The nights in Westeros arrived earlier than on Blue Star. As the sun sank behind the mountains on the far side of the Blackwater, darkness swiftly enveloped King's Landing.
In the dining hall of Luke's new estate, candlelight should have been flickering.
Yet at this mont, the spacious stone-and-timber dining room was bright as day.
Or rather, it was illuminated by a stable, soft "pseudo-daylight" that people of this era had never seen before.
The light source was not the expensive whale-oil candelabras or torches on the walls, but a simply yet strangely designed "magic lamp" placed in the center of the dining table. It emitted a constant, bright glow without any fla.
It was the LED rechargeable desk lamp Luke had brought from Blue Star.
When he casually took it out of his bag before dinner and turned it on, everyone in the dining hall — no, everyone in the entire rear courtyard who witnessed the scene — fell into montary stunned silence followed by imnse shock.
The soft but incredibly bright light banished every shadow in the room. The colors of the food beca vividly alive as never before.
Every person's face was clearly visible, and even the air seed transford by this "light."
"By the Seven!"
Annie and Emma Waters, standing behind Luke ready to serve, simultaneously covered their mouths. Their sapphire-blue eyes widened in awe and reverence.
Carola, who was bringing in a bowl of soup, nearly spilled it. Her beautiful face was filled with disbelief, her red lips parted in shock.
Arthur, the experienced forr steward from Myr sitting to Luke's right, had his pupils contract sharply. His fingers instinctively gripped the rough wooden chair armrest.
His lips moved silently, as if praying to so Essosi god he knew.
Bronn, sitting on Luke's left, reacted the most directly and dramatically.
He shot up from his chair so violently he nearly flipped the table. His eyes were glued to the desk lamp as if he had seen a dragon breathing fire.
"Luke! What… what the hell is this thing?! A divine artifact?! Or… magic?!"
Bronn's voice cracked from excitent and suspicion. He pointed at the lamp, then at Luke. The usual roguish expression on his face was replaced by a mix of fear, greed, and extre curiosity.
For a mont, the dining hall fell silent, filled only with the sound of heavy breathing.
Luke remained calm, as if he had rely lit an ordinary oil lamp.
He picked up a piece of bread and slowly spread butter on it, his tone casual yet carrying undeniable certainty:
"Just a little toy. Made through the cooperation of dwarf craftsn and elven mages — you could call it a magical item. Very rare, and quite fragile."
"Magical item…"
Arthur repeated the words in a murmur, staring at the impossibly stable light source with complicated eyes.
"My lord, if the Alchemists' Guild or the maesters of the Citadel learn of such a treasure, they will go mad! The bishops of the Faith of the Seven might even see it as a divine miracle… or heresy."
Bronn had sat back down, but his gaze remained fixed on the lamp. Hearing this, he snorted. "Mad? If you offered this to King Robert, just for bringing 'the sun at night,' you'd easily get a fat fief!"
"Luke, you really have so many ways to get rich!"
Luke gave Bronn a calm but pressuring look. "Bronn, your job is to protect and everything I own. If soone becos greedy because of this lamp and tries to seize it… that would prove you're useless. And useless people have no right to my gold dragons."
Bronn's smile stiffened for a second, then returned to his usual carefree grin as he shrugged. "Relax, my lord. As long as the gold keeps coming, I'll guard even the 'sun at night' for you. But…"
He lowered his voice with a hint of teasing, "You really dare to use it openly."
"Occasional enjoynt, that's all."
Luke said lightly, his gaze sweeping across the varied expressions of everyone in the dining hall. "I also hope all of you will help keep this little secret. After all, there is only one 'sun at night,' but many who might covet it."
This was both a reminder and a warning.
Arthur imdiately bowed. "Rest assured, my lord. We will keep our mouths shut."
Annie and Emma nodded repeatedly, their young faces solemn.
Carola gracefully curtsied to show she understood.
Bronn simply chuckled twice.
The atmosphere eased slightly, and everyone began eating.
Luke only ate lightly.
The roast at was slightly overcooked, the soup's spices were ssy, and the bread was still coarse. Even with "Mithril Sal" and "Velvet Snow" for seasoning, the taste was rely passable — far inferior to ordinary takeout on Blue Star.
He sighed inwardly. Such pure natural ingredients were truly wasted.
Bronn, however, devoured everything with gusto, praising nonstop. "Fuck, this salt is amazing! The roast at tastes at least twice as good! And this soup is so rich!"
He even tried dipping pork ribs in lted sugar, eating with loud smacks and declaring it delicious.
Luke noted this and instructed Arthur beside him, "Arthur, tomorrow take five jin of 'Mithril Sal' and five jin of 'Velvet Snow' from storage and give them to Carola for the kitchen. Everyone in the estate may use them for cooking. When they run out, co to for more."
A flash of surprise crossed Arthur's eyes, quickly turning into gratitude. "Yes, my lord is rciful."
Providing such "precious" seasonings to all servants and guards was an extrely generous act.
Even bankers from the Free Cities probably didn't have this kind of boldness.
Bronn also raised an eyebrow but said nothing, though he chewed with even more vigor.
These small favors were necessary investnts to buy hearts and increase loyalty.
Dinner ended in a strange atmosphere of bright light and slight restraint.
Luke asked Annie and Emma to prepare hot water — he wanted to bathe.
