Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king - Chapter 396

Chapter 396: A man hard to refuse(2) Chapter 396: A man hard to refuse(2) Alpheo stood just outside the doorway, flanked by two men who were unmistakably his guards.

Their cloaks concealed much, but the slight bulge of armor beneath and the way their hands hovered near their belts betrayed them as warriors.

Despite the presence of his protectors, the prince himself looked nothing like royalty-his simple attire, unadorned and practical, was meant to help him blend in with the streets of Yarzats.

No silks, no embroidery, no rings.

Just a young man with striking features and a knowing smile that could dissolve ice.

“May I enter?” Alpheo asked again, his voice light with amusement once again snapping Lucius out of his daze.

Before Lucius could respond, Sabine’s voice rang out from within.

“Who is it?” Lucius hesitated for a brief moment, his mind racing with how to explain.

Instead of answering her, he stepped aside and gave a short nod.

“O-Of course, Your Highness.” Alpheo inclined his head slightly, stepping inside as he murmured, “Apologies for the intrusion.” His tone was polite.

As Sabine turned to see who had entered, her eyes first landed on Alpheo.

At a glance, he didn’t draw much attention-just a well-kept young man.

But the moment her gaze drifted past him to the two men standing just beyond the doorway, a spark of worry flickered in her eyes.

Their posture, the slight gleam of armor beneath their cloaks,that smelled like trouble..

Her fingers tightened slightly on the wooden spoon she had been holding as her hand slowly moved to the knife on the counter.

Her eyes flicked back to Lucius, silently questioning him before she finally spoke aloud.

“How do you know my husband?” Though her voice was even, there was a guardedness to it, her body subtly tensing as she looked between them.  Lucius felt a knot tighten in his stomach.

He knew Sabine well enough to tell that her mind was already running ahead.

The last thing he needed was for her to do something reckless.

But before he could step in, Alpheo let out a light chuckle, raising a hand in a placating gesture.

“No need to worry, madam.

I assure you, we’re not delinquents,” he said with an easy smile.

“We’re friends of your husband.

Comrades, even.” Sabine’s gaze flickered back to Lucius, searching for confirmation.

He gave her a firm nod, hoping that would put her at ease.

She exhaled softly before dipping her head slightly.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her tone more apologetic now.

“It’s just… well, you can imagine my surprise.” Alpheo nodded understandingly.

“I would be just as wary if armed men walked into my home unannounced,” he admitted with a small grin.

“But truly, these two are comrades of your husband, and they mean no harm.They simply had no time to disregard their weapons.” Sabine relaxed slightly at his words, though she still cast another glance at the guards before turning back to Lucius, waiting for an explanation by the man who meanwhile had just felt a weight come down from his stomach.

It was a strange thing to realize-Lucius had spent close to two years following Alpheo, fighting in his name, marching under his banner, and yet, in the span of two minutes, he had learned more about the man than in all those years combined.

And of all the things he had come to understand in that short time, the most important was this-Alpheo hated to be refused.

That, in itself, wasn’t particularly surprising.

Plenty of men in power disliked hearing the word no.

But with Alpheo, it was more than that.

It wasn’t just pride or arrogance-though, he certainly had his share of both.

It was something deeper, a force that ran through him like an unyielding current.

He was obsessed with control, at least over the things that truly mattered to him.

If he couldn’t be the one pulling the strings, he would rather burn the whole thing down than let someone else take the reins.

He would burn a house as long as he could sleep on the ashes .

It was why, when it came to command, Alpheo kept his circle painfully small, after all if he truly wanted he could open up one or two positions in his armies for some lords, that was after all one of the main arguments that were brought against his wife, that he gave too many positions to commoners.

Of course, If he trusted you, he would hand you the world and expect you to wield it well.

If he didn’t?

You wouldn’t get so much as a scrap.

No middle ground.

No delegation for convenience.

Either you were in, or you were nothing.

One could only imagine the nightmare it would have been if men like Jarza, Egil, and Asag weren’t there to lead his forces.

If all Alpheo had to rely on were noble lords with their own lands, their own ambitions, their own agendas-he would have rather handed command to some random foot soldier than entrust his army to those vipers.

And with that obsession for control came an intense dislike for when things didn’t go according to plan.

The very fact that Alpheo, a ruler, had personally walked into the home of a commoner was proof enough of that.

Most men of his standing would have simply chosen and trained another man.

But Alpheo wasn’t most men.

Of course he could argue his case with logic-Lucius was experienced, and someone Alpheo could easily keep in check.

But at its core, it wasn’t really about logic at all.

It was about the simple, stubborn truth that Alpheo despised being refused.

If someone told him no, that was reason enough for him to dig in his heels and ensure that, one way or another, he got the answer he wanted.

Returning to the situation Lucius barely had time to process everything before Sabine, ever the good host, spoke up.

