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Since he couldn't find the Blackfish, Daeron went to find his next target.
"Wait."
Jaime called out, stopping him.
Daeron didn't have much affection for him and asked flatly, "Something the matter?"
"I wanted to ask... that method of utilizing Vitality you use. How did you learn it?"
Jaime found it a bit hard to ask.
Who would share such hidden secrets with an outsider?
Daeron exchanged a glance with Barristan.
The old knight stepped forward and advised, "Lad, you have good talent, but you lack experience. Don't aim too high, too soon."
Jaime was only fifteen. To master Vitality at such a young age made him a one-in-a-million genius.
But he wasn't satisfied.
Jaime asked hurriedly, "If I want to train with you, what price must I pay?"
Aside from his sister Cersei, his greatest ideal was to catch up to "The Bold" Barristan Selmy and the "Sword of the Morning" Arthur Dayne.
Especially Ser Arthur Dayne; he was the idol among idols.
Jaime had been present during the hunt for the Kingswood Brotherhood.
He had seen with his own eyes how Ser Arthur used the greatsword "Dawn" to easily cut down the Brotherhood's leader and force the Smiling Knight to jump into the sea to escape.
Barristan sighed. "Lord Tywin would not agree to it."
Since the discovery of Life Frequency, it was destined to be reserved for the Royal Family.
Unless one became a Kingsguard, no one was qualified to learn it.
Jaime was instantly disheartened.
"Let's go."
Daeron gave him a measuring look but said nothing more.
In the original story, Jaime was seduced by Cersei into agreeing to become a Kingsguard.
The current Cersei still had a goal to pursue and hadn't given herself to anyone before marriage, so there was no seduction to speak of.
If Jaime had a working brain, he wouldn't become a Kingsguard now.
---
A short while later.
Daeron found Elbert Arryn, who was packing his bags.
"Prince, what brings you here?"
Elbert was steady by nature and behaved with perfect manners.
Daeron knew how to measure his words. "Rhaegar presenting the laurel to Lady Lyanna seems to have caused some trouble for Lord Robert. You are Lord Jon Arryn's heir; I came to test the waters."
"It is indeed troubling."
Elbert sighed lightly. "Who could have imagined Prince Rhaegar would do such a thing? Robert nearly exploded with rage."
The STAB alliance had originally decided to support Rhaegar to overthrow the Mad King's terrible rule.
They hadn't expected the plan to fall apart in such an accidental way.
Daeron probed, "I hope the betrothal between Lord Robert and Lady Lyanna remains unaffected."
"Of course."
Elbert smiled. "Robert and Ned are like brothers. He has long been infatuated with Lyanna; he wouldn't break the engagement over this."
It was just a laurel of Love and Beauty, not a cuckold's hat.
If anyone was to blame, it was Rhaegar, not the lady.
Hearing this, Daeron felt assured.
Whether for personal feelings or political marriage, the alliance between the Wolf and the Stag would not break.
That meant he had to go hard on the Fish and the Eagle.
Daeron stopped beating around the bush and spoke directly. "I believe you've all seen it. I have hatched three dragons, and I ride one. I have become a Dragonrider, something long vanished from this world."
Elbert's expression turned serious.
Daeron continued, "Rhaegar has been a bit confused lately. I need to make plans early, just in case."
"House Arryn has always been a loyal supporter of the Royal Family. Before the Dance of the Dragons, the Targaryens and House Arryn were even related by marriage."
"If a change occurs one day, I hope Lord Jon can distinguish right from wrong."
This barrage of words left Elbert at a loss.
He broke out in a cold sweat and denied it vehemently. "Prince, what are you saying?"
Explain yourself.
What do you mean by "make plans early, just in case"?
What do you mean by "loyal supporter" and "distinguish right from wrong"?
Daeron didn't waste time. He threw out his condition directly.
"If House Arryn supports me, when my two younger brothers come of age, one of them will marry a daughter of House Arryn."
Is this condition enough?!
Elbert's heart rate spiked instantly.
