Nobody expects

in case anyone is interested, I decided to write a story to distract me from the research I do for some chapters of this fanfic, it's called Industrial Baron in Caesar's Legion, it's more violent because there is no need to keep up appearances.

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If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know.

Leave a comment; support is always appreciated.

I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.

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''The masquerade is over we don't need those who don't trust us''-Wilhelm von Hohenzollern

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-Pov of Olenna Tyrell ninth moon 288 AC

The conflict between my son-in-law and the Faith of the Seven ended with far fewer consequences than anyone could have anticipated in a religious war. The casualties were few on both sides, though thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, lost their homes due to the cunning tactics of the Prussians, who, with calculated precision, managed to divide the attention of the lords of the Seven Kingdoms.

Even so, I can confidently say that no one truly emerged victorious from that attack. Only one person can claim a true gain: my daughter's husband. With the loss of only a few hundred of his soldiers, he managed to secure peace terms that many would have considered incredibly generous for a conflict of this magnitude. While others counted their losses, he skillfully negotiated his position, taking advantage of the chaos that spread across the realm.

Moreover, his victory was not just political, but also a demonstration of the power of the Prussian state and its total militarization, a process he had been cultivating ever since he expelled us from our home. Now, I finally understand why the Prussians invested every coin in preparing for war. It was not merely a matter of survival, but of establishing themselves as an unstoppable force, something my son-in-law understood better than anyone. It was his vision that drove his people to embrace war as an art.

It has now become clear that, without dragons, expelling the Prussians from The Reach will be simply impossible. They have entrenched themselves with fortifications and walls, and as time passes, new generations will only know a Prussian king. This is an inevitable fact. Considering the long lifespan of Prussian nobles, many generations will be born, grow, and live under their reign, accepting that reality as natural.

House Tyrell, which for so long has maintained its prestige and power in The Reach, will see everything we have built crumble when that link with the Prussians ends. Our only option is to ensure that this bond is never broken. We must weave our strategies with great care, securing marriages with Prussian nobles, integrating ourselves into their nobility to preserve what remains of our heritage.

I have learned over the years that only certain noble lineages are considered worthy of being consorts to Prussian kings. Our case was special because they needed Tyrell legitimacy for The Reach. If we can link ourselves to those lineages, we can ensure a place in their court and in their history. We must play our cards wisely, as we always have. Although the Prussian traditions are strange and their customs even stranger, we cannot afford to disdain the opportunities before us. If playing our cards means accepting their rules, then so be it. The survival of our house depends on it.

And the one who had contributed most to this complicated web was not my daughter Janna, though she, as the wife of the Prussian king, fulfilled her duties as queen. She diligently attended charity events organized by the Prussian church, and at that moment, she was responsible for delivering the ashes of Prussian soldiers killed in battle to their families, a solemn task that strengthened her image among the people. However, she lacked the skill, or perhaps the influence, to bend her husband into granting prestigious positions to our relatives or allied nobles at court. She did what was required, but no more.

Mace, on the other hand... Mace was the one truly shouldering the burden of rebuilding our family's power. Despite his limitations..., his friendship with Johann, an influential Prussian noble, had borne many fruits. Mace, with his ability to gain the trust of the right men, had secured a position in the city of Wilhelmshaven, as guardian of the chain, a key post for protecting the city's port.

That appointment was no small matter. Though it wasn't a title that shone among the highest of the court, it had a strategic importance that could not be underestimated. That position in the port meant influence over trade and the security of one of the main Prussian maritime routes.

Ah, Mace. I've always thought he has more luck than sense, but somehow, fate seems to smile upon that fool. When the Prussian navy decided to dispose of the galleys confiscated during Robert's rebellion, it wasn't because Mace was a genius who saw the opportunity. No. It was sheer coincidence that he happened to be in the right place at the right time. The Prussians, with their disdain for what they can't fully control, preferred their own more advanced ships and simply wanted to get rid of those old galleys.

Mace was offered the opportunity, of course, and with his usual clumsiness, he said yes. Not because he understood ships or knew what he was doing, but because luck, once again, favored him. The Prussians gave him the information before others, and thus, with that stroke of fortune, he purchased many of those galleys in a very low price.

And of course, combined with his 'friendship' with Johann, the great Prussian admiral, Mace was also lucky enough to accompany him on his journeys to the Summer Isles. It wasn't because Mace was particularly brilliant in business or diplomacy, but because he simply was on good terms with Johann. Thanks to that, he was able to embark on those trade expeditions that led him to buy jewels, spices, fabrics, and all sorts of riches those islands had to offer.

