177. do not accept that look down on me

Jason Liu put on a worried and anxious expression as he looked at Eddard Stark. "Lord Stark, please don't refuse this gift. In my homeland, it is a tradition to bring gifts when visiting someone for the first time. If the gift is rejected, it signifies that the other party does not accept the goodwill or friendship. It could even mean that the relationship between both sides is hostile."

Eddard Stark's brows furrowed slightly at Jason Liu's words. "Jason, that is not my intention. I just—"

Jason Liu quickly interrupted, "Then please, my lord, do not reject my gift. According to the customs of my homeland, if you refuse me today, it would mean that House Stark does not wish to establish friendly relations with my family from the East. It might even be interpreted as hostility."

Jason Liu sighed and continued, "I am an outsider, alone in Westeros, merely wanting to do some honest business. I have no intention of offending any noble lords. But as the Warden of the North, if you reject me so outright, I will be too anxious to stay in the North and do business here. I may even be too afraid to remain in the region at all."

"Lord Stark, I beg you, do not reject me so firmly. Otherwise, aside from the little I have learned about the North, I truly do not know where else to go."

Jason Liu appeared as an earnest and helpless outsider, almost as if he were being bullied. His words were carefully chosen to play on emotions and logic alike. The underlying message was clear—if Eddard Stark refused the gift, he was refusing goodwill. It would be as if he wished to drive Jason away from the North entirely.

To refuse such a simple gesture of goodwill would reflect poorly on Lord Stark's reputation as a noble and honorable man. Wasn't it excessive to make such a fuss over a mere gift?

In reality, Jason Liu knew Eddard Stark to be a principled and kind-hearted lord. That was why he dared to push the issue. A more cunning noble might have outright rejected the gift without a second thought. But Jason knew that with someone as honorable as Eddard Stark, he could apply a little pressure and make it difficult for him to refuse.

Jason Liu's insistence put Eddard Stark in an awkward position. His wife, Catelyn Stark, grew concerned and quickly whispered to him, urging him to accept the gift.

It wasn't that Lady Stark was particularly interested in the fine dresses, perfumes, or cosmetics that Jason Liu had brought from the East—though they were said to be highly sought after by noblewomen. That had nothing to do with it.

Robb Stark, Eddard's eldest son and heir, also quietly urged his father to accept the gift. His gaze was fixed on a beautifully crafted sword among the gifts. The sword was dazzling, its craftsmanship unlike anything he had ever seen.

As the heir to the North, Robb Stark had seen many weapons, but nothing so exquisite. Despite his high status, he had rarely encountered such luxury. This was partly due to his father's strict upbringing. Eddard Stark was a firm believer in the virtues of honor and humility, teaching his son not to indulge in material luxuries. Instead, he emphasized justice, fairness, and duty.

While Eddard Stark was undoubtedly a good father, one could argue that he was not an ideal ruler of House Stark. He taught Robb chivalry and honor but never the necessary cunning and strategy required to rule the North effectively.

A true lord needed to master not only warfare and justice but also the art of diplomacy and intrigue.

Eddard Stark failed to understand an important truth: the more one suppresses something, the more desirable it becomes.

His strict discipline contributed to Robb's downfall in the original story. The infamous Red Wedding was the ultimate proof of that.

Robb's tragic fate was rooted in a simple mistake. To secure House Frey's military support, he had promised to marry one of Lord Walder Frey's daughters. The Freys were eager for the match, seeing it as an opportunity to elevate their status. They provided Robb with thousands of soldiers and sacrificed many of their own in battle.

But after everything the Freys had done for him, Robb broke his promise.

The reason? During his campaign in the West, he fell for a beautiful young woman from a minor noble family. Having spent his life under strict discipline, Robb had little experience with romance or temptation. When he finally experienced love, he could not resist.

Blinded by emotion, Robb abandoned his agreement with House Frey and married for love instead.

Love is a powerful force, and once someone falls in love, it is difficult to dissuade them. No amount of reasoning could convince Robb otherwise.

The consequences were disastrous. Lord Walder Frey, who had sacrificed so much for Robb's cause, was deeply humiliated. He had lost sons and soldiers for Robb, only to be repaid with betrayal. Enraged, he conspired with House Lannister to exact revenge. The infamous Red Wedding followed, where Robb, his mother, and many northern lords were slaughtered.

Some might say Robb deserved his fate. His actions were dishonorable—breaking an oath in such a manner was bound to invite retribution. But if one looks deeper, the true fault lies in Eddard Stark's parenting.

In traditional noble families, heirs were often introduced to the affairs of men and women at an early age. By the time they reached thirteen or fourteen, many young lords were encouraged to experience relationships with various women. This was not out of indulgence but to teach them restraint.

The purpose was simple: to prevent young heirs from becoming overly infatuated with love, to ensure they understood that relationships were fleeting, and to train them to prioritize power over emotions.

A nobleman should master his desires, not be controlled by them.

This was the way of powerful families—ruthless but practical.

Eddard Stark, however, was different. He raised his children with strict moral values but did not prepare them for the harsh realities of politics and power. His idealism ultimately led to Robb's downfall.

If Robb had understood this lesson, he would have never made such a reckless decision. He would have honored his oath to House Frey and avoided disaster.

This was the true tragedy of House Stark—not just betrayal by their enemies, but their own failure to navigate the treacherous world of Westeros.

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