Returning to Harrenhal.
Daeron took off his coat, which was stained with the stench of dragons, and headed to Kingspyre Tower for the banquet.
In his past life, many conspiracy theories regarding the actions of Rhaegar and his father pointed toward the Three-Eyed Crow.
He had seen the Three-Eyed Crow himself.
The immunity ring was an item dropped from fighting monsters in the mines; with +4 immunity as its sole attribute, it was a decent piece of gear.
He had originally intended to give it to his father to alleviate his madness.
But he gave it to Rhaegar first.
Daeron pondered, "If mental immunity is increased, can one resist the Three-Eyed Crow?"
Challenging Rhaegar to a duel and gifting the immunity ring were not merely to prevent the False Spring.
He was using his limited time to observe the extent of the Three-Eyed Crow's influence within it.
Whether it was Rhaegar or Robert.
Before the massive power gap of a dragon, they were no match for him at all.
Even the White Walkers from over a decade later would have to kneel before a fully grown dragon.
The only one truly to be wary of was the Three-Eyed Crow.
It had guided Daeron, yet it had also harmed the father and son, Aerys and Rhaegar.
Such confusing actions required a defensive move.
—
The Hall of a Hundred Hearths.
Tables were laden with delicacies, and the fires of a hundred hearths blazed brightly. Accompanied by the cheerful tunes of musicians, it added an atmosphere of warmth and intimacy to the hall.
"Prince, would you like to dance with me?"
Cersei appeared from nowhere, wearing a magnificent gown, and rested her hand on Daeron's shoulder.
She had finally caught an opportunity to find the prince alone.
Tonight, she wanted to taste the dragon.
Daeron looked around; hundreds of noble men and women were dancing to the music, with laughter and chatter filling the air.
"What, do you have a dance partner, Prince?"
Cersei's gaze suddenly turned dangerous, vowing to eliminate any competitor.
Daeron played with her like she was a toy, taking her fair little hand and whispering in her ear, "Have you noticed that Lady Lyanna of Winterfell is missing?"
"What does that matter?"
Cersei was taken aback, initially confused, then becoming wary of Lyanna.
A girl from The North wasn't worthy of competing with her.
Daeron said mischievously, "The Knight of the Laughing Tree has vanished, and Lady Lyanna has also vanished."
He was intentionally instigating her.
Rhaegar went to pursue Lyanna, and the two developed feelings for the first time, foreshadowing their subsequent elopement.
But why should the blame for their elopement fall entirely on one person?
In the original story, his father's cruel treatment of the Stark father and son who came to King's Landing for justice was indeed barbaric, but why did the Starks dare to come?
Didn't your own family know whether Lyanna eloped or not?
Instead of trying to mediate the problem, they threw the blame on the Targaryens; they really didn't deserve sympathy.
Cersei's eyes lit up, and she said, "Are you saying Lyanna disguised herself as the Knight of the Laughing Tree?"
"Who knows?"
Daeron didn't draw a conclusion, only saying, "You can tell Lord Tywin and see how he handles it."
"I'm going right now!"
Cersei was suddenly energized and left the scene in a hurry, lifting her skirts.
Exposing that Northern girl felt great.
And the prince's instruction to her further indicated his trust in her.
Watching Cersei weave through the crowd, Daeron couldn't help but remark, "Indeed, people are most energetic when they're doing something bad."
He told Cersei to tell the matter to his mentor, Tywin.
Whatever his mentor did wouldn't affect the next step.
At most, Lyanna would be exposed and receive a scolding from his father.
Toward a woman, his father wasn't that mad yet.
But once the matter was revealed, the secret of Rhaegar and Lyanna being together would be exposed, planting a seed of trouble for their future elopement.
Everyone would know they weren't innocent.
Let's see how you, Robert, can play the pure-hearted warrior and rise up in rebellion with your good brother Eddard.
"Separate the stag and the wolf, and the eagle and the fish will be easy."
Daeron calculated to himself.
.
He ate for a while to fill his stomach.
Howland approached him again.
Using vague language, Daeron clearly stated that Lyanna would be fine.
"Thank you so much, Prince."
Howland was both excited and moved, unable to believe that a crannogman like himself could repeatedly receive help from the Dragon-Riding Prince.
Daeron smiled gently: "Maintaining the peace of the Seven Kingdoms is my duty."
He also made a request.
If he really wanted to show gratitude, he should tell him about Neck.
Howland patted his chest and promised, "Rest assured, no one knows Neck better than I do."
In just a few minutes, he shared a lot of valuable information.
For example, the annual tides of Neck, how the crannogmen lived on the water, and the unavoidable path for Northerners heading south—
As they chatted, they gradually became more familiar.
Howland suddenly fell silent, looking at Daeron nervously, wanting to say something but not daring to.
"Speak!" Daeron encouraged.
