Chapter 9 CHAPTER 9
"Mother?"
Seeing that Catelyn Stark remained silent for several moments, Robb could not help calling out softly again in confusion.
His voice broke the strange stillness lingering inside the room.
Taking advantage of the moment, Garon slowly straightened from his bow while calmly observing Lady Catelyn's expression.
With only a single glance, he immediately realized something was wrong.
The look in Catelyn's eyes was far colder than simple indifference.
There was even unmistakable disgust hidden beneath it.
It was the sort of expression one reserved for someone deeply unwelcome.
Garon's brows subtly tightened.
"Is this because of Sansa?"
He instinctively began analyzing the situation inwardly.
"Could it be because Lord Stark agreed to the betrothal despite her objections?"
"If that's the case, then perhaps her hostility toward me comes from there."
The more he recalled Catelyn Stark's personality from his memories of the original story, the more possible it seemed.
After all, Catelyn had always preferred southern customs and southern marriages. Deep down, she likely wished for Sansa to wed some powerful southern lord rather than remain buried in the harsh northern cold.
Even if King Robert had never come north, Catelyn probably would still have arranged a politically favorable southern marriage for her eldest daughter.
Yet even so, something still felt wrong.
"Lord Stark already promised me personally."
"With his personality, he wouldn't ignore her thoughts entirely without discussion."
"And even if Lady Catelyn opposed the match, someone as noble-born as her shouldn't display such open disgust toward a guest."
"Unless…"
Garon's eyes darkened slightly.
"Something else happened while I wasn't aware."
For the first time since arriving at Winterfell, a faint sense of unease quietly surfaced within his heart.
Everything until now had unfolded almost perfectly according to his expectations.
Ned Stark agreed to the engagement.
Robb accepted him warmly.
Even Sansa herself had already shown clear goodwill toward him.
Because of this, Garon had gradually relaxed his guard without realizing it.
Now, however, Catelyn Stark's unexpected hostility immediately awakened his vigilance once again.
"No matter what happens, I must remain steady."
"The engagement cannot encounter problems before it's officially announced."
"And first, I need to determine exactly why Catelyn suddenly hates me so much."
His gaze shifted subtly toward Robb standing nearby.
"It seems I'll have to let Robb quietly sound her out later."
Unfortunately, that tiny movement did not escape Catelyn's notice.
The moment she saw Garon glance toward Robb, the disgust in her heart deepened even further.
"He already wants my daughter."
"And now he's trying to influence Robb as well?"
"Theon was right. This Glover boy truly has ulterior motives."
The more Catelyn thought about it, the more irritated she became.
If Robb and Maester Luwin had not been standing nearby, she might already have driven Garon directly from the room.
Forcing down the displeasure in her heart, Catelyn turned toward her son instead.
"Robb," she asked calmly, "what exactly are you doing here?"
Her deliberate refusal to acknowledge Garon immediately placed Robb in an awkward position.
Earlier, Ned Stark had specifically instructed her not to make things difficult for Garon before the royal party's arrival.
Yet now, she was openly treating him coldly anyway.
Robb immediately felt trapped between both sides.
On one side stood his mother.
On the other stood his future goodbrother and friend.
Helping either one openly would only worsen matters.
After hesitating briefly, Robb finally decided the best approach was to separate them first and inform his father later.
Thus, he explained carefully, "Father asked me to show Garon around Winterfell."
"I was only bringing him to see his chambers and make sure nothing was missing."
Then he looked toward Catelyn hopefully.
"If there's nothing else, Garon and I will leave first."
However, Catelyn ignored Garon entirely once again.
Instead, she turned toward Maester Luwin standing beside her.
"Maester Luwin," she said calmly, "arrange Lord Tyrion's chambers exactly as we discussed earlier."
"Afterward, we'll inspect the kitchens."
Then she looked back toward Robb.
"You should come as well."
"Tom still needs to trim your beard before the King arrives."
"Mother…"
Robb instinctively glanced toward Garon with hesitation.
"Father still asked me to accompany him."
Then, trying to ease the atmosphere, he added awkwardly, "Perhaps Jon or Theon could accompany you instead?"
The moment Jon Snow's name left Robb's mouth, Catelyn's expression instantly hardened.
"No."
Her refusal came immediately and without hesitation.
"To show a guest around Winterfell, any servant would suffice."
Then her gaze briefly swept toward Garon.
"What matters now is teaching you the proper etiquette for receiving the King."
