What were they supposed to do?
Essos kept getting stronger while Westeros lacked resources.
The gap would only keep widening.
Lady Olenna's brow tightened. She realized Daeron was about to reveal his "secret" reward and spoke for the first time that night.
"Your Grace, the east is fighting over the Stepstones. You said you want to protect Westeros's peace and safety. What exactly do you plan to do?"
What kind of reward could close that gap?
The moment she asked, the other lords leaned in, their eyes filled with hope and scrutiny, all fixed on Daeron.
Here we go.
Daeron stayed calm. "The east got there first and is mining the gem veins in the Stepstones aggressively. I can't stop that. I also don't know if any of you want to fight for the Stepstones yourselves."
"But I've found a way for Westerosi knights who have awakened life force to grow stronger without needing special gems."
"Oh? And what method is that?" Lady Olenna asked, playing along perfectly.
Daeron answered, "The Life Seed training method."
As he spoke, a powerful wave of life force radiated from his body—far stronger than anything a normal life-force knight could produce.
More than half the lords looked confused.
The ones who understood stared in shock. For the first time, they realized Daeron wasn't just a skilled fighter—his life force was extraordinarily dense.
None of their own life-force users or sworn knights came close.
"Hiss-graa!"
Drogon, perched on Daeron's shoulder, jumped in surprise and let out an indignant little roar.
Daeron pressed the hatchling's head down again and pointed at the six Kingsguard standing below.
"The Life Seed—also called the Life Knight path—is a brand-new training method I developed together with the Kingsguard."
"Like the gem sequence, it lets life-force knights grow stronger. But Life Knights are superior in overall quality."
Barristan and the other Kingsguard released their own life-force auras. The combined pressure filled the hall like a heavy, invisible weight, making it hard to breathe.
Several lords suddenly remembered the last tourney at Harrenhal—how Barristan and Arthur Dayne had used life force in ways no one had seen before. They also recalled how Daeron had used the same technique during his duel with Robert Baratheon.
At the time, many lords had tried to figure out the secret on their own. Without guidance, they had gotten nowhere.
"Ser Gerold," Lord Leyton Hightower asked after getting Daeron's permission, "what exactly is this Life Seed the prince is talking about?"
Ser Gerold, ever conscious of his image, answered solemnly. "When life force reaches a certain level and you learn to control its fluctuations through special training, there's a chance to form a Life Seed. All your life force condenses into a single point, letting you unleash up to ten times your normal strength."
The hall erupted.
So it was a completely new path—and the royal family had already mastered it.
Forming this "Life Seed" could multiply a knight's power by ten?
Even the best gem-sequence knights, those who had absorbed seven, eight, or even ten gems, rarely reached that kind of boost.
Was it an exaggeration?
Of course it was.
Daeron knew the truth—both the Life Seed and gem sequence ultimately depended on the knight himself.
The Life Seed multiplied overall quality. The exact multiplier depended on talent and how much life force had been accumulated.
The gem sequence boosted specific attributes by fixed percentages with each gem.
In the end, it always came down to how much raw power the knight could actually wield.
Take Barristan, for example. Even before forming his Life Seed, he had single-handedly killed "the Cruel" Maelys Blackfyre in the middle of a battlefield and later fought his way out of Duskendale while protecting the king.
His skill was already the best in the realm. After forming his Life Seed, his strength had gone far beyond ten times.
To prove it wasn't just talk, Ser Gerold offered to bring in some life-force knights so the lords could feel the difference themselves.
The knights who tested it came back stunned. They described the sensation to their lords in excited whispers.
Strong.
Incredibly strong.
The gap between someone with a Life Seed and someone without was massive—like comparing a perfectly balanced warrior to someone who only trained one part of their body.
The lords were buzzing.
Lady Olenna, always quick to spot an opportunity, asked, "Your Grace, you've created another path. Will you share it with the lords of Westeros?"
"Don't be ridiculous, Lady Olenna," Tywin cut in sharply. "This method is a royal secret. It's only being shared with the Kingsguard. You can't just ask for it and expect to receive it for free."
His mood had soured.
He had known about the special nature of the Life Seed for some time. That was one reason he hadn't immediately dragged Jaime back to Casterly Rock when his son joined the Kingsguard—he had hoped Jaime would form a Life Seed.
In Tywin's eyes, awakening life force made someone extraordinary. Forming a Life Seed was what let them walk the path to true power.
The gem sequence?
