Rose Road was the main road connecting Highgarden and King's Landing, a ten-day ride on horseback at best. There were many inns along the way. Everyone went to the inns for dinner, ate, and stayed overnight before continuing their journey the next day.
Seating arrangements for meals were tacitly arranged based on status. The soldiers of the Reach sat together, knights sat together, the counts and ladies sat together, and the lords of Highgarden, House Tyrell, had their own table. As the King's brother and Lord of Storm's End, Witte naturally had to sit with House Tyrell.
While they were eating, Olenna was annoyed that Witte hadn't spoken to her for days, so she decided to tease the child. She elegantly cut off a piece of meat and placed it on Witte's plate:
"I heard you're betrothed to a Bastard? You won't be able to eat much meat after you're married, so eat up now."
Willas, who was 10 years old, and the chubby Garlan quickly buried their heads in their food, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire.
Witte looked at Olenna: What's the meaning of this?
"Fuck, don't worry, That Bastard isn't a B~astard anymore."
Deliberately speaking unclearly, he grinned at Olenna, revealing two missing front teeth, indicating that he wasn't in a good position to talk right now, and that he was lisping. Then, just like the Tyrell brothers, he quickly ate his meal, and then quickly ran off.
Olenna continued,
"So Robert wants you to be a Maester?"
"I'll leave after a period of study. Isn't that how many nobles do it?"
Seeing Witte's response, Olenna, who had previously thought he was just an ordinary six-year-old, and who hadn't spoken at the wedding, realized that there was something different about him.
Olenna wanted to continue, but Witte finished his meal and said, "Sorry, toothache," before running out of the inn.
"No matter how noble he is, he's still a child. Just treat him with courtesy, why bother chatting with him?" Mace Tyrell, eating heartily, thought that his mother didn't need to talk so much with a child.
"Others go to the Citadel at six, and look at you, Ser Mace, how many words could you write at six? Besides eating like a glutton."
Willas and Garlan watched their grandmother berate their father until his eyes bulged with anger, but he didn't dare to speak. They wanted to laugh, but didn't dare to, fearing Olenna would hear them and turn her sharp tongue on them next. Everyone knew their grandmother's temper; she never spared anyone's feelings with her words, but she fiercely loved her family.
Mace was arrogant, short-sighted, and not good at scheming. Olenna was the one who came up with all the important plans, so she was the true power behind Highgarden. She was naturally more informed than Mace, but he was still her son, so she had to remind him.
"Some in King's Landing say that the original betrothal was supposed to be with his brother, Renly, but Witte requested to take his place. I also noticed that he was looking at books written in Valyrian. He's so clever, but Robert hasn't mentioned it at all, which means Robert is intentionally protecting him."
Olenna turned to her two grandsons.
"You two should get closer to him in the future. Get acquainted. Left hand, right hand, prepare the convoy to depart."
"Yes, Grandmother." No one in House Tyrell ever disobeyed their grandmother.
After passing Highgarden and the Tyrell estate, the convoy continued along Rose Road to its destination: Oldtown. Although it was called Oldtown, it was actually the largest city on the entire continent of Westeros.
Oldtown was situated at the mouth of the Honeywine. The most prominent structure was the towering Hightower, which served as both a lighthouse and the castle of House Hightower. Witte estimated it to be around 300 meters tall, and with its base, it was almost as tall as the Oriental Pearl Tower in his world, but much more robust. It was a military fortress. Legend had it that Brandon the Builder, who built the Wall in the North, constructed it with magic, but most people believed that Brandon only built the Wall and Storm's End, and that the Hightower was built by another Brandon with the same name.
Next was the massive Starry Sept, which was once the seat of the High Septon of the Faith of the Seven, but it was now located in the Great Sept of Baelor in King's Landing. The Citadel didn't have any huge, obvious buildings. It was a complex of structures, similar to a university town in his world.
Oldtown was completely different from King's Landing. King's Landing was incredibly ugly, while Oldtown had clean streets, with countless waterways running through it, allowing merchant ships to sail directly into the city.
The first thing Witte needed to do in Oldtown was to visit House Hightower at the Hightower. House Hightower was the most powerful family in the Reach. The current head of the family, Lord Leyton Hightower, had attended the royal tournament at Storm's End before, so they were acquainted. His third daughter, Alerie Hightower, had married Mace Tyrell, the mother of Willas, Garlan, Loras, and Margaery. This time, Witte had to visit them first. After all, they were the local power, and it would be wise to build a good relationship with them since he would be living there for several years.
Leyton was still in King's Landing. His son, Ser Baelor Hightower, as the eldest son and heir, warmly welcomed Witte at the castle and held a small banquet. The next day, he had his younger brother, Gormon Hightower, the ninth son, take Witte to the Citadel to report, as Gormon was also studying at the Citadel.
Old Leyton was really fertile. Gormon was born to his fourth wife and was seventeen or eighteen years old this year. There was also a tenth brother in the family. However, the brothers and sisters of House Hightower all had good looks, the men handsome and the women beautiful. It was much better than Old Walder Frey of the Riverlands, who only cared about quantity and not quality. The nobles all knew that Old Walder Frey loved to have children, but they were all ugly.
Witte chatted with Gormon, who was leading the way, praising the city's planning. Hearing the praise for the well-built Oldtown, Gormon was also very proud of his family.