The fool managed to amass a considerable fortune, almost as large as what we had before the Prussians took it from us. But not through cunning or skill of his own, but by pure coincidence and, once again, the blessed luck that follows him everywhere. Mace doesn't have half the talent of those who truly run the game of power, but fortune keeps smiling upon him, while the rest of us do the real work.

Actually, it was I who knew how to make the most of Mace's luck, forging alliances with many of our former lords to join our small trading fleet. With their support, we managed to integrate into southern trade and recover much of the backing we had lost among the former ruling houses.

''But why am I surprised by his friendship? Both are fools content with life, only Johann is competent at his job," I murmured to myself.

However, luck did not last forever. A new decree from my 'dear' son-in-law would confiscate all the ships built in the Prussian arsenal, intended to support the naval war. The reason, the growing threat of the Ironborn longships, which were ravaging the coasts of other lords. Many of the ships we had recently bought were seized, which was a severe blow to our rebuilding efforts and affecting all the lords as the trade was incredibly lucrative.

And to add insult to injury, they imposed temporary conscription on our sailors until the Ironborn were defeated, formally incorporating Mace into the Prussian navy. We were invited to a small meeting to outline the role of our fleet in these new times.

As we moved through the city towards the meeting, I encountered a group of nobles. At the front was Lord Tarly, the favorite of Herzog Helmuth. This noble had been adopted by the powerful Helmuth.

"Lord Tarly, what a pleasant surprise to find you in this city today," I said, with the kindest and most affectionate tone I could manage from my carriage.

"Lady Olenna, by order of your son-in-law, I am stationed in Wilhelmshaven to protect the area until further notice," Lord Tarly responded with palpable coldness, showing no sign of warmth.

His lack of courtesy was evident, and the formality of his response did not mask the disdain he felt.

"I see. And what have you been up to? Since your new father adopted you, I haven't heard much about your doings," I said, keeping my tone friendly.

"Govern, or do you forget that I was appointed governor of Wilhelmshaven this year?" Lord Tarly replied.

"Of course, I remember. I am just surprised by the presence of so many nobles in this grand city," I responded.

"The king wants the city protected at all costs; the income from its ports is essential for the war," Lord Tarly answered, as I observed the many nobles accompanying him.

Before I could formulate a response, I noticed a man in a hooded habit carrying several scrolls. He approached very close to me and addressed Lord Beesbury. In an instant, one of the scrolls fell to the ground, and as everyone leaned in to see what was happening, the hooded man made a swift and precise move, slitting Lord Beesbury's throat.

"What the hell are you waiting for? Go after him!" Lord Tarly shouted, pointing to the man vanishing into the distance.

His voice was a cry of frustration, and several guards and nobles began to move in the indicated direction, trying to catch the assassin who was already disappearing into the streets of Wilhelmshaven. Confusion and panic reigned among the attendees, with some trying to assist Lord Beesbury and others desperately searching for the attacker.

One of the Wolfheads approached Lord Tarly and whispered something in his ear. Lord Tarly's face, which until that moment had been a mix of seriousness and anger, changed immediately. Surprise was reflected in his features as he listened to what the Finn was saying.

"Lady Olenna, we should continue to our destination; we shouldn't remain in the streets," said the Teutonic knight who was guarding me and towered over my twin guards.

"It would be better to have an escort too… Until the assassination is resolved, it's dangerous for you to travel without heavy protection," Lord Tarly said nervously.

"Yes, let's head quickly to the meeting…" I tried to say.

But before I could finish, hundreds of horsemen began to gallop through the city streets. They were all dressed in black habits and black masks, creating a wave of chaos and confusion in their wake.

"Governor… I demand access to your fortress for a few days; things are going to get ugly," said the Teutonic knight with authority.

"Let's go," replied Lord Tarly, leading the way.

"What's happening?" I asked the Teutonic knight as I ordered my driver to start the journey.

The knight did not answer and simply followed his order to protect me.

Soon we began to hear screams from various parts of the city, and the louder the screams became, the more the Teutonic knight tried to reach the Wilhelmshaven fortress.

In one of the many beautiful squares of the city, I noticed a group of people tied to a wooden pyre. The men in black habits were shouting with a torch in hand, while the tension in the air became unbearable.

"Those who embrace syncretism, false converts who only use our god as a quick way to gain a place in society or acquire wealth, have no place in the worship of the one true god. All who have benefited from this lie, this affront to god, must pay for their sins in the court of the Almighty. I find no pleasure in this, but God's duty is to judge them; mine, to send them," said the man in the black habit, throwing the torch onto the pyre.

The fire quickly ignited, enveloping the wood and rising toward the bound victims, while the screams of horror and the suffocating heat filled the square.

The flames began to consume the pyre, and the screams of the trapped people echoed through the square.The crowd watched, some horrified, others, in a mix of fear and fervor, remained silent.

