Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 139: Coronation(1)

The day of the coronation had finally arrived. In the weeks leading up to it, the realm had been thrown into chaos, its once-relatively-stable order now shattered beyond recognition. Nobles found themselves entangled in a whirlwind of events so baffling and swift, few could make sense of what was happening.

First came the shock of their prince's death. Rumors spread like wildfire—killed in an engagement with the very mercenaries he had hired. Some claimed it was a betrayal, others said that the prince was the one that ordered for the head of the commander in a fit of madness. But before the nobles could process this, news arrived of his daughter, Jasmine, seizing control of the throne. To their astonishment, she not only pardoned the mercenary captain responsible for the prince's death but re-hired him into her service.

Lord Ormund, one of the realm's most powerful nobles, had rallied his forces, perhaps in outrage, perhaps to seize the throne for himself. Yet, he and his son were cut down in an ambush before their intentions could be fully understood. The princess declared them traitors, accusing Ormund of attempting to usurp her rightful rule, a claim met with murmurs but mostly believed as everyone knew of the bad blood between Ormund and Arkawatt.@@novelbin@@

And at the top of it , an order came from the capital, summoning all nobles to swear allegiance to the new princess.So in a month the status quo built upon one decade and half of rule , came short all from the arrival of one man.

Had the civil war not been swiftly cut short, many lords would have likely declared neutrality or remained on the sidelines, waiting for the most advantageous offer before choosing a side.

 In such times, loyalty often went to the highest bidder, and alliances were as fragile as the promises that forged them.