Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 164: Friends and family

Alpheo sat beside Jasmine on the raised platform of the royal court, his throne deliberately positioned slightly lower than hers. He was after all merely the consort— and at that still not recognized as such by law. 

The room was alive with murmurs as courtiers and nobles gathered, but the atmosphere shifted as Alpheo's attention turned toward the figures kneeling on the cold, stony floor before the throne. This was Alpheo's first time presiding over court as prince consort, a role not yet official.

Kneeling at the center of the hall were Egil, Asag, Clio, and Jarza—four of his most trusted comrades. Their heads bowed respectfully, yet their pride was unmistakable. The gleam of fresh knighthood on their armor was a mark of their recent elevation, a reward for their loyalty and achievements during the siege of Confluendi. They had earned their place here through steel and blood.

But beside them, four others knelt, unfamiliar faces to Alpheo's side. two were from Leomar's army.While the others bore the colors of Shahab, Jasmine's grandfather. These two had been included in the ceremony to address any lingering unease among the court's factions—particularly those who might grumble about the princess favoring mercenaries over traditional lords. A gesture of balance, ensuring the court did not seethe with whispers of favoritism or bias, even though it did .

Alpheo glanced at Jasmine from the corner of his eye. She held herself with quiet grace, her expression unreadable but firm. 

She stood from her throne, her movements as fluid as water, and descended the few steps that separated her from the kneeling men. The gleam of a sword hung at her hip, its hilt adorned with silver filigree. As she reached the men, her hand gracefully rested on the pommel, drawing the sword from its scabbard in a single, sharp motion that resonated through the hall.@@novelbin@@