185. The Great Harm of Willful Elopement

This was shocking news that spread across all of Westeros, leaving lords and commoners alike in disbelief.

Many highborn men mocked Eddard Stark in private, calling him a fool. Some even went so far as to swear that the minds of Northerners must be made of stone, for no sane man would act so recklessly.

For years, Ned Stark had to endure the weight of endless rumors, the disapproval of his wife's family, and the silent judgment of his peers. Despite this, he held firm to his principles. His honor remained unshaken.

But to fulfill a promise to his beloved sister, Lyanna, and protect her son, Ned was forced to bear the burden of blame and suspicion. He could not speak the truth, and so he suffered in silence.

Among those most angered by this scandal was his father-in-law, Hoster Tully, Lord of Riverrun.

After all, Ned had returned home from war with a supposed bastard in tow—a direct insult to his wife, to House Tully, and to the old lord himself. Hoster was furious, but in the end, he relented. The alliance between House Stark and House Tully was too valuable to break. With Ned's promise that the boy would never be acknowledged as anything more than a bastard, the matter was begrudgingly settled.

Even so, the consequences of this deception were severe. Jon Snow grew up as a child marked by shame, suffering scorn and isolation. Meanwhile, Ned Stark, bound by his duty and honor, endured his own silent agony. He could never explain the truth, not even to his own wife.

Still, at least Jon had survived. That was the most important thing.

Though Ned knew all too well the prejudice his nephew faced, he had no choice but to feign indifference. He hoped that by keeping his distance, he could protect the boy. Yet Jon, unaware of the truth, grew up resenting his supposed father, believing himself unwanted.

Ned knew this. He understood Jon's pain. But there was nothing he could do to change it.

At the very least, under his careful watch, Jon had been kept safe. And as the years passed, the boy's resemblance to Lyanna grew stronger. Every time Ned looked at him, he was reminded of his sister—the fierce, spirited girl he had loved so dearly. It eased his heart, if only slightly.

But no one could ever know the truth. He would carry this secret to his grave.

His dearest friend, King Robert, hated the Targaryens far more than Ned had ever expected. At times, he wondered why Robert's hatred ran deeper than his own. Was it truly because Lyanna was the love of his life, as he so often claimed?

Ned never allowed himself to think too deeply on the matter. If he did, he feared it would crack the foundation of his friendship with Robert. Some things were best left unquestioned.

If Jason Liu had been there to hear Ned's doubts, he would have laughed. He would have told him a simple truth—people always crave what they can't have.

Lyanna had been beautiful, yes, but was she truly more stunning than Robert's own wife, Queen Cersei Lannister? Perhaps not.

Robert had never lacked women in his life. He had fathered a bastard child even before his engagement to Lyanna, proving that his appetites knew no bounds. But when Rhaegar Targaryen took his betrothed, Robert's obsession turned into something far more dangerous.

In his mind, Lyanna became a legend—an unattainable prize, the perfect woman who had been stolen from him.

Jealousy and wounded pride fueled Robert's hatred. He convinced himself that if not for Rhaegar, he would have married Lyanna, and she would have been far superior to Cersei in every way. His inability to let go of this fantasy poisoned his marriage, turning his relationship with his queen into a battlefield.

All of this—Robert's hatred, the fall of a dynasty, the bloody rebellion—had been set in motion by the reckless love between Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen.

Her father, Rickard Stark, had once called her "wolf-blooded," and it was that untamed nature that led to ruin. Their love did not just destroy them—it destroyed kingdoms. The Targaryens were overthrown, countless lives were lost, and families were torn apart.

And the consequences had not yet faded. They would ripple across Westeros for years to come.

All of this—every war, every shattered house—owed its origins to the selfish actions of one man and one woman.

A Song of Ice and Fire?

It was a story of how two lovers, blinded by their desires, doomed themselves and everyone around them.

Love, after all, was never truly free. Actions had consequences. And those who disregarded duty for passion would always pay the price.

Jason Liu couldn't help but curse inwardly.

Those so-called "masters of time management"—the ones who somehow managed to win the love of noblewomen and shape the fate of empires—were creatures beyond his understanding.

He, a mere commoner, would never be one of them. And yet, he couldn't help but feel a bitter twinge of jealousy.

Still, there was no time to dwell on such things.

Across from him, Eddard Stark sat solemnly, his hands resting on the table. "Jon may be a bastard," he said, his voice steady, "but I hope he can find his own path. I want him to make something of himself, to earn his own honor. That is all I can wish for."

He looked at Jason Liu, his eyes heavy with unspoken sorrow. "Do you understand, Master Jason? Do you understand the heart of a father who is powerless to help his own son?"

Jason met his gaze and replied with equal seriousness. "I'm sorry, my lord. But I don't think I do."

Ned Stark stared at him in surprise. There was a strange feeling in his heart—an inexplicable sense of unease.

Was this young man truly so honest? Could he not hear what was left unsaid?

Ned had not asked for understanding. He had asked for agreement.

He needed Jason to acknowledge his words—to accept the burden he carried and promise to look after Jon. That was what he had meant.

Did this young man truly not grasp that?

Or had he simply chosen to ignore it?

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