Duke Brynden's stern face barely managed a slight curve at the corner of his mouth as he said, "I think you still have a good deal of time left to live."
Hearing this, Lord Walder cackled, "That will make them burn with rage, it certainly will."
His smile suddenly vanished: "Alright, Ser Blackfish, why have you come all this way?"
Under Lord Walder's gaze, Duke Brynden closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again.
But just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by the weasel opposite him: "Why? As Little Stark's Uncle and his envoy, are you here to remind Frey of the humiliation he suffered?"
Duke Brynden opened his mouth, remained silent for a while, then whispered, "I'm sorry, by the time I arrived at Casterly Rock, it was too late to stop that child."
"Child?"
Lord Walder scoffed, "Esteemed Ser Blackfish, save your clumsy and ridiculous excuses. You just saw my wife, didn't you? She's only sixteen, like a little flower, and her nectar is only for me... Hmph... Hmph... She's already pregnant, you know. In half a year or so, she'll give me another son..."
He paused, then cackled again, "My heir died fighting for the oathbreaker... Perhaps I'll make this newborn son my heir. Don't you think that would absolutely infuriate those brats who are hoping I'll die?"
Duke Brynden sighed, "I am very sorry..."
Lord Walder's pink, bald head, covered in age spots, swayed from side to side, then he continued, "Your brother, Hoster, didn't attend my wedding... In my opinion, even if he has passed away, it is still an insult. Don't forget, he didn't come to my last wedding either, and he called me 'Lord Frey the Late.' You've heard of that, haven't you? Did he think I was dead? I'm not dead, and I've lived longer than him, just as I've lived longer than his father."
He snorted disdainfully, "The esteemed Trouts always look down on me. Don't deny it, and don't try to deceive me; you know very well that what I'm saying is true. Ser Blackfish, many years ago, I went to your brother and proposed a marriage between his son and my daughter. What's wrong with that? I have a good daughter who was a suitable candidate, only a few years older than Edmure. Even if he himself wasn't too keen, I still had other daughters for him to choose from, young ones, old ones, maidens... widows... I had all sorts. But Lord Hoster wouldn't agree, no matter what. He gave a lot of sweet talk, all of them excuses, when all I really wanted was to marry off a daughter quickly."
His face crumpled into a frown: "And your niece who married into House Arryn, she behaved just as badly. That was over two years ago. At that time, Jon Arryn was Hand of the King. I traveled all the way to King's Landing and proposed to Duke and Lady Arryn that two of my grandsons be fostered in the Red Keep, and in return, their son would stay at The Twins for a period... But what happened? Hmph, are my grandsons so unsightly that they aren't fit to be seen by the people in the Red Keep? They are all quiet and well-mannered children. Hmph, your niece looked as if she had turned to ice, as if I intended to sell her son to a theatrical troupe."
He snorted again: "Lord Arryn, to ease the awkwardness, revealed that his son had already been decided to be sent to Casterly Rock to be fostered by Duke Tywin. I soon learned that was an excuse he made up on the spot, because your niece immediately rushed out of the room without a word."
Duke Brynden listened patiently to Lord Walder's complaints, but upon hearing this, his gaze shifted slightly and he said, "Perhaps Lord Arryn did intend to have his son fostered by Duke Tywin at that time."
Hearing this, Lord Walder smiled strangely and said, "Lord Tywin, he is a great man, ah, how extraordinary, he is very arrogant. It is said that even his shit is gold? But I dare to bet you, if he eats too many beans, he farts just like me, but you can't expect him to admit it, don't even think about it. Why is he so arrogant all day? Does he think everyone is his servant? He only has two sons, one of whom is a deformed little monster. I can trade sons with him one for one, and when all of his are dead, I'll still have eighteen and a half, cackle..."
He paused, his laughter stopping, and Lord Walder suddenly extended a withered finger: "Robb Stark is the most hateful. To support him, I not only sent my heir, but also let him take most of The Twins' forces, yet he made Frey the biggest laughing stock in the Seven Kingdoms, and Frey's girls became the laughing stock of the laughing stock!"
The two looked at each other for a moment, and Duke Brynden sighed, "Lord Walder, although Robb has worn the crown, it... still doesn't change the fact that he is a boy. You were young once too; at his age, it's easy to be blinded by love, and I... as his Uncle, what I can do is help King Robb restore his honor."