We moved faster as the fire crackled behind us and the echoes of screams faded into the distance.

"Who are these fanatics?" I finally asked

"My brothers... the Inquisition," said the Teutonic knight with a serious yet resigned tone.

"Does that mean the king ordered it?" I asked, incredulous.

The Teutonic knight did not respond

Lord Tarly, walking beside us, had a pale face, as if his entire life had drained away in that moment. He seemed unable to speak, his eyes fixed on the distant flames and the hooded figures carrying out their grim work without mercy or hesitation. It was unusual to see him like this, but what was happening surpassed even his relentless toughness.

As the chaos continued in the streets, we finally arrived at the governor's fortress. Before we could enter, a man emerged from the shadows, quick as the wind. With a crossbow in hand, he fired, and the bolt struck one of the nobles accompanying Lord Tarly directly in the neck.

Without wasting time, we hurried inside the safety offered by the fortress. There, we were taken to a hall where attempts were made to calm us after the horrors we had witnessed. Through the windows, the multiple pyres burning in the city continued to serve as a reminder of the external chaos.

The nobles inside the hall looked like ghosts, pale and fearful. Each one glanced at the others with suspicion, as if afraid of being the next to fall under this wave of violence. Even those who usually appeared self-assured now trembled before the unknown.

Servants arrived, bringing cups of tea for everyone, trying to bring some normalcy to the situation. One of the servants began serving the tea silently

We started drinking the tea to calm ourselves and think more clearly, but suddenly three nobles began convulsing.

We had all drunk the tea. Each one of us had brought the cup to our lips. However, only three nobles fell to the ground convulsing, their bodies twisting in agonizing spasms. The screams of the others echoed through the hall, but no one knew what to do.

"What is happening?!" shouted one of the nobles, dropping his cup, which shattered into pieces on the floor.

Everyone looked at their own hands, their own bodies, waiting to feel the same symptoms.

I had also drunk the tea, and although I remained calm on the outside, a whirlwind of thoughts was stirring inside me.

'How could only some be affected? Was it a coincidence, or was the poison specifically targeted at them?'

Lord Tarly, though always so cold and calculating, also seemed shaken, watching in silence as his companions writhed on the floor

One of the Teutonic knights, with his characteristic calm, approached the fallen nobles, but there was nothing left to be done. The poison had done its job with deadly precision.

"This is no coincidence," I murmured to myself, looking at the empty cups.

Lord Tarly, visibly disturbed, ordered everyone to return to their rooms, except for me. As the other nobles withdrew in silence, with the tension palpable in the air, I remained alone with him in the hall.

"What is happening?" I asked, my gaze fixed on the city governor, who could not hide his nervousness.

"The king... the king is purging the nobility who had plans to betray us. But I didn't know about the Inquisition,if I die my house will be governed by a child a huge weakness" Lord Tarly responded, his voice trembling slightly as his hands shook.

His face confirmed what I already suspected this was not just an isolated act but part of something much larger. The city was engulfed in chaos, but behind the flames and murders, there was a calculated purpose.

"And who are the traitors?" I asked, though I already had an inkling of the answer. No one was safe in the midst of a purge, and loyalty could change as quickly as the wind.

"I don't know, only that there would be deaths today and that the king wanted all the nobility in the city," Lord Tarly said.

"So... the confiscation of the ships," I said, surprised by the cunning of the plan.

 A maneuver to concentrate Westerosi nobility in one place, under an apparently innocent pretext, and eliminate those whom the king considered a threat.

"That's why... the confiscation of the ships," I murmured, astonished by the cleverness of the plan. While we thought everything revolved around the naval war and the Ironborn, the true objective had been to ensure no one could escape. The nobility had been gathered like sheep to the slaughter, without even realizing it.

The following days were a storm of uncertainty and death. Nobles who never awoke from their sleep, found dead in their luxurious beds. Strange "accidents" in the streets, where runaway carriages crushed important figures, and all those who dared think of betrayal and false converts met their end in the burning pyres.

The smoke of the burned bodies enveloped the city in a dark haze. The screams, the pleas, and the crackling of the flames became a daily soundtrack. The Inquisition fulfilled its duty, and anyone who could be suspected of being a false convert faced divine justice, as they said.

However, after this brutal display of death, things gradually began to calm down. The city started to return to normal. The streets cleared, trade resumed its course, and the few nobles remaining, those who had not been purged, resumed their positions with the new lesson well learned the king would not tolerate betrayal, dissent, or even the mere idea of it, and not even the highest status could ensure one's life.

My son in law was showing his true colors

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Give me your power stones

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Leave a comment; support is always appreciated.

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I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.

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