Chapter 118: Feast in the Great Hall

In the Great Hall of Winterfell, Eddard shared high-quality blueberry wine with his family and subordinates.

Everyone praised the blueberry wine endlessly.

Helen Pyke took a small sip, "The blueberry wine is truly excellent; it is even better than the Golden Wine I used to plunder from the Redwyne family on the high seas."

The Woodcarver Guzan drained the blueberry wine in his cup in one gulp.

"It is better than any wine I have ever drunk in Lys, Braavos, or Qohor."

The Glassmaster Ortega chimed in, "Lord Eddard, for such delicious blueberry wine, we are willing to serve Winterfell forever!"

As a noble of the North, Lady Barbrey often tasted blueberry wine, and she had the most authority to speak on the blueberry wine brewed in Winterfell; Lady Barbrey tasted it carefully.

"Lord Eddard, have you invited a mysterious winemaker again? This is the first time I have tasted such delicious blueberry wine. For the sake of this blueberry wine, I am willing to stay in Winterfell for a few more days."

Eddard clinked his glass with Lady Barbrey, "Winterfell welcomes you always; you may stay as long as you wish."

Lady Barbrey seemed to have fallen in love with Winterfell; ever since reconciling with Eddard, Lady Barbrey soaked in the hot springs with Catelyn every night, spent the days accompanying her nephew Domeric, and spent most of her time with the marksman Fellan, with whom she often went hunting or visited the Wolfswood and the estate.

Catelyn tasted the blueberry wine, "Eddard, such a good thing—the next time I return to Riverrun, I must bring some for my father and my brother Edmure. Oh, and my uncle Ser Brynden; he is currently in the Vale, serving as a Knight of the Bloody Gate."

Eddard nodded, "Rest assured, Edmure and Lord Hoster will both taste our blueberry wine, and Ser Brynden shall not be left out. When the opportunity arises, I will accompany you back to Riverrun."

Only wine recognized by royal nobles could become popular in high society. Eddard began to calculate, looking for an opportunity to present the wine to King Robert Baratheon; Robert Baratheon was obsessed with alcohol, and his court was filled with people from all over the world, which would open up the reputation of the North's blueberry wine.

Robb took a small sip and said excitedly, "Father, such fine wine must have a good name! Look at the wine from the Arbor; it is named 'Golden Wine,' which sounds so luxurious and noble."

Jon chimed in, "Indeed, Lord Stark." In front of Catelyn, Jon always cautiously addressed Eddard as "Lord Stark"; this was the caution of a bastard. "We should come up with a name to distinguish the Winterfell blueberry wine from ordinary blueberry wine."

Eddard pondered for a long while, "On Skagos, the local Rockborn call wild blueberries 'Blue Noble'; let's call the Winterfell blueberry wine Blue Noble."

Domeric said excitedly, "Blue Noble, what a good name."

Theon smelled the aroma of the Blue Noble, "Lord Eddard, our Winterfell brewing technology is truly advancing by leaps and bounds! We cannot drink such good wine in the Iron Islands; could you send a few barrels of Blue Noble to Pyke for my father to taste?"

King Balon sat on the Seastone Chair and was the leader of the Iron Islands, but King Balon had certainly never drunk such high-quality blueberry wine; it was rare for Theon to show filial piety this time.

"Very well, I will send a few barrels of blueberry wine to King Balon when the opportunity arises." Eddard did not intend to actually give King Balon the blueberry wine; King Balon was stingy, and the Ironborn nobles were unlikely to spend a large sum of money to purchase blueberry wine.

If the Blue Noble were to spread to the Iron Islands and King Balon, the leaders of the major Ironborn families, and the Ironborn Pirates fell in love with the Blue Noble, more Ironborn Pirates might emerge on the coast of the North, which made Eddard uncomfortable just thinking about it.

The Glassmaster Ortega said, "Lord Eddard, I heard from the Alchemist Ginter that the distiller you invented has greatly increased the quality of the liquor."

The Woodcarver Guzan said, "I saw the Curved Plow you invented in the Stark Estate, and the farmers all praise the Curved Plow endlessly. Lord Eddard, you are actually an inventor; how did you manage to do it?"

Lady Barbrey, Robb, Theon, and Helen Pyke all looked at Eddard with admiration, and Eddard said calmly, "I often read, think, and communicate with craftsmen, so I am always able to come up with some practical things."

The Glassmaster Ortega gave Eddard a thumbs up, "Lord Eddard, this pioneering spirit of yours as a craftsman is exactly what we need."

"To Lord Eddard, cheers!"

"For Winterfell, for Stark!"

The sound of clinking glasses and laughter echoed throughout Winterfell.

That night, Catelyn was slightly tipsy, and Eddard helped Catelyn back to the bedroom.

Catelyn held Eddard's face, "As long as our winery can continuously produce Blue Noble, this kind of wine can earn money for Winterfell endlessly, and we can pay off our debts; you must not forget that we still owe..."

"Shh!" Eddard blocked Catelyn's mouth with his finger, "I know, Winterfell owes the Iron Bank five hundred thousand Gold Dragons and owes the Manderly family of White Harbor one hundred thousand Gold Dragons; Catelyn, rest assured, this money will be paid off sooner or later."

Catelyn had always been worried about Winterfell's debts, "But you are still building glass farms and repairing the fortresses on the Wall; all of these cost money."

"But we are also earning money continuously!" Eddard stroked Catelyn's red hair, "The workshops are producing sausages and hams, beeswax candles, ale, blueberry wine, and mead every day, as well as wooden toys; the Glassmaster Ortega is making glass panes for the Father, and the Woodcarver Guzan has begun sculpting wood carvings of the Father."

"Once Ortega's glass panes and Guzan's wood carvings are completed, the Baelor's Sept and the Starry Sept will surely compete to purchase them, and selling them for thousands of Gold Dragons will be easy. At Eastwatch and the Bite, there are Winterfell fishing boats catching fish; don't forget, we also have maple syrup."

Catelyn was still uneasy, "That maple tree sap? How much money can that sell for? Even if you can help Winterfell earn money, what if summer ends? When winter comes, most of the production in the North will have to stop; Winter is Coming!"

"Could it be that you are the real Stark?" Eddard smiled and took Catelyn's hand, "When you speak of the Stark house words, it feels even more like a Northerner than me."

Catelyn was a little angry, "Don't forget our Tully house words: Family, Duty, Honor. I worry for you all for the sake of this family. With so many wards, Maesters, apprentices, servants, and people in the Winter Town in Winterfell, who among them does not rely on Winterfell for their meals?"

Eddard comforted her softly, "Rest assured, the Alchemists and Maesters will help me come up with more profitable projects."

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(End of chapter)