A marriage alliance with the Dragon!
Since the Dance of the Dragons, House Arryn had faded from the Dragon's view and hadn't intermarried with them again.
Before, one could argue House Targaryen had no dragons.
But today, Daeron had re-hatched dragons and become a powerful Dragonrider.
He remembered his uncle telling him how the Targaryens were evaluated before the Dance of the Dragons.
They were hailed as "the closest things to gods."
Because Targaryens had dragons, placing them above ordinary men.
"Gulp—"
Elbert swallowed hard and asked seriously, "When your brothers grow up, will they possess dragons?"
The Targaryens currently had three dragons.
Daeron replied calmly, "If my dragon lays eggs, I will give them each a dragon egg."
The dragons were the bottom line; he couldn't give those away.
But dragon eggs were negotiable!
Without the supply of massive amounts of special fish, no dragon could catch up to Caraxes' growth speed.
He only needed ten years to compress a century of growth, turning Caraxes into a terror comparable to the ancient behemoths.
"Dragon eggs..."
Elbert thought about it. Dragon eggs worked too.
Negotiation was about exchanging value.
Dragon eggs could hatch into dragons.
As long as the two little Princes had eggs, they would eventually become Dragonriders.
If a daughter of House Arryn married in, her children would naturally become Dragonriders.
However—
Elbert looked hesitant and pleaded, "Prince, your proposal is very fair, but I cannot make this decision alone. I must return and report to my uncle."
"No problem."
Daeron agreed immediately.
Elbert stopped packing. He immediately went to find a quill and paper to borrow House Whent's ravens.
"Prince, do you really intend to marry into House Arryn?"
Barristan frowned.
Betrothing the two young Princes was the King's authority; it wasn't Prince Daeron's place to decide.
Daeron shook his head. "Letting Jaehaerys and the others marry is the condition now."
A month later, the conditions might change.
Once the War of the Usurper broke out, House Arryn wouldn't even have the qualification to negotiate.
"What about House Tully?"
Barristan possessed the typical noble mindset, thinking that House Tully should also be offered a marriage alliance with one of the Princes.
Daeron: "Ignore them."
A trout that steers with the wind was unworthy of True Dragon blood.
Once the war started, he would ride Caraxes for a lap around Riverrun, and Lord Hoster would likely raise the white flag.
The Game of Thrones is cruel.
If you don't actively take a seat at the table, you will be butchered by others.
House Tully had forfeited their right to play.
---
Daeron didn't seek out anyone else and prepared to return to work.
Oswell Whent approached him, hemming and hawing.
"Is something the matter, Ser?"
Daeron looked him up and down.
Oswell said awkwardly, "My niece, Clara, worships you, Prince."
"So?"
Daeron waited for the rest.
Oswell gritted his teeth. "So, I want to ask you to go see her. She genuinely worships you—maybe because of the dragon, maybe because of the tourney—but anyway, I hope you can show some mercy and pity a little girl."
He had strong pride and hated Daeron for killing his friend Jon Connington.
But his niece was the only girl in the family, and a pitiful one at that.
As her uncle, he wanted to help fulfill her wish before he left home.
"A little girl?"
"Yes!"
"Alright then, lead the way."
Daeron didn't make things difficult for him.
He remembered the little girl in the wheelchair—blonde hair, blue eyes, a bright smile, wearing a purple-red wreath.
Sadly, neither her uncle nor her brothers could protect that wreath.
Halfway there, Daeron asked, "Ser, did Rhaegar say anything?"
"No."
Having asked for a favor, Oswell's attitude was humble as he answered honestly, "The Prince said nothing. He took Ser Arthur Dayne and Prince Lewyn and left."
"He only left me behind to guard Princess Elia."
Elia hadn't left yet.
Daeron had left early at the time and hadn't noticed Elia's reaction when her husband gave the wreath to another woman. He had assumed she would have left first.
"Princess Elia was heartbroken."