Howland knelt with a thud and said in a trembling voice, "Prince, I have lived in Neck since birth. It is barren but peaceful. I had no complaints about my past life; in fact, I was very happy."
"But," Daeron guessed the next part.
Howland felt a bit embarrassed and said, "But, I have always had an ideal of stepping out of Neck and making my way in the world."
"I heard that an elderly member of the Kingsguard has passed away, and the Lord Hand is selecting candidates for the Kingsguard."
Hearing this, Daeron frowned slightly.
Howland clearly didn't meet the requirements for the Kingsguard.
"No, no, no, I don't have such grand ambitions."
Howland quickly explained, "I hope that you could take me as your subordinate, just as you would choose a Kingsguard. I could be a Dragon Guard or an attendant."
It was too difficult for a crannogman to make his way in the world alone.
Without Daeron's help, he might only be able to follow his liege lord, the Starks, and return to Neck dejectedly after the tournament.
But if he could stay by Prince Daeron's side, even as an attendant leading horses or cleaning dragon droppings, he could leave his name in the history of the Seven Kingdoms.
Daeron gave a generous smile: "No problem."
Conveniently, he also valued Howland.
Not to mention Howland's potential connection to the Children of the Forest, the fact that House Reed controlled Neck was reason enough to recruit him.
"Prince, Howland Reed is willing to serve you!"
Howland was overjoyed, clumsily imitating the bowing posture of a Southerner.
Daeron pulled him up and pointed him in the right direction: "Don't bother with these formalities. You are a lord; you can't be an attendant. In the future, stay by Davos's side and learn more from him about how to deal with people."
Aside from being unable to fight, the Onion Knight was a jack-of-all-trades in every other aspect.
Howland immediately agreed.
During their conversation, Barristan came over.
"Didn't find a beautiful lady to dance with?" Daeron teased.
Barristan patted the sword at his waist and said solemnly, "Since you gave me such an extraordinary weapon, how could I let myself go and not study it diligently?"
A member of the Kingsguard holds no lands, takes no wife, and fathers no children.
At his age, pursuing a higher level of Life Force was something he dreamed of.
A spark of inspiration flashed in Daeron's mind, and he said, "Ser, I'll tell you a secret."
He fabricated a grand story about the origin of the neptune greatsword.
He set the starting point in Ancient Valyria.
The neptune greatsword was a family heirloom of the ocean; legend had it that mermaids forged it, and it later fell into the hands of an ancient dragonlord.
After the Doom, this sword drifted across the Essos.
Finally, Daeron discovered it.
Barristan made a face like a confused old man and asked skeptically, "Prince, are you serious?"
"I love telling the truth."
Daeron didn't answer directly but continued to mislead him: "If anyone asks about the sword's origin, just answer truthfully to avoid trouble."
Barristan remained skeptical but didn't press further.
As a top-tier knight, he knew best the power of the neptune greatsword.
Perhaps its sharpness and material couldn't compare to the greatsword 'Dawn' or valyrian steel weapons, but its quality was definitely not low, and it possessed the characteristic of being indestructible.
If he weren't a member of the Kingsguard, he could have passed it down as an ancestral blade.
Daeron suppressed a smile.
He did this to attract more attention.
valyrian steel weapons were scarce, but special weapons dropped from the mines could be farmed repeatedly.
Someone would come to him for a special weapon.
This was also a way to build his persona.
Dragons and special weapons were a perfect match.
Barristan didn't understand the intricacies and brought up the main business: "I've tried to learn the amplification you mentioned and have caught a glimpse of it. I have some insights regarding the further development of Life Force."
It was somewhat ironic.
He had mastered Life Force for over a decade yet failed to discover the Life Frequency.
Actually, it wasn't his fault.
Daeron had eaten a stardrop, which rapidly increased his Life Force and instantly boosted his vitality, leading him to accidentally discover the advanced use of Life Force.
Barristan and Ser Arthur Dayne were exceptionally talented, with vast amounts of Life Force in their bodies, and the latter also possessed the greatsword 'Dawn'.
But their Life Force was like a pool of stagnant water.
Without Daeron's discovery and guidance, they naturally couldn't figure out the advanced usage.
Daeron said, "Life Frequency is the foundation. Attachment and amplification are preliminary applications, but these applications are shallow. There should be a way to use them stably in the future."
Life Force is gunpowder; Life Frequency is making that gunpowder into bullets.
Attachment and amplification are firing those bullets.
But this method carries the risk of misfiring or exploding; it must be adjusted further.
Barristan thought for a moment and suggested, "To develop the path of Life Force, you should invite Ser Arthur Dayne. With his high talent, he will surely speed up the process."
"How do I invite him?"
Daeron spread his hands, expressing helplessness.
Who wouldn't covet the 'sword of the morning' Arthur Dayne? But he was Rhaegar's man.
"This—"
Barristan was momentarily speechless, unable to think of a good way.
At the same time, a figure in a blue-purple gown stood in the middle of the dance floor, dancing gracefully to the music.
