GOT/ASOIAF: Ruler Beyond The Ice

Here, Aegor met the papermaking siblings. Well, calling them "papermaking siblings" might not be the best way to describe them. To be precise, they were Neil and Nina, a brother and sister from Rosby.

That's right, they didn't have a surname. They were simply "Neil and Nina of Rosby." Tyrion had previously explained to Aegor that most commoners in Westeros didn't have surnames and usually introduced themselves as "son of so-and-so," "daughter of so-and-so," or "so-and-so from such-and-such place." Even if commoners gave themselves a surname, it was generally meaningless and carried no weight. Only people with an "identity," like Aegor, could create and use a surname that others might recognize. For example, at least the people who had purchased Night's Watch bonds would remember Aegor's surname.

Neil looked rather plain. His height and build were similar to Aegor's, and it was clear from his frame that he hadn't gone hungry growing up. Nina, on the other hand, immediately caught Aegor's attention, not because of her beauty, but because of her eyes.

Her eyes were crystal clear, like a pristine spring. They sparkled with a lively light. For a moment, Aegor felt as though he had seen those eyes somewhere before. After some thought, he realized what they reminded him of: these were the eyes of someone who had been educated, seen a little of the world, and hadn't been beaten down by life's hardships. They were the eyes of someone whose curiosity and dreams were still intact, who still had hope for the future.

Before his time travel, Aegor had been surrounded by people with this kind of light in their eyes. But since arriving in Westeros, this kind of look had become extremely rare. It was something he had only seen in high-ranking nobles like Tyrion and Arya, people free from the crushing weight of survival. In sharp contrast, most of the common folk had eyes dulled by hardship, a numb and vacant expression that reflected lives spent merely trying to survive.

When someone spends every ounce of their strength just trying to stay alive, with no hope for the future, that emptiness becomes visible in their gaze.

It's no wonder people could tell at a glance whether someone was a noble or a commoner. It wasn't just their appearance, it was this "light," this temperament.

For a commoner in this world to have such a temperament was strange indeed. For a moment, Aegor even wondered if Nina might also be a reincarnator. But after finally tearing his gaze away, he noticed her youth: petite, with fair skin and a face still carrying a hint of baby fat. This girl couldn't be more than a few years older than Arya.

---

"Sir?" Nina's soft, clear voice snapped Aegor out of his thoughts. "The first batch of samples you requested has been completed. At Lord Tyrion's instruction, we used the original method without making any changes. We're waiting for your feedback and guidance."

Aegor nodded. As usual, he wanted to point out that he wasn't an adult, but after some thought, he decided it wasn't necessary. "Very well. Lead the way."

Neil seemed to be the quiet type, so Nina took the lead, guiding the group through the workshop. As they walked, she explained the tools, equipment, and processes used for each step with clarity and fluency. After a full tour, they arrived at the final product.

The girl, calm and composed throughout the tour, suddenly grew shy. Her voice wavered as she introduced the finished product. "This is the paper we've made. We're trying to make it thinner and stronger."

Is this supposed to be the original plant-fiber paper? Aegor looked at the pile of unevenly thick sheets on the table and was momentarily speechless.

Picking up a sheet between his fingers, Aegor examined it closely.

The color was a dark yellow, likely due to the lack of a bleaching process. The texture was hard, like a napkin that had been wet and dried again. The surface was rough, resembling the crust of a thick pancake. Aegor gently pulled on it, and with a sharp "snap," the sheet tore.

Tyrion wasn't joking—this paper was of such poor quality that it wasn't even fit for wiping one's arse.

Nina's face flushed crimson. Despite her usual quick wit, she found herself tongue-tied. She could only stare at Aegor with nervous eyes, afraid that the "boss behind the scenes" Lord Tyrion had mentioned would be angry.

Of course, Aegor wasn't angry. He had come to inspect an initial sample, not a perfect industrial product. This paper wasn't usable yet, but it was undeniably "paper," and that was enough for now.

"This won't work…"

Aegor muttered to himself. Touring the workshop with Nina had brought back memories of inspecting projects on behalf of clients before his time travel. And as a "leader," he naturally had to offer some guidance after the inspection.

Though he knew next to nothing about papermaking, Aegor decided to try and help as much as he could. If he didn't understand the specifics, he could at least offer broad suggestions. As long as the direction was right, the craftsmen could refine the details through experimentation.

---

"First, the uneven thickness must be due to issues in the soaking, boiling, or crushing stages. Those steps need to be more thorough. If you're short on manpower, try improving the equipment or using animal power. Don't worry about the cost, money is not a problem," Aegor began, finding his rhythm as he spoke. Problem-solving, after all, required universal skills that could be applied to any field.

"Next, find a craftsman to weave mats with smoother, finer surfaces for scooping the pulp. Spread the crushed raw materials evenly in water, use a sieve to filter out coarse debris, and then scoop it out with the mat quickly—don't waste time."

"Yes," Nina said, her eyes sparkling as she nodded eagerly.

"As for the color, there are two ways to improve it. One is to use chemicals to bleach and decolorize the raw materials during processing. The other is to add dye in the final step to force it white. You can decide which method to use. It doesn't need to be pure white, but the color should at least be light and even enough to contrast clearly with the text." Aegor continued, "The surface is too rough. For now, try polishing it during the drying step. Use smoother materials, but be careful not to grind it too thin or tear it. Press it lightly after it's half-dry. How many people are in your family? Avoid hiring outsiders for now. If you need more help, come to me or Lord Tyrion. As I said, money is not a problem."

Nina thought to herself, This boss is amazing! She nodded repeatedly, impressed not only by Aegor's advice but also by the confident way he gestured and emphasized, "money is not a problem."

Arya, who had been watching from the side, giggled. "You really know a lot, Master!"

"Don't interrupt," Aegor said, ruffling his apprentice's hair before continuing. "The biggest issue is that the paper isn't strong enough. That's a critical flaw. There's no easy fix for this, but try experimenting with different raw materials. If that doesn't work… Yes, add paste or glue during the final step to strengthen it. Again, money is not a problem. Focus on producing usable paper first. Once that's done, we can think about reducing costs."

"Glue…" Nina blinked, then clapped her hands. "Why didn't I think of that? That could work!"

---

For a moment, silence fell over the workshop. Finally, Tyrion broke it. "Anything else?"

"That's all," Aegor said, satisfied with himself and the advice he'd given.

"Did you remember everything?" Tyrion asked the siblings.

"Yes! We remember!"

"Good," Tyrion said seriously. "You heard what the boss said, money is not a problem. Work hard, and once you produce usable paper, you'll be rewarded."

"Oh, that reminds me," Aegor added. "Once you've mass-produced usable paper, one-tenth of the paper mill's profits will belong to you and your sister."

***

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