorbitant expenses of war, we have little to offer'' lord Arryn said sincerely

'Too much chaos for my taste, Robert's government could fall in less than a year.'

''Well, if you accept my proposal, I'll take dragon pit and the nearby areas and forget the debt for the city'' I said with a kind tone.

''What do you want those ruins for,'' Varys asked raising an eyebrow.

''To make a bank, our merchants usually work with credit notes that are exchanged in the banks to avoid having to carry huge sums of metal on them and dragon pit would be a perfect place to store gold and silver for the merchants working from the reach and the capital'' I said pointing to the ruins of the dragon vault.

Lord Arryn sighed and nodded at the proposal.

''We would accept'' lord Arryn said running his fingers over his eyes.

''As a gesture of good will return all the castles we have captured in the crown lands, you can determine what to do with them whether they will now be crown property or returned to the former owners'' I said while keeping my tone friendly.

''You are not the man to give something away without getting anything in return, Lord Hohenzollern'' Varys said in his friendly tone.

''Exactly, but i am honest with my intentions, only one small thing is missing and we can concentrate once again on the trials lord Arryn'' I said looking at lord Arryn.

Jon has been on a merry-go-round of emotions in recent moments, for someone so old it must be dangerous to his heart

''And what would that be'' said lord arryn raising his eyebrows.

''Ah.. Little thing that recognizes my foreign titles, you know my title of king in Prussia, prince, margrave, all those long titles''I said without much interest.

''You call that little thing?'' said Varys breaking his serene tone.

''One king, seven kingdoms have always been so lord Hohenzollern..... there can't be two kings'' lord Arryn said with wide eyes

''Not inside the seven kingdoms, outside of them'' I replied.

''What my king is referring to is that in our culture it has been quite common for some kings to be vassals of other kings regarding titles inherited from abroad, he wishes that the titles obtained here in the seven kingdoms be considered vassals of the king of the seven kingdoms, but at the same time he wants you to recognize that he is a king outside of them'' Maximilian said with a serene and kindly smile on his face.

''We have had the case of the Hohenzollern dynasty has the title of kings in Prussia, since within the Holy Roman-Germanic Empire, there can only be the king of the Romans and the king of the Bohemians, here it is the same case, we only want the recognition that my lord is a king but not within the seven kingdoms, since the Prussian culture is linked to the king in Prussia, it would be extremely difficult and not at all popular among the Prussian nobility for us to leave behind the ancestral title'' Maximilian finished with his fingers clasped together.

''I don't see why not,'' said Robert looking at Lord Arryn.

''Robert...there is no need for you to intervene'' said Lord Arryn nervously.

''But that would affect the prestige of the Baratheons if you were called kings in the same place as King Robert, it wouldn't be possible'' Varys said looking at us seriously.

''It is a gesture of good will that I am requesting, but if it bothers you so much, simply that my vassals can recognize me as such is enough, within the territories of the reach, outside of them I am lord Hohenzollern, faithful vassal of the house Baratheon'' I said while looking at Robert's face who was lost in his thoughts.

''Well, well, let's do that, but as for the faithful vassal part, you have to perform your oaths of loyalty to king Robert'' said lord Arryn already exhausted.

''Oh certainly, no problem'' I said smiling

''When we take the titles from the lords of the reach you will take your oath publicly'' said lord arryn much calmer, resting his back in the chair.

''Fine, no problem,'' I said, grimacing.

We made new contracts with the delivery of titles and I offered a loan to the royal house as a gesture of friendship of three million golden dragons, interest free for ten years.

'I will probably never see them again'.

The last thing I want is for Robert's kingdom to collapse due to financial instability, but I managed to get the logging rights out of the forest where the kings usually hunt for their amusement, as a guarantee although a bit limited because lord arryn doesn't want to damage one of the royal hobbies, we shook hands ending the long conversations.

'At last, we can finally start investing in new construction at the reach.'

''Finally, I thought this would never end'' said Robert getting up and quickly leaving the room.

''If you will excuse me my lords I have work to do, my little birds must miss me'' said Varys bowing slightly and leaving the room.

Lord Arryn stood looking at me, quite relaxed.

''What will you do now?, Lord Hohenzollern,'' Lord Arryn asked.

''I am interested in the trial of the Targaryen loyalists and especially Jaime, is the offer to be judge still open?'', I said to Lord Arryn.

''Yes, I think your point of view will be very necessary to resolve the truth of what happened, especially with Tywin's presence in them, the trial should be as fair as possible'' lord Arryn said clasping his hands together.

''Do you want any particular outcome to the trial?'', I asked Lord Arryn.

Jon looked at Maximilian and then at me.

He is trustworthy lord Arryn he will remain in charge of the bench in the capital, so you will see him often at court'' I said pointing to Maximilian who made a small bow to lord Arryn.

''Oh, I see... we must let Jaime go free, but ..... the other lords' opinion about the injustice is what worries me especially for Eddard Stark, the king put him as judge he trusts him blindly, but currently I don't know what to do, I don't want to anger Tywin, but if the abuse of power is too obvious it could generate problems'' said lord Arryn being quite sincere.

''Ah.... lose care, Jaime is innocent or at least he had enough justification if we consider some factors, I will easily convince lord stark with the facts ''I said smiling.

''Are you sure?'', said lord Arryn quite enthusiastic.

''Absolutely, stop worrying about it'', I said, smiling.

''Then we must go to the throne room, for the trials must begin soon'' said lord Arryn moving with an agility I had not seen before.

Lord Arryn left the room almost as quickly as Robert.

Maximilian and I left the room, laughing a little as it all came to an end.

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