Barristan happened to glance over and suddenly couldn't look away.
"What's wrong?"
Daeron felt curious and followed his gaze.
"Ashara Dayne?"
Daeron recognized her.
Wasn't she Ser Arthur's sister?
Daeron adjusted his posture to watch the dance.
He wanted to see what kind of skill a woman who could captivate Barristan possessed.
Ashara's waist swayed like spring willows, and her eyes carried a hint of tenderness. Every step was like an evening breeze brushing over the surface of the Gods Eye, creating ripples of excitement.
Gradually, one became mesmerized.
Daeron admitted, "Purple really has a certain charm."
The dance slowed, and Ashara curtsied.
Barristan's eyes were dazed as he murmured, "So beautiful!"
Even he was captivated, involuntarily falling into those purple eyes.
"Good!!"
Another voice rang out; it was Eddard Stark in the crowd.
He looked excited, and gazing at Ashara's beautiful face, he couldn't help but feel his throat go dry, thinking he had found love.
"My lady, may I have a dance with you?"
Eddard was young and thin-skinned, making the invitation somewhat shyly.
Ashara felt a bit tired and, looking at the Stark youth, intended to refuse.
Eddard quickly added, "I greatly admire your brother, Ser Arthur Dayne. Seeing him with the greatsword 'Dawn' on the tourney grounds, I dream of becoming a legendary figure like him."
The honest 'Quiet Wolf', when facing a woman he liked, had also learned to seize the opportunity.
Ashara hesitated slightly, her purple eyes involuntarily glancing toward a certain corner.
A silver-haired, purple-eyed youth was looking this way.
Daeron was momentarily stunned.
One of the three great illusions of life.
Is she interested in me?
"I'm sorry, I already have a partner."
Ashara kindly refused Eddard, lowered her head slightly, and walked toward Daeron's position.
Daeron stood up.
Barristan stood tall and reminded him in a low voice, "Prince, she's coming over."
"She's coming over, why are you so excited?"
Daeron was surprised.
You, Barristan—I thought you were a man of integrity. You're a Kingsguard and at your age, you've actually fallen for your fellow Kingsguard brother's sister.
"Prince, may I have a dance with you?"
Ashara walked up to him and extended her fair hand.
Daeron smiled naturally: "Of course."
Hand in hand, the two slowly walked toward the center of the dance floor.
It had to be said, Ashara was beautiful.
She wore a blue-purple gown, her long black hair draped in front of her. Her cool countenance needed no extra color, her nose had a hint of red, and her bare shoulders were as white as cold jade.
Even her voice was exceptionally pleasant, a rich honey-color with the unique magnetism of a mature woman; when she spoke, it was like a feather lightly brushing against the heart.
Ashara spoke softly: "Actually, I've always wanted to invite you to dance, Prince."
"I'm better at painting and farming than music and dancing."
Daeron gave a nonsensical reply.
She was Elia's companion.
If she were truly infatuated with him, it might not be a good thing.
However, Ashara didn't take any further action; she just gazed at him quietly, her purple eyes serene and filled with a hint of relief, as if she could speak with her eyes.
Dornish women are often uninhibited.
House Dayne has strict family discipline; before marriage, female members adhere to their duties.
But living in the environment of Dorne, a personality that dares to love and hate has long been etched into their bones.
A throb of emotion was hidden in her heart, held back only by extreme rational restraint.
To be able to share a dance was already a blessing from The Seven.
This scene, in the eyes of others, was heartbreaking.
Eddard's gaze was blank as he watched the woman he liked gazing affectionately at someone else—a high-born Targaryen at that—feeling as if he had lost his soul.
Barristan's eyes were envious, his large hand stroking the stubble on his chin, turning into a deep sigh.
He was past the age where he could charm girls.
The dance ended.
Ashara's gaze softened as she asked, "Prince, is there anything I can do for you?"
She was a bit reluctant to part.
Daeron: "I want to see Ser Arthur; can you help?"
"My brother strictly adheres to his oaths; he has a rigid personality."
Ashara shook her head, indirectly warning him not to think about winning over her brother.
"You've misunderstood."
Daeron said softly, "I am exploring the path of Life Force, and Ser Arthur can be of help."
"Then I can try to think of a way for you."
"Thank you."
Daeron felt a sense of goodwill toward this purple-eyed girl. His left hand rested on her slender waist, and his right hand lightly pinched a corner of her skirt.
Ashara was confused.
Her skirt was lifted slightly, revealing her fair calf—
Daeron gave a light flick, the skirt fell back into place, and a purple flower appeared out of thin air.
"A sweet pea?"
Ashara recognized the flower, a smile appearing on her face.
Daeron presented the gold-star sweet pea and complimented, "Purple suits you well, Ashara."
Every farmer in Stardew Valley knows.
If you want to increase a girl's affection, you have to give her gifts.
>