"What?!"
Duke Eddard's words stunned everyone. Though the North was vast and barren, with much of its land left uncultivated, these were still two tracts of land each comparable to a premier Earl's Territory. Giving them away just like that was a remarkably generous gesture.
Moreover, House Stark's Valyrian ancestral sword, Ice, was the largest surviving Valyrian steel sword known to exist. Duke Eddard's decision left everyone both shocked and puzzled.
The nobles immediately erupted into a buzz of discussion. After all, land was the foundation of a noble's livelihood and standing. None of them could take it lightly.
Lady Florence even turned to Duke Tyrell beside her and remarked bluntly,
"It seems the North is so poor that land is all it has left. If the Stark ancestors had known how to spend land like coin, they wouldn't still be so destitute."
"An old noble with no sons certainly knows how to spend lavishly. It's not as though he's squandering anything his descendants will inherit."
Duke Tyrell felt he had picked up on something, though he did not quite understand it.
"Mother, do you think Duke Eddard shouldn't exchange two tracts of wasteland for this slot?"
Lady Florence rolled her eyes at Duke Tyrell.
"I think a man can't accomplish much without a good son. But without even a foolish son, he seems even more prone to losing his head!"
Duke Tyrell did not understand! ⊙▽⊙
"Am I the good son or the foolish son?!"
Lord Frey, whose lands lay closest to the North, had learned a little about Danyla and Houses Stark and Bolton in the North from his daughter Walda, so he could understand the decision.
He therefore explained to Duke Tully, who sat beside him looking stunned,
"The area around Lonely Mountain is shrouded in poisonous