Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king - Chapter 299

Chapter 299: Another job Chapter 299: Another job Lucius stirred from his bed, the sunlight streaming through the narrow window of his chamber casting golden streaks across the stone walls.

He stretched languidly, a grin spreading across his face as he sat up.

For the first time in months, he felt rested, content, and untouchable.

Life had been good-very good for him.

It had been three months since that fateful night in Arduronaven,when he alongside his comrades had led a charge to open the gate from the inside.

His reward had been nothing short of extraordinary for particepating in this task.

The prince himself had handed Lucius a heavy purse of silver and formally announced his promotion to sergeant.  Since then, life had been a dream.

The extra coin had afforded him comforts he’d never dared to imagine.

Lucius smiled as he thought of Sabina, her shy smile and the way her brown hair framed her delicate face.

It still felt like a dream-she was finally his.

His promotion and the generous sum of money he’d received had done more than elevate his standing among his peers; it had softened the heart of Sabina’s father, a man who once saw Lucius as little more than an ambitious foot soldier.

The old tavern owner had been reluctant at first, grumbling about the precariousness of a soldier’s life, but the gleam of Lucius’s new sergeant insignia and the weight of his purse had silenced those protests.

After weeks of negotiations and showing his newfound stability, Lucius had received the answer he had prayed for: Sabina’s hand in marriage.

Their wedding was set to take place soon, and the thought filled him with a nervous excitement.

He glanced around the modest inn’s room where he currently resided.

It was clean and well-kept, but the worn wooden floorboards and the faint smell of ale from the common room below reminded him that this was no place to start a new life with his bride.

The room had served him well in these past months, but now that he had the means, he knew it was time to do better.

Lucius’s brow furrowed slightly as he ran a hand through his hair, considering his options.

He had coin enough now to buy a proper home Today was one of his two allotted days of leave-a perk of his recent promotion to sergeant.

No cold barracks this morning, no stiff cot lined up in a row with the grumbling snores of other soldiers to break the stillness of the night.

Instead, he’d been free to spend the evening in the comfort of this inn, away from the rigid order of the camp.

Being a sergeant came with its privileges, and these brief respites were among the best of them.

Two days each week whenever they were not a war , he could step outside the shadow of the military, blend into the rhythm of city life, and pretend-if only for a while-that he wasn’t bound to the prince’s army.

A sudden knock at the door startled Lucius, pulling him from his peaceful morning.

He frowned, setting down the cup of water he had been sipping, and moved toward the door.

His hand hesitated on the handle for a brief moment before he swung it open.

Standing before him were two men.

They were clad in shining armor that caught the morning light, their polished steel marked with the crest of the princess’ guard.

Lucius’s stomach knotted instantly.

“Are we speaking with Sergeant Lucius?” one of them asked, his voice calm but firm.

Lucius swallowed hard, his mind racing as his body tensed.

He nodded, unable to summon the words.

“You are to come with us,” the other man declared, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Lucius glanced down at himself, realizing with sudden embarrassment that his chest was bare, and he stood in nothing but his loose linen trousers.

He managed a weak, nervous smile and gestured to his state.

“Can I… at least dress myself first?” The two guards exchanged a brief, unreadable look before the first one gave a curt nod.

—————— Lucius walked through the long, gleaming halls of the palace, his boots echoing on the polished marble floor.

The grandeur of the place was both awe-inspiring and unsettling.

Towering columns lined the corridors, mosaics gave color to the walls, representing gods or simply scene of battles .

Stragely the hall was silent and empty , strange given Lucius thought that the palace was filled with servants  The two guards marched silently beside him, their heavy armor clinking softly with each step.

Lucius couldn’t shake the knot of tension in his chest, his mind racing with speculation about why he had been summoned,as he knew very well that he had made no trouble.

At last, they stopped before a tall wooden door.One of the guards stepped forward, gripping the ornate handle, and pushed the door open with a low creak.

“Go in,” he said curtly, gesturing for Lucius to enter.

Lucius hesitated, glancing back at them.

The second guard leaned closer, his expression grave.

“A word of advice” he said quietly.

“Behave yourself.” With a nod as thanks Lucius stepped into the chamber, the door closing behind him with a dull thud that echoed faintly in the vast space.

The room was dimly lit by the warm glow of a few oil lamps, their light reflecting off the polished stone floor and casting flickering shadows on the tall, arched ceiling.

Heavy velvet drapes framed narrow windows, their deep crimson color lending the room still air .

At the center of the space was a single, ornate chair .

Standing near the chair, his hands clasped behind his back, was a man Lucius immediately recognized: Alpheo.

Alpheo’s presence filled the room like a storm cloud, his bearing commanding and his gaze sharp enough to cut steel.

He was dressed in a rich, dark tunic his blak hair swept across his cranium.

Lucius’s breath hitched, and without hesitation, he lowered himself to the ground, his knee pressed firmly to the cold floor and his head bowed.