Lord Walder's old face was full of undisguised mockery: "Restore? How to restore? No need! Ser Blackfish, I tell you, in return for Robb Stark humiliating Frey, not a single one of his soldiers will pass through The Twins, including the Northern reinforcements still stationed east of the river."
The more Lord Walder mocked and threatened, the calmer Duke Brynden became. After a pause, he patted his chest and said sincerely, "On behalf of King Robb, I apologize to you, and I ask you to forgive his recklessness, esteemed Lord Walder Frey."
Lord Walder's deep eyes shifted slightly, and he continued to mock: "Ser Blackfish, I've heard enough of your family's sweet talk. Now I only like my wife's sweet talk in bed. At that time, Lord Arryn also kept apologizing to me for his wife's, your niece's, reckless behavior. I ask you, what good is an apology? Can it restore Frey's lost honor?"
Duke Brynden's tone remained very sincere: "Therefore, as King Robb's kinsman and plenipotentiary, I come with the greatest sincerity. If the former marriage contract were to be fulfilled, would that not be a way to restore our mutual honor, Lord Walder?"
After a moment of silence, Lord Walder suddenly flared up: "Does Little Stark treat Frey as a servant to be ordered around at will?! Now Frey is unwilling to marry his daughter to him, unwilling, we are unwilling. I just want to watch Little Stark, without the support of the North... finally be thoroughly humiliated by Lannister."
"That will be difficult; Lannister will find it hard to achieve."
Duke Brynden shook his head and continued, "Lord Walder, although Robb is not yet mature enough as a King, you cannot deny the sharpness of his sword. His sweeping victories in the Westerlands are known throughout the Seven Kingdoms. Not long ago, he annihilated all of Lannister's cavalry in one fell swoop and recaptured Harrenhal. His sword now points directly at King's Landing. If he receives his father's timely support... given the right timing, he could directly breach King's Landing."
He looked directly at Lord Walder: "Robb, like all children, is learning to grow up. Please believe in our sincerity."
Lord Walder scrutinized Duke Brynden closely, and after a good while, said, "Don't forget Duke Mace Tyrell. Duke Tywin, to gain House Tyrell's support, has already sent out the queen's crown."
Duke Brynden shook his head again: "Lannister has already lost the battle in the Riverlands. I think the always wise Lord Tyrell... will, like sixteen years ago, stand on the side of the victor. Perhaps, they might even proactively play Lannister's role from the last time."
He patted his chest: "Provided that... King Robb receives enough troops to breach King's Landing in time."
Lord Walder's withered, wrinkled fingers tapped the ebony armrest, saying, "And there's House Crabb, the new lord of the Vale. Their forces can also cut off the North from the Riverlands through the Blood Gate at any time."
Mentioning the Vale again, Duke Brynden suddenly remembered another great-nephew, Robert Arryn, who had been killed by Joffrey Baratheon on absurd grounds. He couldn't help but close his eyes in pain.
He paused for a moment, then spoke: "The Arryn Family has ruled that land for thousands of years. It's a miracle that there hasn't been large-scale chaos there. Lord Walder, how much capacity do you think he still has to support Lannister? If he is also wise enough, or rather... if it were you, would you give up the large tracts of land you've so painstakingly acquired, and instead choose to go to the end with Lannister?"
He paused, then suddenly said, "Have you heard of an 'interesting' thing that recently happened in King's Landing, Lord Walder?"
Hearing this, Lord Walder stared at Brynden for a moment, then shook his head slightly, his tone seemingly carrying deliberate disdain: "Lord Tully, you know, I have no interest whatsoever in those whose eyes are on their chins."
Duke Brynden shrugged and said slowly, "I only found out not long ago. It is said that Duke Tywin's second son, the young man known as the Little Devil, had a dispute with Prince Doran's brother, Oberyn Martell, over a mistress, and killed him in a brothel (the rumor has slightly changed)."
He spread his hands: "This is a blood feud. Clearly, Lannister has gained another mortal enemy."
Lord Walder shifted in his seat and cackled, "Lord Tywin's son has more guts than mine."
Ser Brynden leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, his deep blue eyes fixed on him: "Lord Walder, as long as we are willing to help King Robb restore his honor, he is destined to be the ultimate victor."
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