The bathroom in the main building was luxurious by the standards of this era.
A bathing pool made of smooth stone, large enough for four or five people, with flowing water kept warm through a copper pipe system.
Luke stood by the pool as the two golden-haired, blue-eyed girls lowered their heads, cheeks flushed, and stepped forward to help him undress.
He said nothing, allowing them to proceed. A strange feeling rose in his heart as he experienced the daily privileges of the ruling class in this era.
Rough but clean linen towels, bathing water scented with soapberries, and the careful service of two beautiful young maids…
This ford a stark contrast to his previous life in the tiny rental room on Blue Star, where he did everything himself.
Just as Emma's trembling little hands undid the last button of his outer robe and Luke was about to step into the pool, the rustle of fabric ca from beside him.
Luke subconsciously turned his head and froze in shock.
Annie had begun untying the laces of her simple maid dress. Her collar was already loose, revealing a patch of fair, delicate skin and elegant collarbones. In the misty steam and LED light of the bathroom, the sight was dizzying.
She kept her head lowered, long lashes trembling, her cheeks flushed almost to the point of bleeding. Though her movents were clumsy, they carried a desperate resolve.
"What are you doing?!"
Luke stepped back abruptly, his voice rising an octave from shock.
Annie was startled by his reaction. She froze, then looked up with teary sapphire eyes, her voice trembling with sobs:
"M-my lord… I… I will serve you in the bath… I… I am willing… I only beg you… please be good to Emma, don't… don't send her to Silk Street…"
By the end, she was sobbing uncontrollably.
Beside her, Emma's pretty face was also scarlet, tears in her eyes — a mix of heartache for her sister and a resigned shyness.
She bit her lip and actually began reaching for her own dress ties.
"Stop! Both of you, stop!"
Luke's head throbbed. He quickly stepped forward, not to embrace them but to gently push them back by the shoulders and pull Annie's loosened collar closed. His tone was serious: "Put your clothes back on! Who told you to do this?"
The two girls were frightened by his stern voice and stood there at a loss, silently crying.
Luke took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, and explained: "Listen, Annie, Emma. I hired you as maids — to serve tea, clean, deliver ssages. That's all. I am not the kind of rich rchant who needs maids to 'warm the bed,' nor a noble with special tastes. Understand?"
"I do not need, nor will I allow, that kind of service from you."
Emma timidly raised her head. Her large, wet sapphire eyes looked at Luke as she spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito, yet carrying the era's understanding of a "personal maid's duties": "But… my lord, personal maids… are supposed to help the master bathe, dress, and… and when the master desires… warm the bed…"
Luke was rendered speechless.
He knew the upper class in Westeros lived decadently, and personal servants often doubled as bed companions, but hearing and seeing it in person still left him sowhat uncomfortable.
"That may be the rule in other households," Luke said firmly. "In mine, I make the rules. You only need to do the chores I assign. Do not even think about anything else."
Seeing the sisters still looked sowhat confused and doubtful, Luke knew empty words wouldn't convince them.
He ntally summoned a small oil-paper package of rock sugar from his storage space and handed it to Annie, who was closest.
"Taste this. It's called 'Ice Crystal Honey.' Consider it… to calm your nerves."
Annie timidly accepted it. Together with Emma, she carefully opened the paper and saw the crystal-clear, gem-like granules inside. Both girls widened their eyes in surprise.
At Luke's signal, they took a tiny pinch with their fingertips and put it in their mouths.
The pure, extre sweetness instantly lted on their tongues — cooler and more refreshing than "Velvet Snow," carrying a strange sweetness that seed to soothe the soul.
Tears still streaked their faces, but the sudden sweetness made them temporarily forget their fear and sorrow. Both girls showed childlike delight, unconsciously licking their lips.
Looking at them, Luke softened his tone but kept his authority: "Also, rember this. The second floor of the main building is my private area — an absolute forbidden zone. Without my permission, no one, including the two of you, is allowed upstairs."
"At night, after I go upstairs to rest, no matter what sounds you hear or what happens, do not co up to disturb . No matter how big the matter, wait until the next day."
"This rule applies to everyone in the estate. Whoever violates it will regret coming into this world. Understood?"
Annie was still dazedly savoring the aftertaste of the "Ice Crystal Honey" and could only nod blankly.
Emma, however, carefully wrapped up the remaining sugar. She lifted her beautiful sapphire eyes — inherited from her mother — and gave Luke a deep look.
That gaze held gratitude, confusion, lingering wariness, and a trace of sothing hard to describe… curiosity.
This young, wealthy, mysterious master who possessed the "sun at night" and countless rare treasures, yet seed completely different from all the nobles they knew…
Just what kind of person was he?
Luke said no more. He waved for them to wait by the bathroom door, then stepped into the warm pool, sank into the water, and let out a long breath.
Establishing the base and recruiting people was only the first step.
How to manage them, build authority, establish real loyalty and order, while carefully hiding his secrets and balancing resources and risks between the two worlds…
The road ahead was still very long.
At the bathroom door, Emma carefully held the precious package of "Ice Crystal Honey." Her gaze involuntarily drifted again toward the blurred silhouette in the pool, her heart churning with unprecedented thoughts.
The more innocent Annie simply focused on slowly sucking the rock sugar in her mouth.
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