“Your grace ” he said, his voice steady but tinged with reverence.

“Rise,” Alpheo commanded, his tone calm but brooking no argument.

Lucius obeyed at once, standing straight and clasping his hands behind his back in an attempt to mask his unease.

Alpheo’s lips curved into a faintknown each other too smile, his gaze steady and calculating.

“No need to look so stiff, Lucius right?” he said, his tone unusually relaxed.

“We’ve met each other once already.

When it’s just us, you can afford to breathe a little.After all you have been following me for a long time .” Lucius hesitated, the tension in his shoulders still lingering.

After a moment, he inclined his head, adjusting his posture.

“As you say, Your Grace.” “That’s better,” Alpheo said, a hint of amusement slipping into his voice.

“I haven’t forgotten the bold move that opened the gates of Arduronaven.

If I remember right, I made you a sergeant for that little miracle.” “You did, Your Grace,” Lucius replied, keeping his tone respectful but unable to mask a flicker of pride.

“And a good call it was,” Alpheo continued, his smile hardening slightly.

“You saved us from a bloodbath.

We’d have spilled enough lives to paint the fields red if not for your quick thinking, or so your comrades said.” Lucius lowered his gaze slightly, the weight of Alpheo’s words striking a chord.

“I only did what needed to be done, Your Grace.” Alpheo reached for a polished silver pitcher on his desk, pouring amber cider into a finely engraved cup.

The fragrant aroma of apples and spices wafted through the room as he extended it toward Lucius.

“Humble too…here, take this,” he said smoothly.

Lucius blinked, caught off guard by the gesture.

He stuttered out a barely audible, “Th-thank you, Your Grace,” before hesitantly accepting the cup.

He gripped it awkwardly, unsure whether to sip it or simply hold it, his discomfort evident under the prince’s calm scrutiny.

Alpheo leaned back slightly, studying Lucius with a faint smile.

“I must admit, I was surprised your plan actually worked.

You see, one doesn’t expect much from a band of refugees-desperate souls with little training, no resources.

And yet, you and your comrades managed to defy those expectations.” He paused, swirling the contents of his own cup with a practiced hand.

“Impressive.” Lucius straightened, trying to mask his unease, though his pride flared again at the compliment.

Alpheo continued, his voice taking on a sharper edge of focus.

“That’s exactly the kind of tenacity I need for something else-a job of great importance.” He let the words linger, his calculating gaze never leaving Lucius.

“It’s not a task I assign lightly, but if done well, it will not only serve me-it will reward you handsomely.” Lucius felt his pulse quicken, though whether from excitement or trepidation, he couldn’t tell.

Alpheo tapped a finger on the desk, his expression growing more thoughtful.

“I’ve thought long and hard about who to entrust with this.

Many faces crossed my mind, but then-” he smiled faintly, as though recalling an old memory, “-your face came to me.

Clear as day.” He leaned forward, folding his hands on the desk.

“Tell me, Lucius-have you been studying as you should?Are you literate?Three months is quite the time” Lucius swallowed and nodded quickly.

“Yes, Your Grace.

I’ve learned to read…

mostly.

And a little writing too.” Alpheo hummed softly, his expression unreadable.

“Good” Alpheo leaned back in his chair, his keen gaze steady on Lucius.

“I believe you are the perfect man for this task,then…congratulations” he said with quiet conviction.

Lucius straightened, his voice filled with earnestness.

“I would be honored to serve you, Your Grace.” Alpheo nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“I knew I could count on such loyalty.

Men like you are rare, Lucius-dependable when it truly matters, humble and with quite the skill.” He took a brief sip of his cider before setting the cup down with a soft clink.

“The details of the job will come to you shortly.

For now, prepare yourself.” Lucius hesitated before speaking, his tone cautious.

“Your Grace…

may I ask something?” Alpheo arched a brow.

“Of course.” “When am I to depart?” Alpheo folded his hands, his fingers tapping lightly against each other.

“As soon as possible.

Potentially as early as tomorrow.” He paused, studying Lucius carefully.

“Is something troubling you?” Lucius shifted, lowering his gaze briefly before answering.

“In three days, I was to be married, Your Grace.” A silence fell over the room, heavy and awkward, stretching longer than Lucius expected.

Then Alpheo rose smoothly from his chair and crossed the short distance to Lucius, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.

“Congratulations,” Alpheo said warmly.

“A wedding is no small matter.

As a married man myself I can only wish the best.

You may wait until after the ceremony.

Especially given…” He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly , “how dangerous this job will be.” Lucius’s eyes widened, alarm creeping into his expression as he did not know what he was to do, else the alarm would have become fear.  You said nothing about it being dangerous?!

He swallowed hard and asked, his voice hesitant, “Will I be undertaking this mission alone, Your Grace?

Or will I have the chance to choose someone to accompany me?” If I am going to die then I will return the favor to that bastard.