There was a noticeable sparkle of curiosity in Lady Catelyn and Sansa's beautiful eyes.
Arya, however, showed little interest as she turned the box containing the mask over in her hands. She was still young, and her skin was naturally smooth, so she didn't see the need for such things.
Perhaps because Jason Liu seemed gentle, polite, handsome, and noble, Sansa set aside the usual shyness of a young girl. She picked up a delicate glass bottle filled with a liquid cleanser and asked curiously, "Lord Jason, what is this for?"
Jason Liu took the bottle, glanced at the label, and smiled at Sansa's eager expression. "This is a facial cleanser."
He continued, "First, you wet your face with water, then pour out a small amount of cleanser, rub it between your hands until it foams, and gently massage it onto your face for a few minutes. This ensures that your skin is properly cleaned."
As Jason explained, Catelyn, Sansa, and Arya listened attentively. Even though he was simply reading from the product instructions, the three women seemed completely engaged. It made Jason feel as if he were a teacher explaining an entirely new subject to his students.
Luckily, he didn't have to explain the beautiful dresses, evening gowns, and other clothing items. The Stark ladies already knew how to wear them.
Catelyn's thoughts drifted to a dark red evening gown she had seen earlier. It was stunning, but far too revealing. She blushed slightly, unable to imagine how women in the jason's Empire dared to wear such bold attire in public. That kind of dress was certainly not meant for outside wear. Perhaps it could only be worn in private, for her husband's eyes only.
Jason was relieved that he hadn't gifted them any lingerie. That would have been far too awkward! He couldn't imagine having to explain such intimate items to Lady Catelyn and her daughters. Westerosi customs were far too conservative for such discussions.
Aside from facial cleansers, Jason also introduced them to facial masks, moisturizers, and perfumes. Lady Catelyn and her daughters were fascinated by these new products. They were amazed at how much detail and effort went into skincare and cosmetics.
Meanwhile, the snacks and toys Jason had brought for Bran and Rickon required no explanation. The two youngest Stark boys were already enjoying their gifts.
After nearly two hours, Jason finally finished demonstrating how to use the various cosmetics. Lady Catelyn and her daughters were impressed.
"I never imagined there was so much to consider when caring for one's face," Catelyn marveled. "It's truly remarkable."
Sansa nodded eagerly. "It's amazing! I can't wait to try everything."
Jason smiled and said, "Lady Catelyn, Lady Sansa, Lady Arya, now that you know how to use these products, I won't take up any more of your time."
He still had an appointment with Bernard to inspect the site for the lumber mill.
Realizing how much time they had spent with him, Lady Catelyn gave a polite smile. "I'm sorry for keeping you so long, Lord Jason. Thank you for your patience and generosity. If you ever need anything, please don't hesitate to ask."
Jason bowed slightly. "Then, if you'll excuse me."
He turned and left the Winterfell reception hall. As he walked out, he could hear Sansa and Arya playfully arguing behind him.
Outside, his four guards—dicken, Kent, Rubin, and Chris—stood waiting. When they saw him, they immediately straightened up.
"My lord!" they greeted in unison.
"Let's go back," Jason said, nodding as he stepped forward. His guards fell into formation around him as they exited the castle.
As they walked through the long corridors of Winterfell and into the main courtyard, a burst of laughter echoed from above. Jason barely paid attention, but then a cheerful voice called out.
"Lord Jason, are you leaving?"
Jason paused and looked up. The voice belonged to a young boy.
"Hey, Lord Jason, look up here! I'm on the wall!"
Hearing the familiar childish voice, Jason frowned slightly and raised his gaze. Rubin, one of his guards, pointed. "My lord, up there!"
Jason followed Rubin's direction and saw a boy sitting high on the weathered castle wall. The old stone was covered in patches of gray-brown moss and cracks, showing its age.
Perched on the edge of the wall was Bran Stark. The boy, dressed in fine silk clothes, swung his legs playfully over the side as he grinned down at them. In his hands, he held a bag of snacks—potato chips—that Jason had given him and Rickon earlier. As he watched, Bran popped another chip into his mouth, chewing happily.
"That's Bran Stark!" Kent whispered in alarm. "Why is he sitting up there? It's too dangerous!"
"Lower your voice!" Chris cautioned. "Don't startle him!"
Even dicken looked tense, his eyes locked on the young boy. If Bran were to slip and fall from that height, the consequences would be dire.
Jason felt his heart tighten. What was Eddard Stark thinking, letting his son climb such dangerous places? If Bran fell, he could easily break an arm or a leg—or worse.
Bran, seemingly unaware of the worry he was causing, flashed them a mischievous grin. He stretched out his arms and then, to Jason's horror, started running along the narrow edge of the wall.
Jason's breath caught in his throat. His entire body tensed as he watched the boy move effortlessly along the precarious ledge.
The guards went pale, frozen in place. If Bran lost his balance and fell, they would all be held responsible.
Fortunately, Bran reached a safer section of the wall and sat down again, still grinning. He popped another chip into his mouth, looking extremely pleased with himself.
"You should see your faces!" he giggled. "You all look so scared!"
Jason exhaled slowly, trying to steady his nerves. He had seen plenty of reckless children before, but Bran Stark was on another level.
"Bran, get down from there before you fall!" Jason called out sternly.
Bran just laughed and kept eating his chips.
Jason pinched the bridge of his nose. This child was going to give him a heart attack.
His guards exchanged uneasy glances. Keeping the young Stark heir safe was not their responsibility, but they all knew that if something happened to him while they stood there watching, it would not end well for them.
As Bran continued to sit there, swinging his legs and munching on chips, Jason sighed and shook his head.
The boy was fearless—but also completely unaware of just how dangerous his antics were.
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