A shortcut for the untalented and the smallfolk.
Outside the Tower of the Burning King, Tygett had cornered his brother Kevan. The two were deep in conversation about the strength of the new Lionsheart Knights.
"—Achoo!"
Tygett suddenly sneezed.
Kevan frowned. "Are you sick, Tygett?"
Tygett looked offended. "Of course not. I've absorbed twelve yellow sapphires. My body is stronger than steel."
Back inside the hall, Tywin finished mocking Lady Olenna. Combining what he knew about "keeping secrets" with how tight-lipped Jaime had been about the Life Seed, he realized there was more to this than met the eye.
He asked pointedly, "Are the requirements to form a Life Seed very harsh?"
"Of course," Daeron replied. "The gem sequence is the easy path. The Life Seed is the road with real potential. Naturally, the conditions are stricter."
The lords nodded in understanding.
You get what you pay for.
Even among nobles, people paid premium prices for fashionable clothes. Why would training methods for life force be any different?
Daeron's expression turned serious.
"I developed the Life Seed training method. Now that I am heir to the Iron Throne, I intend to share it with the realm and give Westerosi knights a clear path forward."
Here it comes.
"However, if you want access to the method, you must join the Constabulary Knights and serve for one to three years. Only those who meet the order's standards will be taught."
"According to the rules, you may not teach it privately. You may not leak it. And—"
He listed the conditions one by one, making the hard rules clear from the start.
The training method would remain under strict royal control. To receive it, you first had to prove loyalty and obedience.
At the same time, Daeron dropped another piece of information.
One of the requirements to form a Life Seed was access to Valyrian steel. Without a Valyrian steel weapon—or something like House Dayne's ancestral sword Dawn—it simply wouldn't work.
New members of the Constabulary Knights would receive help in this area. The crown would assist those who lacked Valyrian steel.
The great houses didn't care much. But the smaller houses and landed knight families were immediately interested.
Those who already owned Valyrian steel family swords sat up straighter, quietly proud.
After all, there were fewer than a hundred Valyrian steel blades in all of Westeros. The famous ones could be counted on two hands.
Daeron continued, "Essos grows stronger every day. The Triarchy is fighting over the Stepstones. If the Iron Throne does not lead Westeros to become stronger, we will fall behind—and eventually become prey."
"The crown is not hiding this new training method. Any lord who wishes to learn it is welcome to join the Constabulary Knights. The Iron Throne's doors are always open."
Several lords immediately applied on the spot.
Edmure Tully of Riverrun. Willas Tyrell, eldest son of Lord Mace. The two younger sons of Lord Rowan.
Lord Rowan's sons were expected—Daeron had arranged it.
But Edmure and Willas? That was genuine.
Both boys were eleven years old and had been allowed to attend the Great Council.
"Your Grace, I wish to join the Constabulary Knights and serve House Targaryen," Edmure said.
He was handsome, with the classic Tully red hair and blue eyes, but the recent collapse of his house had left him looking nervous and unsure.
Daeron studied him. He saw no seed of hatred in the boy's eyes—only determination to restore his family and a quiet fear of being rejected.
"After the council ends, report to Ser Davos," Daeron said. "Ser Davos and your uncle, the Blackfish, fought together. He'll make sure you're placed in the Constabulary Knights and help you adjust to military life."
"No!"
To everyone's surprise, Edmure refused.
"Please don't give me special treatment," he said firmly. "Treat me like the son of a farmer. Let me start as a stable boy."
Daeron nodded. "Approved."
It seemed the future "Three-River Archer" Edmure Tully wasn't as soft as some stories claimed. Even without his elders' protection, he was showing real spine.
"A promising young man."
Daeron waved the excited Edmure back and, seeing that Lady Olenna hadn't moved, also approved Willas Tyrell's request to join.
The boy had always been meant to join anyway. This was just making it official in front of everyone.
With heirs from House Tully, House Tyrell, and House Rowan all entering the Constabulary Knights, it set a powerful example. More lords would soon follow with their own sons and nephews.
House Tyrell was an ancient Warden house. House Rowan was highly favored by the crown—essentially half the Riverlands' governor. House Tully had fallen, but they were still a major Riverlands house. Their participation carried weight.
Daeron quieted the hall and directed anyone interested to report to "Master of the Royal Household" Davos after the council.
By this point, the vote had been decided. Rhaegar had voluntarily renounced his claim. Daeron was now the legitimate heir to the Iron Throne and Prince of Dragonstone.
