Of course, that was just Jon's subconscious reaction; it didn't really count as a serious proposal.
The reason he even thought of it was because he had witnessed so many frantic alliances and matchmaking attempts between noble houses in Tampa recently. It was just a natural association.
However, the moment those words left his mouth, even Jory Cassel, standing guard nearby, couldn't help but lower his arms and stand a little straighter.
Following the captain's relaxed posture, Ned Stark, who had been leaning on his desk, froze for a moment. Then, he leaned back into his chair, looking Jon up and down with a new expression.
Only then did the Baron of Tampa realize that his phrasing might have been a bit problematic. It sounded suspiciously like he was asking for a marriage contract to consolidate his status.
Of course, this was just Jon's own paranoid interpretation.
From Jory and Ned's perspective, this statement was a relief.
Back when Jon was still just "Snow," whispers had circulated around Winterfell—thanks to Theon Greyjoy's big mouth—questioning whether the highborn bastard even liked women.
But now, it seemed those were just rumors, or perhaps a form of self-protection.
Having gained security and status, the hamster that had been cowering in its burrow was finally sensing spring and looking for a mate.
Unfortunately, since no one can truly read another's mind, even unambiguous statements can lead to massive misunderstandings.
So, as the conversation continued, the two parties were essentially on completely different wavelengths.
Fortunately, after Jon's persuasion, Ned agreed to travel to the Stormlands.
Although he hated seeing Robert's sour face, the man was still the King. No matter how reluctant Ned was, he had to muster the energy to manage his annoying brother's emotions.
To prepare for this trip, Lord Ned suddenly felt the pressure of his duties. He immediately offloaded a bunch of "necessary logistical tasks" onto Baron Jon.
This included, but was not limited to, arranging sufficient guards and supplies for the journey.
After that, the Secretary to the Hand was granted even greater authority. He was directly commissioned to represent the Hand's will and coordinate relevant matters while Ned was away.
Whether the Small Council would cooperate with Jon depended entirely on the Shadow Hand's own charisma.
Aside from the politics, Jon was genuinely diligent about Ned's trip.
Considering the Hand's leg hadn't fully healed—making horseback or carriage rides torture—the Baron thoughtfully commandeered three warships. He also added a supply ship packed to the brim with luxury goods that the frugal Lord Ned would never buy for himself.
Why such a massive scale? Officially, it was because the Small Council had ordered "absolute safety" for the Hand of the King.
Using this excuse, Jon extorted five hundred Gold Cloaks from Commander Janos Slynt, stuffing them onto the ships as "escorts" to further weaken the Lannister influence in the city.
After that, the Shadow Hand wielded his quill again, fully exploiting the weaknesses of honest men. He requisitioned ships from Dragonstone.
Even though Stannis Baratheon was extremely reluctant, he was a man of duty. Upon receiving the official order from the Small Council, he gritted his teeth and dispatched three hundred sailors and soldiers to escort Lord Ned south from Blackwater Bay.
Such a grand departure naturally drew the attention of the entire capital.
Taking advantage of the crowd, the Shadow Hand didn't hesitate to flaunt his wealth.
Specifically, when a supply wagon "accidentally" tipped over, spilling silks, crystal glassware, and exquisite delicacies from Essos onto the street, observant onlookers realized that the Baron of Tampa had secured his own golden goose.
Of course, this realization was limited to those with ulterior motives.
While allocating these supplies, Jon also sent a clerk to Tampa to formally announce his ownership of the trade routes.
Given that most people already suspected it, no one jumped out to object.
Well, except perhaps for the servants of the Seven hiding in the city—specifically, the Sparrows lurking in the shadows who despised such excess.
In any case, when the Direwolf banner of the Hand was raised on the mast and the fleet set sail for the Stormlands, the people of King's Landing realized one thing: the Baron of Tampa, though he still had no banner of his own, was about to reclaim the authority of the Shadow Hand.
Before the ships even left the harbor, many nobles were already lining up, eager to hear the Baron's insights on "territory management"—and hoping to see if he would transform King's Landing into a paradise surpassing Tampa.
---
While the people cheered and anticipated Jon's performance, Cersei Lannister, hiding in the Red Keep, was sinking deeper into anxiety.
Standing before the Queen were two handsome, tall, but trembling young men.
They were Ser Kevan Lannister's sons—Lancel and Willem.
Faced with the incompetence of her two foolish cousins, Cersei was too exhausted to even scold them properly.
After all, she had never explicitly ordered them to kill the Usurper. She lacked the courage to say the words out loud.
Just getting them to secretly swap the wine for stronger vintage had taken all her energy.
The reason these two squires were standing here wasn't to report success; they had been kicked out of the King's service.
The man responsible for their expulsion was Ser Barristan Selmy, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
After reviewing the incident, Barristan the Bold stated firmly that if King Robert hadn't been drunk out of his mind, a seasoned hunter like him would never have been gored by a boar.
Therefore, someone had to take the blame. Naturally, the punishment fell on the two handsome, "capable," and well-connected squires.
With them dismissed and sent back to King's Landing, the already paranoid Cersei became even more terrified. She was one step away from sending an assassin to finish her husband off just to put Joffrey on the throne immediately.
But she hadn't completely lost her mind yet.
So, while sending a plea for help to Casterly Rock, she also began to look forward to Jon's feedback and performance.
However, before meeting with her "Shadow Hand," Cersei summoned the two squires first, determined to extract every detail of the failed hunt from their mouths.
But the thought of her perfect plan falling apart cast a dark shadow over the Lioness's face, making her two confused cousins tremble in fear.