“Since you’re here, would you like to have a meal with us?It’s not everyday I get to meet people other than Marcus” Alpheo offered a polite smile.

“We wouldn’t want to intrude too much.” Sabine waved a hand dismissively.

“Nonsense.

As I said it is rare to see my husband with other company.

I’d be a poor wife if I let this moment go to waste.” Alpheo turned slightly to Vrosk, the head of his guard, who merely shrugged in response, as if to say, Why not?

Seeing no objections, Alpheo inclined his head.

“Then I graciously accept.

Apologies again for the intrusion.” Sabine was already moving, grabbing five wooden bowls.

“Intrusion?

Don’t be ridiculous.” She placed the bowls on the table with a soft clatter.

“It’s lucky I made extra meat today.” Alpheo turned to his other guard, a burly man who had remained silent until now.

“Help her.” The guard hesitated only a second before nodding and stepping forward to assist.

Sabine, unfazed, pointed toward the bowl which he held as she filled them.

Meanwhile, Lucius shifted uncomfortably.

His prince-his sovereign-was sitting in his home, in his chair, waiting for his wife to serve him food.

The table was soon set, wooden bowls neatly arranged, the warm scent of grain porridge and boiled meat filling the room.

Sabine wiped her hands on her apron and turned toward Alpheo with open curiosity.

“So, how do you know my husband?” she asked, ladling the thick porridge into each bowl.

Lucius, who had been tense since the moment Alpheo crossed the threshold, cleared his throat.

“I, uh…

worked for him,” he answered, then quickly corrected himself.

“Or rather, I still do.” Sabine raised an eyebrow, glancing between the two men.

“So he’s your superior?” Alpheo gave a small, amused nod, dipping a piece of bread into his porridge.

“We can leave it at that,” he said smoothly before taking a bite.

Lucius, for his part, wasted no time, tearing off a piece of bread and dipping it into the thick, steaming porridge.

The taste was simple but hearty, the warmth grounding him in a moment that still felt unreal.  Across from him, Vrosk ate in silence, his movements methodical.

The other guard, the one who had helped Sabine, had already finished half his portion and seemed entirely at ease.

Sabine herself was eating with the casual grace of someone used to feeding others before herself, though her eyes flicked toward Alpheo now and then, as if trying to piece together the puzzle of her guest.

Suddendly Alpheo leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful.

He glanced at Lucius, then at Sabine, a small smile playing on his lips.

“You’re a fortunate woman, Sabine,” Alpheo began, his tone light but deliberate.

“Your husband is one of the bravest men I’ve had the pleasure of knowing.

Not many would have done what he did during…

many of the missions he was made to do ” He paused, his gaze flickering to Lucius, who was now staring intently at his bowl, as if hoping it might swallow him whole.

Sabine raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued.

“Oh?

He’s never mentioned anything like that.” Alpheo chuckled, a low, pleasant sound.

“Modesty, I suppose.

A rare trait in men these days.

Though, if I may be frank, it’s also his greatest flaw.” He leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on the table, his eyes locking with Sabine’s.

“Lucius has no shortage of courage or skill, but ambition?

Well, let’s just say he’s not one to chase titles or glory.

A pity, really.

With his talents, he could easily become a knight -perhaps even more, given time, I assure you of it .” Lucius shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his spoon clinking against the edge of his bowl.

Sabine glanced at him, then back at Alpheo, “A K-knight?” she repeated, her voice tinged with disbelief.

“Oh, absolutely,even more ” Alpheo said, waving a hand as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“But alas, he seems…

reluctant to continue his work.

Which, I must admit, is why I’m here today.” He sighed, a theatrical sound that somehow managed to feel both genuine and calculated.

“I do apologize for the intrusion, truly.

But today was the day I was to receive his answer-whether he would continue to serve me or not.

And given his hesitation, I thought it best to come myself.

After all, a man like Lucius isn’t easily replaced.I also took quite a liking to him….” Sabine’s eyes widened slightly, and she turned to Lucius, her voice soft but firm.

“Is this true?

You never told me any of this.” Lucius opened his mouth to respond, but Alpheo cut in smoothly, his tone almost apologetic.

“Don’t be too hard on him, please.

It’s not an easy decision, leaving behind the life he’s built here.

But I can’t help feeling it’s a waste.

A man of his caliber, so close to knighthood, to greater things…

and yet he seems content to let it all slip away.” He shook his head, a faint smile on his lips.

“But then again, perhaps that’s what makes him so admirable.

He’s not driven by greed or power that is truly rare…” The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of Alpheo’s words hanging in the air.

Sabine looked at Lucius, her expression softening as she extended her hands to pinch his thigh under the table , while giving him a long stare .

“Well,” she said finally, her voice steady, “whatever he decides, I’ll stand by him.As I am sure he will make the best decision for his family.”