Weit sat in the library of Storm's End, beginning a systematic study of his family's collection of books. Hundreds of years ago, the Baratheons' ancestors followed Aegon the Conqueror into Westeros, inheriting Storm's End. Subsequent generations had also served as Hand of the King multiple times, so the family castle held a vast collection, even including miscellaneous books about the Eastern continent.
Before his transmigration, he had only focused on the fighting, killing, power struggles of this fictional world.
Now that he had transmigrated, he realized this was a real world. From the farmers who grew the food, to the mills that ground the flour, and then the cooks who baked the bread. Everything wasn't conjured out of thin air or just a name or a number.
Since everything has to have a cause, even the game system had become hardcore after the transmigration, then the gods, ancient magic, Valyrian steel, and dragons would certainly have their own rules. He couldn't just rely on the books or TV shows he had seen before to understand this world; he would have to learn and practice.
Time passed in reading, exercising, and practicing magic. He also went to the blacksmith, Donnel Noyne, to discuss forging techniques. After all, with his modern knowledge, Donnel, after receiving some guidance, had become the best blacksmith in Storm's End and was now training five apprentices.
Before he knew it, the second year arrived, the second day of the tourney at Harrenhal in 281 AC.
Robert and Stannis had also gone to compete. Now, the acting castellan of Storm's End was his second cousin, Andrew Yisimon. All the nobles of Westeros had gone to attend this grand event, which lasted seven days. They had to leave the young and the second sons at home to guard it. His second cousin was now the only son in their family, but there was no choice; both families were old and young, with no one else available, so he had to be left behind.
Weit, Renly, and his second cousin were having dinner together. Maester Cressen walked over and read the message brought by a Raven from Harrenhal. The letter bore the Baratheon family's wax seal; it was written by Stannis.
The nobility of the entire continent were now focused on Harrenhal. So many Ravens flew from the castle each day that the news didn't arrive until the following afternoon.
"Word has it that Varys instigated the ailing king to participate in the tournament. At the opening ceremony, the king announced that fifteen-year-old Jaime Lannister would join the Kingsguard, donning the white cloak. The Kingsguard are forbidden from holding land, marrying, or having children. A grand banquet was held that evening inside Harrenhal. Tywin Lannister, having lost his heir, was reportedly ashen-faced with bloodshot eyes."
"That Varys wants to grasp at the highest power? A eunuch will always be a eunuch." Cousin Andrew showed his disdain for Varys as he continued to read the letter.
"Jaime is only fifteen and already a member of the Kingsguard. He must be the youngest, right?" The second brother exclaimed in amazement. Many young knights across the continent likely envied and admired Jaime. Actually, there was another, who became a knight at the age of twelve for his bravery, but for various reasons, much of the information about him had been erased, and few people knew.
However, the heads of the noble houses and those who understood the struggles for power paid more attention to the news that Duke Tywin had lost the heir he had focused on raising. Although he had a second son, that son was a dwarf, scorned by the entire continent. If he hadn't been born into the Lannister family, he probably would have been sold to a circus as a child.
For the next few days, the news was all about the tournament.
Who won the archery and axe-throwing competitions and was knighted, who was eliminated, how Robert was on a rampage after a year of training, which families had arranged betrothals, and how Eddard Stark and a certain girl had grown into adults.
There was also the mysterious Knight of the Laughing Tree, defending the honor of the Greywater Watch. Even the king didn't know his identity. After winning several matches, he disappeared. Robert bet ten golden dragons that, based on his experience, the Knight of the Laughing Tree was definitely a woman.
The news from the seventh day of the tourney didn't arrive on the eighth. It wasn't until three days later that news came from other lords:
In the jousting final, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen defeated Ser Barristan Selmy of the Kingsguard. To the cheers of the crowd, he rode past his wife, Elia Martell, mother of his two children, and placed the blue rose garland, a symbol of love and beauty, on Lyanna Stark's lap. The entire arena fell silent instantly. The stands, once filled with laughter and cheers, were now eerily quiet, as if the wind itself had stopped.
This matter could be big or small. Although there were no explicit rules, everyone in Westeros tacitly acknowledged that giving the victor's garland to a lady was a courting ritual for a single knight. If the victor was married, the garland was traditionally given to the hostess's lady, a custom of sorts. But Rhaegar was known to be married, and he'd presented the garland to Lyanna. This was an insult to his wife's family.
A week after the event, a letter arrived from Stannis. It mentioned some information only the involved parties knew:
"Prince Oberyn, as the younger brother of Prince Rhaegar's wife, and Brandon Stark privately questioned Prince Rhaegar. Afterward, Oberyn took his sister Elia back to King's Landing, and Brandon left Harrenhal that night with his sister Lyanna. No one knows what they talked about.
Robert outwardly expressed that it was Prince Rhaegar's admiration for his fiancée's beauty, as he had spoken to the prince about it previously. But Eddard, knowing Robert's character, thought that Robert definitely wanted to chop Rhaegar into pieces and feed him to the dogs!
Also, the Hand of the King, Tywin Lannister, resigned after the King returned to the Red Keep. The new Hand was Owen Merryweather. No one could fathom the King's current actions. Previously, Tywin was able to curb some of the King's mad decrees, but now that Tywin was gone, Owen's abilities couldn't restrain the King from going crazy."
After reading the letters, Witte, as someone who knew the plot, thought to himself:
The most important events in Westeros in the past 300 years are about to begin. I'm not even four years old yet. While I can't change the entire situation, I can still prevent certain tragedies on a small scale.
Suddenly, I thought of the weirwood tree in the courtyard, and a chill ran down my spine.
This world has the Three-Eyed Raven, who can see hundreds of years into the past and future. As a transmigrator, am I an enemy or a friend to him? If I'm an enemy, he's hiding somewhere beyond the Wall, and he can monitor me whenever he wants. It's really difficult to deal with someone who has a full-map cheat.
Destiny is unchangeable, but the fact that I've transmigrated means that the course of history can be altered. However, the inertia of history must be enormous. My small butterfly wings probably won't be able to flap enough. I'm a four-year-old child of House Baratheon right now. I have to act in accordance with my family's interests. Everyone in this world is smart; they won't just bow down and follow blindly.
Robert is exceptionally strong and is a leader with a touch of the jiunagu. He can see the strengths of others and knows how to use people. He can even turn enemies into friends and drink with them. But he has terrible self-control. It's fine when Eddard and his foster father are around to supervise him, but he'll go off the rails once he's left to his own devices.
Stannis likes to handle political affairs, but unfortunately, he's mediocre and not very good at socializing. He also tends to get stuck in the details.
Renly is still young, and I can try to shape him.
The War of the Usurper, which Robert will launch next year, and the ten years after he becomes King—those are ten years that will benefit House Baratheon. I need to ensure that these events happen. I can't let my presence cause significant changes to history.