Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 178: End of a chapter start of another

As the uproar of laughter and applause faded, the feast resumed its lively rhythm, the sounds of clinking glasses and cheerful chatter filling the grand hall once more. Alpheo, however, sat with a neutral expression, his gaze focused on the patterns of the tablecloth before him.

He raised his cup to his lips and took a deep drink, the sweet cider offering a momentary distraction from the turmoil swirling in his mind.

 Alpheo understood the predicament he had been thrust into. This insult was a double-edged sword; by responding with indifference, it would portray him and Jasmine as weak, a vulnerability that could alienate the nobility and threaten their support which was already low on its own .

His thoughts spiraled as he considered the prince of Herculia's motives. Was this a deliberate attempt to ridicule their royal couple, and undermine their authority in front of their peers? Or perhaps it was a clever strategy designed to make them them lead an assault on their territory?Which would mean making their army bug down for a siege, before leading a counterattack knowig their current weak state, or who know maybe this was just an opportunity their prince took to slight an hostile house.

Either scenario left Alpheo with little comfort.Between the two Alpheo thought that the first was more probable as I don't think there could be many prince that would risk their land getting invaded and raided , as this would effectively cause devastion , of course if the lands was not directly of the prince but of a rival noble than it would make sense to hope for such things to happen.

There is nothing to do, the more I think the less I understand, he thought as he extended his hand to grab his cup.Taking another sip, he reminded himself to maintain his composure. The laughter and merriment around him felt distant, the faces of his friends blurring into a haze.

He was getting too much drunk...

The remainder of the gifts presented were far more conventional, each in keeping with the long-standing traditions of noble weddings. Lords and ladies approached one by one, offering treasures that reflected their respect for the newlyweds. Glittering jewels, elegantly crafted and fit for royalty, were handed over with graceful bows. Fine garments, woven from the softest silks and embroidered with delicate patterns, were gifted to her and some also to him as well.