"I heard your brother say you are now studying the languages of the eastern continents. Do you know Valyrian?" Witte wanted to know more about Valyrian.
"I'm learning Summer Islander. I haven't studied Valyrian. Everything about Valyrian is looked down upon at the Citadel," Gormon said, mentioning some things about the Citadel. Seeing that Witte didn't understand, he asked him about other matters first.
"I also need to buy a small house in Oldtown. I live at the Citadel, but the Guards I brought with me need to stay here for a few years. Do you know of any channels?"
Gormon thought for a moment. "I'm usually at the Citadel, so I don't know much. I only know a merchant who specializes in buying and selling houses and is very familiar with our family. We can go to him and take a look."
"A merchant familiar with your family is definitely reliable. Let's go."
Upon arriving at the merchant's place, after Gormon and the merchant exchanged pleasantries, Witte stated his needs to the merchant. "I need to buy a house close to the Citadel that can accommodate my Guards. Do you have any suitable ones, sir?"
The merchant had a kind face; the guest brought by Gormon was definitely a noble, and they certainly had money. However, seeing that Witte was just a child, a house that could accommodate twenty people was not a small sum. Usually, adults would come to buy houses, so he didn't reply, instead looking at Gormon with a face full of questions.
"My name is Witte Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End, and the younger brother of King Robert of the Seven Kingdoms. I'm buying the house myself, so you don't need to worry about the money." Gormon knew Witte's identity was special and didn't introduce him himself, waiting for Witte to speak.
"So it's Lord Witte. I have three suitable houses on hand. I'll take you to see them now."
Witte's brothers had all contributed financially to his trip to the Citadel. Renly, still a child, had given the most, but then again, he was the wealthiest of the brothers, being the Duke of Storm's End. Robert, the King, had spent a fortune on rewards and weddings, and had to wait for the year-end tax revenue. Stannis's Dragonstone had long been emptied, and he had only made a small profit from betting on Robert's wedding tournament.
Following the merchant, Witte looked at three houses and finally bought a three-story building by the water. It had over a dozen rooms, big and small, with enough space for the Guards to have two to a room, and some to spare. He planned to sell the house when he left the Citadel in a few years. Someone who knew the real-world real estate tricks like XX wouldn't rent; renting was just throwing money away. As long as there was no war or plague in Oldtown, he might even make a profit in a few years.
He kept the largest room for himself when he left the Citadel, and left the daily management to the Guard Captain, who would arrange the other Guards. Witte watched the Guards busily unpacking.
The current Guards were all arranged by Robert. Their loyalty was not a problem, but their abilities were average. Besides, he didn't need protection at all. In this world, the only things that could kill him were poison, dragons, and things from the mysterious side. The Guards wouldn't be able to help with those, and might even need his protection. The Guards' current jobs were just errands and showing off, since he was a royal noble.
Witte gave a few final instructions to the Guard Captain and then set off for the Citadel with Gormon.
According to the current system, he could start recruiting his own retinue when he turned ten. Witte wasn't in a hurry; he was aiming to become a melee mage, and he hadn't even understood the basics yet.
The Citadel was located on the Honeywine. It was where the Maesters studied, and also the highest institution for managing the Maesters of the Seven Kingdoms, similar to a university in the real world.
Witte listened to Gormon introduce the Citadel's system.
"The Citadel only accepts men. Those who have just entered the Citadel are called apprentices, and after choosing a subject to study, they are called assistant Maesters. The Citadel offers more than a dozen subjects. After using their knowledge to forge a metal ring representing their discipline, they swear to abandon their surnames, not marry, and not have children, and are then awarded the title of Maester."
It seems there are already three professions in this world that require one to abandon their identity: the Night's Watch, the Kingsguard, and the Maesters. This should be a system created by various nobles who are afraid of these people gaining power. In the final analysis, it's due to the backwardness of productivity.
As a transmigrator, Witte couldn't help but feel some emotion upon hearing this, and he could also feel helpless.
Even in the developed world, problems arise once it involves inheriting the family business. Disputes over property and shares among descendants happen all the time, not to mention the world of ice and fire, where productivity is backward.
Continuing to listen to Gormon.
"After obtaining the title of Maester, one can be dispatched to serve the lords of various places. The Citadel is permanently neutral, so Maesters generally do not directly participate in wars. Serving the lords also requires a certain fee, which is an important source of income for maintaining the Citadel's operation. Sometimes, after the Citadel solves big problems for the lords, it also receives a donation. Apprentices can also do some things at the Scribe's Desk to supplement their family income."
Witte and Gormon had already walked to the gate of the Citadel, with two Sphinx statues on either side.
These Sphinx statues are definitely gods of ancient Egyptian belief. How could they appear in this world? Witte felt that this world was becoming more and more strange.
Inside the gate was the Scribe's Desk, with various stalls. People came and went, merchants and commoners alike, to have apprentices write wills and letters, and to send mail. They also sold all sorts of books and maps.
A post office, huh? Though it seemed cheap, it was a big business.
"First, we need to go to the Archmaester's Office to register your chosen field of study. However, anything related to magic here is looked down upon."
A materialist... It would be fine in the present world, but this was a world with magic and dragons. He should be taking the path of combining magic and technology, rather than blindly pursuing technology or even suppressing magic.
Witte began his four years at the Citadel. Since universities in the present world also took four years, four years in the present and another four here… he didn't want to think about it anymore.
....
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