Oswell sighed. "But she is a strong, good woman. She didn't cry or complain. She just focused entirely on taking care of the little Princess."
Before long, they arrived at a loft with a wide view.
Knock, knock, knock!
Oswell knocked lightly, his voice gentle. "Clara, I'm coming in."
Soon, a girl's crisp voice came from inside.
"Please come in, Uncle."
Oswell opened the door and looked at Daeron pleadingly.
Daeron nodded slightly and walked into the girl's room. It was decorated luxuriously but with a touch of elegance.
Opposite the door was a huge floor-to-ceiling window. The afternoon sun spilled into the room, carrying the faint scent of gardenias.
A thin little girl lay on the bed, leaning against the headboard. She wore a plain nightgown, her legs covered by a quilt.
Her skin was very white—the kind of pale that comes from never going out in the sun.
She was very pretty, possessing a delicate, maidenly beauty.
At this moment, she was staring at him intently.
Daeron smiled and greeted her. "Hello."
"Hello, Prince."
Clara Whent was a bit nervous, clutching the quilt with both hands.
It was obvious she was a very innocent girl.
Like a magic trick, Daeron produced a Gold Star Daffodil and placed it on her bedside table, speaking gently. "I heard from Ser Oswell that you wanted to meet me. This is a meeting gift."
"Thank you!"
Clara was pleasantly surprised. Holding the daffodil, she was a hundred times happier than when she wore the wreath of Love and Beauty.
Daeron sat on the edge of the bed and asked, "Can you tell me why you wanted to see me?"
He didn't even know when he had started captivating little girls.
Clara hadn't become sullen because of her inability to walk. Instead, she was very cheerful. Facing the question, she opened up.
According to her, the first time she heard Daeron's name was when the news of the newborn hatchlings spread. She remembered him out of curiosity about the baby dragons.
Gradually, with the cleanup plan in King's Landing, catching criminals, and sheltering orphans...
The little girl started to like him.
At the tourney, when he appeared riding a dragon and won victory after victory, he completely captured the girl's heart.
Clara's eyes sparkled with joy. "You are a Dragonrider! You can ride a dragon in the sky. Can you touch the blue sky and white clouds? Can you see the birds?"
Daeron smiled, listening to her chatter.
It had been a long time since he'd seen such a pure little girl.
Compared to Cersei, she was like a little angel.
When her mouth went dry from talking, Daeron handed her a bottle of milk and asked, "What happened to your legs?"
Clara looked a little downcast. "I fell off a horse when I was riding with my father as a child."
Count Whent really doesn't do anything useful!
Daeron cursed silently, then proposed, "When you get better, I'll take you for a ride on the dragon in the sky. How about that?"
"Really!?"
Clara was instantly surprised, grabbing Daeron's hand with both of hers.
"Of course."
Daeron encouraged her. "I have a feeling it won't be long before you can get better."
He remembered there was a Life Elixir in Stardew Valley.
Unlocked at Farming Level 2, crafted with four types of mushrooms. It could heal injuries and restore energy.
He would go craft a few Mushroom Logs later, save up some mushrooms, and try making it.
Although the effect of the Life Elixir might not necessarily be better than Gold Star Cheese.
But at least it was called an "Elixir," so it should be specialized for healing.
"Mm, I will stand up as soon as possible."
Hope rose in Clara. She looked forward to sitting on the dragon's back and soaring in the sky.
After chatting for a while longer, Daeron took his leave.
Outside the door.
Oswell hurried over. "How was it?"
"She is very strong. I promised to take her flying in the sky when she gets better."
Daeron answered truthfully.
Oswell breathed a sigh of relief. "Clara injured her leg bones. My brother has sought out special crops for her to eat over the years, but with little effect."
Daeron had no obligation to tell the truth, so he chose to leave.
Just as he walked a few steps.
Oswell suddenly called out to him and said, "Prince, actually Clara... she is 11 years old."
Daeron nearly tripped.
Wait, he had just come from being 11 himself. Why did she look so petite and delicate? She didn't look 11 at all.