The issue of Rhaegar's polygamy hadn't been fully resolved, but Daeron had offered the Life Seed training method as compensation—growing the pie for everyone.
The lords weren't fools. They understood the political trade-off.
Sending sons to the Constabulary Knights meant accepting the crown's terms.
Compared to Rhaegar's blatant disrespect for Andal tradition, most lords clearly preferred the new training method the crown had put on the table.
As time passed, the number of Life Knights would grow.
How many noble houses would not have a few Life Knights?
Daeron had already separated "Life Knights" from "Gem Knights" and briefly explained the first three ranks of the Life Knight path.
The lords only needed to know two things:
"The Bold" Barristan was a High Knight.
"The White Bull" Gerold Hightower was a full Knight.
Those two names alone were enough to sell the system.
With the crown offering real benefits, the lords' dissatisfaction dropped sharply. They were now focused on the new rewards.
Even the few houses still unhappy didn't dare voice it.
Only the High Septon, who had sat through the entire meeting doing nothing, finally stood up, flicked his sleeves, and stormed out in obvious anger.
---
That evening, 7:10 p.m.
Daeron sat in the lord's solar and summoned the most powerful lords in the Seven Kingdoms.
Tywin and Lady Olenna represented the Westerlands and the Reach.
From the Reach also came Lord Mace Tyrell, Lord Mathis Rowan, Lord Owen, Lord Leyton Hightower, and Lord Paxter Redwyne.
For the Crownlands: Lord Corlton, Lord Lucerys Velaryon, Lord Staunton, and Lord Grafton of Gulltown.
For the Riverlands: Lord Whent, Edmure Tully, Lord Darry, Lord Tytos Blackwood, and representatives from House Bracken and House Frey.
For the Stormlands: Lady Selwyn, Lord Caron, Lord Swann, Lord Fell, Lord Grandison, and Lord Selwyn Tarth.
Also present were Randyll Tarly, the new Governor of the Dornish Marches, along with Lord Caron of Nightsong and Lord Dondarrion of Blackhaven.
Even the Iron Islands had sent Victarion Greyjoy.
Only the North and Dorne were absent. Almost every other major house was represented.
With guarantees from Tywin, Lady Olenna, and Randyll that the Westerlands, Reach, and Dornish Marches would support the plan, Daeron had gathered six powerful lords each from the Crownlands, Reach, and Stormlands—enough to speak for all three regions.
There was only one goal.
Merge the three kingdoms into a single royal domain.
Daeron looked around the room and spoke clearly.
"My lords, I've already explained my reasoning. I want to merge the Crownlands, Riverlands, and Stormlands into one unified royal domain. I hope I have your full support."
He waited for the representatives to respond.
Lord Whent, the crown's most loyal dog, spoke immediately. "I agree. House Tully has already lost the title of Lord Paramount of the Trident. With Prince Daeron now serving as Governor of the Trident, it makes perfect sense for the Riverlands to be absorbed into the royal domain."
He spoke quickly, beating Lord Darry to the punch.
Lord Darry's face darkened at losing the chance to speak first, but he raised his hand in support anyway.
Lord Tytos Blackwood, Edmure, and the others didn't dare object. They all agreed.
"I support it as well," Lady Selwyn said. She sat gracefully in a black evening gown, her eyes soft as she looked at Daeron.
"House Baratheon has lost the title of Lord Paramount of the Stormlands. Prince Daeron is now Prince of Storm's End and helped drive the Tyroshi pirates from Tarth. It is only right that the Stormlands join the royal domain and be governed equally under his rule."
As the elected representative of the Stormlands lords, her words carried real weight.
Lord Caron, Lord Selwyn Tarth, and the other four houses that had received rewards and aid from Daeron were grateful and raised their hands without hesitation.
Lord Swann looked reluctant, but he was too weak to stand alone. He raised his hand as well.
Tywin and Lady Olenna acted as witnesses. Randyll Tarly and Victarion Greyjoy stood as observers.
The merger of the three kingdoms had officially begun.
Daeron rested his hands on the armrests and looked each great lord in the eye.
"Very well. Once I return to King's Landing and am formally invested as Prince of Dragonstone, I will announce to all Seven Kingdoms that the Crownlands, Riverlands, and Stormlands are now one."
"At that time, I will invite all of you and the other lords of the realm to witness the unification of the royal domain."