𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐋𝐓𝐎𝐍'𝐒 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐓𝐘𝐋𝐄 & 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐘𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐂𝐒 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐒.
The only child Roose genuinely cared for was his one true born son, Domeric. After his death, Roose saw his remaining children as pieces in a game of chess, pawns he could use for his bidding. None of them were claimed just because he wanted to legitimize them, they were claimed because he had a plan for them. The first bastard he let have his name was Clauneck, the oldest of the four. Eissa’s feelings towards Roose were neutral, she didn’t hate him, nor did she love him. She never spoke of him in an ill manner, but never praised him either, which also caused Clauneck to see his father in the same light. Neither of them blamed Roose for anything wrong that happend in their life, after all Eissa slept with him willingly during the First Night. Clauneck was only legitimized because of his strength and skills with a sword, Roose saw this as something he could use to his advantage.
So when Clauneck became a Bolton and was finally able to shed his bastard title, he was overjoyed, he thought his new found status was going to give him the ability to give his mother a better life. He was wrong. Ramsay had found out about it and took it upon himself to seek Clauneck out, he had already killed Domeric thinking it’d cause Roose to pay him mind, after all Clauneck had what he wanted, by getting rid of him he’d be closer to his goal. The two of them ended up getting into a violent fight which nearly resulted in Clauneck’s death. He ended up surviving after telling Ramsay he’d take the black. The next day Clauneck left for the wall, but not before informing Roose’s bastard twins.
A few months after this incident, Roose gave Lucius the Bolton last name. Roose thought his knowledge and ability to quickly solve problems would be beneficial to the house, yet at this point Lucius has already decided he was going to become a maester. Nearly a week after becoming a legitimate Bolton, Lucius set off for Oldtown, but he promised to come back and be the Dreadfort’s maester, leaving Segovia alone.
Now the twins’ mother, Astrid was in love with Roose, he was the first man she’s ever been with. There was no reason for her to love her husband Nikolai, after all he liked the company of men. Their marriage was a cover up, and Astrid only agreed since Nikolai was a close friend of her’s. Unlike Eissa, Astrid constantly praised Lord Bolton, which caused the twins to see him in a good light. Her mother’s preaching of Roose resulted in Segovia putting him on a pedestal, she desired to be seen by him, to be claimed by him. It was her who brought her half brother’s together, excluding Ramsay for she had heard stories about him and what he did, she feared him but it’s not something she’ll admit. Much like Ramsay, she fights for Roose’s attention but approaches it in an entirely different way. Ramsay creates nothing but destruction in his path while Segovia brought the family together.
Ramsay was Roose’s last choice for a son, but due to his interaction with Clauneck, Ramsay had backed Roose into a corner that he didn’t think even existed. Prior to Clauneck telling Lucius what happened, he was on the fence about becoming a maester and was considering staying, yet what Ramsay did put Lucius on edge and he didn’t want any part of it. While trying to bring the family together ( and by family I mean just Roose ), Ramsay was also tearing it apart, yet if it weren’t for Segovia getting close to Clauneck, Roose would’ve never paid mind to them, which in the end also helped Ramsay get the lord’s attention.
With no sons left, Roose ended up claiming Ramsay, something he never wanted to do in the first place. His son’s ruthlessness and habit of acting in the moment was a liability for House Bolton, while Domeric was what he desired for the house, Roose understood he had to settle, especially after Ramsay chased out his half brothers.
Since Ramsay’s mother Daphne was taken against her will, it wasn’t a surprise that she constantly poisoned Ramsay’s mind with disgusting thoughts in regards to Roose. Telling her son that his father didn’t care if he lived or died, that he’d never be good enough for Roose, and more. With this in his head, along with what Reek taught him, it’s no surprise Ramsay does what he does, but letting his mother’s words affect him and acting on what Reek taught him, he ultimately dug a deeper hole for himself.
Unlike his half brother’s, Ramsay never saw Segovia as a threat, what skills she had Roose didn’t acknowledge, she was only legitimized with the intention of her being wed to a lord of another house to strengthen an alliance. She was in line for nothing, and this made Ramsay see her as below him.
But the reality is if the four bastards came together and all were legitimized, all of their skill-sets could’ve been utilized. Clauneck’s strength, Luicus’ knowledge, Segovia’s words, and Ramsay’s ruthlessness in one person would’ve made a perfect heir. Sadly, they had to play a game of survival of the fittest before Roose.