"House Stark rules the North. Our family's honor must not be shamed before the royal court."
Her voice remained calm, yet the meaning behind her next words was unmistakably sharp.
"Unlike certain people who do not understand when to advance and when to retreat."
The instant those words were spoken, a cold light flashed across Garon's eyes.
With his intelligence, he naturally understood exactly what Catelyn implied.
She was accusing him of deliberately attaching himself to House Stark's power and status.
Although it was technically true, openly hinting at it before everyone was no different from tearing away the final layer of courtesy between them.
For a brief moment, anger surged within Garon's chest.
Yet just as he prepared to respond, Maester Luwin suddenly coughed softly and interrupted first.
"My lady," the maester said gently, "we should continue our inspection."
Clearly worried that Catelyn might push matters too far and provoke unnecessary conflict, he quickly turned toward Robb as well.
"Robb, you should accompany your mother."
"As for Lord Garon, there is no need to trouble yourself further. I can arrange servants to assist him."
Seeing the atmosphere becoming increasingly tense, Robb still wanted to smooth things over somehow.
"But…"
Before he could continue, however, Garon himself finally calmed down completely.
"This is not the right moment to clash openly with Catelyn Stark."
Suppressing the coldness in his heart, Garon instead forced a faint smile onto his face.
"Robb, you should accompany Lady Stark first."
"I also wish to rest alone for a while after the journey."
"There will still be time later."
In truth, Garon already understood Catelyn's intentions clearly.
Not only did she dislike him personally, but she also clearly wished to prevent him from growing close to Robb or strengthening the engagement with Sansa further.
Under such circumstances, forcing Robb to remain beside him would only place the heir to Winterfell in an increasingly uncomfortable position.
It was better to retreat temporarily and preserve goodwill instead.
Unfortunately, despite Garon's deliberate compromise, Catelyn's expression remained completely unmoved.
Seeing this, Robb finally understood there was no way for him to reconcile the situation himself.
Thus, he could only obey reluctantly.
Looking apologetically toward Garon, Robb sighed softly.
"Then rest for now."
"I'll come find you later once I'm done."
Garon nodded calmly.
Without another word, he stepped aside and allowed the others to leave first.
Catelyn walked past him expressionlessly without offering even the slightest greeting.
Behind her, Maester Luwin paused briefly and gave Garon an apologetic nod filled with helplessness before following after her.
Robb lingered for only a moment longer.
As he passed by, he quietly patted Garon's shoulder as though telling him not to take the matter too seriously.
Then he quickly followed the others down the corridor.
Soon, only Garon remained standing alone outside the guest chambers.
His eyes silently followed Catelyn Stark's departing figure until she disappeared completely from view.
A sharp glint flashed briefly through his gaze before vanishing once more.
"Catelyn Stark already dislikes me deeply."
"Trying to earn her approval now is meaningless."
"And judging by her attitude, she clearly intends to interfere with the engagement."
Garon's expression gradually turned solemn.
"I cannot allow her to continue unchecked."
According to Ned Stark, King Robert would arrive at Winterfell within three days.
That meant the official betrothal ceremony was likely approaching as well.
If Catelyn continued opposing him before then, complications could still arise.
"Perhaps…"
Garon narrowed his eyes slightly.
"I need something else to distract her attention."
Almost instinctively, Bran Stark's future flashed through his mind.
The broken tower.
The fall.
The shattered legs.
Yet the thought appeared only briefly before Garon immediately rejected it.
"No."
"That's crossing a line."
Although he did not consider himself a particularly noble person, he still possessed principles he refused to abandon.
Using a child's suffering as a weapon simply to manipulate political circumstances was something he found contemptible.
Thus, Garon quickly forced the thought away entirely.
Just as he was thinking about another solution, movement suddenly caught his attention.
At some unknown moment, a black raven had landed silently upon the stone wall overlooking the corridor.
Its dark eyes seemed strangely sharp as it tilted its head and observed Winterfell below.
Then, slowly, the raven turned toward Garon himself.
For some reason, the bird continued staring at him motionlessly for several moments.
A strange feeling immediately crept into Garon's heart.
Before he could react, the raven suddenly spread its wings and flew downward.
In the next instant, it landed upon a nearby wooden perch only a short distance in front of him.
"Caw… caw…"
The harsh cry echoed through the corridor.
Instinctively, Garon raised his head and looked directly into the raven's dark eyes.
The moment their gazes met, an icy consciousness seemed to surge violently into his body.
Suddenly, everything changed.